The Ultimate Guide: How to Use Pinterest for Art Marketing Effectively
Did you know that 80% of Pinterest users say they’ve discovered a new brand or product on the platform? That’s a goldmine for us artists! We’ll be the first to admit, we were pretty clueless about Pinterest for art marketing when we started out. We thought it was just for recipes and DIY projects. Boy, were we wrong!
After some trial and error (and a few facepalm moments), we think we understood using Pinterest to showcase our art and connect with potential buyers. It’s been a game-changer for our online presence since the beginning.
Now, we’re here to spill the beans on everything we’ve learned for all new beginners – incase as an artist if you still don’t have a business account. From setting up your profile to creating pins that pop, we’re covering it all in this ultimate guide. Ready to turn those Pinterest boards into your personal art gallery?
Table of Contents
Getting Started for Art Business
Why do you need a Pinterest business account?
For artists, a Pinterest business account is more than just a profile—it’s a powerful tool to increase your reach and understand your audience. Imagine you’re a watercolor artist specializing in botanical illustrations. With a business account, you can track which of your floral paintings are getting the most views, so you can refine your content strategy. Perhaps your delicate rose studies are outperforming your sunflower series—this insight can guide your future creations and marketing efforts.
Plus, with a business account grants you get access to Rich Pins, which automatically pull information from your website into your pins. For a surface pattern designer, this means your fabric designs or wallpaper patterns can show real-time pricing and availability, so customers can buy your products directly.
How to create a Pinterest business account
- Go to Pinterest.com and click Sign in.
- If you don’t have a personal Pinterest account, click Create a free account.
- Once logged in, click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click Settings (the gear icon) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click Create a Business account.
- Follow the instructions to create your business account.
Optimizing your profile for art marketing
Once your business account is set up, it’s time to optimize your profile. As an artist, your profile is your digital gallery entrance—make it count! Use a high-quality profile picture that represents your art business.
Write a clear and descriptive bio that states who you are as an artist and what kind of art you make. A surface pattern designer might write: “Creating vibrant, nature-inspired patterns for fabrics, wallpapers, and home decor. Adding a splash of color to everyday life!”
Don’t forget to add a link to your website or online shop.
As an artist you don’t have your own website and online shop yet?!
We can not say this enough to our fellow artists and designers. Every artist must have a website. We have lots of information and resources available on our website to support you on this topic. Make sure you check here our other blog posts as well!
This direct link can drive traffic and sales of your artwork or pattern collections. Finally, add relevant keywords to your profile to increase search visibility. For example, use terms like “watercolor artist,” “botanical illustrations,” or “surface pattern design” to help potential followers and customers can find you easily.
Now you have your Pinterest business account set up you can start building the foundation for your art marketing on this visual platform. With these in place you can start sharing your art and engaging with your audience.
Creating Effective Pinterest Boards
Now it’s time to get into the meat of your art marketing strategy: creating Pinterest boards. These boards will be virtual galleries showing your work and attracting buyers and art lovers.
Building boards that attract Pinterest users
As an artist or a designer, your boards should be a visual feast that captivates viewers and keeps them engaged. Think of each board as a curated exhibition of your work. For instance, if you’re a watercolor artist specializing in landscapes, you might create boards like “Misty Mountain Watercolors” or “Serene Seascape Paintings.” These boards not only showcase your art but also appeal to users interested in specific themes or subjects.
Pinterest is basically a visual search engine, therefore remember to use SEO-friendly titles and descriptions for your boards. This helps make your content discoverable in search results. For example, instead of simply naming a board “My Patterns,” a surface pattern designer might opt for “Floral Surface Patterns for Fabric and Wallpaper.” This title is not only more descriptive but also includes keywords that potential customers might search for.
Don’t skimp on your board descriptions. Detailed, keyword-rich descriptions help Pinterest understand your content better and present it to users searching for those topics. For example:
“Dive into a world of vibrant floral surface patterns perfect for fabrics, wallpapers, and home decor. Each design is hand-painted with watercolors and digitally refined to bring a touch of nature’s beauty to your space. Explore my collection of roses, peonies, and wildflower patterns in various color palettes.”
is much better than ‘My Patterns’ 😉
Creating and participating in group boards
Group boards are a great way to increase the visibility of your art and connect with like-minded people or potential customers. As a watercolor artist you might join or create a group board called “Watercolor Techniques and Tips” where artists share their methods and works-in-progress. This shows your expertise and puts your art in front of a bigger, engaged audience.
