When I used to think about book marketing, I defaulted to social media. It’s what we all do, right? But here’s the thing—there’s a quieter, more sustainable platform that authors should be using to market their books. It works behind the scenes, grows your audience, builds your email list, and keeps going while you write (and that’s what we all want to be doing, right?). That platform is…🥁…Pinterest.
It’s not like Instagram or Facebook. I post there, and my content disappears into the abyss. I’m left wondering if anyone actually saw it and if it mattered. Pinterest, though, is a legit search engine, which means your content—everything you post—doesn’t just disappear after a day or two. It sticks around. It shows up in searches for weeks, months, and, yes, sometimes even years. And for us as authors? That kind of long-term visibility is gold. Click here to read more about Pinterest in my 100-Day Pinterest for Authors Challenge (and subscribe…it’s free!)
Here are my Top 10 reasons authors should be using Pinterest as a foundational part of their author business:
1. Pinterest is a Search Engine, Not Social Media
Pinterest isn’t driven by likes or followers. It’s driven by keywords. That means your content can be discovered by people actively searching for topics you write about like “best cozy mysteries,” “how to write a memoir,” or “inspiring author quotes.”
2. It Drives Long-Term Traffic
Unlike social posts that disappear in hours, pins continue to circulate. A single pin can drive traffic to your book page, website, or lead magnet for months (and sometimes years). Why? See #1.
3. It Works While You Write
Pinterest doesn’t require daily engagement. Once your content is pinned and optimized, it keeps working for you, so you can spend more time writing and less time chasing algorithms. How? See #1.
4. Your Readers Are Already There
Pinterest has over 465 million monthly users. Millions of them are book lovers, writers, educators, and lifelong learners. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, your audience is on Pinterest.
5. It’s Ideal for Promoting Evergreen Content
Have a blog post about writing tips? A list of book club questions? A lead magnet for your newsletter? Pinterest is the perfect place to share evergreen content that stays relevant. Evergreen? See #1!
6. You Don’t Need to Be a Designer
With tools like Canva (my main design source), creating scroll-stopping pins is super easy. You don’t need fancy skills—just a few templates, the right keywords, and a consistent strategy.
7. It Grows Your Email List
By linking pins to lead magnets (like a free reader guide, quiz, or story sneak peek), you can grow your email list with readers who are already interested in what you offer.
8. You Can Promote Your Books Without Being Salesy
Pinterest is about inspiration and ideas. That means you can promote your books through quotes, book aesthetic pins, behind-the-scenes posts, character boards, and more—in a way that feels engaging, not pushy.
9. It Helps You Get Clear on Your Author Brand
Creating pins and boards forces you to think about your themes, audience, and visual style. That clarity can strengthen your entire marketing strategy across platforms. This is SO important.
10. It’s Sustainable and Scalable
Pinterest doesn’t burn you out. You can create and schedule pins in batches, then watch your visibility grow over time. It’s a platform that supports consistency, not urgency.
Ready to Start Using Pinterest as an Author?
Want more powerful reasons authors should be using Pinterest to Market your books, dive into my self-paced course, Pinterest Power for Authors.
Pinterest can do the heavy lifting while you do what you love: write!
Want more about pinning seasonal content? Click HERE.
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