Pinterest for artists: how to market and sell your work

As an artist, reaching the right audience can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But what if there was a platform that showcased your art and made it discoverable to millions of people around the world? Enter Pinterest, a visual discovery engine that's much more than just another social media platform; it's a powerful tool for artists looking to market and sell their work. 

In this blog, we'll explore how artists can leverage Pinterest to gain long-term visibility and drive traffic to your online store. We'll examine the benefits of using Pinterest for artists, including its search-driven discovery and high engagement rates.

We'll also guide you through the steps to setting up an optimized Pinterest account for your art business and share top strategies for maximizing your reach.

• As an online platform, Pinterest offers artists a platform for long-term visibility and organic engagement.

• Setting up a Pinterest business account is crucial for optimizing your art marketing strategy and increasing visibility.

• Consistent pinning and keyword-rich descriptions enhance visibility and traffic, driving more art enthusiasts to your work.

• Rich pins and group boards are effective tools to increase reach and engagement with your target audience.

• Utilize Gelato's services to turn Pinterest into a tangible sales channel through easy print on demand solutions.

Pinterest is a vibrant online bulletin board that allows users to discover, save, and organize visual content through "pins." Often described as a mood board hub and search engine for organizing ideas, it’s a powerful adjunct in digital art marketing. Artists can effectively use Pinterest to showcase their work and tap into a vast, engaged audience.

The colorful art world of Pinterest can be a game-changer for artists looking to expand their creative horizons. Let’s explore how this platform can elevate your artistic journey by offering unique advantages.

Long-term visibility

Unlike fleeting social media posts, Pinterest offers artists lasting exposure. Pins remain discoverable for years, and each pin continues to generate views, clicks, and engagement over time, helping your art reach new audiences. Pinterest's evergreen nature ensures that your work keeps circulating, making it a valuable platform for sustained visibility and brand growth.

Search-driven discovery

Unlike traditional social media, Pinterest is a search engine that allows potential buyers to discover your art through keywords. By optimizing your pins with relevant descriptions and hashtags, your artwork appears in search results, making it easier for art enthusiasts to find and engage with your creations, even long after you've posted them.

Free organic marketing

Pinterest offers artists a cost-effective way to market their work without paid promotions. With the right strategy—compelling visuals, strategic keywords, and consistent pinning—you can generate organic traffic, attract collectors, and build brand awareness at no cost. Unlike paid ads, Pinterest’s organic reach works passively over time.

High engagement and shareability

Art thrives on Pinterest because users actively save and share visually appealing content. Each pin can be repinned multiple times, spreading your work to a broader audience without additional effort. The platform’s viral potential helps your artwork gain recognition, driving engagement from art lovers and collectors worldwide.

Direct website traffic to your store

A Pinterest page is a powerful traffic driver for artists. It links directly to your website or online store. Users who click your pins land on your sales page, increasing purchase opportunities. Maintaining a strong presence allows you to turn casual browsers into loyal buyers with minimal effort and helps you get your work noticed.

Easy content repurposing

Artists can repurpose existing content on Pinterest by creating multiple pins for a single artwork. Variations in backgrounds, angles, or text overlays allow for fresh presentations, keeping your content engaging. This strategy maximizes visibility, ensuring your art stays relevant and reaches different audiences over time.

Integration with ecommerce platforms

Pinterest easily integrates with ecommerceplatforms like Etsy and Shopify, making it easy for artists to sell their work. Rich Pins automatically updates product details like pricing and availability, streamlining the shopping experience. This direct connection simplifies the buyer’s journey, increasing the chances of sales and brand credibility.

Now that you know the benefits of setting up a Pinterest account designed to spotlight your art, let's look into how to set up and optimize your Pinterest account to hook art enthusiasts and buyers.

1. Create a Pinterest business account

A business account gives you access to analytics, rich pins, and advertising tools. To get started, visit Pinterest and sign up for a business account. Choose a username that reflects your art brand and ensure your email is professional. Verify your website or store to establish credibility. A business account helps you track engagement and refine your strategy. Without it, you miss out on essential marketing insights.

2. Write a compelling bio and profile description

Your bio and profile description should instantly convey who you are as an artist. Use a concise and engaging tone to highlight your art style, niche, and what makes your work unique. Incorporate relevant keywords to help users find your profile through search. Add a call to action (CTA), such as "Shop my art" or "Follow for creative inspiration." Keep it professional yet personal. A well-written bio can turn casual visitors into loyal followers and potential buyers.

3. Choose an eye-catching profile and cover image

Your profile and cover image set the visual tone for your brand. Choose a clear, high-quality profile picture—your business logo or a professional photo of yourself works best. The cover image should reflect your artistic style, featuring a collage of your best work or a cohesive aesthetic. Ensure the colors and theme align with your brand identity. A visually appealing profile attracts more visitors and makes a lasting impression, encouraging them to explore your art further.

4. Optimize your Pinterest boards

Your boards should be well-organized, descriptive, and aligned with your art niche. Create boards that showcase different aspects of your work, such as "Abstract Paintings," "Watercolor Illustrations," or "Art Tutorials." Use keyword-rich board titles and descriptions to improve discoverability. Arrange boards strategically, placing your most relevant or popular ones at the top. A well-structured board layout enhances user experience, keeping visitors engaged and increasing their chances of saving your pins.

