5 Pinterest Mistakes Creative Business Owners Should Avoid
If you’ve been trying to figure out Pinterest for your brand but feel like nothing is working, you’re not alone. Pinterest can be an incredible source of traffic and visibility, but only if you’re using it the right way.
As a Pinterest designer and setup specialist, I see the same handful of mistakes pop up over and over again. The good news? Once you spot them, they’re easy to fix.
Here are 5 common Pinterest mistakes creative business owners should avoid and what to do instead:
1. Not Using a Pinterest Business Account
If you’re still using a personal account for your brand, it’s time to switch.
A Pinterest Business account gives you access to:
Pinterest Analytics
A professional, branded profile
Website claiming (so all your content is credited to you)
2. Skipping Keyword Optimisation
Pinterest is a visual search engine, which means keywords are everything. If your boards, pins, and profile don’t include the terms your audience is searching for, your content may never be seen.
What to do instead:
Do basic keyword research for your niche (or get a Pinterest Keyword Bank done for you!) and use those terms in your board titles, pin descriptions, and profile bio.
3. Pinning Without a Plan
Randomly pinning content whenever you remember won’t give you results. Pinterest thrives on consistency and intentional content. Without a structure, you’ll burn out - or worse, give up too soon.
What to do instead:
Create a simple pinning plan. Even 2–3 times per week with fresh content can make a big impact when it's strategic.
4. Using Off-Brand or Inconsistent Pin Design
If your pins don’t look like they belong to your brand - or if they’re hard to read, cluttered, or visually mismatched - you’re likely missing clicks. Consistency builds trust and helps your audience instantly recognise your content.
What to do instead:
Use branded Pinterest templates and stick to a consistent colour palette, fonts, and image style. Your designs should be both beautiful and clear.
5. Expecting Overnight Results
Pinterest is a long game. Pins take time to gain traction, and the algorithm rewards consistent, helpful content. If you expect immediate traffic and sales, you may get discouraged and give up too early.
What to do instead:
Stick with it. Give it 90 days of consistent effort (or hire a pro to do it for you!). You’ll start to see momentum build, and the best part is - Pinterest traffic tends to snowball over time.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these common Pinterest mistakes can save you hours of frustration and set your brand up for sustainable growth. If you’re ready to hand it off and finally feel confident about your Pinterest presence, I offer done-for-you Pinterest setup and design services to help you show up beautifully and strategically from day one.
