Pinterest Ads 101: A Complete Guide to Advertising on Pinterest for Marketers

Are you using Pinterest to market your products to its best?

With over 440 million people using it, Pinterest is a great spot for ads. 97% of searches are about new ideas. This makes it a top choice for those looking to promote their items. Nearly all users are thinking about buying something. That’s what makes it perfect for businesses.

Pinterest doesn’t need a lot of money at first ($5 is okay). It lets you pick goals for what you want to do with your ads. This can be to tell more people about your brand, get them thinking about your products, or get them to buy. You can advertise here without spending too much.

People spend about 34 minutes looking at Pinterest each time. This means they see ads longer than on other sites. You can pick who sees your ads based on what they like or search for. Pinterest helps make sure your ads get to the right people.

Plus, there are tools to check how well your ads are doing. You can see if they’re making more people buy your stuff. You can show your ads to people who have seen them before, or to new people who are like your usual customers. This can help your ads do better.

Why not try Pinterest for your business? We’ll show you how to get started. You’ll learn about different kinds of ads, how to pick who sees them, and how to do well with your ads on Pinterest.

Introduction to Advertising on Pinterest

Over 433 million people use Pinterest to look at pictures and find new ideas. This makes Pinterest great for people trying to get their business noticed. Many users go on Pinterest to decide what to buy. So, if you advertise on Pinterest, you can show your brand to lots of potential customers.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is like a search engine but for pictures. People can find fun ideas for clothes, makeup, decorating their homes, or places to travel. Almost a billion videos are watched there every day. This shows how much people like looking at images and videos. In fact, 85% of people on Pinterest prefer posts that have pictures.

Why Consider Pinterest for Advertising?

Here are some reasons why you should think about advertising on Pinterest:

• 83% of users say they’ve bought something after seeing it on Pinterest.
• People who use Pinterest buy twice as much stuff as those who don’t.
• Stores see their ads do twice as well on Pinterest than other social media.

Mixing free and paid ads on Pinterest can lead to more sales and better returns. Businesses see three times the sales and double the profit from ads this way. It helps you reach more people, build a loyal following, and get more visitors to your site.

The Power of Targeted Visual Content

Advertising on Pinterest lets you use a lot of pictures to get people interested in your products. Brands can become part of what users are looking for, which can get them more involved and more loyal to your brand.

With tools like the visual search, video player, and business ads, you can make very targeted marketing campaigns on Pinterest. This is why more and more people are choosing to advertise on Pinterest. Its advertising reach grows by 6.2% every quarter, faster than on Facebook.

Setting Up Your Pinterest Business Account

Setting up a Pinterest Business account is smart for any brand. It helps boost your online marketing. You get tools to make your promotions better and reach more people.

Benefits of a Business Account

A business account on Pinterest brings you important features:

• Pinterest Analytics lets you see what your audience likes, helping in marketing.
• You can run ads to target specific people, increasing your brand’s visibility.
• Rich Pins show more details about your products, making them stand out more.
• You can schedule when your Pins go live, ensuring a steady online presence.

Steps to Create a Pinterest Business Account

Want to start using a Pinterest Business account? Here’s how to begin:

1. Register Your Account: Go to Pinterest’s site and sign up for a business account. Use your email or an existing profile.
2. Furnish Business Details: Fill in info like your brand’s name, website, and a quick description about what you do.
3. Verify Your Website: Prove you own your site to get access to Pinterest Analytics. This makes your marketing better.
4. Start Creating Pins and Boards: Make eye-catching posts and group them into boards that your audience will love.

With a Pinterest Business account, you can see how well your content does and target ads better. Since many people use Pinterest, including Gen Z and men, it’s a key way to get your brand out there. Using these tools will help you grow and connect more with others.

Understanding Pinterest Ad Types

It’s key to know the different Pinterest ads for successful ads. There’s Promoted Pins, Shopping Ads, Carousel Ads, and Collection Ads. Marketers can find the perfect ad to fit their goals. Let’s take a closer look at each type to see how they work best.

Promoted Pins

Promoted Pins help brands get noticed on Pinterest. They show up in many places like the home and search feeds. These pins increase user interest because of Pinterest’s focus on discovery. Add them to your ads to boost your brand’s visibility.

Shopping Ads

Shopping Ads change how shopping looks on Pinterest. They show a product with its price and description. 83% of weekly US Pinners buy things they see on Pinterest. These ads can triple sales and double the money made from ads. They’re a must for online shops.

Carousel Ads

Carousel Ads let users swipe through multiple product images. This is great for sharing many products. REI upped their clicks by 32% with these ads. They make for interesting stories that keep users engaged.

Collection Ads

Collection Ads offer a full shopping story. They combine a big image or video with smaller product shots. This setup makes users more likely to buy. It’s great for getting shoppers’ attention on Pinterest.

Idea Pins and Try on Product Pins

Idea Pins and Try on Product Pins are all about interaction. They use stories and AR to show products. Since most users hunt for shopping ideas on Pinterest, these pins can really influence buying choices.

