Spoiler alert: YES! And here’s why:
Who else has gone down the Pinterest rabbit hole the second a new idea or project popped into your head? 🙋♀️
As an active Pinterest user myself, I’ve created countless boards over the years, each one unique to whatever phase of life I was in.
Back in high school, it was all about Prom. Dresses, hairstyles, makeup looks, you name it, I had a Pin for it.
In college, between decorating my dorm room and finding kids crafts for summer camp counseling, let’s just say my range of Pinterest boards became pretty diverse.
Now, as an adult, I still use it as my digital vision board. Future wedding inspiration, places I dream of traveling to, recipes I swear I’ll try someday. It’s all there.
So, what does this have to do with marketing? A lot.
Pinterest isn’t just a place for inspiration, it’s a discovery platform where people come to plan, explore, and shop. With over 553 million active monthly users, Pinterest has a highly engaged audience looking for new ideas. Here’s the kicker: 80% of weekly Pinners say they feel inspired by the shopping experience, and 96% of top searches are unbranded, meaning users come here with an open mind, not tied to specific brands.
That’s what makes Promoted Pins so powerful. Unlike other platforms where users scroll passively, Pinterest users are actively searching for solutions, whether it’s an empty nester designing a home gym or a young adult furnishing their first apartment. With the right strategy, your brand can be part of that discovery right at the moment of inspiration.
If you’ve been wondering “are Pinterest ads worth it?”, here are all the reasons why the answer is a resounding YES!
Should I advertise on Pinterest?
Let’s break down why you should give Promoted Pins a chance, with stats to back it up of course 😉
It’s more cost effective
- Promoted Pins are 2.3x more efficient on CPC compared to other paid advertising platforms. You can stretch your budget further while still reaching a high-intent audience.
It reaches key audience demographics. These are core consumer groups for everything from home décor to fashion, wellness, and lifestyle brands.:
- 40% of US households with an annual income over $150K.
- 1 in 3 Pinterest shoppers have an income of over $100k
- 46% of people ages 18-24
- 40% of people ages 25-34
- 39% of people ages 35-44
- Women make up 69.5% of Pinterest users, and women are often the primary decision-makers when it comes to household purchases.
Pinterest users are using the platform as a visual search engine. 46% of weekly users find a new brand or product on the platform, and over 50% of Pinterest users consider the platform to be a place for shopping. And, 80% of Pinners have discovered a new brand of product on Pinterest. In other words: people come here ready to explore and discover YOU!
Not only are users ready to discover, but users WANT to spend money. Pinterest users are 90% more likely to say they’re always shopping compared to users on other platforms. Users aren’t just scrolling—they’re in buying mode. 55% of people use Pinterest to shop and buy, and 61% of those users have purchased a product after seeing a sponsored Pin.
Have we convinced you to invest in Promoted Pins yet?! With its engaged audience, cost-effective reach, and high-intent shoppers, it’s a no-brainer for businesses looking to connect with new customers.
But how do you make the most of your Pinterest Ads? We have tips, tricks, and creative ideas to help you maximize your results!
Pinterest Ad Creatives: Be Short n’ Sweet
No, I don’t mean the Sabrina Carpenter album. Your ads should be brief and to the point, but in a way that sparks joy. Ads that receive positive emotional reactions are 20% more memorable and have a 6x higher lift in action intent.
Since Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, users quickly scroll through content, taking in each element at a glance. To make your Promoted Pins “short n’ sweet” yet effective, ask yourself these key questions:
What is my visual?
Your visual is the most important element in Promoted Pins. On platforms like Facebook or Google, compelling copy can do a lot of the heavy lifting. But on Pinterest, the ad creative is what stops the scroll. Use:
- High-quality, vertical images (1000 x 1500 px) to maximize screen space.
- Bright, clear visuals that align with your brand aesthetic.
- Minimal clutter. Keep the focus on the key message.
Now here’s a question within a question: Can you turn this into a video? When creating Pinterest ads, always consider whether your concept could work as a short video. Video content has become a go-to across social platforms. And on Pinterest, it does more than just fit in, it thrives. Pinterest video ads have a 3x better viewability and a 2x better video completion rate than the average social media platform. Video Pins also have 3x higher click-through rates than static Pins. Here are some quick tips for creating high-performing video ads:
- Keep it between 6-15 seconds.
- Don’t rely on audio or dialogue. Videos automatically appear without sound. Instead, use captions or text overlay.
- Have a strong cover image.
Within my visual, what is my scroll stopper?
Pinterest is a highly stimulating platform, meaning your ad needs an immediate hook to catch attention. Consider:
- A bold text overlay: Keep it short, but informative (e.g., 10 Mistakes to Avoid When [XYZ] or Stop Doing These 5 Things When [XYZ]).
- A strong color contrast: Bright, eye-catching colors work best.
- A subtle movement or transition: Video Pins, Pinterest idea ads, or animated Pins with slight motion can boost engagement.
Is my brand clearly represented?
Your ad should subtly build brand recognition without feeling overly promotional. Best practices include incorporating your logo in a non-intrusive way, using consistent brand colors and fonts, and ensuring the product or service is instantly recognizable.
Do I have a clear Call-to-Action (CTA)?
