If Your Pinterest Traffic Isn’t Growing, Here Are 8 Ways To Fix The Problem

Pinterest has been an amazing traffic source for me. But it’s also been a source of woe. I’ve seen first-hand how quickly Pinterest can help you get a surge in traffic, especially on a blog that’s really just ticking along and not showing much growth (despite your best efforts). But I’ve had a lot of experience of my Pinterest traffic stalling. It just flat-lines. And then I’m left wondering – what am I doing wrong? And while I’m at it, why is every blogger on the planet getting hundreds of thousands of hits a day on Pinterest and I’m not? (Actually, those sorts of numbers are rare, but it’s easy to get into that sort of mindset when you read other success stories). So if your Pinterest traffic isn’t growing, you’re in the right place for an answer.

Please note this post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure for more information. 

First, here’s the good news. It is fixable. I have tried lots of different things, but here are the 8 strategies that have been most effective. In no particular order.

#1: Create Better Pins

I cringe every time I look back at some of my early pin designs. I spent a lot of time trying out different fonts and images and experimenting with various styles and layouts, and here’s what I’ve learned over that period. The most important thing I’ve discovered is that simplicity often works best. When creating a new pin, always use a BIG font in your pin graphics. It’s got to be clear and readable when people are browsing on the Pinterest app on their phones—remember, it’s a small screen. Highlight the critical words in your headline to grab people’s attention. This is a great way to make sure your message stands out.

So, if I were creating a pin design for this very blog post, an excellent word to highlight—whether in bold, a different color, a stronger font, or a contrasting background—would be “Pinterest Traffic” because that’s the keyword I want Pinterest users to pick up on when they’re browsing through their feed.

Oh, and high-quality images are incredibly helpful, too. Using eye-catching visuals is the best way to draw in viewers. I’ve switched from using free images to ones from Depositphotos (which are paid-for images, but they have a great pricing plan), and that’s made a noticeable difference in the quality of my pins. Quality visuals not only enhance the look of your pins but also contribute to more engagement and potentially more website traffic.

Here are a few makeovers to illustrate the changes:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

#2: Re-pin Your Most Popular Content

If you have a pin that’s garnering a high number of shares, don’t hesitate to re-pin it! Initially, I was apprehensive about doing this, thinking Pinterest might frown upon it. However, it’s actually a very effective way to boost your Pinterest traffic. The same principle applies to your content in general. Keep sharing and repinning your most popular content across different boards. There’s a reason that content is performing well—so capitalize on it and present it to a wider audience. 

Top tip: Use Tailwind to discover your most popular boards, and when repinning a popular pin, make sure to pin it to your most popular board. This strategy can make a HUGE difference in driving blog traffic and increasing your website visitors.

#3: Re-pin Your Trending Content

In the previous point, I mentioned pins that are receiving lots of shares and repins. Equally important, though, are pins that may not have hundreds of repins yet but are trending upward. You want to encourage that trend to go viral, and you can do that by repinning a post that has been repinned frequently in the last 24 hours or a blog post that has been getting higher-than-average traffic in the same period.

Keep an eye on your Pinterest analytics to identify these trending pins. Repinning them at the right time can significantly increase your chances of appearing in search results and reaching the right people. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead in your Pinterest marketing strategy and can lead to a lot of traffic over time.

#4: Apply to More Pinterest Groups

I stopped joining more Pinterest groups, and guess what happened? My growth flat-lined—it was like hitting a brick wall. When I started applying to more group boards, my growth picked up again dramatically. This is really important for your Pinterest strategy. You can remove yourself from groups that aren’t performing well for you; a board that was really successful six months ago might not be doing so well now. Pinterest is a dynamic platform, and staying active in relevant group boards can expose your content to a lot of people you wouldn’t reach otherwise.

I made the mistake of thinking that once I started using Tailwind Tribes, I wouldn’t need Pinterest groups anymore. Wrong. Pinterest groups are far more effective than Tailwind Tribes. Being active on multiple group boards not only boosts your visibility but also enhances your engagement on this visual search engine. It’s a good idea to regularly assess which groups are working for you and which aren’t. Remember, leveraging group boards is a key part of a successful Pinterest strategy, and it can make a huge difference in driving much traffic to your site.

