How To Use Pinterest To Drive Website Traffic And Sales

In today’s digital landscape, small businesses need more than just a website to thrive—they need a strategy to attract visitors and convert them into customers. While having a well-designed website is the foundation, leveraging platforms like Pinterest can significantly amplify your reach and revenue. Pinterest, with its 518 million monthly active users as of 2023, is a visual discovery engine that offers small businesses a unique opportunity to showcase products, inspire customers, and drive traffic to their websites.

Here’s how small businesses can harness Pinterest effectively, with expert insights inspired by McKinney's Website Design, a small business website design specialist known for crafting custom-designed, affordable websites.

Why Pinterest Matters for Small Businesses

Unlike other social media platforms focused on real-time engagement, Pinterest is a search-driven platform where users actively seek ideas, inspiration, and products. From home décor to fashion, recipes to DIY projects, Pinterest users—80% of whom are women—often have purchase intent. In fact, Pinterest reports that 97% of top searches on the platform are unbranded, meaning users are open to discovering new businesses rather than just seeking out big names. For small businesses, this levels the playing field, offering a chance to compete with larger brands through creativity and strategy.

A professionally designed website is your digital storefront, and companies like McKinney's Website Design specialize in creating custom, affordable websites tailored to small business needs. Pairing a stunning website with a smart Pinterest strategy can turn casual browsers into loyal customers. Here’s how to make it happen.

Tips for Using Pinterest to Drive Traffic and Sales

1. Optimize Your Pinterest Profile

   • Start by setting up a Pinterest Business account (it’s free!) and claim your website. This links your site to your Pinterest profile, enabling analytics and boosting credibility.

   • Use your business name and include keywords in your bio, such as “handmade jewelry” or “sustainable home goods,” to make your profile discoverable.

   • Add a professional logo and a link to your website—designed, perhaps, by McKinney's Website Design—to ensure visitors know where to shop.

2. Create High-Quality, Vertical Pins

   • Pinterest favors tall, vertical images (a 2:3 aspect ratio, like 1000x1500 pixels) because they stand out in users’ feeds. Invest in eye-catching visuals featuring your products or services.

   • Use bold colors, clear text overlays, and lifestyle imagery that shows your product in action. For example, if you sell handmade candles, pin an image of them glowing on a cozy dining table.

   • McKinney's Website Design emphasizes that your website’s aesthetic should align with your Pinterest pins for a seamless brand experience—consistency builds trust.

3. Leverage Keywords and Descriptions

   • Pinterest is a search engine, so keyword optimization is key. Research trending terms related to your niche (e.g., “small business gift ideas” or “eco-friendly décor”) using Pinterest’s search bar and include them in your pin titles, descriptions, and board names.

   • Write detailed descriptions (100-200 words) that naturally incorporate keywords and a call-to-action, like “Visit our website for exclusive offers!” Link directly to relevant product pages or blog posts on your site.

4. Build Themed Boards

   • Organize your pins into boards that reflect your brand and appeal to your target audience. For instance, a bakery might create boards like “Wedding Cake Inspiration,” “Easy Dessert Recipes,” or “Holiday Treats.”

   • Mix your own product pins with complementary content—think recipes, tutorials, or style guides—to position your business as a helpful resource. This increases engagement and encourages users to explore your website.

5. Pin Consistently and Use Rich Pins

   • Aim to pin 5-10 times per week to stay visible without overwhelming followers. Tools like Tailwind can help you schedule pins for optimal times.

   • Enable Rich Pins, which pull real-time data (like pricing or availability) from your website. A custom site from McKinney's Website Design can be optimized to support Rich Pins, making your products more clickable and shoppable.

6. Promote Pins Strategically

   • Pinterest’s advertising platform lets you boost your best-performing pins as Promoted Pins. Start small with a budget of $5-$10 per day, targeting keywords and demographics that match your audience.

   • Focus on pins that link to high-converting pages on your website, like product listings or seasonal sales. McKinney's Website Design can ensure those pages are fast-loading and mobile-friendly—crucial for keeping Pinterest traffic engaged.

7. Analyze and Adapt

   • Use Pinterest Analytics to track which pins drive the most clicks and sales. Look at metrics like impressions, saves, and link clicks to refine your strategy.

   • If a pin featuring a specific product flops, tweak the image or description. If it soars, create variations to capitalize on the momentum.

Turning Traffic into Sales

Driving traffic from Pinterest is only half the battle—your website needs to seal the deal. A custom-designed site from McKinney's Website Design ensures your small business stands out with a user-friendly layout, fast load times, and clear calls-to-action. Affordable yet tailored to your brand, their designs can include e-commerce integration, blog functionality, and SEO optimization—everything you need to convert Pinterest visitors into buyers.

For example, imagine a small business selling artisanal soaps. A Pinterest pin featuring a “DIY Spa Day at Home” kit links to a product page on their McKinney-designed website. The page loads quickly, showcases high-quality images, and offers an easy checkout process. The result? A browser becomes a buyer in minutes.

PinMaker

PinMaker is an all-in-one Pinterest growth tool designed to supercharge your presence on the platform by streamlining content creation and management. It helps you find inspiration, craft compelling articles, design eye-catching pins, and schedule them efficiently—saving time and boosting engagement. With PinMaker, small businesses can enhance their Pinterest strategy, driving more traffic and sales in days, not months.

Final Thoughts

Pinterest isn’t just a platform for dreamers—it’s a powerful tool for small businesses to grow their online presence and boost sales. By pairing a stunning, custom website from McKinney's Website Design with a strategic Pinterest approach, you can attract the right audience and turn inspiration into revenue. Start pinning today, and watch your small business soar.

Ready to take your website to the next level? Contact McKinney's Website Design for affordable, custom solutions that make your brand shine.