Pinterest users actively search for inspiration, which means they’re open to discovering new brands. But you need to guide them toward action. Strong CTAs include:
- Shop Now
- Learn More
- Try This Look
Pinterest Ad Specs: Tall n’ Tactful
Because that sounds much better than “Tall n’ Sour.” High-quality, vertical images are going to be your very best friend when it comes to Pinterest ads. Pinterest recommends you use a 2:3 aspect ratio (ex: 1000 x 1500 pixels). Other ratios may cause your Pin to truncate, or may negatively impact performance.
Here are the most common Pinterest ad specs:
Static Pinterest Ad Specs:
- File type: .png or .jpeg
- Ideal aspect ratio: 2:3 or 1000×1500 pixels
- File size: maximum 10 MB
Pinterest Carousel Ad Specs:
- Image count: no less than 2, no more than 5
- File type: .png or .jpeg
- Max file size: 32 MB per image
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 or 2:3
Pinterest Collection Ad Specs:
- File type: .png or .jpeg
- File size: maximum 10 MB
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 or 2:3
- One hero image and minimum three creatives needed for Collection ads
Pinterest Shopping Ad Specs
- File size: .png or .jpeg
- Aspect ratio: 2:3
- File size: maximum 10 MB
Pinterest Video Ad Specs
- File type: .mp4, .mov, or .m4v
- Max file size: Up to 2GB
- Video length: minimum 4 seconds and a maximum of 15 minutes
Example of an Optimized Pin
You might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but what does an optimized Pinterest ad actually look like?”
Let’s walk through an example I created. Here’s why this Promoted Pin works based on the key questions we covered earlier.
What is my visual?
The visual is an 8-second short-form video showing a user scrolling through their Pinterest feed. Aligns with the performance strengths of Pinterest video ads.
What is my scroll stopper?
“Are Pinterest ads worth it?” is direct, and it makes you want to find out the answer. My example includes a video of a user scrolling through their Pinterest feed, showing where they pause, what catches their eye, and what they click on.
Is my brand clearly represented?
Yes. The video includes Flyte’s logo and name, and uses our brand colors throughout to reinforce recognition.
Do I have a clear CTA?
Yes! The viewer is prompted to “Find Out Why” with a “Read More” button, making it clear that they can learn the answer by clicking through to the full article or post.
Pinterest Ad Strategy
Now that you’ve nailed the creative side of Pinterest Ads, it’s time to talk a little bit of strategy. Pinterest isn’t just about how your ads look, it’s also about how you set them up.
In a way, Pinterest Ads Manager is a combo of multiple marketing channels. What makes Pinterest ads targeting special is its versatility. You can target interests and have fun with creatives, much like Meta Ads. You can also target keywords, similar to Google Ads, without paying per keyword. And don’t forget SEO! You can add keywords to your ad headline and description, which can help your ad show up in results when users are searching.
When setting up targeting, don’t hold back on keywords. Somewhere between 50–75 keywords is a strong range to give Pinterest enough context to surface your content in relevant searches.
So if your product is all about, say, Coastal Home Decor, add that keyword into your targeting and your ad copy to give it extra relevance.
Pro tip: Use the Pinterest keyword trend tool to see how certain keywords perform throughout the year. It’s super helpful for planning seasonal campaigns or jumping on trending topics before they peak!
What about budgeting? Great question! Before launching your first campaign, know that Promoted Pins perform best when they’re given enough budget and time to work. If you start off by “testing” the platform with a super small spend and a tight two-week window, you’re probably not giving it enough space to succeed.
Instead, think of Pinterest as a long game–future-focused and built on momentum. A daily budget of at least $35 is often recommended to give your campaign enough room to optimize and actually reach your audience.
Evergreen campaigns tend to outperform short bursts, especially when focused on consistent audience needs like home decor, wellness, or seasonal hobbies. And while some content performs better at specific times of year (think: gardening tools in spring), a solid strategy shouldn’t be turned off between seasons.
Finally, when reviewing performance, remember Pinterest takes time to fully optimize. It typically needs two weeks of data to really hit its stride. After that, check in on what’s resonating—but don’t make changes just for the sake of it. Some creatives peak later, and if something’s working, there’s no need to over-tweak.
Getting Started with Your First Promoted Pins
You’ve got the data, the audience insights, creative best practices, Pinterest ads targeting tips, and even an example to guide you. Why wait? Pinterest isn’t just a place for ideas. It’s where people go to make decisions. And now you know how to meet them there with content that’s clear, helpful, and genuinely worth saving.
Still Pinning Down the Details? Let’s Chat.
If you’re not quite ready to DIY it, we’re here to help! Reach out today and we can help you figure out what to promote, how to say it, and how to actually get results without the guesswork. Let’s make sure your Promoted Pins don’t just blend in, let’s make them pin-worthy. 📌
Having earned a marketing degree in December of 2023, Roslyn blends a passion for creative marketing with a keen interest in the psychological aspects that drive consumer behavior. When not diving into the latest trends in marketing, Roslyn enjoys discovering new music, though Taylor Swift remains a constant favorite! As a Southern Maine native, the coast is her favorite place to be. Whether it's a warm day on Wells Beach or hiking scenic trails, she loves spending time outdoors. With college now in the rearview, she is eager to travel and begin new adventures. Driven by a curious mind, Roslyn is ready to immerse herself into the world of marketing!
