My First Month on Pinterest as a Blogger: A Journey of Growth, Challenges, and Insights
Diving into the world of Pinterest as a blogger can feel like setting sail into uncharted waters. The excitement, the possibilities, and the inevitable questions—how will my content perform? What strategies should I use? And, most importantly, how do I measure success when there’s no concrete benchmark?
As I wrap up my first month on Pinterest, I wanted to share a candid snapshot of my journey. If you’re also in the early stages of navigating Pinterest for your blog, I hope this post offers some insights, encouragement, and perhaps a bit of comfort that you’re not alone in figuring things out.
My Pinterest Analytics After One Month
Let’s dive into the numbers. I’m not sure how these stats compare to others, as there isn’t a clear benchmark out there for first-month Pinterest performance, especially for bloggers. However, here’s what I’ve managed to achieve so far:
• Impressions: 68,000
• Engagements: 3,200
• Outbound Clicks: 315
• Saves: 56
• Total Audience: 6,400
• Engaged Audience: 112
• Followers: 13
At first glance, these numbers might seem modest, especially the follower count. But it’s essential to remember that Pinterest isn’t your typical social media platform. It’s a visual search engine, where the focus is more on the content you share rather than the number of followers you have.
In fact, follower count doesn’t always correlate with successful traffic or sales, making other metrics like impressions, clicks, and engagement far more critical indicators of success.
Here’s some screenshots of my Pinterest account at the end of Month 1:
Breaking Down the Stats
1. Impressions (68K)
This figure represents the number of times my pins have been seen. At first glance, 68,000 impressions in a month seems pretty impressive for a newcomer like me. However, impressions alone don’t necessarily translate to meaningful engagement, which leads us to the next metric.
2. Engagements (3.2K)
Engagements are the interactions users have with my pins, such as saves, clicks, and close-ups. With 3,200 engagements, it’s clear that while my pins are getting visibility, there’s still a long road ahead to converting that visibility into more substantial actions.
3. Outbound Clicks (315)
Outbound clicks are what I’m most interested in as a blogger. These are the clicks that lead directly to my blog. With 315 clicks, there’s definitely room for improvement. It’s encouraging to see that people are interested enough to visit my site, but I’m keen on growing this number in the coming months.
4. Saves (56)
Saves are a good indicator that my content resonates with users, as they’ve deemed it worthy enough to bookmark for later. While 56 saves might seem modest, each one is a small victory, signaling that my pins are gradually gaining traction.
5. Total Audience (6.4K) & Engaged Audience (112)
These metrics give me an idea of the overall reach and engagement rate. A total audience of 6,400 and an engaged audience of 112 suggests that about 1.75% of the people who see my pins are engaging with them. There’s potential here, but I need to find ways to increase that engagement rate.
Followers (13)
While 13 followers might seem low compared to other social media platforms, it’s crucial to remember that Pinterest operates differently. Unlike platforms where follower count directly impacts visibility, Pinterest prioritizes the content itself.
High-quality, engaging pins can reach a broad audience, regardless of how many followers you have. So, while I’m not overly concerned with the follower count, I’m focused on improving the metrics that matter most for driving traffic and engagement.
My Most Successful Pin: What Worked and Why
The pin that outperformed all others was one linked to an article about how I became a stay-at-home wife. This pin racked up 14,233 impressions on its own, far surpassing the performance of my blogging-related pins.
Analyzing Success: Stay-at-Home Wife Content vs. Blogging Content
This disparity in performance has been eye-opening. While I initially thought my blogging advice would attract a sizable audience, it turns out that content related to lifestyle topics—like being a stay-at-home wife—resonates more with my current Pinterest audience. It’s a reminder that sometimes the content you least expect to succeed ends up striking a chord with people.
The Emotional Connection: Why Lifestyle Content Resonates
One reason why my stay-at-home wife content might be resonating more could be the emotional connection it creates. Many people turn to Pinterest not just for practical advice, but for inspiration and a sense of community.
Topics that touch on personal experiences, life choices, and home life often evoke stronger emotions and engagement. This has led me to reconsider how I can weave more of these relatable, authentic stories into my content strategy.
The Challenge of Staying Authentic
As tempting as it is to pivot entirely to content that garners the most impressions, I want to remain true to my original vision. My blog is a reflection of who I am—my beliefs, experiences, and passions. Chasing clicks can be a slippery slope, and while it’s important to adapt and grow, I also want to maintain the integrity of my content.