Here are some important points about different ad types on Pinterest:

Using the right Pinterest ads can make your campaigns better. They can get more people involved and lead to more sales.

How to Create Effective Pinterest Ad Campaigns

For a good Pinterest campaign, know your ad goals and use the best strategies for your audience. Pinterest has over 450 million people each month. This is a great chance for companies to show their products to many people.

Choosing the Right Pinterest Ad Objective

Start by picking the best ad goals. This will tie your campaign to what you want for your business. You might want to make people know your brand, visit your site, or buy more. For example, Brand A got 20% more people to know them in just three months. They used Pinterest to show their eco-friendly cleaning items. And Company B got a 30% rise in people joining their classes. They aimed at women wanting to be healthy and fit.

Setting Up Your Ad Campaign

After setting your goals, there are important steps to follow. Use great, interesting pictures and videos. Company D saw a big jump in people clicking their ads. They used nice images of their food. Also, check Pinterest Analytics to learn about your audience. Brand E increased their website visits by 50%. They did this by sharing DIY house improvements.

Think well about how you bid on ads. Brand G got more ad views and more sales by changing their bidding strategy. They moved from CPC to CPM. Also, working with influencers, like Company L, can really help. It can make people more interested in your ads and bring in more money.

Choose the best ad goals and set up things the right way. This will make your Pinterest ad campaign a hit. Keep looking at how well you’re doing and make changes to be better.

Targeting Audiences on Pinterest

Pinterest’s ad platform targets audiences well. It mixes customer info with how users behave on Pinterest. This helps put up ads when users are most ready to engage.

On Pinterest, targeting can focus on who sees the ads. It can be by age, gender, where they live, and the language they speak. This way, ads connect with the right people. It’s great for showing age or gender-specific products.

Interest and Keyword Targeting

Pinterest goes deep with interest and keyword targeting. It looks at what users like and search for. This helps match ads with what people love. Using at least 25 good keywords is key for success.

Actalike Audiences

Actalike audiences, also like lookalikes on other sites, are great for ads. It lets you target new users like your current fans. This means more effective ads that still feel personal.

Another smart tool on Pinterest is Expanded Targeting. It helps reach more people without changing key details like gender. It’s proven to boost your ad’s clicks and budget use, making it a very useful feature.

Using good targeting methods can boost your Pinterest ads. Combine them with checking your ad stats. This way, your ads will be seen by the right people, helping you make more sales.

Leveraging Visual Content for Ad Success

Visual content is key for successful ads on Pinterest. This platform has over 400 million users every month. It is popular for its focus on images and videos, helping ads catch people’s eyes.

So, if you want your ad to do well, use great images and videos. This will help your ad reach more people and get more likes.

Best Practices for Pinterest Images

When making images for Pinterest, quality is important. People often spend 22 minutes a day on the site. So, use bright and clear images to catch their interest.

It’s best to use a 2:3 ratio for your images. This shape fits well on Pinterest and looks good. Also, add keywords to your image’s title and description. This will help more people see your post.

Furniture stores can use Pinterest to show their items in different setups. This appeals to people looking for home decoration ideas. Adding user-made content can make your Pinterest board more trusted.

Creating Engaging Videos

Videos are great for getting noticed on Pinterest. People on Pinterest are often ready to buy. So, make your videos short, about 6 to 15 seconds long, to keep them interested.

It’s a good idea to add a clear cover image to your video. This helps people know what it’s about right away. Also, tell people what to do after watching, like saving or sharing your video.

• Video Length: 6-15 seconds
• Compelling Cover Image
• Call to Action for interaction
• Weekly Publication

Look at Pinterest Analytics to see how your ads are doing. This will help you make better images and videos. By using the right visuals, you can build your brand and sell more online.

Analyzing Ad Performance with Pinterest Analytics

Watching how your ads do on Pinterest is key. It helps in making better ad plans. Looking at the numbers gives smart tips to improve your ads.

Key Metrics to Track

For Pinterest, keep an eye on these big metrics for performance tracking:

• Impressions: Number of times your Pin was seen.
• Engagements: The total interactions, from saving to clicking to zooming in.
• Saves: How many times your Pin was saved to a board.
• Pin Clicks: Shows how many clicked on your Pin, interested in what you offer.
• Outbound Clicks: Counts the clicks out to your website from the Pin.
• Total Audience: The unique viewers of your Pin.
• Engaged Audience: Those who interacted with your Pins.

These metrics show how your ads are doing and connecting with folks. They are key to making your ad plans better.

Using Insights to Improve Campaigns

Pinterest analytics help you fine-tune your ads. You can see what your viewers like by looking at numbers such as clicks, saved Pins, and more.

On the Overview page, you get updates on how your ads are doing. You can see trends over time and which of your Pins and boards do the best. Plus, you can filter the data by date, type of content, and device for a closer look.

But, keep in mind, some detailed data might not update in real time. It may be slow with certain audience info or content filters. Make sure to check and update data regularly. Save data to CSV files for close, deep looks later.

