Pinterest is a fantastic platform to promote your book organically. Plus, it is fun to use and can be great for building an author’s presence. You won’t realize that you are working while you build up your readership through Pinterest boards. Before I start sharing my top 8 tips on how authors can use Pinterest to get more book sales, let’s explain what Pinterest is first.
Pinterest is a highly visual social media platform. That being said if aesthetics is your thing, go for it! The demographic for Pinterest is mainly females from their 20’s to 40’s. Most authors and businesses are not aware of Pinterest’s power and how it can be used to gain more awareness and sales!
What is Pinterest and How Does It Work?
Pinterest is a social media network that allows people to visually share and discover new interests by ‘pinning’ image or videos to boards. These boards they can ‘pin’ to can belong to them or others. For simplicity, Pinterest is a visual search engine where people can browse what other users have pinned.
Pinterest’s goal is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.”
People can either upload images or videos directly to Pinterest from their computer or pin things they like on the web using the Pinterest bookmarklet. Like Facebook Instagram and Twitter, users on Pinterest can follow other boards and other users a well as like and comment on other pins. To help you get started, here are our tips on how Authors can use Pinterest.
8 Tips On How Authors Can Use Pinterest To Get More Book Sales
1. Optimize Your Website With Pinterest
Always make it very easy for your website visitors to Pin from your pages. The first step to optimizing your website with Pinterest is to make sure Pinterest knows your website exists!
Verifying your website with Pinterest takes approximately five to ten minutes. Here’s how:
1. Open your Pinterest Account settings.
2. Scroll down to the Website field and click Confirm website.
3. From here, there are two options: copy the meta tag or upload the HTML file. I’ve included instructions for both:
Here is how to use the meta tag:
1. Copy the code provided and leave the window open.
2. Add it to the section of the HTML file of your website just before the tag.
3. Go back to Pinterest and click Finish.
Here is how to upload the HTML file:
1. Click ‘download this file’ at the bottom of the window.
2. Upload the HTML file to your web server at the root folder – Do not rename the file or 3. Pinterest won’t be able to find it.
3. Go back to Pinterest and press ‘click here’ to complete the process.
Once you either upload the HTML file or the meta tag, Pinterest will automatically confirm your website. If you get stuck, check out Pinterest’s detailed instructions on their website.
Once you confirm your website on Pinterest, you will want to set up social share icons on your blog posts. Social share buttons will allow your audience to share your content on social media easily. They are extremely valuable and great at helping you grow your online traffic organically. You should add social share buttons to every page on your website, including your book page and blog posts.
If you are using WordPress, you can set up social share icons by downloading a plugin. Search for a Pinterest social share plugin- there are hundreds to choose. Once the plugin is downloaded and activated your social share buttons to your blog posts and pages automatically.
If you get stuck, here are further instructions from Pinterest on getting your button installed.
2. Create Interesting Pinterest Boards
Pinterest organizes all pins into boards. You can create boards to reflect any category you’d like. Strive to develop larger boards that have a minimum of 100 pins on them. When pinning new content, always share pins that your audience would find interesting.
3. Build Up Your Followers
Without followers, no one will see the great Pinterest content you’re posting. Follow your fellow authors and friends via Facebook. This will help you get in front of a broader audience. You can also add a Pinterest button on your website that can attract more followers.
4. Create Images of Quotes From Your Writing
If you’ve used Pinterest for any short amount of time, you’ve likely noticed that quotes are quite the popular topic on Pinterest! Start creating some images with quotes from your book. Make sure that when you upload the quote image, you link the quote to your author website or your book’s Amazon page. This will help pique people’s interest, as well as help you build name recognition.
5. Use Pinterest For Stats
If you convert your account to a business account, you will be able to see a number of stats and information about the content you’re pinning.
You can also check to see what pins are the most popular. This will help you identify better with your target market as well as to create more content that appeals to your readers.
6. Use Descriptive “Alt text.”
Make it easy for people to Pin your content by ensuring your image’s alt text (the text alternative to a web image) is relevant, descriptive, and includes keywords (up to 140 characters).
You can even add your website so that your URL is also in the pin description. This will help increase your exposure when people share your pins.
7. Include a Description
A good description is essential because it tends to follow the Pin as it gets re-pinned, and it gives you another opportunity to engage with a user and draw them back to your site and book.
Take a few minutes to write a description and add the title of the post if appropriate. Also, make sure the keywords used are hashtagged, and if it’s your work, add your author website URL.
8. Concentrate On Growing The Number Of Repins Instead Of Followers
Pinterest’s strategy is to become a visual search engine. By focusing on posting high-quality, relevant, and engaging content, you will win and attract new readers. To get more visibility in Pinterest’s search results, you’ll need to find ways to encourage others to re-pin your content. Instead of news and promotions, share content that is inspirational, and helpful.
Conclusion On How Authors Can Use Pinterest
Hopefully, these tips on how authors can use Pinterest to get more book sales helped spark some creative ideas. I have also written another article that shares all of the best book marketing strategies for selling more books to further help you win at book marketing.
Remember, Pinterest is not like any other social media platform. Pinterest is more like a search engine similar to Google. As you create your Pinterest account and start adding content, make sure you drive followers and traffic back to your Amazon Page or Author website. So that people can buy your book!
Looking for more social media advice? Join my Authors only Facebook group where I will answer any of your marketing or publishing questions. Plus I am giving away my free 20 page social media guidebook that has over 100 tips for authors in it!
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