For surface pattern designers a group board like “Surface Pattern Design Challenges @ Spoonflower” could be a treasure trove of collaboration and exposure. By participating in such boards you’re not just sharing your own work but also engaging with other designers and potential clients who might be looking for new patterns for their products.
Pinning on shared boards can increase your reach as a beginner. Although Pinterest does not want us to pin all third party pins, when you pin to a group board with a big following your pins will be seen by thousands of new users who might not have found your work otherwise. Might worth a try.
Organizing boards for maximum visibility
Strategic organization of your boards is key to maximizing their visibility and attracting followers. Create boards that closely related with your art niche or brand. For a watercolor artist focusing on botanical subjects, boards like “Watercolor Florals,” “Leaf and Plant Studies,” and “Botanical Color Palettes” would be relevant and appealing to your target audience.
Use keywords in your board titles and descriptions to make them searchable. A surface pattern designer might use titles like “Geometric Patterns for Modern Interiors” or “Tropical Print Designs for Fashion” so interested people can find their work.
To keep your boards fresh and interesting, don’t just pin your own content. Pin from other sources that complement your art or are valuable to your followers. For example a watercolor artist might pin tutorials, color mixing guides or inspirational landscape photographs along with their own paintings. This positions you as a curator in your field not just a creator and adds depth to your Pinterest presence and gives followers more reason to engage with your boards.
By creating and organising your Pinterest boards you’re not just showing your art—you’re creating an experience that can attract, engage and convert viewers into followers and potential customers.
Crafting Engaging Pins
Designing visually appealing Pins for art marketing
Your pins are your digital portfolio.
They need to capture the essence of your work and stand out in a sea of images. Start with high-quality images of your art. For watercolor paintings, ensure your photos capture the delicate textures and vibrant colors. If you’re a surface pattern designer, show your patterns applied to products or in mock-up environments to help viewers envision their potential.
If you can afford, consider investing in a professional photographer or a high-quality camera to truly do justice to your creations. The difference between a mediocre photo and a stunning one can be the deciding factor in whether a user stops to look at your pin or scrolls past.
Experiment with different pin formats to keep your content fresh and engaging. Video pins can be particularly effective for artists. Imagine a time-lapse video of you creating a watercolor landscape or animating a surface pattern design. These dynamic pins can captivate viewers and provide insight into your creative process.
Carousel pins are another great tool. Use them to show a series of related artworks or to show a pattern in different colorways.
Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags in your pins. They can significantly boost your discoverability. For instance, #WatercolorArt, #BotanicalWatercolor, or #SurfacePatternDesign can help your pins reach art enthusiasts and potential buyers. But not too many hashtags as in Instagram, 2-3 would be enough.
Writing descriptions that ignite interest and include relevant keywords
Your pin descriptions are your chance to tell the story behind your art and get viewers to click to find out more. Write compelling copy that highlights the unique aspects of your artwork and piques the user’s curiosity. For a watercolor artist you might write:
“Step into the misty world of ‘Misty Mountains at Dawn’. This original watercolor painting is the moment morning light first touches the peaks. Inspired by my hikes in the Rockies I’ve used a limited palette to capture the peacefulness of dawn in the wilderness.”
For a surface pattern designer you might write:
“Bring the outdoors in with ‘Wildflower Meadow’, a bold surface pattern inspired by summer fields. This repeating design features hand painted daisies, cornflowers and poppies, digitally arranged to create a seamless pattern for wallpaper, fabrics or home decor accents.
Include keywords in your description to increase search visibility. For example “original watercolor painting”, “nature inspired art” or “floral surface pattern” will get your pins in front of the right audience.
Always include a call to action in your pin description. Get users to do something more, like visit your website to see more of your collection or buy. For example: “Visit my website to see more botanical watercolors and buy the one for your home.”
