If you’re a small or medium-sized business looking to increase visibility, drive traffic, and boost sales, it’s time to stop overlooking Pinterest.

Yes, Pinterest.

While platforms like TikTok and Instagram get a lot of attention, Pinterest has quietly become one of the most effective tools for ecommerce, lifestyle branding, and product discovery. With over 500 million monthly active users globally and over 5.1 million users in Australia in 2025, Pinterest is a busy, bustling social network. And before you think it’s all about pretty pictures, you should know that Pinterest ads reach 20.1% of Aussies and 89% use the app for purchasing – especially Gen Z. So, it’s no longer just a place for recipes and wedding inspiration—it’s where people go to shop.

Whether you’re running an online store, service-based business, or selling digital products, Pinterest could be the missing piece in your digital marketing strategy.

In this guide, we’ll break down who should be on Pinterest, how to start selling, how Pinterest Ads work, and how to create content that converts.

Let’s dive in!

What is Pinterest and Why Does It Matter in 2025?

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine. Users search, save, and plan around their interests using Pins (images or videos linked to content) and Boards (collections of Pins). What makes Pinterest different from social platforms is its intent-driven nature. People aren’t just scrolling to kill time—they’re actively researching and planning future purchases.

In fact, more than 80 percent of weekly Pinterest users in 2025 say they’ve purchased something based on what they saw on the platform.

And unlike other social channels where posts disappear quickly, a great Pin can continue bringing in traffic and sales for months—even years. That’s why Pinterest is one of the best platforms for long-term, low-maintenance ROI.

Who Should Be on Pinterest?

Pinterest isn’t just for bloggers and craft stores. If your business has a visual element and solves a problem or inspires action, there’s a space for you on Pinterest.

Industries that perform particularly well include:

• Home decor and interiors
• Gyms and fitness coaches
• Educators and course creators
• DIY and handmade products
• Fashion and accessories
• Skincare, beauty, and wellness
• Food and beverage (especially packaged goods, recipes, and how-to content)
• Gifts, stationery, and event services
• Personal development coaches, mentorship providers, and business coaching
• Digital products like templates, printables, or courses
• Travel and lifestyle services

Even if you’re a service-based business, Pinterest can be a powerful tool for educating, inspiring, and generating leads through how-to content, infographics, and case studies.

Getting Started: How to Sell on Pinterest in 2025

Setting your business up on Pinterest properly is key to success. Here’s how to get started:

1. Create a Business Account

Sign up at Pinterest for Business. A business profile gives you access to analytics, product tagging, and advertising tools.

2. Claim Your Website

This verifies your site and allows Pinterest to track performance, giving you better data and visibility across the platform.

3. Install the Pinterest Tag

The Pinterest Tag tracks website activity, helping you measure ad performance and set up conversion tracking.

4. Upload a Product Catalogue

If you have an ecommerce store (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc.), connect your product feed so Pinterest can pull in product details like price, stock, and description.

5. Activate the Shop Tab

Once your catalogue is connected, you can create a Shop tab on your profile that acts like a curated storefront for your audience.

Creating Pins That Drive Traffic and Sales

Pinterest is highly visual, so your content needs to be both eye-catching and informative. Here are best practices for creating effective Pins in 2025:

• Use vertical images in a 2:3 ratio (1000 x 1500 pixels is ideal)
• Add overlay text to explain what the image is about quickly
• Keep it clean and high-resolution—Pinterest rewards quality
• Focus on outcomes: Instead of just showing a product, show how it improves the customer’s life
• Include a strong call to action: Examples include “Shop now,” “Learn how,” or “Get the guide”
• Optimise titles and descriptions using keywords your customers are likely to search for
• Add subtle branding to build recognition, but avoid placing logos in the lower third (where Pinterest may crop)

Pinterest users are planners, not passive browsers. Think like your audience and create Pins that answer their questions, offer ideas, or inspire action.

Organic vs Paid Pinterest Marketing

Pinterest can work for you with or without ad spend, but the best results typically come from using both organic content and Pinterest Ads together in a targeted social media strategy.

Organic Growth on Pinterest

Organic content on Pinterest continues to perform well in 2025. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, where content disappears quickly, Pins are indexed by Pinterest’s search engine and stay relevant long after posting.

Tips for organic growth:

• Post consistently: Aim for 5–10 fresh Pins per week
• Use keyword-rich titles on Boards and Pins
• Create Idea Pins: These multi-slide Pins (similar to Stories) often get higher engagement
• Link to high-value content like blogs, product pages, or lead magnets
• Join group Boards and collaborate with creators in your niche to expand your reach

Pinterest isn’t about followers—it’s about reach. With the right keywords and visuals, your Pins can be discovered by new audiences every day.