#5: Use Tailwind, But Don’t Rely On It 100%

I made the mistake of thinking Tailwind was my go-to answer for all Pinterest growth. Tailwind is great, but it’s not a solution in itself. On the plus side, the Tribes really do help boost your shares, and the analytics are fantastic (see my point above about discovering your best Pinterest boards for repinning). Their new looping feature has also been a massive time-saver for helping me repin my most popular content on a regular basis.

However, Pinterest still favors pinners who are actively on the app and are repinning manually. If you do use Tailwind, use it to boost your profile and schedule your own pins, but don’t solely rely on it. Make sure to log into your Pinterest account and engage with the community directly. This kind of genuine interaction can lead to more visibility and better results. Remember, great pins come from great content and active participation. So combine Tailwind’s scheduling capabilities with manual pinning to get the most out of your Pinterest strategy. After all, the beauty of Pinterest lies in authentic engagement, and that’s something no scheduling tool can fully replicate.

#6: Get On The App To Boost Your Pinterest Traffic

I hinted at this in the last point, but it’s worth emphasizing: Pinterest is an app, and they want to see people actively using it. I genuinely believe they favor users who are logging in on a regular, daily basis and engaging with the platform by repinning, liking, and commenting. It shows that you are an active, quality user and not someone who is just constantly promoting their business or blog without contributing to the community.

By spending more time on the app, you not only increase your visibility but also get to understand the platform better. Engaging with other people’s pins allows you to discover new ideas and trends within your blog niches, which can inspire new posts for your own content. Additionally, being active gives you the opportunity to optimize your pin descriptions and pin titles based on what’s currently popular, helping you tap into the best keywords and long-tail keywords that can boost your reach.

Don’t forget to explore features like idea pins and video pins to diversify your content. Creating fresh pins regularly keeps your Pinterest profile dynamic and appealing to both your followers and the platform’s algorithm. Over a long time, this consistent activity can lead to increased monthly views and drive more traffic to your site. Remember, the fastest way to boost your presence is by being genuinely active and engaged on the app.

#7: Repin Other Quality Content

It’s important to be promoting your own content and repinning your best pins, but it’s equally important that you use Pinterest to share the best content across the platform to your followers. That means pinning other people’s content too. By sharing high-quality content from others, you enrich your boards and provide value to your followers, which can lead to a positive experience and increased engagement.

Repinning other quality content helps you tap into different keywords and topics that you might not cover yourself. This not only broadens the appeal of your boards but also shows that you’re not just focused on self-promotion. Engaging with others’ content can help you understand what type of content resonates with the audience, allowing you to refine your own strategy.

Additionally, Pinterest’s algorithm favors users who are active participants in the community. By regularly pinning a mix of your own content and others’, you increase your chances of appearing in users’ home feeds and even becoming one of the top pins in certain categories. So, take a little bit of time each day to explore and repin quality content. It’s a better way to grow your presence on Pinterest and drive more traffic to your site in the long run.

#8: Be niche-specific

Being niche-specific is really going to help you when it comes to gaining followers, and followers do contribute significantly to boosting your Pinterest traffic. Make it clear in your Pinterest profile and your board titles who you are and what type of content you’re going to serve people. This clarity will make it really easy for your target audience to decide that you are right for them.

For example, if your blog focuses on DIY projects or particular blog niches, make sure your boards reflect that. Using the right keywords and long-tail keywords in your board descriptions and pin descriptions can also help you appear in relevant searches, drawing in the right audience. This targeted approach ensures that the people who find and follow you are genuinely interested in what you have to offer.

Remember, 1,000 high-quality, targeted followers are far better than 10,000 followers who aren’t interested in the business or blog that you are promoting but instead started following you because you pinned a nice recipe (unless you’re a food blogger, of course). Focusing on your niche helps you build a community that is genuinely interested in your content, which leads to more engagement and, ultimately, more traffic to your site.

Wrapping Up: What To Do When Your Pinterest Traffic Isn’t Growing

These strategies worked wonders for my account and got me out of that frustrating situation of seeing my traffic stay flat or even dropping on a few occasions. Plus, they are really easy strategies to follow, and they don’t require a lot of work. By being consistent and using Pinterest the right way, you can see significant improvements in your traffic over time.

Don’t forget to track your progress using tools like Google Analytics to see which pins are driving the most traffic and which strategies are working best for you. This way, you can focus on what’s working and adjust as needed.

Comment below and tell me if you have any strategies of your own that have worked well—I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. Sharing experiences is a great way for all of us to learn and grow together on this platform.

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