How to Set Up A Pinterest Account Part 1
Setting up a Pinterest account is free and easy. It takes just a few moments. Choose a username, choose a few topics, and you are all set. For brands looking to access Pinterest’s 150 million monthly active users, it’s more complicated strategy, but the beginnings are the same. I’m going back in time and revisiting a topic I have not worked with in a while – how to set up a Pinterest account from the beginning of this blog!
Like all other social media platforms, Pinterest offers free accounts. The only paid features are those associated with advertising to other users. The first step in setting up a Pinterest account is to choose a username. If you are setting up Pinterest, then the name is obviously the brand’s name or product name – or both.
Basic Components of a Pinterest Account Include
- Pinterest Account
- Boards = Categories
- Pins
I always use an email address when setting up a new account. Although there are options to log in with Twitter or Google logins, I’d rather have credentials that are independent of other channels.
Pinterest will force new users to choose a few topics to follow. I try to pick a few relevant topics, but generally go in and delete them later. Choosing topics is just one of the ways the platform users to tailor content shown in your newsfeed.
If you own a website or are a brand (that runs a website) then the next step is to verify your domain name with Pinterest. If your website is using Pinterest, then there are plugins to help with this. Just like Google Analytics, verifying website ownership with Pinterest involves adding a snippet of code via FTP’ing to a directory or altering the code. For WordPress, there are plugins to grab the account number. IF you are not tech savvy, you might need help with this step. It’s worth it though, with a verified website, you will get a nofollow link back to your website.
Nest upload a phot of yourself for your bio. I reocmmend using a headshot. some may choose to use a pet’s photogrpah. Brands should use thie logo or possible aproduct shot. As long as the iamges is clear and easily understandalbe it’s good. Of course, carrying band messaging helps too! The next step is to add your biographical information. For a brand, this includes product offerings, and possible a mission statement. For individuals, introduce yourself and let other Pinterest users know what you like to save to your boards.
If you want to be found on Pinterest, the be sure to add your location. If you surf through other accounts, you’ll see this is frequently missed step. That’s why Pinterest is not a very good channel to use for ge0 targeted ads. At this point, your account is setup and ready to go, but it’s rather bare. Go ahead and add a few boards. Boards are a way to categorize saved Pins on your account. You can always delete them later. Businesses and brands should have boards names that are based on product names, and other SEO keyword research. This makes is easier to be discovered.
The next videos in this series, How to Set Up Your Pinterest Account Part 2 and onward cover the next steps. This includes additional setup for Pinterest for business, how to save pins, naming boards, image optimization, getting discovered