Pinterest as an effective marketing tool

[twovagabondsvintage]

After a two year hiatus from my esty shop, I'm just getting started back up. Yesterday I was browsing through my shop stats and holy cow, I have had literally hundreds of hits in my empty shop over the past 12 months. When I investigated the source, it was primarily Pinterest pins of old, sold items in my shop. That's pretty incredible to me! Anyway, my question is, what is the most effective way to utilize pinterest as an effective marketing tool. I have a personal pinterest page. Should I just occasionally add in some of my listings to my pins or should I create a separate page exclusively for my shop?I definitely don't want to get spammy but I'm realizing that pinterest is an amazing tool to use. If anyone has suggestions, I would very much appreciate input. :)

[RaquelManuela]

I use pointers! and I agree, its a great tool. I pin thing I love and I also pin my own products and blog posts. I have gotten some traffic form there. I love it.

For me it's a great way to check what images are working and not working. What catches the eye. :)

[twovagabondsvintage]

Thanks Raquel. That's kind of what I was thinking... a mixture of things I like, similar styles and my own pins.

[JMSjewelryandgifts]

That's pretty much what I do, except I have only one follower on Pinterest. Any tips on getting Pinterest followers?

[twovagabondsvintage]

What's your link Jen?

[Former_Member]

To get followers, fave and follow others

[JMSjewelryandgifts]

pinterest.com/solatara

Kristal, what is yours?

[Former_Member]

I just started my Pinterest account up a couple weeks ago so I don't have much advise yet. There are a lot of articles written about how to use Pinterest as a marketing tool. They have it broken down into how to get more followers, how to pin without being spammy, etc. Just google and you should find a plethora of articles. :D

[twovagabondsvintage]

http://www.pinterest.com/kristalpacheco/

I actually started out doing mostly shop related pins but then I added kid stuff and personal stuff so now I am feeling like it's just a big melting pot of stuff!I

[PrairiePrimitives]

If you're using your Pinterest account for marketing, it needs to be a business account. You can convert your personal account to a business account in just a couple of minutes or you can open a second account for your business. Unless you have highly personal or confidential pins on your personal account, I would recommend converting to a business account because then there will be other reasons for people to find your pins ... so more followers! (If you do have personal or confidential pins on your personal account, you could always move them to a secret board which nobody else can see!)

Google this: Convert personal pinterest account to business ... and you should find the instructions to do just that.

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

I have a business account for Pintrest.

For me, I did create several boards of what my products were (I made them based on what the products were, for example: hats, capes, pins, etc).

Than I created other boards that are related to what I make, but what I really like, like, "Knitting Patterns I love," and "Sewing Patterns I love." I also made one for all the events we have. This way, your not completely spamming your customers with just the items you make.

Also, when you add a bunch of stuff to your pintrest, the more followers you will get. Trust me, I saw a big jump in my followers when I started using it more frequently, on both my personal and business accounts.

Below is the link to my pintrest account so you can see what I am talking about.

http://www.pinterest.com/3colon7/

[twovagabondsvintage]

Thank you Tana and Nikki! I really love the idea of converting since I already have a following on that account... And the secret boards for my personal stuff... Brilliant!

[RaquelManuela]

Excellent advise Tana! That's exactly what I am going to do with mine: www.pinterest.com/raquelmanuela

[Former_Member]

until now I'm still confused with how to use pinterest. I pin my product and make the board but seem no one see my board. Anyone can advice me how to use it? thanks.

[twovagabondsvintage]

I really love your boards Raquel! Very pretty and interesting.

[GirlpowerKnits]

For pinterest is there a way to verify your web address on etsy?

[twovagabondsvintage]

Well it seems as though you can't switch pins to a secret board once you have them on a public board. :(

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/convert_public_pinterest_board_into_private_secret_board/

I can't bear to just delete all my recipes and kid activities so I'll have to figure out a different way. For now I just moved them all to the bottom of my many boards!

Siriphorn, post your link and I'd be happy to help you with what I can!

[NataBurgos]

I really love pinterest, I just stared moving my shop related account this week and I think is really beautiful and visual.
Here is my account: http://www.pinterest.com/NataBurgosBags/

I just started but I really like this pinterest site!

[RaquelManuela]

Thanks Kristal!

I tried this once. Create a second secret board, re-pin all of the pins from your original board into the secret board. Make sure all the pins now appear on the new board, then delete the old public board.

Good luck! Let me know if this worked.

[Former_Member]

I'm also giving the Pinterest business account a shot, though, I am frustrated it will only link to my personal Facebook page, rather than the business Facebook page:

www.pinterest.com/detraditions

[PrairiePrimitives]

You're welcome Kristal & Raquel!

Emily, no, because we can't use code here.

[Former_Member]

So interesting!! I haven't wanted to convert my pinterest acct to a business one because I didn't want to have it look like it was nothing but "sell, sell, sell" but I see that I can convert and let it work for me

[Former_Member]

I forgot---
Thanks!! For all the great information!

[NeatoKeen]

Kristal, I, too, was shocked and pleasantly surprised at how much traffic that I was receiving from my Pinterest boards. The answer to your question about how I use my shop items on my Pinterest boards is both ways.

I have two out of 28 boards that are specifically Etsy boards (one is a sampling of items from my shop - not everything - and the other is a board of some of my favorites from Etsy). I also occasionally integrate some of my items into my other boards e.g. graphics on a cool tea towel onto my Mad for Mid Century or a "new" listing of a gift wrap onto my Vintage Wrapping Papers board.

I think it's important not to be overly spammy on Pinterest. It's blatantly obvious if you are. I try to convey my aesthetic and personality through my Pinterest boards. If people are intrigued enough, they will click through to my shop. Pinterest has lead to some major sales for me which is wonderful, but I pin often because it's so much fun...and to a crazy collector like me, it's much better to collect things visually on Pinterest than in real life!

I wish you luck, Kristal. I will follow you! Here is my Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/neatokeenetsy/

[PennyBirchWilliams]

Good thread! I'm trying to build my pinterest boards and learn to use them for promoting my shop without being spammy, so I appreciate these responses. Neatokeen has great boards! I'll be a follower and learn from you and the other experienced pinterest users. Thanks.