10 Pinterest Mistakes to Avoid in 2023
If you’re thinking about what Pinterest mistakes to avoid in 2023, you were probably already super frustrated trying to figure out how the heck to market your business on Pinterest in 2022.
If you’ve been marketing your business on social media platforms and got on Pinterest thinking you could use the same strategy – you were WRONG.
Pinterest is a visual search engine. If you follow me or hear me talk on Clubhouse, then you’ve heard me say it time and time again. If Google and Instagram had a baby, that baby would be Pinterest. Because it’s a visual search engine, you need to learn how to use it correctly and learn Pinterest SEO (search engine optimization). Yes, you read that right. Search Engine Optimization isn’t just for Google, but Pinterest too 😉
I became a Pinterest Marketing Expert for a reason. I realized that way too many people have no idea how to grow their business using Pinterest, and that they were missing out on an amazing platform.
Pinterest being a visual search engine means that when people find your content on Pinterest, they were specifically looking for what you have to offer. This means that Pinterest brings you free targeted traffic. And while other platforms want you to stay inside their platform, Pinterest encourages their users to leave Pinterest and go on to other websites by allowing every single pin to be linked to a URL.
Pinterest is GOLD!
I could spend hours writing about why your business should be on Pinterest and how amazing it is, but you’re here to find out what mistakes to avoid on Pinterest. So, with all that being said, here are 10 Pinterest mistakes to avoid in 2023.
#1 Not Utilizing Pinterest Idea Pins Correctly is a BAD Pinterest Mistake
Idea pins, formerly known as story pins, need to be utilized correctly in order to grow on Pinterest in 2023. When story pins first came out, Pinterest users were very confused by their purpose. Story pins were Pinterest pins that could not be linked to any kind of URL. They sort of blew people’s minds – and honestly, they seemed a little useless.
What’s the point of a pin that you can’t link???
The greatest part about Pinterest is the fact that anything that you pin on Pinterest can be linked to an external website. Social media platforms discourage their users from leaving their platform but Pinterest encourages it.
This is great for business owners who want people to come to their website. When story pins initially came out, people had no idea what to do with them because you couldn’t link them to an external website. So, you really need to know how to use them and why you should in order to grow in 2023. Not using story pins correctly is a Pinterest marketing mistake you’ll want to avoid.
Story pins are now called idea pins. Their purpose is to help you be SEEN – that is to increase your Pinterest followers, help you engage your audience, and help you provide value. Idea pins can lead to getting more followers, subscribers, and sales.
Now, you can tag product/affiliate pins to your idea pins, monetize them, and even do Pinterest takes on them. They are evolving and changing. So, Learn about Pinterest idea pins and how to use them correctly.
#2 Being Inconsistent is Another Pinterest Mistakes to Avoid
Frankly, being inconsistent is a general marketing mistake that you should avoid on any and all platforms. And on Pinterest, it’s really important that you keep a steady beat. What I mean is that you have got to keep going. Take your pinning seriously, and pin as often as you can. Don’t spam your profile with pins, of course – but make sure that you’re on there daily providing good value and content to your audience.
I am sure you’re sick of hearing the term “consistency is key,” but nobody would say it if it wasn’t true.
I can’t emphasize this enough – stay consistent.
#3 Pinerest Mistake to Avoid: Spamming Pinterest
If you’ve been on Pinterest for years, you probably remember the good old days. You know…the days when you could just pin your heart out on Pinterest with no repercussions? I remember the days when you could pin and repin the same link across a ton of boards all over Pinterest without any problem. Those days, traffic from Pinterest was a piece of cake. You didn’t really need a strategy so much as you just needed time to create and pin like crazy. But oh, how things have changed.
Way back then, Pinterest didn’t have much of a spam filter. Anybody could go on Pinterest and start getting a ton of traffic to their website almost immediately.
Fortunately, Pinterest realized that they had to start filtering out spammers, scammers, and people with bad intentions from the real business owners trying to grow a genuine business on Pinterest.
Because of this, Pinterest made some changes to improve the quality of pins and protect their users. Now, you have to be more intentional on Pinterest, make sure you’re not over pinning, and take it easy. You need to have a solid marketing strategy to make sure you don’t get caught up in the spam filter. Do not over pin and don’t spam your account. You will get penalized. Make sure to avoid this Pinterest mistake in 2023.
#4 Pinning the Same Image
While we are on the subject of spamming Pinterest, one of the things you need to avoid is using the same image over and over again. It can be viewed as spam to Pinterest even if it’s linked to separate URLs. You want to make sure that you are using different designs, photos, templates, and links when you go to pin on Pinterest. Having the same image repetitively looks like spam to Pinterest because they are seeing the same thing over and over again. This is another Pinterest mistake to avoid in 2023, and a really easy one to avoid thanks to design platforms, like Canva. I LOVE CANVA! Canva allows you to design your heart out to guarantee that your images all look unique. You can try Canva for free below! Because you definitely want to avoid the Pinterest mistake of using the same image – and Canva can seriously help you out 😉
#5 Misleading Pins
What do I mean by misleading pins? I mean having an image with text overlay that is promising a particular type of information but linking it to something completely different.
For example, if you pin a photo of a vegan burger with the title “Vegan Burger Recipe,” but it’s actually linked to a landing page selling your virtual assistant services.
