If you’re running an online store, then you understand the importance of beautiful images.

Great photography is important for two reasons: Firstly it’s essential to display your products as clearly and accurately as you can, and secondly it’s one of the most effective ways to convey the message of your brand and what you stand for.

But once you’ve got that gorgeous image and a product to swoon over, how do you get it in front of potential buyers?

Using Pinterest to increase sales

Pinterest has now established itself as a leader in social media, and one of the key things to understand about Pinterest is how it directly relates to online shopping.

While it’s used by designers, artists and other creatives to gather and record inspiration, it’s also used by millions of consumers as a wishlist of attainable and aspirational purchases they’d like to make. For online retailers, particularly those with a female target market, this has been a game changer.

Research has shown that 47% of U.S. online consumers have made a purchase as a result of inspiration from Pinterest. That’s powerful, so it’s no wonder that more and more retailers are turning to Pinterest as a primary marketing strategy.

Brands like Nordstrom and Kate Spade have jumped aboard in a big way and have become some of the most-followed pinners on Pinterest. Then there are the blogs turned household names like Apartment Therapy who have in large part Pinterest to thank for bringing their content to the masses.

If you’re already pinning but wondering how to improve your repin rate, or are thinking about joining Pinterest but don’t know where to start, never fear! We’ve rounded up some of our favourite tips to help you stand out from the crowd and use Pinterest to increase sales.

1. Sharpen up

Make sure you have beautiful product images. Pinterest is a noisy place, and to stand out from the crowd you’ll need to make sure your photos are crisp, clear and eye-catching.

It’s important to be consistent here, so keep a strong aesthetic or style in mind. You want users to see your image and immediately know that it’s yours. If you’re pinning images of your products, you’ll want to use Pixc Photos to professionally tidy up your images.

You can take this one step further by using Pixc for your online store images and pinning straight from a product listing. Ecommerce sites like Selz allow you to share directly to Pinterest and link straight back to where the customer can purchase.

2. Glam to the max

Take beautiful photography of your items on a model, in situ and/or while being used. This is where feelings come into play! You want to create gasp-worthy images that spark desire in a specific market of consumers.

You don’t need to hire a professional if that’s not an option for you; even a well-styled image taken on an iPhone can be enough. Pinterest is a place for dreams and aspirations, and while clear product photography is important, creating an atmosphere that evokes emotions in your consumer base is just as essential.

3. Tag like a pro

Discovery through Pinterest relies on search, so you want your products to show up the relevant results. For this to happen you need to tag your pins effectively.

Hashtags are now used on Pinterest in the same way they are used on Twitter. So if you’re a patisserie selling macarons, you’ll want to use hashtags related to patisseries, macarons, and distinct features of each image you pin.

Use a mixture of practical and fun/on-trend tags depending on your target market. For example, this pin below is being set up with a bunch of relevant hashtags. Users will search for macarons, and your pin will appear in the results.

4. Get your link on

It only makes sense to use Pinterest to increase sales if you make it easy to actually get the sale! Don’t be shy about linking back to where people can buy.

Make it as easy as possible for them to seal the deal while they’re in the right state of mind. Add the link to the specific product rather than the homepage of your site — you want to make the product as easy to purchase as possible.

5. Get involved

While Pinterest is definitely one of the more ‘set and forget’ social media options out there, it still pays to get involved and cultivate a community that fits your target. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to repin and comment as much as possible on pins that attract a similar demographic, just like you would on Instagram, Facebook or blogs.

Remember that when it comes to social media, your competition can be your greatest ally. Where better to find people who you know are already interested in what you have to offer than on the Pinterest board of a similar business?

Start pinning and leverage Pinterest to increase sales

Pinterest is such a great source to acquire new, enthusiastic customers that it shouldn’t be ignored! Harness the power of the pin and watch your sales rise as a result.

This post was written by our friends at Selz. Selz is the easiest way to get selling online. With social sharing, a free storefront and Facebook store, and the ability to sell from your site in minutes with no coding or SSL needed, why wouldn’t you give it a whirl?

Share on social: