Pinterest Strategies for Growth and Success with Kate Ahl

Pinterest is always evolving, and as we head into 2025, you have to stay ahead of the latest trends and strategies. On this episode of The Ultimate Blog Podcast, we’re welcoming back Pinterest expert Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media. Kate is sharing what we need to know about the current state of Pinterest, the biggest changes ahead, and how bloggers and content creators can optimize their Pinterest strategies for success.

Meet Kate Ahl

In 2014, Kate Ahl started Simple Pin Media to help business owners understand how Pinterest worked for their businesses. They were overwhelmed with the changing landscape of social media. As a result, the company started to reach more and more creators and shop owners who needed the help.

Simple Pin Media now serves over 22,000 email subscribers, almost 120K followers on social, and hundreds of monthly organic and paid clients.

Pinterest’s Shift Back to Its Roots

One of the biggest changes Kate has seen is Pinterest finally recognizing its true value in the market. Over the past few years, the platform has experimented with different formats, trying to compete with TikTok and Instagram. However, in October, Pinterest made a clear statement that it is not a social media platform – it’s a search and discovery engine designed to help users find ideas and inspiration.

This shift back to its roots means Pinterest is focused on informing shopping, search, and content discovery rather than fostering social interactions. As a content creator, understanding this is important to developing an effective Pinterest strategy.

What the Data Says: Key Pinterest Trends

Kate recently featured Tailwind on her podcast, where they discussed findings from a study analyzing one million pins. The study provided some important results that every Pinterest user should keep in mind:

The Shelf Life of a Pin is 13 Months

Unlike social media posts that disappear in a matter of hours or days, Pinterest content has longevity. Pins take time to gain traction, so it’s essential to commit to Pinterest marketing for at least a year to see results. Many users give up too soon, but understanding that your content can continue driving traffic for over a year can help you stay patient and consistent.

Only 1% of Pins Drive the Majority of Traffic

Not every pin will go viral, and that’s okay. Instead of focusing on instant success, creators should prioritize long-term strategy. Older content often performs better over time, and consistency is key to building momentum.

Experiment with Colors

The study also highlighted the impact of colors on pin performance. If your brand colors aren’t yielding the best results, consider experimenting with different visual styles to see what resonates most with your audience.

Understanding Your Pinterest Audience

Pinterest is a multi-generational platform, with users spanning Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and even boomers. The 2025 Pinterest Predicts report provides insights into trending topics and demographics.

Kate shared an example of a food blogger who initially targeted millennial moms but discovered that her content was also attracting college students and baby boomers searching for meal plans. By adjusting her strategy to include these groups, she was able to expand her reach and impact.

Creating a Sustainable Pinterest Strategy

For content creators, here are simple tips for a better Pinterest strategy in 2025:

1. Leverage Your Existing Audience

One of the simplest ways to boost engagement is by encouraging your existing audience to interact with your pins. If you have an email list, mention your latest pin in your emails and invite subscribers to save it for later.

2. Plan for Seasonal Trends

Pinterest thrives on seasonal content. If you’re creating seasonal posts – like holiday recipes or back-to-school organization tips – post them 30 to 45 days before the actual event. This allows your content to gain traction in time for peak search periods.

Not sure what’s trending? Use trends.pinterest.com to identify popular topics throughout the year. Keep in mind that trends aren’t limited to holidays – topics like “work from home” may trend in January, while “closet organization” could peak in August.

3. Check If Your Content Is Already Being Saved

Even if you haven’t been active on Pinterest, your audience might already be saving your content. Search your name on Pinterest to see if users are pinning images from your website or other platforms, like YouTube. If they are, it’s a sign that there’s existing demand for your content – so even more reason to pin your content strategically.

4. Don’t Wait to Publish Time-Sensitive Content

If you have an idea for time-sensitive content – like Super Bowl recipes – but you’ve missed the ideal 30- to 45-day window, post it anyway. Pins have a long lifespan, and often gain traction the following year. Plus, you can repurpose the content by creating new pin designs tailored to different themes, like “summer appetizers” instead of “game-day snacks.”

5. Use Tailwind to Batch and Schedule Pins

Manually pinning content daily can be overwhelming. That’s why scheduling tools like Tailwind can be a game-changer. Tailwind allows you to batch-create pins and schedule them in advance, ensuring a consistent presence on Pinterest without daily effort.

6. Be Strategic with Pinterest Images

Your pin images play a crucial role in engagement. While stock images are convenient, they’re often overused, making it harder to stand out. Instead, consider using original photos. The key is to create visuals that align with your brand while being distinct enough to capture attention.

In this episode, we covered:

How Pinterest has shifted back to its roots of being a search engine
What the current data says on Pinterest trends
Why understanding your Pinterest audience is important
Key tips to create a sustainable Pinterest strategy

H2: Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

We hope you loved this episode with Kate on Pinterest strategies! Please leave us a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode!

Pinterest in 2025: Strategies for Growth & Success with Kate Ahl