The Best Ways to Use Pinterest for Authors

I started dipping my toe into the Pinterest pool a little over a year ago. It’s quickly become my Go To marketing tool, replacing the overwhelming burden of ALL the social media platforms. When you commit to Pinterest, it can be a huge game-changer. In this article, I’m sharing the Best Ways to Use Pinterest for Authors.

ROI on Pinterest

There are so many reasons why I see Pinterest as a much better place to focus my energy rather than ALL the other social media platforms combined. The ROI (Return on Investment) is measurable, and I’m all about the data. Beyond that, there are fundamental ways I think Pinterest is a better way to market.

1. Pins can be evergreen, performing for years after you post them, as opposed to the fleeting presence of posts on other social media platforms.

2. Seasonality with Pins in another way they can keep performing year after year.

3. Multiple Pins can point to the same destination.

4. It’s so much more efficient to batch create Pins and schedule for this one platform, as opposed to doing this for multiple social media accounts.

5. Pinterest is a Search Engine, so everything you post there is discoverable.

Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, or something in between, Pinterest can help you grow your author brand, attract readers, and drive traffic to your website or blog. Here’s my guide on the best practices for tapping into your Pinterest Power for Authors, especially if you’re just starting out.

1. Set Up a Business Account

First things first, switch your personal Pinterest account to a business account. Here’s mine. This will give you access to Pinterest Analytics, which helps you track the performance of your pins and understand what’s resonating with your audience. It also allows you to create Rich Pins, which are an essential tool for authors (more on that later).

How to do this:

• Go to your account settings and select “Convert to Business.”
• Fill out the details about your author brand, such as your author bio, website, and relevant keywords (e.g., “romantic suspense author,” “writing tips,” “mystery writer,” etc.).

2. Optimize Your Profile

Use your Pinterest profile to convey who you are as an author and what kind of content your audience can expect from you. Make sure your bio is keyword-rich, clearly states your genre, and links back to your website or blog. (More about the Pinterest Power for Authors)

I recommend using a professional, high-quality headshot as your profile picture. In your bio, introduce yourself, your genre, and a call to action, such as “Discover more writing tips and book updates on my website.”

My bio: “👈🏼 Women’s Fiction & Cozy Mystery author. 🕵🏼 🔎 Read one of my books FREE! Click the link & join the newsletter! Happy reading!”

3. Create Targeted Boards

Boards are used to organize your pins and group them into categories or themes. As an author, you can create boards that reflect your writing journey, book themes, or target audience. For example:

• Use a “Writing Tips and Resources“ board to attract writers who might also become your readers.
• A “Books to Read” board can focus on sharing your favorite books (plus sneak in your own!)
• Create a “My Books” board to showcase your own work. Pins here should link directly to retail or sales pages.
• A “Creative Inspiration” board is a fun way to Pin images, quotes, or articles that inspire your writing.

Remember to use keyword-rich descriptions for each board so your boards show up in search results.

4. Create Eye-Catching Pins

Pinterest is a visual platform. Your goal is to design scroll-stopping Pins to stop people in their tracks! Whether you’re promoting your book, sharing writing tips, or offering insights into your writing process, you want your pins to be visually appealing.

Pin design tips for authors:

• Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio (like 1000 x 1500 pixels).
• Include text overlays to clearly convey your message (e.g., “5 Writing Tips for Aspiring Authors” or “Exclusive Sneak Peek: My New Mystery Novel”).
• Use of high-quality images. You can find royalty-free images on sites like Unsplash or Canva, or you can design your own using tools like Canva or Adobe Spark (or subscribe to a stock image site).
• Create a cohesive look for your Pins by sticking to brand colors and fonts.

5. Leverage Rich Pins

Rich Pins automatically sync information from your website to your Pinterest pins. This is especially great for recipes and anything with retail links. For authors, this is especially useful when you’re promoting books. Rich Pins can pull in metadata directly from your book’s landing page. This can help potential readers find everything they need to make a purchase.

6. Pin Consistently

Pinterest rewards consistency (like most social media platforms). Pinning consistently (or scheduling) will help your Pins be seen more. Pin with links to your own blog posts, books, and other content, but also pin from others in your book world. Curating helpful resources, articles, and inspiration will build your authority in the author and writing community.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a mix of 80% curated content and 20% self-promotion. Tools like Tailwind can help automate your pinning schedule. This can ensure that you’re consistently active on the platform without having to do it manually every day—Win Win!

7. Use Keywords for SEO

Pinterest functions like a search engine (not social media!) so you have to use relevant keywords to make your pins discoverable. Think about what your target audience would search for. Are they looking for “writing prompts,” “cozy mystery novels,” or “self-publishing tips”? Whatever you think they use to search content, use these keywords in your pin descriptions, board titles, and even your profile bio.

The key is to think like your audience. What questions might they have about your genre, books, or the writing process? Use these insights to guide your keyword strategy.

8. Drive Traffic with Blog Posts

If you have a blog like this one (which I highly recommend if only to create destination links), Pinterest can be a powerful tool to drive traffic to it. Each blog post can be turned into several different pins (work smarter, not harder!). Each one can have a unique image and headline. When you use this strategy, you keep your content fresh, which in turn helps your content reach a broader audience.

For example, if you wrote a blog post titled “10 Tips for Writing Your First Novel,” you could create multiple pins with different text overlays:

• “How to Write Your First Novel: 10 Expert Tips”
• “Struggling to Start Your Novel? Try These 10 Tips”
• “10 Steps to Finishing Your First Book”

Each one of these pins can link back to the same blog post. So you’re giving multiple avenues for potential readers or writers to discover your content. Brilliant, right?

9. Engage with the Pinterest Community

Pinterest is not as interaction-heavy as platforms like Instagram or Twitter. Still, you can and should engage some. Follow other authors, repin their content once in a while, comment on relevant pins, and build relationships. Pinterest groups or collaborative boards can also help increase your visibility and connect with authors like you.

10. Track and Adjust

Lastly, use Pinterest’s analytics. This is my favorite tool! The analytics dashboard will tell you which of your pins are performing well and driving the most traffic. You can see impressions, saves, and click-through rates. I use this data to adjust my pinning strategy. Use it, like I do, to focus on what works, and continue to refine your approach as you get more comfortable on Pinterest.

The Takeaway

Pinterest can be an author’s superpower. Use these best practices to help you grow your author brand, connect with readers, and increase traffic to your website and/or book retail pages. Think of Pinterest as a long game. Be patient and consistent. Your book sales will be the proof in the pudding! 

Happy Pinning!

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Want more on how authors can use Pinterest? Take a look at Pinterest Power for Authors!

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