Why Pinterest Might Be Your Secret Weapon as an Indie Author

When most authors think of book marketing, their minds jump to Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok—but Pinterest? That dreamy, digital mood board of recipes and renovation ideas? Yes, that Pinterest.

Here’s the thing: Pinterest isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s a powerful, search-driven platform that works while you sleep. And for independent female authors, it might just be the most underrated tool in your marketing toolbox. And, it's getting better by the day.

Let’s talk about why—and how—you should be using it.

Why Pinterest Works for Authors (Especially Women)

🎯 You’re Talking to the Right Crowd Over 76% of Pinterest users are women, mostly between the ages of 25–44—the exact sweet spot of readers who love to devour books and support female creators. These aren’t passive scrollers; they’re intentional searchers looking for inspiration and solutions.

💸 Buyers with High Intent Pinterest users tend to have higher incomes and come to the platform with purchase in mind. That means your book, lead magnet, or blog post isn’t interrupting them—it’s exactly what they’re searching for.

🔍 Visual Search Engine = Long-Term Visibility Unlike Instagram or TikTok where your content disappears in a day, Pinterest pins are searchable forever. You could post a book quote today and still get traffic on it six months (or even years!) from now. Keep in mind though that because of that, this is considered long-form strategy. It's available for a long time but can also take up to 90 days to get momentum building.

📚 Perfect for Backlist Books + Evergreen Content Have a book that’s no longer “new”? Pinterest LOVES evergreen content. You can revive your older books, blog posts, and resources simply by pinning them with the right strategy.

💌 A Natural Funnel for List Building Use Pinterest to promote your lead magnets (like quizzes, free chapters, or reading guides), and watch your email list grow with the right readers—on autopilot.

Pinterest users tend to have higher incomes and come to the platform with purchase in mind.

How to Use Pinterest Like a Pro Author

Here are a few author-approved best practices to help you make the most of Pinterest without overwhelm:

🛠️ Step 1: Set Up a Business Account Once you are Personally Familiar

This unlocks helpful analytics and tools, so you can actually see what’s working and optimize accordingly. But, I personally find the back end a bit confusing so I suggest you jump in first and get really familiar with the personal account and then switch over to business.

🧭 Step 2: Optimize Your Profile

Use keywords in your name (think: Fantasy Author | Jane Doe) and make sure your photo or book cover is polished and professional.

📚 Step 3: Create Strategic Boards

Think like your reader! Create boards such as:

• “Book Quotes That Hit Hard”

• “Behind the Scenes of My Novel”

• “Romantic Getaways Inspired by My Characters”

• “Tips for Aspiring Authors” Boards should reflect your genre, reader interests, and brand vibe.

🎨 Step 4: Design Eye-Catching Pins

Pinterest is visual, so your pins should pop. Use a 2:3 ratio (1000 x 1500 px), clear fonts, high-contrast colors, and on-brand graphics.

Canva tip: Create 3–5 reusable templates to make pinning fast and fun.

🔍 Step 5: SEO Is Everything

Just like Google, Pinterest runs on keywords. Add them to your pin titles, board names, and descriptions. Think phrases like:

• “Best Cozy Mystery Novels”

• “How to Write a Children’s Book”

• “Free Romance Novel Download”

🔁 Step 6: Stay Consistent

Even one pin a week keeps your content fresh and discoverable. Use Tailwind or Pinterest’s scheduler if you like to batch your content. Or, if you have another scheduler you like, see if it can use Pinterest too. I use Metricool and it DOES have a Pinterest feature- so helpful.

👯 Step 7: Engage Like It’s Social (Because It Kind Of Is)

Join group boards, repin other creators’ content, and comment where it makes sense. Pinterest isn’t super chatty, but engagement still counts.

📊 Step 8: Track What’s Working

Check your analytics. What’s getting clicks? Saves? Website traffic? Use that intel to create more of what your audience is loving.

Be sure to FOLLOW ME on Pinterest for tips, tricks and all the fun stuff I've collected over the years.

✨ Quick-Glance Author Checklist

✅ Best Practice	💡 How to Use It as an Author
Business Account	Access analytics and boost visibility
Optimized Profile	Keywords + pro image or cover
Strategic Boards	Genre themes, writing tips, reader interests
Vertical Pins	1000x1500px, branded with clear headlines
Keywords + SEO	Think like your reader when adding descriptions
Evergreen Content	Book quotes, freebies, behind-the-scenes moments
Consistent Pinning	Schedule weekly pins or batch-create monthly
Community Engagement	Join boards, repin quality content, leave comments
Analytics & Adjustments	See what drives clicks and do more of that

Final Thoughts

Pinterest is a powerful, long-game platform—perfect for indie authors who want to work smarter not harder. It helps you build brand presence, boost book sales, and grow your email list on your terms.

If you’re already creating content for your blog, newsletter, or Instagram, you’re halfway there. Just pin it! And, hey, start by pinning this post to your boards so you don't forget where to find these tips.

Your audience is out there, searching. Let’s make sure they find you.

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Rebecca Paciorek is an Online Business Manager specializing in assisting authors, coaches, and speakers in their business growth through traditional and digital means.

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