Pin-Tastic Profit: This Introverted Lady Shares the Secrets of How She Made Six-Figure on Pinterest

Last updated on 21st September, 2024 at 04:33 pm

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Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started with Pinterest?

Hey there, I’m Ling – the owner of the FinSavvy Panda blog, where I teach people how to save and make extra money.

I also run two other blogs: one that’s anonymous and all about lifestyle, and another called Blog Savvy Panda, where I share my blogging journey and teach beginners how to start their blogs from scratch.

Now, a little about how I got started. I used to work a 9-5 job in the wholesale banking area, but I felt unfulfilled and wanted something more.

That’s when I started looking for ways to make money online, and by pure chance, I stumbled upon the idea of blogging and how to monetize on Pinterest.

I was hooked right away! I learned how to set up my blog, write posts that my audience would love (even though I had no previous writing experience), how to drive traffic from Pinterest and monetize my site.

My little hobby blog quickly turned into a full-time income in just 18 months (I was even shocked to see earnings of $500 a day). That’s when I knew that I wanted to make it my full-time job.

So, I quit my job and went all-in on my blogging career. Since then, many people have asked me for advice on starting their blogs and how to use Pinterest to drive traffic, and I’m happy to share my knowledge with others.

How did you first realize that Pinterest could be a lucrative platform for your business?

To be honest, I had no idea that Pinterest could be such a great platform for making money. In the beginning, I struggled to get any traction, and it was easy to get discouraged. But I didn’t give up. I kept persisting, testing different strategies, and learning from my mistakes.

And then, one day, something amazing happened. I woke up to a flood of traffic on my site. It was like overnight success after putting in so much effort. It started with just a few thousand visitors a month, but then it started to pick up – 15,000 to 18,000 visitors a month, and then suddenly 30,000 to 50,000 per month. Once I hit that 30,000 mark consistently, I knew there was a lot of potential there. And that 30,000 then turned to over 100,000 per month.

But fair warning to everyone (and I started picking this up after several years of blogging), traffic can fluctuate due to season, trends, and algorithm shifts once you have experience with the platform.

Anyway, I kept pushing myself to learn as much as I could about how to use Pinterest effectively. I spent countless hours researching and experimenting with different strategies – from creating the right pin designs and crafting catchy titles to optimizing my Pinterest profile and articles for the platform.

And you know what? It was incredibly motivating to see all of that hard work pay off. Every day, I learned something new about how to make Pinterest work for me, and that kept me going.

So, if you’re just starting and feeling like you’re not getting anywhere, don’t give up. Keep pushing, keep experimenting, and keep learning. You never know what kind of success is waiting for you on the other side!

Can you walk us through your process for creating and curating content on Pinterest?

My process for creating and curating content on Pinterest starts with researching keywords and topics that are popular among my target audience which I explain in depth in The Golden Compass To Pinterest Traffic.

I then create visually appealing pins using Canva or other design tools, making sure to include keywords in the title and description. You can see how I do this in my Pin Savvy Templates Bundle here.

I also curate content by saving pins from other creators in my niche to boards that my audience would find useful – this is done through Tailwind Communities which I recommend joining if you want to collaborate with other bloggers.

To ensure my pins and boards get noticed, I make sure to stay consistent in creating content and pins using good Pin designs, high-quality images, and of course, catchy titles. Finally, I monitor my analytics to see what’s working and what’s not and adjust my strategy accordingly.

What strategies have you used to grow your Pinterest following and increase engagement?

To grow my Pinterest following and increase engagement, I have used several strategies. First and foremost, I create visually appealing pins that catch people’s attention.

I’ve done so much testing on the platform so I have an idea of what works and what doesn’t. But again, it’s dependent on your audience, their interest, and search intent.

I also use keywords in the title and description of my pins to make them more discoverable in search results. This is very important, which is why I go deep into this topic in The Golden Compass To Pinterest Traffic, as I see many people make mistakes when trying to nail this part.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, I participate in Tailwind Communities, which helps me get my content in front of more people.

Lastly, I track my analytics and adjust my strategy accordingly, making sure to focus on what’s working and optimizing my efforts for better results. After all, your analytics is a powerful tool that is unique to only you. Don’t neglect this.

Can you share any unconventional or outside-the-box tactics you’ve used to drive traffic and boost affiliate sales from Pinterest?

I don’t have any unconventional or outside-the-box tactics. From my years of being in this “blogging game”, I do see people try to look for complicated advice (thinking it’s the magical solution) when in fact it’s the simple things that generate the most return.

For example, following the 20/80 rule is my favorite game to follow.

Most of my time is spent engaging and responding to my readers by actually understanding them, their unique situations, and their struggles (most people don’t and won’t do this and I know because I am often ignored by bloggers and business owners whenever I reach out).

I look for opportunities there and that’s where I make most of my affiliate sales.

Can you share any tips for creating eye-catching pins that stand out on the platform?

Here are my Pinterest design tips for making your Pins eye-catching:

Use high-quality images: Choose images (non-tacky ones) that are visually appealing and high-quality. Avoid grainy or blurry images that can detract from the overall look of the pin. Also, avoid old-school images by observing what clothes they are wearing and what devices they are using. In other words, keep current.

