Your 10 Biggest Questions Answered (Plain & Simple)
You help businesses get more website traffic from Pinterest by managing their strategy, creating pins, and analyzing results.
1. Do I need a certificate?
No. You need to understand how Pinterest works as a visual search engine and what makes people click/save pins. Can you create eye-catching graphics and use keywords effectively? That’s your skill.
What to do instead:
- Grow your own Pinterest account first (to at least 5k monthly viewers)
- Study successful business accounts in niches you like
- Learn Pinterest analytics and best practices
2. What’s the minimum I need to spend?
$0 to start learning.
- Canva (free) for pin design
- Pinterest Business account (free)
- Tailwind free trial for scheduling
- Your computer and internet
To get clients: Tailwind basic plan ($15/month) once you have 1-2 clients.
3. How do I describe what I do?
DON’T say: “I manage Pinterest accounts.” (Sounds like social media)
DO say: “I drive targeted website traffic through strategic Pinterest marketing that acts like a visual search engine.”
Services:
- “Pinterest strategy and account setup”
- “Pin design and scheduling”
- “Pinterest SEO and keyword optimization”
- “Pinterest analytics and performance reporting”
4. Where do I find my VERY first client?
Start with visual businesses:
- Bloggers (food, DIY, parenting, travel)
- E-commerce stores (fashion, home decor, crafts)
- Service businesses with visual results (interior designers, photographers)
- Facebook groups for bloggers/small business owners
Message: “Want more traffic from Pinterest? I help businesses like yours get found by people searching for what you offer. Free Pinterest audit available.”
5. How much do I charge?
First Clients: $300-$500 per month for basic management.
Example pricing:
- Starter package: $350/month (15 pins, basic strategy)
- Growth package: $500/month (25 pins, keyword research, analytics)
- One-time setup: $200-300 (account optimization, initial pins)
- Hourly: $40-60/hour for consulting
Payment: Monthly retainer, paid in advance.
6. What does Pinterest management look like? Step-by-step
Project: “Pinterest Management for a Food Blog”
Weekly tasks (5-8 hours/week):
- Keyword research (1 hour): Find 20+ relevant keywords
- Pin creation (3 hours): Design 5-7 fresh pins in Canva
- Scheduling (1 hour): Schedule pins in Tailwind at optimal times
- Board optimization (1 hour): Update board descriptions, organize pins
- Analytics (1 hour): Check what’s working, adjust strategy
- Reporting (1 hour monthly): Create report for client showing traffic/conversions
Monthly deliverables:
- Traffic report (from Pinterest to website)
- Top performing pins
- Strategy adjustments based on data
- Content plan for next month
7. How do I handle payment safely?
Monthly retainer paid before month starts.
Use PayPal, bank transfer, or invoicing software. First month might be 50% upfront, 50% mid-month until trust established.
Clear scope: Exactly how many pins per week, which platforms (Pinterest only or cross-posting), reporting included.
8. What’s the #1 beginner mistake?
Treating Pinterest like Instagram (posting same content, using same strategies).
Golden rule: Pinterest is a search engine, not social media. Keywords > hashtags, evergreen content > trending content.
9. How do I know if I’m good enough?
You’re good enough if:
- You’ve grown your own Pinterest traffic
- You understand keyword research for Pinterest
- You can create pins that get saves/clicks
- You can explain why certain pins perform better
Test: Manage a friend’s Pinterest account for one month. Does their traffic increase? Are pins getting more saves? If yes, you’re ready.
10. What’s the next step?
Specialize in specific industries (food bloggers, e-commerce, service businesses) or offer Pinterest ads management.
After basic management, offer: Pinterest audit services, Pinterest ad campaigns, complete Pinterest marketing strategy, training for in-house teams.
Your Action Plan:
- Today: Optimize your own Pinterest profile as a business account
- Tomorrow: Create 5 sample pins for a niche you want to work in
- This week: Offer free Pinterest audit to 3 bloggers in your target niche