After my first Pinterest account was deactivated a few days ago (read the full story here), I have now started with a new fresh Pinterest business account and decided to take a healthier approach to Pinterest marketing.
If you’re looking to make money blogging or through social media marketing, you might find my lessons learned and coping strategies helpful.
Streamlining the Branding Strategy
When I first started, I spent countless hours into perfecting my logo and brand design. Don’t get me wrong – branding IS important as you grow. But if you’re a DIY blogger like me and just starting out, it’s unlikely you’ll have a crystal-clear vision of your brand and the best way to design it. So, acknowledge this and don’t stress.
With my new Pinterest account, I streamlined my design process, making swift decisions without overthinking every detail. So, don’t agonise over the design of your Pinterest cover or photo. Just get it done – the quicker you finalise your brand design, the sooner you can start focusing on what really matters: your content, your stories, and how you can communicate them effectively to build an audience.
Content Planning and Scheduling
The account deactivation incident might have been my wake-up call. In the days leading up to it, I had entered a state of panic, waking up at 6 AM to “feed the algorithm” with more Pins, aiming for two pins per day (one during peak UK time and one during peak US time). This routine became unsustainable, especially with a 37-hour/week job, two kids, and a house to run.
If you’re just starting and want to make blogging your side hustle (while having another job), you need to focus on maintaining a balance between promoting your blog and personal well-being. You likely won’t have tons of articles on your blog to pin frequently, so accept this and avoid over-posting. Posting the same content too often can be considered spam activity, which might lead to your account being deactivated.
After my account was deactivated, I felt a sense of relief, like a big weight was lifted. I didn’t lose the desire to make my blogging career work, but I began to see everything from a calmer perspective. Instead of re-joining Pinterest immediately, I took 10 days to write a few more articles and do some prep work. I am now pinning once per day, and it’s no biggie if I skip a day (although I really try to stick to my schedule). I also aim for one new blog post per week.
Setting New Goals
I am setting realistic and achievable goals for my Pinterest marketing efforts. Having gone through Pinterest marketing with one account, I now have a better understanding of what I’m doing and, more importantly, what to expect. I am less focused on analytics. As a data analyst, I find it addictive to look at Google and Pinterest analytics, but I’ve limited myself to checking impressions only once a day instead of 100 times.
Creating a viral pin is unlikely as a new, inexperienced blogger. Despite pinning trendy topics, Pinterest tends not to promote content from new accounts with low activity. My initial content was not trendy (in fact it was so off-trend that it didn’t feature at all in Pinterest Trend!), and I saw some improvement when I shifted my focus to creating content based on keyword searches. However, the difference isn’t significant.
My new goal is to enjoy the process without stressing, as I am committed to make money blogging for the long term.
Staying Updated on Trends
This might seem to contradict my previous point, but trends do matter. I’ve noticed an increase in impressions since I started creating content based on keyword searches. However, this hasn’t made my Pins go viral. It’s important to remember that viral pins are not simply a result of trendy keywords.
To gauge potential audience interest in my blog posts, I find incredibly helpful using Pinterest Trends to compare different keywords . Pinterest Trends shows how often people are searching for specific keywords. While the y-axis doesn’t provide people number, you can still make useful comparisons between keywords. You can see an example in the image below – can you guess which of these three keywords I focused on in my latest article?
So, while you shouldn’t worry about chasing every trend, being aware of what’s popular can help you create relevant content that resonates with your audience.
Wrapping Up
While venturing into make money blogging, I am also thanking positive steps towards sustainable Pinterest marketing. By streamlining my branding strategy, adopting a balanced content schedule, setting realistic goals, and keeping an eye on trends, I’ve found a balanced way to grow my blog without compromising my well-being. Remember, it’s not about perfection but progress. Embrace the process, learn from your experiences, and most importantly, enjoy the journey.
If you’re interested in learning more about my experiences and challenges as a DIY blogger, or if you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Also, feel free to share your own experiences and tips! If want to know more about me and my background, visit my About page.
Alla prossima!