SkillShare

Brief Overview of Pinterest for Business by Nick Foy

This Skillshare class, titled "Pinterest for Business: Beginner Pinterest Marketing Lessons to Master," is a comprehensive video course designed to teach individuals how to leverage Pinterest as a powerful marketing tool. The primary purpose of the course is to guide beginners through the process of setting up and optimizing a Pinterest presence to drive significant traffic to external platforms like websites, blogs, eCommerce stores, and YouTube channels. It addresses the core problem many content creators face: generating initial traffic and building an audience without a large existing following. The course is structured into 23 distinct lessons, totaling over three hours of instruction, covering the entire workflow from foundational concepts to more advanced strategies.

The curriculum begins with the absolute basics, such as creating a Pinterest account and converting it to a business profile to unlock key features. It then progresses into the core components of the platform, explaining what Pins and Boards are and how to use them effectively. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to the content creation workflow, with practical tutorials on designing visually appealing Pins using tools like Canva and sourcing free stock imagery. It also delves into strategic elements like search engine optimization (SEO) for Pinterest, writing compelling headlines and descriptions, and understanding the platform's algorithm to increase visibility. Finally, it introduces automation and analytics tools, providing a complete picture of a sustainable Pinterest marketing strategy.

Pinterest for Business Key Features for Content Creators

The course is broken down into actionable lessons that function as key features for learners. These modules provide a step-by-step guide to mastering Pinterest for business growth.

• Account Setup and Optimization: The initial lessons provide a detailed walkthrough on how to create a new Pinterest account and, more importantly, how to convert it into a Business Account. This process unlocks critical features such as analytics and the ability to run ads, which are essential for any serious marketing effort.
• Foundational Concepts (Pins & Boards): The course clearly defines what Pins and Boards are, how to use them, and the strategic importance of Group Boards. This section explains how joining Group Boards can expose a creator's content to a much larger audience, a key strategy for new accounts without a significant following.
• Pin Design and Creation: A practical, hands-on section teaches students how to design effective Pins. It includes tutorials on using the Canva editor, recommendations for free stock photo websites, and a "Viral Pin Checklist" to guide the creation of Pins optimized for engagement and clicks.
• Copywriting for Engagement: Several lessons are dedicated to the art of writing compelling copy. This includes crafting great headlines to encourage clicks, as well as writing keyword-rich Pin descriptions and Board descriptions to improve search visibility.
• Pinterest SEO and Search Strategy: The course explains that Pinterest functions more like a search engine than a traditional social media platform. It provides tutorials and tips on how to get Pins discovered in both Pinterest search and Google search results, a crucial element for long-term, organic traffic.
• Automation with Tailwind: A lengthy, 34-minute lesson is dedicated to the Tailwind autoschedule tool. This tutorial shows creators how to automate their pinning strategy, saving time and ensuring consistent activity on the platform, which is favored by the algorithm.
• Analytics and Performance Tracking: The course covers how to interpret and use analytics to refine a marketing strategy. It includes tutorials on both the native Pinterest Analytics platform and the more in-depth Tailwind Analytics to track Pin performance, understand what content resonates, and make data-driven decisions.
• Audience Insights: A dedicated lesson walks through Pinterest's free Audience Insights tool. This teaches creators how to understand their audience's demographics and interests, allowing for more targeted and effective content creation.
• Rich Pins Setup: The course includes a technical guide on how to set up Rich Pins. This feature automatically syncs information from a creator's website to their Pins, adding more context (like blog post titles and meta descriptions) and making them more effective at driving traffic.
• Product Promotion Strategies: For those with eCommerce stores or products to sell, the course offers three specific strategies to promote product Pins on a website, directly connecting Pinterest activity to sales goals.

Pinterest for Business Target Users & Use Cases

This Skillshare course is explicitly designed for beginners who are new to using Pinterest for marketing purposes. The content and teaching style are tailored for individuals with little to no prior experience, breaking down complex topics into simple, actionable steps. It is ideal for solo creators, small business owners, and marketers looking to add a new traffic source to their strategy.