By keeping an eye on these insights, you can change your Pinterest ads quickly. This can help you make ads that really work and lead to success.

Budgeting and Optimizing Your Pinterest Ads

Running ads on Pinterest? Focus on your budgeting, how much each click costs, and getting good returns. We’ll look at Cost Per Click (CPC) and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), ways to bid, and how to spend on ads wisely.

Cost Per Click (CPC) and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

With the CPC model on Pinterest, you only pay when people click your ads. It’s vital to aim for a good ROAS to make sure your ad spending is worth it. Tools like Performance+ can help by using AI to make setting up campaigns easier. They cut down the number of steps by half. Performance+ also lets you use flexible budgets, which makes your ad spending smarter.

Bidding Strategies

To keep ad costs in check on Pinterest, use smart bidding strategies. Performance+ helps with this by bidding on ads to get the best results without overspending. It can automatically update bidding to aim for more valuable clicks and improve your ROAS. With Performance+, you can use UTM tracking for your pins and have ad groups set up for you. This makes it easier to adjust bidding strategies for different kinds of ads.

Ad Spend Optimization

To spend on ads the best way, always test and tweak your campaigns. Try using AI for better ad visuals and formats to draw more people in. Performance+ also work with Pinterest’s Flexible Daily Budgets. This means you can roll over money you didn’t spend and adjust your spending limits. Having these options helps you make the most out of your ad budget. It also stops ads from stopping too soon or not reaching enough people.

1. Adjust budgets based on daily performance and audience interaction.
2. Utilize automated bidding strategies to minimize manual adjustments.
3. Monitor key metrics such as CPC and ROAS to ensure targeted spend.

Here’s how making better choices in ad spending can help:

In the end, knowing how to budget, bid smarter, and track costs for Pinterest ads will boost your campaign’s success.

Case Studies: Successful Pinterest Ad Campaigns

Looking at several Pinterest case studies shows how to win at ads on this visual platform. Marketers learn effective tactics for big consumer interest and return on investment.

Example 1: Fashion Brand Success

Fashion brands use Pinterest’s looks to make their ads stand out. A case study saw ads getting back 4.82x what they spent and sales jumping 250%. After some new campaigns, they got 6.9x their ad money within a month. This success kept up for six months, showing an average return of 4.82x.

The brand did even better by taking out some ads and saw higher returns. The odd way people shop on Pinterest over Cyber Weekend made spiking sales. This helps show why 78% of the top online shops from 2013 are still on Pinterest. Companies like Nordstrom, with millions of followers, prove how good planning on Pinterest pays off in ad success and happy shoppers.

Example 2: Beauty Brand Innovations

Beauty brands have found big success on Pinterest too. Look at Sephora with 300,000 fans. People on Pinterest buy 15 times more Sephora than on Facebook. A brand saw a 536% jump in site visits from Pinterest, and their ads made $10k in sales with over 8.3 million views. This got them a 5.7x return, marking off a win for their ads.

Petplan, a pet insurance brand, also did well on Pinterest. With 28,000 fans, they did better than on Twitter. This led to 12.5% more quotes. It shows how focusing on Pinterest can really boost business.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Pinterest Advertising

Marketers can make many mistakes in Pinterest advertising. They miss using SEO in their descriptions. This means they don’t add the right keywords people search for. Adding these in your profile and board names can help more people find your content. If you don’t, your reach can be much smaller.

Pinterest’s analytics tools also get overlooked. They show important data like pins and clicks. Using this data helps make your ads better. Not paying attention to it means missing out on chances to improve your ad strategy.

Forgetting Pinterest’s unique purpose is a big mistake too. People come here for ideas and sometimes to shop. 85 percent have bought something after seeing a pin they liked. Knowing this, and using the right type of content, can stop you from making bad ad decisions. For example, using short videos can catch more people’s attention.

Just showing your products and not interacting with others is also a problem. You could lose followers this way. Pinterest says to focus on fresh ideas from different creators. Here’s a look at how it’s different:

Finally, not making your images fit Pinterest well is a common mistake. Pinterest is best for long, vertical pictures. The platform is designed to show these well. Using images that don’t fit this way can make your ad less effective.

Conclusion

Advertising on Pinterest is great for companies wanting to use pretty pictures to promote things. With over 450 million folks looking around every month, your ads can really get noticed. You can use different ad kinds, like Promoted Pins, to show off what you’re selling. This helps you turn looks into buys.

First, make a Pinterest business account to get started. This gives you special tools to measure how well your ads do. You can see things like how many folks saw your ad and if they liked it. It’s also wise to learn about the different ads available. They can make your ads more interesting to people.

You can target your ads to folks who are most likely to buy. This means your ad money is used smartly. Pinterest made over $2 billion from ads in just 2021. Half of its users have bought something because they saw an ad. So, the chance to do well with your ads is high.

Always make your ads better and keep an eye on Pinterest’s updates to do well. This keeps your ad game strong and helps you make more sales.