5. Design and upload high-quality pins

Pinterest is a visual platform, so your pins should be eye-catching and professional. Use high-resolution images that highlight the details of your artwork. Vertical pins (2:3 ratio) perform best. Add text overlays with engaging captions to attract clicks. Utilize Pinterest’s built-in tools to create visually appealing pins that stand out in users' feeds. Consistency is key—regularly uploading fresh pins increases visibility and engagement. A well-designed pin can drive traffic to your website or online store.

6. Link your store or portfolio

To convert Pinterest traffic into sales, link your store or portfolio in strategic places. Add your website to your bio and include direct links in your pin descriptions. Enable rich pins to provide additional details about your products. Ensure all links work correctly to avoid losing potential buyers. Pinterest is a powerful tool for driving conversions, but only if users can easily navigate from your pins to your shop. 

With all this information at your disposal, let's explore the top strategies for marketing your creations and effectively capturing your audience's attention.

Pin consistently

Aim to pin daily to keep your content fresh and visible. The platform rewards regular activity, so schedule your pins using tools like Tailwind or Pinterest’s native scheduler. Focus on a mix of your artwork and relevant repins. Spreading out your posts instead of pinning everything at once increases engagement and keeps your audience engaged.

Use keyword-rich descriptions

Pinterest functions like a search engine, so using the right keywords in your pin descriptions is essential. Research popular keywords in your niche and naturally incorporate them into your pin titles, descriptions, and board names. Consider what potential buyers might search for—terms like “abstract wall art” or “modern watercolor prints” can drive traffic. 

Create visually compelling pins

High-quality images, vertical pin formats (1000x1500 pixels), and appealing color schemes can increase engagement. Add text overlays with your brand name or a compelling message to make your pins more clickable. Ensure your designs are clear, bright, and aesthetically pleasing. A well-designed pin grabs attention and encourages users to click through to your website or online store, boosting conversions.

Leverage rich pins

Rich pins add extra details to your content, making it more informative and clickable. They automatically sync information from your website, ensuring your pins remain updated. Product-rich pins can display prices and availability for artists, helping potential buyers make quick decisions. Article-rich pins can share blog posts related to your art, increasing traffic. 

Design multiple pins for the same product

Test different designs, colors, and text overlays to see which version performs best. Some users might be drawn to a minimalist aesthetic, while others prefer bold and colorful presentations. Varying your pin designs allows you to appeal to a wider audience while keeping your content fresh. The more variations you create, the better your chances of reaching potential buyers and driving more traffic to your shop.

Join group boards

Look for active boards related to your art niche and request to join. Engaging in group boards allows you to collaborate with other artists and marketers, boosting exposure. Make sure to contribute high-quality content regularly and follow board guidelines. Joining the right group boards increases engagement, builds credibility, and helps connect you with potential customers who are interested in your work.

Use video pins and idea pins

A short video demonstrating your painting process, behind-the-scenes work, or framing ideas can captivate viewers. Idea pins allow multiple slides and are great for storytelling, tutorials, or showcasing a collection. These formats encourage engagement as they keep users on your content longer. Pinterest prioritizes video and idea pins in its algorithm, making them a valuable tool for artists.

Promote seasonal and trending artwork

People search for themed decor year-round, such as "fall wall art" or "Christmas illustrations." Plan seasonal content and pin it at the right time. Pinterest trends shift early, so start pinning seasonal pieces months ahead. Incorporating relevant keywords and hashtags helps your pins surface in searches, making your artwork more discoverable to buyers.

Run Pinterest Ads

Pinterest Ads can help you reach a broader audience, especially if you're trying to drive sales or brand awareness. Promoted pins blend naturally into users’ feeds, making them less intrusive than other social media ads. Target your audience based on interests, keywords, and behaviors to maximize engagement. Start with a small budget and track performance through Pinterest Analytics.

Leverage Pinterest analytics

Track key metrics like impressions, saves, clicks, and conversions to understand how your pins perform. Identify your most successful content and refine your strategy accordingly. If certain pins get more engagement, create similar content. Analytics also help you discover your audience’s preferences and behaviors, allowing you to optimize your marketing efforts.

As we've learned, Pinterest is a game-changer for artists eager to market and sell their work. From leveraging its long-term visibility to optimizing strategies like keyword-rich descriptions and seasonal promotions, you're poised to captivate a vibrant audience. 

It’s time to channel that engagement into tangible sales with Gelato's versatile print on demand service.

Offering an extensive range of custom products, Gelato integrates with Pinterest and facilitates global shipping to over 200 countries. With state-of-the-art technology and a vast network of producers, you can deliver top-notch quality while saving time and resources. 

Now's the time to turn your Pinterest passion into profitable art sales.Sign up for Gelato today!

How to make money on Pinterest as an artist?

Sell your artwork by linking pins to your Etsy shop, website, or print on demand store. Use Pinterest affiliate marketing to earn commissions from art supplies or related products. Offer digital downloads, tutorials, or exclusive art prints. Create engaging, keyword-rich pins using Pinterest SEO to attract buyers.

How to grow as an artist on Pinterest?

Post consistently and use keyword-rich descriptions to improve discoverability. Create high-quality, visually appealing pins that reflect your artistic style. Engage with group boards and collaborate with other artists. Utilize video and pin images to showcase your creative process.

How to engage Pinterest users as an artist?

Create interactive content like video pins, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and step-by-step art tutorials. Write compelling descriptions and call-to-actions, encouraging users to save, click, or comment. Pin consistently and reply to comments to build engagement.

Why pin your own artwork?

Pinning your own artwork ensures visibility and control over how your work is presented. It increases traffic to your website or store, boosting sales opportunities. Pinterest acts as a visual search engine, allowing your art to be discovered by collectors and buyers.