book promotion

Evergreen Pin Power in Action: A Case Study

We hear the term “evergreen” tossed around a lot when it comes to promoting books, programs, and services on Pinterest. It sounds important—maybe even a little exciting—but what does it really mean for authors like us? How does evergreen marketing actually work, and why is it such a game-changer?

For me, the idea of evergreen marketing is THE reason authors should consider building a vibrant presence on Pinterest. Every time we at Pin Lit create fresh campaigns for our clients, we approach them with the goal of crafting a lasting, evergreen presence, using their content as the foundation. This process takes consistency, creativity, and a solid strategy—but trust me, the effort is absolutely worth it. Let me show you what I mean.

Currently, we’re partnering with a client to build a pre-publication platform for an exciting new nonfiction baseball book titled OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABE, set to release four months from now. The first step any savvy Pinterest marketer takes when introducing a new release is to establish fresh boards inspired by the themes, topics, and main ideas represented in the book.

When creating board titles, it’s best to use search terms your target audience is likely to type when looking for content. For this project, we’ve chosen titles like US Biography Books, Baseball Books, and 1900s American Baseball History Books. These targeted terms ensure the book connects with its ideal readers from the start.

Once the board is created on Pinterest, the next step is to “optimize the board.” To do this, simply type the board title into the search bar and hit Enter. If the title resonates well with Pinterest’s search algorithm, the screen—or “feed”—will fill with pins that share a common thread.

Here’s where it gets exciting: the pins that appear at the very top of the feed are the highest-ranking ones for that topic. Think of them as the gold stars of the group—pins that are performing well and aligning perfectly with your board’s focus.

Once Pinterest displays the pins it thinks best match the search, the next step is to add 20 to 30 of the most relevant pins to the fresh board. This process serves two important purposes: it helps Pinterest understand how to index the author’s new content within the board, and it gives those high-ranking pins a little extra love by repinning them. Win-win!

While optimizing fresh boards for OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABE, I was thrilled to see a pin for a previous client rank as a high-performer in the search results. The best part? This pin, promoting her nonfiction picture book biography about Yogi Berra, was originally posted back in July of 2021! That pin is over three years old and it’s still going strong!

This is evergreen marketing in action. That pin—and all the others we created to promote her books—will continue to work for her as long as she maintains a presence on the platform.

This is the magic of evergreen marketing on Pinterest: it’s not just about creating content; it’s about building a presence that keeps working for you over time. Whether it’s a new release or a beloved backlist title, Pinterest has the power to connect your books, programs, and services with readers long after the initial campaign.

So, what’s stopping you? Start planting those evergreen pins today and watch your efforts grow!

Ready to explore how Pinterest can work for you? Let’s connect and make it happen.


Pin Lit Marketing is the premier Pinterest strategist for books, blending literary insight with unmatched expertise in captivating young readers. Your new audience awaits! Sign up for a Fit Call today!

Adventures of a Debut Author - Where to Begin?

As luck would have it, this week I had the great pleasure of enjoying a phone conversation with one of the most delightful individuals I know – Andrea Cascardi. I first met Andrea when she was working as an agent with Transatlantic Literary Agency. I was serving as Regional Advisor for the Austin SCBWI chapter at the time. She was an esteemed guest during one of our most awesome annual conferences. As an RA, you relate with agents and editors on a personal level all the time. Getting to personally know Andrea was a sheer pleasure, to be sure.

During our phone conversation, Andrea and I chatted about successful marketing strategies for debut authors. Like many others, I wonder . . . what avenues are most effective in spreading the word about our books – blog tours, paid publicists, social media marketing, and speaking engagements? Where does a debut author start?

According to Andrea, one the most effective ways to promote your book is to connect with community – be it on the local level, a professional level such as with SCBWI or library associations, and/or through social media. She said to go out and personally meet local booksellers and librarians. Sure, let them know that soon there will be a book to buy. But let your intention be get to know one another. Become genuine friends.  Not what’s-in-it-for-me type of friends. The real deal.

Andrea said that people want to be invested in a writer’s success. They love being a part of grassroots campaign supporting an individual and a project they believe in. By reaching out and connecting in this way, we’re giving a community the opportunity to do just that.

She also said start early, well before publication. Don’t wait until you’re holding the book in your hand. Let the process of genuinely connecting with others begin right away!

I can do that.

Speaking of connecting, this week author pal and former SCBWI RA Erin Dealy shared a blog thread about debut authors from her website. The thread title is What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Book. In it, she toys with a pregnancy theme. It’s fun, clever, and insightful! Check it out.

So, the debut author tip of the day is to reach out to others in a genuine, friendly, and personal way locally, professionally, and in cyber space. Build authentic relationships. Also, don’t wait until publication. Begin today!