5 Pinterest Hacks That Will Increase Your Traffic

The landscape for bloggers and small businesses has drastically changed over the last few years. With the rise of more social media platforms comes the stark reality that we, as consumers and creators, are being pulled in too many directions. Perfect case in point, Pinterest. It used to be my main traffic driver, and with the rise of TikTok and reels, my click-through rate has suffered. As a consumer, it’s great; you can typically get everything you need within 25 seconds from a Reel. So why would you click over? But as a creator who relies on a blog as the primary source of traffic for advertisements and income, this can be frustrating. However, I also knew when I started in this online space fifteen years ago, that things change at the speed of light, much like trends.

So, what to do? First, I hired someone when I realized I couldn’t keep up with all the platforms, and it seemed like Tailwind was an easy thing to delegate. I say easy because I created the content, and my VA (who was amazing) would schedule pins and occasionally create graphics. The other platform felt like I needed to be behind the wheel from start to finish. If I’m being honest, I put more value on creating and sharing content on my Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. I’d take classes that emphasized Pinterest above all else, because it’s also a built-in SEO driver. But then it seemed like creators without a blog and Pinterest presence were kicking butt without it. The lesson I learned, swim in your own lane. What’s right for someone else may not be right for you. It’s tough out there with all the advice and success stories to decipher a code that works for you.

The biggest mistake was taking my eye off the prize, and in my case, it was Pinterest. But like many things, it’s never too late to learn and shift the algorithm. I spent the last four weeks working on Pinterest. I shifted time away from other platforms. With just 5 Pinterest hacks, I was able to increase my traffic. I went from being deep in the red, at -20%, to 10%, essentially achieving a 30% gain in outbound clicks, saves, and Impressions in just four weeks. Here’s what I did and what you can do moving forward.

1. Shift, or rather, balance your focus. If all your efforts on other platforms are stagnant, then what do you have to lose? I was so focused on growing my TikTok that I would spend hours creating original content, which was only seen by a few hundred people. To say it was disappointing is an understatement. After January, I saw a significant shift on both Instagram and TikTok, and I knew it was time to refocus.
2. Learn Tailwind and master it. My VA took care of Tailwind, and she only worked four hours a month on it. Tailwind needs some TLC, and when I took it over, I was shocked by how easy it was to learn. I had 4-5 pins scheduled per day at most. Some days there were only 2-3. Now I have it scheduled for the next few months with 9-15 pins per day. It takes a little time on the front end, but it’s worth it because then you can coast. And to think I was going to cancel it. BIG mistake that would have been.

1. Make bold, eye-catching graphics. My website designer has been telling me this for way too long. I honestly didn’t think it would make a difference, but then I scrolled as a consumer and realized I click through on images where I know what I’m going to get when I do. There was also a design blogger who had 20% of my followers, and she was getting way more traffic. When I visited her homepage. BINGO, bold graphics. I make mine in Canva and PicMonkey.

1. Make sure your title, description, and Alt text are entered. This is big for SEO. For example, I recently revisited an old paint pin and entered all the paint names, because as a homeowner and design blogger, specific paint colors are what I search for most. The same applies to a sofa post I made. I went back in and added the sofa’s name and the source.
2. Pin for fun every day. Or at least 4-5 times a week. My presumption is that the more you use it, like the other platforms, the more they will reward you. Additionally, the more you use it, the more your own pins will appear on your FYP. While I’m pinning just for fun, I’m also repinning my own content.

I hope these tips help. I know they made a HUGE difference to me. If you aren’t already, I’d LOVE for you to follow me. Happy Day, friend!