That said, I will be exploring a balance: continuing to produce content that aligns with my core values while paying closer attention to what resonates with my audience. This means more lifestyle and decor posts, which seem to perform well, alongside my blogging and personal development content.
The Influence of Visual Appeal
Pinterest is a highly visual platform, and the aesthetics of a pin can significantly impact its performance. The success of my stay-at-home wife pin might also be attributed to the visuals I chose. The imagery and design were likely more aligned with the kind of content that Pinterest users typically engage with.
This realization has made me more mindful of the need to consistently produce visually appealing content that captures attention and encourages clicks. I think I have a long way to go when it comes to learning what a good Pin design looks like but I hope to make significant improvements soon. Practice makes perfect, right?!
The Overwhelm of Managing Pinterest as a Growing Blogger
With more blog posts published, managing Pinterest has become increasingly overwhelming. The constant need to create new pins, track performance, and tweak strategies can easily consume hours each day. To alleviate some of this pressure, I’ve signed up for a year of Tailwind, a tool that automates parts of the Pinterest marketing process.
Why I Chose Tailwind
Tailwind offers several advantages, particularly its Communities feature. By joining communities related to my niche, I can share my pins with an audience that’s more likely to engage with my content. It’s a time-saving feature that also helps me connect with like-minded bloggers, which is an added bonus.
If you’d like to join Tailwind either for the free or paid plans check it out HERE [ad]
How much time have I saved? I’ve been on Tailwind now a couple of days and I have literally got my next 3 months worth of pins scheduled already! So I’d say it’s more than saved my sanity already and paid for itself, and I’m looking forward to getting a little more balance back in to my life!
Here’s my current tailwind dashboard below:
Automating the Process: A Double-Edged Sword?
Automation through tools like Tailwind can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it significantly reduces the time spent on manual tasks, freeing me up to focus on creating content. On the other hand, there’s a risk of losing the personal touch that makes content unique.
I’ve found that while automation is incredibly helpful, it’s important to still engage directly with the platform and its users. This balance ensures that my content remains genuine and connected to my audience.
Tailwind Communities: A Hidden Gem
One of the most exciting features of Tailwind is its Communities (formerly known as Tribes). These are groups of like-minded bloggers and content creators who share each other’s content within a specific niche.
By participating in these communities, I’ve been able to increase the visibility of my pins without additional effort or paying for ads. It’s a collaborative way to grow your reach, and I’m already seeing the benefits after just a few weeks.
Looking Ahead: Plans, Adjustments, and Cautious Optimism
For the next few months, I’ve decided not to focus on Pinterest updates until I hit the six-month mark. This will give me enough time to experiment with different strategies, such as using Tailwind to its full potential and possibly dipping my toes into Pinterest ads.
Considering Pinterest Ads
I’ve been toying with the idea of running $3 a day ads for some of my most successful pins. The goal isn’t just to boost impressions but to drive more outbound clicks that could potentially lead to affiliate income. I’m thinking of implementing some A/B testing to determine which pins perform best with ads. However, this is still in the brainstorming stage, and I’m not committing to anything just yet.
Avoiding Information Overload
One thing I’ve learned this month is that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice, courses, and tools available for Pinterest and blogging in general. I’ve decided to hold off on purchasing any more courses outside of those I can access on Skillshare or YouTube. I still have courses I haven’t finished, and adding more to the mix would only add to my stress.
There’s also a considerable amount of resources on Tailwind that I’d like to work through and see if there’s any additional ideas I can harness to improve my outbound clicks.
The Importance of Patience
As a new blogger, it’s easy to feel the pressure of rapid success, especially when comparing yourself to others. However, patience is key. I’m learning that it’s important to give my strategies time to take effect, rather than constantly shifting gears at the first sign of slow growth.
Pinterest, like blogging, is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time for pins to gain traction, and what might seem like a slow start could turn into significant growth over time.
Keeping Perspective: The Long Game
Thanks for reading and following along with me on this journey! It can be lonely out here as a newbie.
Overall, whilst my impressions are encouraging, the relatively low number of outbound clicks serves as a reality check. Building a successful blog and Pinterest presence takes time. It’s important to celebrate the small wins, like my most successful pin and the gradual growth of my audience, while also recognizing that this is just the beginning.
I’m thrilled and grateful to see any movement in my Pinterest account, and I’m hopeful that the time and effort I’m investing will pay off in the long run. For now, I’m focusing on steady progress, staying true to my voice, and giving myself the grace to learn and grow at my own pace.
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As always, I’d love to hear from you – let me know how your Pinterest journey is going in the comments below!
