The Worst Pinterest for Small Business Mistakes

The internet is a harsh place. You can spend years crafting an incredible social media strategy, only to see it crumble due to an ill-thought-out tweet or an unexpectedly offensive image. This can be especially dangerous when it comes to small businesses on Pinterest. But fret not dear people of Pinterest- we’re here to ensure that your Pinterest paradise never comes to an end. Read on to discover five of the most common Pinterest for small business marketing mistakes.

No, we don’t mean that. Get your mind out of the gutter! A big problem more than a few people make with marketing their small business on Pinterest is using their personal Pinterest account instead of a business account. Filling out all of the fields is a must to make sure you’re looking your best. A business account gives you access to Rich Pins, Pinterest Analytics, and more. Business accounts also have an entirely different Terms of Service agreement. So go on- get down to business!

2. Not so Innovative Images

This is the cardinal sin of Pinterest for small business. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Pin pretty pictures. We’re even using alliteration this time, so remember it! PPP. Easy, right? Your images should also have a consistent theme- even one picture out of line can make your entire page look unprofessional. White backgrounds are a big no-no, as are fuzzy pixelated pics or anything of low quality. Treat all of your Pinterest pics like you do your Facebook profile pic- would you use your drivers license? A pre-coffee morning pic? Maybe you want to delve back into your awkward high-school photos. No, you don’t. And you don’t want to use uninspired images on Pinterest either. Each image has a story. Learn it, read it, repeat it.

3.Strategy is Stress-Free

Do you know what Pinterest can do for you? What about the types of images you want to use? Do you have a firm grasp of the board structure you want to create? If you can’t answer these questions, you shouldn’t launch your Pinterest for small business page. The internet is not a forgiving place, and although you can make a comeback from a messy beginning, it’s much better not to make a mess in the first place. You need to have a set strategy before you burst onto the Pinterest for small business scene. Without a strategy, you really have two possible outcomes. One, you don’t get any traffic because you have no chance of breaking through all the other image-filled goodness out there on Pinterest. Or two, your brand name is enough to bring people in, but they leave soon after due to a lack of engaging content.

This holds true for those that already have a Pinterest for small business page as well. Take a good hard look at what you’re doing, and see if you actually have goals. Does that pleasantly peppy image tie-in to some greater scheme, or is it just pretty to look at? Do you have a good mix of boards, do your images relate to your brand image, are you making use of Rich Pins? Do you know what a Group Board is? And this is only the tip of the Pintericeberg. It might all sound a tad overwhelming, but if you’re here, you might as well make the most of the tools ya got, right?

4. More than just Pretty Pics

Engaging images are great, but they aren’t the whole shebang. You need descriptions and prices. Make use of those Rich Pins (particularly product pins) to get the most possible clicks. As per the Pinterest website: “Product Pins include real time pricing, availability and where to buy. Pinners also get notifications when product Pins they’ve added drop in price.” Think of it this way- you have an incredible new line of pumpkin spice scratch and sniff dresses come out. You put them out on display, and attract quite a few admirers. But your store doesn’t have prices. Or a cash register. You aren’t going to get sales with just a pretty display. Odds are that you’ll also earn the ire of a few disgruntled would-be-consumers. So make sure to include prices and helpful descriptions with each image. And descriptions are needed even if it isn’t for sale- people gotta have context!

5. Don’t Leave Me!

You need a break. It’s been a crazy couple of months, what with the successful launch of that insane Pumpkin Spice Gown Collection and the product testing for your new Pumpkin Spice dipping sauce. you deserve a vacation. Your Pinterest can take a little break too right? Or maybe you can just throw the whole thing down to your intern and let him post a funny cat meme or two. Your followers will understand. Oh wait. No they won’t! If you’re going to be away from your Pinterest page for an extended period of time time, put in some time with Pin Scheduling. Be there in spirit, if not in body. I know I know, you want to hurry up and get to sipping  pumpkin spice margaritas on the beach. But trust me, it’ll pay off later. The denizens of the internet are fickle, and any decline in the posting rate or general quality of the stuff you pin isn’t going to go by without notice.

So that’s pretty much it. Avoid these Pinterest for small business pitfalls and you’re sure to soar. Pin pretty pics, but realize that that images alone won’t ensure your success. Come in with a strategy, and make sure that it’s a strategy that makes sense. Realize that Pinterest is needy, and requires plenty of pre-planned content if you plan on taking even the tiniest of breaks.

Know any frequently-made Pinterest mistakes we left out? Let us know in the comments!