So, you’ve opened an Etsy store, and like me, you expected sales to start rolling in right away. You did everything right—used the best tags, wrote top-notch descriptions, and created eye-catching titles. But still… crickets. I get it. I’ve been there.
Why Your Etsy Store Needs Pinterest to Boost Sales
While Etsy is a fantastic marketplace that has made a lot of people a lot of money, it’s also highly competitive. To stand out and drive sales, you need more than just a well-optimized listing—you need traffic. That’s where Pinterest comes in. Pinterest and Etsy? They go together like peas and carrots.
Hi, I’m Michelle, a Pinterest marketing strategist, and I’m here to help you craft a Pinterest marketing strategy tailored to your Etsy store. By leveraging Pinterest, you can drive consistent traffic, increase visibility, and, most importantly, make more sales.
Why Pinterest and Not Other Social Media Platforms?
Now, before you abandon all other social platforms, let me be clear: I’m not telling you to stop using them. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok all have their place. But Pinterest is a unique platform designed to drive traffic to external websites, making it the perfect match for Etsy sellers.
Pinterest vs. Other Platforms: Key Differences
Pinterest allows you to add direct links to your Etsy listings, enabling users to go straight from a pin to your store. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, which are notorious for keeping users on their platforms, Pinterest was built with the goal of directing traffic outward.
This makes Pinterest ideal for Etsy sellers who want to showcase their products to a broader audience, without battling platform algorithms that don’t favor external links.
The Biggest Etsy Mistake: Avoid Pinterest Spam Filters
One of the biggest mistakes Etsy sellers make is pinning their entire product catalog directly from Etsy to Pinterest. It might seem efficient, but this is a surefire way to get caught in Pinterest’s spam filter and potentially have your account shut down. Trust me, it’s not worth the risk. Let’s talk about how to build a Pinterest strategy that drives results without the fear of spamming.
Related Video:
How to Get Your Etsy Products on Pinterest—The Right Way
So, how do you get your Etsy products on Pinterest without getting overwhelmed or penalized? The key is to streamline the process. I’m going to show you how to efficiently pin your products, avoid spam filters, and ensure your pins get found by your target audience.
Related Blog Post: The Ultimate Guide to Using Pinterest for Your Etsy Digital Products Business
Organize Your Product List
First, get your product list together. I know, this can feel like an overwhelming task, especially if you have hundreds of products. But it’s necessary to ensure that you aren’t pinning the same items over and over. I recommend creating a Google Sheet with the following columns:
- Product Name
- URL (direct link to the Etsy listing)
- Pin Status (whether you’ve pinned it or not)
If you want a shortcut, I have an E-commerce Pin Plan available for purchase, which comes with everything pre-organized.
Step 2: Create a Pin Plan
Once you’ve organized your product list, it’s time to create a pin plan. For each product, decide when you’ll pin it, which Pinterest board it will go on, and what title and description you’ll use.
- Title: Use the most searchable keyword from your Etsy listing.
- Description: Don’t waste time writing a brand-new description. Pinterest pulls the first 500 characters from your Etsy description, so just use that.
By planning out at least 30 days of pins, you can create a consistent posting schedule that doesn’t require you to manually pin every day.
Simplifying the Pin Design Process: Use Templates
Creating individual pins for each Etsy product can feel like a massive task, but it doesn’t have to be. The secret? Pin templates
Step 3: Use Canva Templates to Speed Up Pin Creation
I recommend using Canva to create pin templates that you can reuse. This allows you to quickly swap out images, update text, and generate new pins without starting from scratch every time.
Here’s how to do it:
- Choose a template that works for your product type (physical or digital).
- Add your images, update the text, and include a call-to-action.
- Save your design, and you’re ready to go!
Having a set of templates allows you to spend less time on design and more time getting your products in front of potential customers.
Showcasing Your Etsy Products: Use Mockups and Lifestyle Photos
One of the most important aspects of a successful pin is the visual quality. Pinterest is a visual search engine, so your pins need to stand out with high-quality images.
Step 4: Use Mockups or Lifestyle Images
When creating pins for Etsy products, I recommend using mockups or lifestyle photos. If you sell physical products like candles or clothing, show the product in action. People are more likely to click on a pin if they can envision themselves using the product.
For digital products, mockups work well. Show the product in a real-life context, like an invitation displayed on a table or a printable in a frame.
By using high-quality visuals, you’ll catch the eye of Pinterest users and encourage them to click through to your Etsy store.
Avoiding Spam: Best Practices for Pinning Etsy Products
As I mentioned earlier, pinning your entire Etsy catalog all at once is a fast way to get your account flagged for spam. Instead, follow these best practices to stay safe:
Step 5: Pin a Maximum of 5 Products Per Day
Pinterest’s spam filter can be overly cautious, so I recommend limiting your pinning to five products per day from your Etsy store directly. This slow and steady approach will keep you under the radar and ensure you’re consistently pinning without overwhelming the platform.
Use the Pinterest Chrome Extension for Easy Pinning
To simplify the process, use the Pinterest Chrome Extension. This tool allows you to pin directly from your Etsy listings without having to manually create pins. However, avoid pinning too many products in one sitting to prevent spam detection.
Use the Pinterest Chrome Extension for Easy Pinning
To simplify the process, use the Pinterest Chrome Extension. This tool allows you to pin directly from your Etsy listings without having to manually create pins. However, avoid pinning too many products in one sitting to prevent spam detection.
Optimizing Your Etsy Listings for Pinterest
Pinterest pulls information from your Etsy product descriptions, so it’s important to optimize your listings for Pinterest search.
Step 7: Update Your Etsy Descriptions with Pinterest Keywords
Ensure your Etsy product descriptions include relevant Pinterest keywords. These should be the same keywords people are searching for on both Google and Pinterest. If your descriptions are already optimized for Google SEO, you’re in good shape for Pinterest too.
For example, if you’re selling Halloween invitations, use keywords like “Halloween invitation,” “printable invitation,” and “Halloween party invite” in your product descriptions.
Pinterest Loves Consistency—So Should You
One of the most important factors in Pinterest success is consistency. Pinterest rewards accounts that pin regularly. Whether you’re pinning daily or a few times a week, maintaining a regular posting schedule will help your account grow over time.
My Favorite way to stay consistent is to use a scheduler. My favorite schedulers for Pinterest are Tailwind and Metricool. Both offer free accounts to see if they work for you. I encourage you to give them a shot if you plan to start pinning at volume.
If you would prefer to stick with free tools (I get it believe me), you can use the Pinterest native scheduler, it will allow you to pin 30 days in advance.
Step 8: Stick to a Pinning Schedule You Can Maintain
In the pin plan example, I showed how you could pin one product per day. But if daily pinning isn’t realistic for you, that’s okay! Even if you can only pin a few times a week, stick to that schedule. It’s better to pin consistently than to pin a lot and then disappear for weeks.
Group Boards: Collaborate to Expand Your Reach
For years, Pinterest users relied on group boards to expand their reach. While the old method of randomly posting to group boards is outdated, there’s still value in collaborative boards.
Step 9: Collaborate with Creators in Your Niche
If it makes sense for your niche, consider creating a group board with other Etsy sellers or creators who have adjacent products. This allows you to reach a larger audience while providing valuable content to Pinterest users.
Ready to Take Your Etsy-Pinterest Strategy to the Next Level?
If you’re ready to build a Pinterest strategy that drives real results for your Etsy store, I offer one-on-one coaching tailored to your specific needs. Together, we can create a strategy that works for your shop, whether you need help with Pinterest marketing, blogging, or product creation.
Click the link below to apply for coaching, and let’s get started!