Pinterest Ads: The Fast-Track to Sales

If you want to scale faster or promote new offers, Pinterest advertising is a cost-effective and powerful option—especially for small businesses with product-based offerings.

In 2025, Pinterest Ads include:

1. Standard Ads
These are promoted versions of your regular Pins that appear in home feeds, search results, and category pages. Great for boosting visibility on evergreen content, blogs, or product features.

2. Video Ads
These autoplay in-feed and grab attention quickly. Use them to demonstrate how your product works, showcase customer results, or share short educational content.

3. Carousel Ads
Feature multiple images in a single swipeable ad. Ideal for showing different product variants, a step-by-step tutorial, or a product bundle.

4. Shopping Ads
Automatically pull from your product catalogue to create shoppable Pins. These ads display up-to-date pricing and availability and lead directly to the product page.

5. Collection Ads
Start with a hero image and display several related product images underneath. These work well for lookbooks, seasonal collections, or themed gift guides.

Pinterest Ads are ideal for reaching people at the beginning of their buyer journey. They allow you to build brand awareness while nudging users toward discovery and conversion. Try out our FREE social ad benchmarking tool to help you set your budget and expected ROI.

Targeting Options on Pinterest in 2025

Pinterest’s ad platform allows for detailed targeting, including:

• Interests and categories (e.g. parenting, skincare, minimalist home design)
• Keywords (yes, like Google Ads—perfect for product searches)
• Demographics including location, age, and gender
• Custom audiences from your email list or site traffic
• Actalike audiences (Pinterest’s version of lookalikes)

What makes Pinterest different is that it’s intent-based. You’re targeting users who are already planning a purchase, not just killing time on social media.

Creating High-Converting Pinterest Ads

If you’re going to pay to promote Pins, make sure they’re worth the click.

Here’s how to create Pinterest Ads that convert in 2025:

• Understand user intent: Create different creatives for discovery, research, and decision-making stages
• Use compelling visuals and videos that feel native to the Pinterest feed (don’t overdesign or make it look too much like a traditional ad)
• Keep text minimal but clear: Tell the user what to expect if they click, and make sure you have killer descriptions
• Test different formats: A/B test different creatives, headlines, and CTAs to find what performs
• Include product tags on ads so users can click directly to the listing

You don’t need a huge budget to get started. Even with $10–20 per day, you can collect valuable data and generate traffic that leads to conversions.

Advanced Tips for Pinterest Success

Ready to take your Pinterest game to the next level? Here are a few extras that can help your content go further in 2025:

• Use video strategically: Pinterest users are watching more video content than ever. Short, informative clips often outperform static Pins.
• Highlight seasonal trends: Create content ahead of key seasons or holidays. Pinterest users search for Christmas, summer events, and back-to-school content months in advance.
• Lean into Pinterest Predicts: Every year, Pinterest publishes trend forecasts based on search data. Align your content with what’s predicted to perform.
• Use analytics to refine your strategy: Monitor your top Pins, boards, and outbound clicks. Repurpose what’s working.
• Repurpose existing content: Turn Instagram posts, blog images, or customer photos into Pins with minimal effort.

What Metrics Should You Track?

Once you’re up and running, Pinterest Analytics gives you insights to improve and scale. Keep an eye on KPIs:

• Impressions: How often your Pins appear in search or feeds
• Saves: How many users saved your content to their own boards
• Clicks: Who clicked through to your site
• Conversions: Sales or sign-ups (tracked using the Pinterest Tag)
• Top-performing Pins: What types of content are generating the most results

Use this data to guide future content, boost top-performing Pins, and refine your ad campaigns.

Should Your Business Be on Pinterest?

If your business has something to show—whether it’s a product, a solution, or an idea—Pinterest is worth your time. It’s not about going viral. It’s about being visible where people are actively looking for what you offer.

With its low competition compared to other platforms, intent-driven audience, and long content lifespan, Pinterest remains one of the most underrated digital sales tools available to small businesses in 2025.

Want to Hit the Ground Running?

At Digital Freak, we specialise in helping small and medium-sized businesses build practical, high-performing Pinterest strategies—from profile setup and product tagging to Pin design, content creation, and ad management.

If you’re ready to turn Pinterest into a steady stream of traffic and sales, we’d love to help.

Book a free strategy call with Digital Freak and let’s map out a plan to grow your business with Pinterest.

FAQs

Written by

Megha Jain - Social Media & Ads Specialist

Prolific digital marketer with a passion for designing & beating the former "best yet". I write stories, create marketing campaigns, perform SEO and manage social media inside out. Passionate about leveraging cutting-edge techniques, I thrive in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Let's connect and innovate together!