booksellers

Is Pinterest the Best Choice for Marketing Your Books? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Pinterest has become a powerful platform for book creators, offering an evergreen way to showcase work and engage new readers. However, diving into a new marketing platform raises questions. If you're an author, illustrator, publisher, or e-commerce seller considering Pinterest, here are some essential questions and practical steps to help you understand if Pinterest is right for your marketing goals.

  • What Can I Gain from Marketing My Book on Pinterest?

    Pinterest offers book creators an incredible opportunity for lasting visibility. Unlike other social platforms where content fades quickly, Pinterest pins can keep drawing engagement for months, even years, after posting. As a visual search engine, Pinterest reaches users actively looking for specific ideas, genres, or content like yours, helping you connect with an audience that’s already interested in what you have to offer. Plus, it’s more than just visibility; Pinterest allows you to highlight the process behind your book, your unique inspiration, and your themes, building a brand that resonates deeply with readers. Think about the type of audience you want to reach and how your work can visually tell a story that captivates and inspires them on Pinterest.

  • Is My Target Audience on Pinterest?

    Pinterest is a perfect space for book creators aiming to reach parents, teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, and avid readers. The platform has a vibrant community that eagerly seeks inspiration, education, and creative content, making it especially powerful for creators in children’s literature, YA, nonfiction, and visually rich storytelling genres. To make the most of this, take some time to explore Pinterest demographics and audience insights to see how your genre aligns with the interests of its users. At Pin Lit Marketing, we’re here to help you evaluate these insights so that your books connect with the right readers and potential buyers on Pinterest.

  • How Much Time Should I Dedicate to Pinterest?

    One of Pinterest’s greatest advantages is its evergreen nature, meaning your content doesn’t require daily posting as it might on other platforms. Instead, consistency is key: creating a few well-optimized pins each week and engaging with trending topics in your niche can yield long-term results. Start by setting aside just 1-2 hours each week to plan and create pins. As you see what resonates with your audience and your content gains traction, you can adjust your schedule based on the results. This approach keeps your presence steady and manageable while maximizing reach.

  • How Can I Best Use My Book’s Visual Elements on Pinterest?

    While visual appeal is essential on Pinterest, don’t worry if your book isn’t filled with illustrations—there are plenty of ways to create captivating pins. Text-based pins, such as quotes, reviews, behind-the-scenes insights, or even mood boards, can all effectively spark interest and drive engagement. To get started, identify 5-10 unique visual elements related to your book, like key settings, memorable character quotes, or central themes, and turn these into pin ideas. You might create “chapter teasers” or graphics that showcase inspiring quotes or imagery from your book, giving potential readers a taste of what they’ll find within its pages.

  • Can Pinterest Help Me Build My Brand?

    Pinterest is an ideal platform for sharing far beyond just your book covers. By posting behind-the-scenes glimpses, insights into your creative process, or educational content, you’re able to build authority in your niche and create a memorable brand that resonates with your audience. To get started, list three unique elements of your creative journey or brand—these could be aspects of your writing style, the inspiration behind your stories, or themes you’re passionate about. Use these as the foundation for your Pinterest boards and pins, ensuring that each post aligns with your values and speaks directly to the readers you hope to connect with.

  • What’s the Investment for Setting Up a Pinterest Strategy?

    Getting started on Pinterest is free, but many creators find that using promoted pins adds value by reaching larger, more targeted audiences. However, to make the most of your Pinterest strategy, an investment of time is also needed to create consistent, high-quality content that engages viewers. Start by posting organic pins to see what resonates most with your audience. If you notice certain pins gaining traction, consider running small-scale ads to further boost their reach. At Pin Lit Marketing, we can help you design budget-friendly strategies tailored specifically to book creators, ensuring your content reaches the right readers.

  • What if My Platform Isn’t Growing as Quickly as I’d Hoped?

    Achieving success on Pinterest is a gradual process, as it can take weeks or even months for pins to gain traction and become fully indexed by Pinterest’s search engine. The key is to remain patient and consistent with your efforts. To stay on track, regularly review your Pinterest analytics to measure growth and understand what content resonates most with your audience. Use your top-performing pins as inspiration for future content, keeping your strategy responsive to what works best. At Pin Lit Marketing, we’re here to help fine-tune your approach along the way, ensuring your audience remains engaged and your goals stay within reach.

Pinterest is a powerful marketing tool, especially for book creators looking to establish an evergreen presence online. By addressing these questions and implementing a consistent, strategic approach, you’ll be equipped to decide whether Pinterest aligns with your goals. Pin Lit Marketing is here to support you every step of the way, helping your books get the visibility they deserve!


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 - Befriending Community

Thanks to Andrea Cascardi’s wise words in last week’s post, I’ve been thinking a lot about befriending my community as being an early step to promoting my book. Even though the pub date for Playing Like a Girl isn’t until 2017, I’m heeding her words and starting early!

Andrea said to “go out personally and meet local booksellers and librarians.” This should not be that hard to do. Bookstores and libraries should be my way of life, right? Well, I have to confess that most of my book shopping online.  I can feed my book addiction without shedding my bath robe. Also, I don’t linger when I go to the library. I get what I need – pronto – and I’m out of there. It's clear that I have to make an effort to create a few more face-to-face opportunities with these folks.

Honestly though, when you get right down to it, I’m not entirely comfortable with the notion of talking up my book. Oh, I’m plenty friendly, for sure. Meeting people is one my most favorite things to do. I love finding out what makes people tick. Yet, to turn the conversation around on myself…uh... that’s a toughie for me. I’d best get over it and the sooner, the better.

This week offered two opportunities to befriend influential folk – a book launch on Wednesday and a Thursday morning back matter research session at the library.  While attending the launch at Nicola's Books, I did connect with Lynn, the event coordinator. She was really busy scrambling about stacking chairs. It didn't seem like the time to plug my book. Instead, we shook hands, I introduced myself as an author and that I'd come back sometime to get to know her better. It was a super pleasant exchange.

Engaging with the children's librarian was an equally delightful experience. Once again, I introduced myself as an author doing research on the Silk Road for a publisher, and would she have the time to point me in the right direction. She was helpful, cordial, and as cute as a kitten. There was a storytime session going on in another room. Those little rug rats were having FUN! The library was alive with the kids' electric energy! I decided that I'm going to make a regular practice of spending time in my sweet local library. Befriending those gatekeepers will be a blast!

You know, in a way, this week I think I befriended myself, too. Introducing myself as an author to influential professionals is a HUGE step for me. Doing so didn't feel hokey or fake. Instead, it felt all right. Believable. True.

How about you, fellow debut author? Will you go out and meet the librarians and booksellers, too? Will you introduce yourself as an author and talk about your book in a light, conversational manner? Will you connect with the community in a genuine way? How will you befriend the author in you? Come on. Let’s do this together.

Just for fun, I’ve made some downloadable Contact Cards. I haven't used the cards yet, but I plan on making notes on them and then transferring the information to my phone and, maybe, Evernote. I’ll be glad to share the .pdf with you. Click HERE to download the document. You’ll need to use scissors to trim around the borders.

Maybe keeping these cards nearby will keep us confident! We can do this! Yes, we can!