• Primary Creator Types: The course is particularly well-suited for bloggers, eCommerce store owners, YouTubers, and any business or individual with a website they want to promote. The instructor, Nick Foy, mentions these use cases directly, emphasizing the goal of driving traffic to generate sales, email subscribers, or website visitors.
• Experience Level: The course is rated for the Beginner level. It starts from the very first step of creating an account and assumes no prior knowledge of Pinterest marketing, making it accessible to complete novices.
• Team Size: The strategies and tools discussed are perfect for solo entrepreneurs and small teams. The emphasis on free tools like Canva and automation with Tailwind is ideal for individuals managing their own marketing efforts without a large team or budget.
• Specific Use Cases:
  • Driving organic traffic to a new blog to build readership.
  • Promoting products from an eCommerce store to increase sales.
  • Increasing views on YouTube videos by linking them in Pins.
  • Generating leads for a service-based business.
  • Growing an email list by directing traffic to an opt-in page.
  • Building brand awareness for a new business or personal brand.
  • Creating a long-term, sustainable source of passive traffic through Pinterest's search functionality.
  • Understanding audience demographics to create more targeted products or content.
• Content Types: The primary content type taught is the creation of static image Pins and video Pins. The course focuses on designing these Pins to be visually appealing and informative, with the ultimate goal of getting users to click through to an external link.

How to Get Started with Pinterest for Business

The course itself is structured as a getting-started guide. The initial lessons outline the first practical steps a new user should take to establish a business presence on Pinterest.

1. Create a Pinterest Account: The first step taught is the basic process of signing up for a personal Pinterest account, including choosing initial interests to populate the home feed.
2. Convert to a Business Account: Immediately following, the course details how to convert the personal account into a free Pinterest Business Account. This is a critical step that unlocks access to analytics, ads, and Rich Pins.
3. Understand Core Concepts: Before creating content, the course instructs on the fundamentals of the platform, such as the purpose of Pins, Boards, and Group Boards, to ensure a solid strategic foundation.
4. Set Up Your Profile and Boards: Students learn to optimize their profile with a clear bio and create categorized Boards with keyword-rich descriptions, preparing the account to attract the right audience.
5. Design Your First Pin: With the account structure in place, the course moves into the practical application of designing and creating the first Pin using tools like Canva.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pinterest for Business

• Is this course good for beginners? Yes, the course is explicitly described as "beginner friendly." It starts with the most basic steps, like creating an account, and requires no prior knowledge of Pinterest marketing.

• How long is the course? The course consists of 23 lessons and has a total runtime of 3 hours and 27 minutes. Individual lessons range from just a few minutes to over 30 minutes for more in-depth topics.

• What tools will I learn to use in this course? The course provides tutorials for several key marketing tools. These include Canva for Pin design, Tailwind for scheduling and automation, and native Pinterest Analytics and Audience Insights. It also mentions using the Yoast SEO WordPress plugin to set up Rich Pins.

• Does the course cover how to get Pins seen? Yes, a significant portion of the course is dedicated to visibility. It covers strategies for getting Pins found in Pinterest search, how Pins can rank in Google search, and understanding the Pinterest algorithm.

• Will I learn how to design Pins? Absolutely. There are dedicated lessons on Pin design, including a tutorial on using Canva, where to find free stock photos, and a checklist for creating Pins with viral potential.

• Does the course teach automation? Yes, there is a comprehensive 34-minute lesson focused entirely on using the Tailwind app to automate and schedule your pinning activities, which is a key strategy for maintaining consistency.

• What kind of results can I expect? The instructor, Nick Foy, shares his own experience of getting over a million monthly views and 30,000 monthly clicks from Pinterest. Student reviews also mention significant increases in daily views after implementing the tips from the class.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Pinterest for Business?

For any content creator, blogger, or eCommerce business owner who is new to Pinterest, this Skillshare course by Nick Foy offers a thorough and highly practical introduction. It provides a complete, A-to-Z roadmap that covers every essential aspect of using the platform for traffic generation. The instruction is clear, direct, and focused on actionable steps rather than abstract theory.

The main advantage of this course is its comprehensive structure. It leaves no stone unturned for a beginner, addressing everything from the initial technical setup of a business account and Rich Pins to the creative aspects of Pin design and copywriting. The inclusion of detailed tutorials for third-party tools like Canva and Tailwind adds immense value, equipping students with a real-world workflow they can implement immediately. The focus on Pinterest as a search engine is a critical insight that frames the entire strategy, moving beyond the short-term mindset of social media to a long-term traffic generation asset.

This course is highly recommended for individuals who feel overwhelmed by Pinterest and need a structured, step-by-step guide. It successfully demystifies the platform and provides a clear path to follow. By the end of the 23 lessons, a dedicated student will not only understand how Pinterest works but will also have the practical skills and strategic knowledge needed to start driving meaningful traffic to their business.