The importance of hashtags in Pinterest SEO
Hashtags are key in Pinterest SEO, they make your pins visible in search results. Research the popular hashtags in your art niche and include them in your pin descriptions. For a watercolor artist hashtags like #WatercolorLandscape #NatureInspiredArt #OriginalWatercolor will get your pins in front of art lovers who like your style.
Surface pattern designers might use hashtags like #PatternDesign #TextileArt #WallpaperPattern to get both industry professionals and decor lovers.
Use a mix of broad and specific hashtags to get both general and targeted traffic. Broad hashtags like #ArtForSale #HomeDecor will get you more visibility overall, while specific hashtags like #BotanicalWatercolor #GeometricSurfacePattern will get you in front of niche audiences who will engage with your work.
Remember Pinterest allows up to 20 hashtags per pin but don’t feel forced to use them all. Quality over quantity, choose the most relevant and impactful hashtags for each pin.
By creating beautiful pins with great descriptions and using hashtags strategically you’re setting yourself up for more visibility and engagement on Pinterest. These elements work together to show off your art and connect with potential buyers and art lovers who will love your work.
Pinterest Community
Promoting your Pins to engage with the Pinterest community
Engagement is key to expanding your reach and turning casual viewers into dedicated followers and potential buyers.
Share your pins across your other social media platforms. Post your latest botanical watercolor series on Instagram and link to your Pinterest board. This will drive traffic to your Pinterest account and get your work in front of a bigger audience.
Don’t just post and ghost. Engage with other Pinterest users by commenting, liking and saving their pins. If you see a beautiful landscape watercolor leave a comment about the technique or color palette. This will get you in touch with other artists and art lovers.
Join group boards and collaborative pinning to get in front of a bigger audience. For example join a board called “Watercolor Techniques” or “Textile Design Inspiration”. By pinning your best work to these boards you’ll get more visibility and potentially get new followers who like your style of art.
Share content from other artists and influencers
Being strong on Pinterest isn’t just about promoting your own work. Share valuable and inspiring content from other artists within your niche. As a surface pattern designer you might pin tutorials on color theory or trend forecast for the next season. This will make you a go to source of artistic inspiration and help you build connections within the art community.
Follow other artists who are like you, have a big following and are active on Pinterest. A watercolor artist might follow botanical illustrators, landscape painters or even art supply brands. Engage with their content regularly by repinning their work, leaving comments or trying out the techniques they share.
Remember Pinterest is a community. By sharing and engaging with others content you’ll get the same in return and increase your own visibility and credibility.
Collaborating with brands and other artists on Pinterest
Collaboration is a great way to grow your presence on Pinterest. Look for influencers or brands that are in your niche, have a similar style and values. For example a watercolor artist who specialises in food illustrations might partner with a gourmet food brand or a cooking magazine.
These collaborations can take many forms. You might create custom pins with your artwork for a brand’s product launch or participate in a Pinterest takeover on another artist’s account. These collaborations will get you in front of established audiences and benefit from the shared promotion.
Remember Pinterest now has monetization for branded content. So you can potentially earn money from creating pins that show off your art and a brand’s products. For example a surface pattern designer could create a sponsored pin featuring their latest fabric design on a furniture brand’s products.
When collaborating keep it authentic and choose partners that align with your artistic vision. Your followers will appreciate the real connections and will engage more with collaborative content that feels like you.
By engaging with the Pinterest community, sharing valuable content and exploring collaborations you’re not just promoting your art—you’re building a network of fans, potential customers and fellow creatives. This holistic approach to Pinterest will get you more visibility, sales and exciting opportunities for your art business.
Measuring Success and Beyond
Decoding Pinterest Analytics for art marketing
As you grow on Pinterest it’s important to track your progress and protect your work.
Pinterest analytics is your compass in the wild west of digital art marketing. As an artist check your analytics regularly to get valuable insights about your audience and your pins.
Use Pinterest analytics to see which of your art is resonating with your audience. Maybe your floral watercolors are outperforming your landscapes or your geometric patterns are getting more saves than your florals. This data will help you make informed decisions and tailor your content strategy.