Keep it simple: Simple designs with minimal text tend to perform best on Pinterest. Use clear and concise language that is easy to read and understand.

Use bold, contrasting colors: Choose colors that contrast well with each other and make your pin stand out. Avoid using too many colors or overwhelming designs.

Add text overlays: Use text overlays to highlight the most important information in your pin. This can include the title of your blog post or a call to action.

Optimize for Pinterest’s aspect ratio (this is optional): Pinterest recommends using 1000px wide by 1,500px tall. But I find that longer pins work better for me. It depends on your niche and audience (as always).

Include branding: Add your branding or logo to your pins so that people can easily recognize your content. This can also help build brand awareness and recognition. Alternatively, a simple watermark with your website or blog name works.

You can see all these tips in my Pin Savvy Templates bundle here.

What role do group boards play in your Pinterest strategy, and how do you identify and join relevant group boards?

I still use them when I pin out my pins. I can’t say that I ignore them. However, I don’t recommend focusing on them because Pinterest has emphasized personal boards in the game of writing this.

One thing I should mention is that if you’re a brand-new blogger with zero followers, you may want to collaborate and find other new bloggers in your niche. That could mean saving each other’s pins or forming a small group board to share the love.

If you do decide to join group boards, join those that have fewer members (e.g. less than 10) focused on the niche you blog about. Being intentional with a small group of friends gets better results (from my experience) than big groups with larger followers.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes on Pinterest, and how do you adjust your strategies accordingly?

I would receive Pinterest emails for any announcements and/or updates, so I use that for some fresh ideas and inspiration. I also look at the Pinterest Trends tool to see what’s trending. This is great for content creation and staying up to do with what people are interested in.

In addition to staying informed about changes and trends, for the most part, I also monitor my analytics to see what’s working and what’s not. This helps me adjust my strategies accordingly and optimize my efforts for better results.

For example, if I notice that certain types of pins or topics are performing particularly well, I may create more of that content to capitalize on that category or trend.

If Pinterest changes its algorithm, I’ve learned to be patient and ride it out. I used to freak out when my traffic took overnight dips, but over time, I realized that this is normal and everyone experiences it.

So, I don’t let my emotions take over and continue doing what I’m already doing. It’s all about staying flexible, learning from the data, and adapting to the changes as needed.

What mistakes have you made along the way, and what did you learn from them?

I’ve made too many mistakes and to be honest with you, I still make mistakes. We all do but it’s all part of the learning process.

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was trying to do too much at once. I was so eager to grow my blog and Pinterest following that I was constantly chasing after new strategies and tactics without fully implementing the ones that were already working.

This resulted in a scattered approach that wasn’t very effective. For example, I probably shouldn’t have started a second blog (though it’s still making money with Mediavine) but now in my 5^th year of blogging, as I write this, I realize there’s much higher ROI when you focus on ONE blog!

Another mistake I made was not focusing entirely on my niche and target audience. In the beginning, I was creating content that I thought would appeal to everyone, instead of honing in on my niche and creating content that would specifically resonate with my target audience.

This made it harder to build a loyal following and connect with my readers on a deeper level but I started to realize this in my second year of blogging and shifted gears from there.

Lastly, I struggled with consistently publishing content. I knew this was a problem but it is challenging to do so many things at once. I was creating content sporadically and not sticking to a regular schedule. I would at first but be on and off – sort of like a yo-yo diet if you use that analogy.

From these mistakes, I learned several important lessons. First, it’s important to focus on a few key strategies and fully implement them before moving on to the next.

Second, honing in on your niche and target audience is crucial for building a loyal following and creating content that resonates with your readers. This will allow you to find affiliates and products that are the perfect solution to their problems.

Finally, consistency is key – creating a regular schedule and sticking to it is essential for building momentum, growing your traffic, and keeping your audience engaged.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting with Pinterest and looking to achieve similar success?

I could go on and on with this, but I’m going to keep it simple to not overwhelm beginners.

Work on the following in order:

• Build a basic foundation (I teach all of this in The Treasure Map To Blogging Success in 30 Days)
• Consistently publishing a post 1 to 2 times a week
• REALLY learn how to use Pinterest – not just on a surface level but dive deep into and learn it like you’re trying to ace an exam.
• You will make many mistakes along the way, but once something is working, keep repeating it.
• Keep up to date with any changes and be ready to adapt.
• Be open to learning and accept the fact that changes will happen. What worked 3 years ago may not work now. Even just a year or two ago could become obsolete in the blink of an eye.

I hope that this interview has provided you with valuable insights into the world of Pinterest marketing and the strategies that can lead to six-figure success. It’s inspiring to see how even introverts can thrive in the fast-paced world of social media marketing.
If you’re interested in learning more about driving traffic and boosting sales on Pinterest, I recommend checking out “The Golden Compass to Pinterest Traffic” ebook. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the tools and techniques you need to succeed on this powerful platform.

Thank you for joining us today, and I wish you all the best in your Pinterest endeavors!