what's your store progress with Pinterest

[digitalpri]

Thinking of getting started with Pinterest. How many of you use Pinterest to promote your store and what success have you got to date?

[Barbara]

It's been worth it for me. It hasn't made me rich by any means, but being in the Promoter program, those self-referrals I get periodically make it worthwhile.

It takes a while to set it up to your liking, but after that, it's such an easy platform to post your own and other people's products to.

Go for it, but be sure to give it a lot of time before you decide it isn't worth it.

Colorwash's Home

[CrazyMermaid]

Two years ago I was making great money with referrals, this year it has been almost zero. My Pinterest traffic has also dried up. Pinterest polices change with the wind and it has always been inconsistent for me. 

[WHS_Designs]

I use Pinterest exclusively to promote my Z stores. Success has been rather mediocre ... 65 referrals over the past 7 years. 

[Barbara]

I promote only my own products too, but I've had 19 referrals this year so far. However, that's 19 I wouldn't have had otherwise. Add the fact of being in the Promoter program, and it's at least a week's worth of groceries. Glass half full.

One thing I've had proven to me over and over again is the need to keep freshening up my Pinterest boards. Adding, rearranging.

Colorwash's Home

[digitalpri]

How many zazzle products you've pinned to date?

[Barbara]

It's impossible to count. I've been using Pinterest for at least 12 years, and over that time, I've pinned, unpinned, altered, and so forth. Checking, all I can say is I currently have 3130 pins, some of them not even being for Zazzle.

Colorwash's Home

[waterart]

I use pinterest but I can't even get any traffic to the pinned products let alone referrals.

[Barbara]

@waterart  It seems each board needs to be specific, both in its content and its title. For instance, a board for "Posters" is a nonstarter. Instead, it has to be, say, "Violin Music Posters." Huge collections don't seem to generate traffic at all. Also, it helps to run a search on keywords and titles to see what's out there. If there's a lot, we have to change things so the board seems more unique. Boards like "Zazzle pillows" die before they're born.

That's all I've got, but it may be something.

Colorwash's Home

[PacifierCity]

Pinterest works.  I won't disclose how many accounts I have, but there are many.  I promote my own products and others. 

Initial success won't come quick.  Usually 3 months or more for your first referral/sale.  And that happens if you consistently pin 5 -15 pins a day, everyday.  Vary your pin types.  Use all the different types of pins that P allows.  Follow others.  Have non product boards that fit into your accounts theme...etc.  Check out Nifty, many of us use it.  There is so much more... but if your question is, is it worth it?  Yes, it is.  Or it can be.  But it does take a bit of work and consistent effort.

PC

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[Barbara]

@PacifierCity  Your rule of creating multiple pins a day is likely a really smart thing to do. I had it brought home to me during a few days when I was cleaning up the mess I'd created. I deleted some boards, created new ones, and added pins. Shortly after that, my traffic increased and I made some referrals. I haven't done a great deal on Pinterest lately, and though I get the periodic referral, it isn't like it was after I'd done all that work.

Colorwash's Home

[PacifierCity]

@Barbara  It is what was taught to me.  Having to do that to have success is one of the reasons that I don't just promote my own products.  I can't produce enough at a good to high quality product and pin so much everyday.  I don't always live up to my own guidance, especially across all my P accounts, but when I do I see results.  I actually am still seeing results from accounts that I've ignored for a bit.  Pins are evergreen, meaning they live forever... so the more you have out there the more likely you are to earn from them.

There are other strategies too but I have not had the same success pursuing them... at least not yet.

But generally speaking P is always looking for the next new thing or trend.  So give them something new to show everyone.  Everyday if possible...

PC

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[digitalpri]

I know my ques is dumb, but I'm new on zazzle and wanna make things clear. Can we pin directly from the pinterest button available on the product page If I'm already in the referral program or do I have to create a pin from scratch and copy-paste the link from the options?

[PacifierCity]

@digitalpri  The basic answer is yes.  Z has things set up so that you get a link that includes your referral id.  If you seek more viewers and traffic for your pins, creating unique pin images that include your product will bring more eyes to the product.

PC

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[waterart]

What are unique pin images and how do you make them?

[PacifierCity]

@waterart 

First off, sorry I missed your question from many months back.