Look at Pinterest Trends to stay ahead of the game. If you see a spike in searches for “minimalist watercolors” or “eco-friendly fabric patterns” think about how you can incorporate those themes into your work. By aligning your marketing strategy with the current trends you’ll get more visibility and engagement on the platform.
Watermarking and branding your images
Protecting your artwork is paramount in the digital world. Add subtle watermarks to your images to deter unauthorized use. Use a semi-transparent logo or signature that doesn’t detract from your art’s visual appeal. This way, you maintain your work’s integrity while asserting your ownership.
If you want to learn more about how to add Watermarks and protect your images on internet, please click here!
Monitoring and reporting copyright infringements
Unfortunately even with precautions you may still encounter copyright infringement. Be vigilant by searching your art on Pinterest regularly using keywords related to your style or subject matter. For example if you’re a watercolor artist known for your pet portraits, search for “watercolor pet portrait” or your artist name.
If you find your work being used without permission, document the infringement immediately. Take a screenshot of the pin and note the date and source. This will be useful if you need to escalate the issue.
Next contact the infringing party directly. Often users don’t realize they’re violating copyright and will remove the content when informed. If direct contact doesn’t resolve the issue you can file a formal complaint through Pinterest’s copyright infringement reporting system.
Remember protecting your work is not just about preserving your income—it’s about preserving your artistic brand. By being proactive in monitoring and addressing potential infringements you’re protecting your reputation and the value of your art in the digital market.
Advanced Strategies for Art Marketing
Using Pinterest as a digital sketchbook and inspiration tool
Pinterest isn’t just for showing your finished work—it can be a powerful tool for your creative process. Create secret boards to curate collections of images, references, and ideas that spark your creativity. As a watercolor artist, you might have a board dedicated to unique color palettes or innovative brush techniques. Surface pattern designers can use these boards as mood boards, exploring new motifs or color trends. These private collections can help you experiment with various techniques and stay motivated throughout your creative work.
Working with clients and collectors on Pinterest
Pinterest is a unique opportunity to involve your clients in the creative process. Create private boards and invite clients to add their inspirations and preferences. For example if you’re commissioned to create a series of watercolor paintings for a hotel lobby you could start a shared board where the client pins images of the mood, colors and styles they have in mind.
As a surface pattern designer you might share work-in-progress images or sketches privately with clients for feedback. This collaborative approach allows you to refine your designs based on real-time feedback so the final product is exactly what the client had in mind. By using Pinterest to curate collections tailored to a client’s specific preferences you’re not just creating art you’re building relationships and ensuring client happiness.
Pinterest updates and features
Pinterest is always changing, new features are being added to help you in your artistic journey. Stay up to date with the latest Pinterest trends by visiting the platform regularly. Read Pinterest’s official blog and follow other artists in the Pinterest art community to see new ways to show your work and engage with your audience OR
or just follow us here and on Pinterest to get the latest! 😉
Staying Ahead in Art Marketing
Learning from successful artists on Pinterest
Success leaves clues and Pinterest is no exception. Look to other successful artists in your niche and study them. It will give you insight. Look for artists with a strong presence on Pinterest—those with high followers, consistent engagement and visually cohesive boards.
Analyse their pin designs, board organisation and descriptions. Maybe you’ll see a watercolor artist using video pins to show their painting process or a surface pattern designer creating themed boards that tell a story. Look at how they use keywords, hashtags and calls-to-action in their pin descriptions. By understanding what works for others you can adapt and refine your own Pinterest strategy for better results.
Adopting and adapting to the changing world of art marketing
The digital world is always changing and new opportunities arise for artists to show and sell their work. Be open to it. Try out new platforms and technologies that complement your Pinterest presence. Maybe live stream your painting process, host a virtual exhibition of your latest pattern collection or offer online workshops to share your techniques.
Staying up-to-date with the latest Pinterest trends and best practices
To stay on top of your Pinterest game follow Pinterest’s official blog and social media channels. Attend webinars or virtual conferences about Pinterest for artists. Join online communities where you can share with other creatives and learn about their Pinterest strategies OR just follow us to get all this and more!