This is a misleading pin that can get you penalized by Pinterest. Trying to manipulate popular content on Pinterest in order to get website traffic can get you in trouble – so you have to make sure that your pins are not misleading at all. Whatever your image is showing and whatever your text overly is promising, make sure that your linked content matches it. Do not mislead people.
If the pin is promising a particular type of information, make sure that you provide that exact information. Nuff said.
#6 Stale Content
If you really want to grow your business on Pinterest in 2023, you need to provide fresh content. You’ll need new URLs to new information so that Pinterest can be happy with your account. The more fresh links, fresh information, education, resources, freebies, products, and offers that you can pin about on Pinterest – the happier Pinterest will be.
One of the things that Pinterest has emphasized is pinning fresh content onto your Pinterest account.
They want new and upcoming information for their users. If you are not blogging, video logging, recording new podcast episodes, or creating any kind of new content, Pinterest is going to get bored with your account. Make sure you avoid the Pinterest mistake of having stale content – and keep your profile fresh and content new.
#7 Pinterest Mistake: No Pinterest SEO
I could probably write an entire blog post talking about Pinterest SEO. Oh wait, that’s right! I have written an entire blog post about Pinterest SEO! Another Pinterest mistake to avoid in 2023 is not using Pinterest SEO. Pinterest is a visual search engine and so you need to use SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I get into more details and even teach you some keyword research in this post. Because if you’re going to market your business on a search engine, you need to optimize your images, titles, and descriptions with keywords. Not utilizing keywords is a Pinterest mistake you want to avoid.
#8 No Branding
I’ve heard mixed opinions about having branded images for social media profiles. I’ve heard people swear by it – and I’ve heard people say that it doesn’t really make a difference for them when it comes to marketing and growing their business.
However, when it comes to Pinterest marketing, having branded images is extremely important. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that Pinterest is so visual. If your images are consistently in line with your branding, they can become recognizable to your audience.
And recognition is very important for business growth.
Think about the McDonald’s arches, for example, the red and yellow color scheme, the tune they play in the commercials – all of these things are very recognizable worldwide. There is a psychology behind it that I talk about in this post. So, plan to have good branded Pinterest images in order to successfully grow on Pinterest in 2023. Avoid the Pinterest mistake of no branding!
#9 Not Having Patience
A lot of people start marketing on Pinterest with the same expectations they have of other platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram. They think that when they pin on Pinterest, it should act the same way as when they post to social media platforms. They want immediate engagement and growth.
People don’t realize that because Pinterest is a search engine, the marketing strategy is going to look completely different than a marketing strategy for social media platforms.
You have to treat Pinterest like a search engine which is why I always compare it to Google. If you have created a website and are trying to get it ranked on Google, you’ll learn that it takes a lot of time. It does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of content, consistency, and time in order to get your website ranked on Google. Similarly, getting your pins ranked on Pinterest and lots of traffic to your website can take time. So, don’t make the Pinterest mistake of not having patience – and prepare to wait at least 6 months to 1 year to really start reaping the benefits of the powerful search engine that Pinterest is.
#10 Pinterest Mistake to Avoid in 2023: Winging It
To be quite honest, I’ve never been the most prepared or organized person. Also, I’m pretty impulsive. I’ve always been the type to “wing it” when it comes to things. However, when I started my Pinterest marketing and content creation business, I learned quickly that I couldn’t really “wing it” in my business.
I had to educate myself, learn proper strategies, take marketing courses, and get more focused in order to really start growing my client’s accounts.
While you might be able to “wing it” on social media platforms – Pinterest being a search engine means that you really need to know what you’re doing. From the pin design and Pinterest copy to the profile description and boards, educating yourself on how to properly market on Pinterest will help you grow. You can get one-on-one Pinterest marketing training, which I’ll be more than happy to do for you! Or you can join a training platform where you can learn at your own pace. I highly recommend this Pinterest training platform that is a continued monthly membership that keeps you up to date on any algorithm changes and strategy techniques for Pinterest. No matter what training you get, learning proper Pinterest marketing techniques will really help you boost your business!
Ending Notes...
Well, there you have it – 10 Pinterest mistakes to avoid in 2023. You definitely want to avoid these mistakes and get some training to learn how to really grow your business on Pinterest. Pinterest is a powerhouse for free organic traffic – and any business can really thrive with the help of Pinterest. If you have a Pinterest account and want some free tips on how to improve your Pinterest profile, you’re welcome to schedule a FREE Pinterest audit here! I would love to check out your Pinterest business account and give you some ideas on how to improve it! You can also message me directly with any questions. I hope that this article was helpful, and I wish you the best kicking butt in 2023 and boosting your business!
Interested in doing your own Pinterest profile audit and learning how to optimize your account with Pinterest SEO? Check out my Pinterest Profile Audit Checklist below!
Check out my YouTube video below! It was posted for 2022 but the same mistakes apply and are relevant for 2023!!!
Comments? Questions? Ask them below! I will answer as soon as I can 
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Some good points in this post, I like how you start right at the front about talking good regarding Pinterest Idea pins. I’ve got one Idea pin that’s getting ready to go over 100,000 Pinterest impressions within the next few months. I can hardly wait. By the way, I’ve pinned your pin on my PinArtwork Blogger Pinterest board. I hope that brings you some extra traffic. Scott | PinArtwork
Thank you so much for the feedback! And for sharing a pin of mine 🙂 I appreciate the support! And congrats on your idea pin!
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