A unique pin is one that presents a unique, never before seen image.  When one clicks the P share button on Z they are given an image that will appear on P.  The first time that happens that image is a unique image.  When someone else uses the same image, it is not seen as unique.  As it is not unique, it will be shown by P less often.  So when you are the 10th, 50th or 100th person sharing the same image, it is not going to get the same amount of viewers and the very first pin of that image.

Note, that this is all about the image, not the product.  So you can create multiple pin images for the same product.  And you should.  Most bloggers will create 3 different pin images for their posts.  Why should it be any different for your product?  After a few months check which images/pins seem to be getting the best results and make 3 more.  At least 1 should be similar to the one that got the most views.  The other 2 should have a different presentation than any of the ones created before.  Then repeat in a few months.  This should give you good feedback on the look of the pins you create.

And how to make them... make them like you make any design, to the proper size and upload to P via their create a pin tool.

Better late than never...

PC

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[Kristine]

Since I started using Pinterest, they keep changing the algorithm and I am still learning about new ways to drive traffic to my stores. You are welcome to visit my Pinterest site Fashion Gift Ideas and see some of my boards. 

[Barbara]

You can pin directly from Zazzle's button. It includes your referral ID.

Colorwash's Home

[waterart]

 I noticed that many have multiple pinterest accounts, what is the advantage of that instead of just making a board within one account?

[Barbara]

I imagine people might choose to have separate accounts if they have wildly different types of pins. That way, they don't end up with a pinning potpourri.

Colorwash's Home

[PacifierCity]

@waterart 

It really depends on how you plan on using an account.  As Barbara notes one might have different accounts to keep different pins or themes from mixing.  Or one could be trying different approaches to using P via different accounts.  One might use one account for their products but another to promote other peoples products.  In my case it is all of the above...lol.  But it is a lot of work to keep up with them all.

PC

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[Westerngirl2]

I think boards with specific themes do better than general "anything goes" pins. For instance, I have a board for stuff that appeals to golfers, another one for kids' stuff, another one for dog lovers, etc. Folks search for specific interests, not general things. JMO.

[Susang6]

Pinterest is worth the time and the effort.  Presently when I search in Google SEO I can find many of my Zazzle product pins as a result I can see in my Zazzle store that the pins I share are getting many daily views. I am convinced that all of my traffic and sales are coming from Pinterest.

Once you start pinning daily you will enjoy it.  Join groups to get more product exposure.  If one of your followers repins your pin then reciprocate. You want your pins to be repinned because that pin is then viewed by more people.  

Your boards should be interesting and it's not good to do the same design over and over again, Pinterest likes new designs 

[minix267]

I would say most of my referral sales and many of my product views come via Pinterest. 

[1234Shine]

@Susang6 , @minix267 , @PacifierCity , @Barbara ,

What type of Pin do you mostly do, 'Idea Pin' or 'Quick Pin' (from the product page)?

[Susang6]

No idea pins such as showing them how to create a recipe or how to do a craft.   I do quick affiliate product pins by other designers to pretty theme boards.

[PacifierCity]

@1234Shine 

Mostly.... probably Nifty generated pins with frames.  But I do try and use every type, even ones you did not mention.  Any type that P lets you create plus my own stills and video.  Carousel pins can be fun too.  Idea pins can be kind of tough to create, but they usually get good first time views.  I also try and make sure that I save other peoples pins and I even post non product pins that I create... usually for blog posts, but sometimes just art that I find I like, or photos I like, etc...  Those of course go on non product boards.

While we think that P's purpose in our life is to promote and sell, P wants you to be part of their community.  So all your activity is important in whatever algorithm they use to determine what pins to show to others more often.  So over time, a well rounded account will perform better... or so my experience tells me...

PC

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[waterart]

What exactly is an "idea pin" and how does it differ from creating a pin?

[PacifierCity]

@waterart 

https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/create-idea-pins

and this is interesting: https://writingfromnowhere.com/pinterest-idea-pin-examples/ (100 idea pins to explore)

PC

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[Barbara]

I've been wondering off and on what an Idea Pin was, and now I know. It's intriguing and I may try one myself, assuming I come up with an idea. In the meantime, looking through "100 idea pins," I came across one that instantly inspired me to create a bit of decor for the house. Thanks for the links.

Colorwash's Home

[Brownielocks]

I have a Pinterest store and up until last year, it worked fine for promoting products.  Suddenly, I've noticed during this past year that if I post something on Pinterest, I'm lucky if I get 1 view.  Pinterest has suddenly become useless.