Why you should be using Pinterest as a Wedding Photographer

Introduction:

Why you should be using Pinterest as a wedding photographer wanting to capitalise on organic traffic to drive leads & enquiries to their wedding photography business.

BONUS MATERIAL: CHECKLIST FOR WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING PINTEREST AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT

Hey wedding photographer, could you benefit from organic traffic being driven to your photography business?

Are you a wedding photographer looking to expand your reach and attract more clients? Pinterest should be at the top of your marketing strategy.

In this blog, I will be sharing insights into why you should be using Pinterest as a wedding photographer. They’ll be some surprising insights into how Pinterest can work for your wedding photography business, how to sign up for an account and a brief synopsis of what you should be doing to maximise your traffic potential.

I hear a lot that social media is tough! The endless creation and posting of reels & carousels are both tiring and lead to very little engagement and leads.

Unlike other platforms that focus on social interaction, (hence they’re called social media) Pinterest is classified as a search engine. To be more specific, it is a visual search engine offering unique advantages for photographers, just like you! And, if you know how to use Pinterest correctly you could engage with your ideal clients without the need for using any paid ads!

Sound good? Let’s begin looking a little deeper into what Pinterest is capable of to understand better how to use it effectively.

Sign up for expert advice on how to grow your photography biz + download 10 free professionally written email templates to use in your photography business.

Pinterest is a Visual Search Engine.

Unlike traditional social media channels, Pinterest is a visual search engine; think along the lines of Google but with images instead of text.

It has a user base that is approximately 60-70% female. Women often take a leading role in wedding planning, this demographic is particularly beneficial for wedding photographers.

Users come to Pinterest for inspiration for something they are planning. For example, let’s say you’re a bride-to-be and want to design your wedding bouquet. You have some ideas on what you want it to look like, but to nail your ideas down, you head to Pinterest and search for wedding bouquets.

The 3 images are of a Pinterest search for wedding bouqets. — Type into the Pinterest search what you’re looking for, the results populate with an array of images.

Your first look and instantly you’re presented with an array of styles & colours, professional ones alongside more relaxed home-made ones. Each Pin gives you a new idea of what you want to be included in your bouquet.

All these images from so many different places in front of you are ready for you to pin for future reference.

Welcome to Pinterest!

For wedding photographers, Pinterest presents a unique opportunity to showcase your work to an audience actively seeing wedding ideas and inspiration.

When you pin about your wedding photography biz, you’re putting your work in front of your ideal audience. Users planning their wedding who are searching for specific styles, unique ways, themes & ideas to include in their day. Pinterest users tend to be highly engaged in spending time creating specific boards. They then search for their ideal colour schemes and elements that can make their dream wedding a reality.

Unlike other social platforms where posts quickly disappear from feeds pins can resurface in searches months or even years later. This continuously drives traffic to your website, blog or YouTube channel.

Good news! Pinterest is great for driving Organic Traffic!

Pinterest is an excellent tool for driving organic traffic to your website, blog posts, portfolio or YouTube channel. Each pin you create can link back to one of these spaces, making it easy for potential clients to find more of your work and contact you about their big day.

High-Intent Traffic: Visitors from Pinterest often have higher intent compared to those from other social platforms. They are actively searching for inspiration and solutions. They use keywords that narrow down their search to find exactly what they want, and all you need to do is create fresh pins and use those relevant keywords that describe your pin, easy eh!
Increased Website Visits: Pinterest, if used correctly and you create a good Pinterest strategy, can significantly increase website traffic. When you create pins, they need to have a high-quality photo on them and a good pin description. The Pin description entices the user to click through to learn more. This not only boosts your online visibility but also enhances your SEO. Good SEO makes your website easier to find on search engines like Google.

Showcases your Expertise and Style.

Pinterest allows you to create a Pinterest board that reflects your photography style and expertise. By organising your pins into boards that focus on different aspects of wedding photography, you can showcase your versatility and specialisation.

Portfolio Display: Create boards for different wedding themes, such as rustic, vintage or modern to attract couples interested in those styles. This visual portfolio helps potential clients quickly see your best work and understand your unique approach
Content Variety: Besides wedding photos, you can pin blog posts, behind-the-scenes shots, and wedding tips. This not only positions you as an expert but also keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more. You’ll soon be amongst other wedding industry professionals helping to make someone’s wedding day a momentous occasion.

Collaboration and networking.

Pinterest is not just for showcasing your work. It’s also a great platform for collaborating and networking with other wedding professionals. Think cake makers & decorators, wedding planners, and bridal shops all with their own business and information for a future bride.

Vendor partnerships: By sharing and pinning content from florists, planners and venues, you can build relationships and cross-promote each other’s services. This network can lead to referrals and joint projects, both within the Pinterest Platform and also in your locality.
Group boards: Join group boards to increase your reach. These boards allow multiple users to pin, creating a wider audience for your content. Engaging with group boards should ideally be done with good knowledge of the participating parties to ensure the best continuity of fresh pins for Pinterest users in that niche.

Long-Term Marketing Tool.

Pinterest is a powerful long-term marketing tool. Its evergreen nature means that the content you pin today to drive traffic and engagement long into the future. If you currently have a personal account on Pinterest, it’s vital to create a Business Pinterest Account.

Consistent Growth: By strategically pinning new pins you can steadily grow your audience. This ensures a consistent flow of potential clients visiting your website. The more you pin, the greater the potential for your content to be discovered, saved and shared. This ultimately leads to an exponential increase in traffic and exposure.
Data Insights: Pinterest analytics provides valuable data on how your pins are performing. It helps you understand what resonates with your audience and refine your strategy accordingly. Do keyword research to identify exactly what users are searching for. For example, search for other wedding business owners and see how they present their business. You could engage a Pinterest manager to develop your Pinterest Profile. One that is professional and oozes creativity and expertise, but also is relatable.

From the brief synopsis, you now know what Pinterest is and how you can utilise it in your marketing efforts. By understanding its function as a search engine, leveraging its user demographics, and utilising its traffic-driving capabilities, you can significantly boost your online presence and attract more clients.

To know how to correctly use Pinterest to its maximum potential involves quite an in-depth understanding. I have blogs that dive deeper into this but I wanted to give you a brief idea of what you should do first. Keep reading to get your Pinterest account live.

If you would like to discuss outsourcing any part of your Pinterest marketing, then I offer a ‘VA-style’ service. Please drop me a message and let’s have a conversation.

Getting Started on Pinterest.

Now that you understand the benefits of using Pinterest for your wedding photography business, it’s time to set up your Pinterest business account.

Let’s take a brief look through the steps to create your account. We’ll touch on verifying your website. And then we’ll optimise your profile to ensure it aligns with your brand and attracts potential clients.

1. Sign up for a Pinterest Business Account:

Visit Pinterest: go to https://business.pinterest.com
Sign Up: Click on ‘Sign Up and choose ‘Create a business account’. You can either create a new account with your business email or convert your existing personal account to a business account. If you choose the latter, I would make all boards you have that don’t have a direct link to your business private, effectively hiding them from view so as not to dilute your business’s pins.

2. Complete Your Profile:

Business Name: Choose a business name that reflects your brand and is consistent with your other social media profiles and website.
Username: Your username should be memorable and ideally the same as your business name or something similar. For example, my brand name is ‘Photography Biz Success’, all my social profiles are @photographybizsuccess, my website is photographybizsuccess.com and my Pinterest account is @photographybizsuccess. This continuity helps in building a recognisable brand.
Profile Picture: Use a professional logo or a high-quality image that represents your business.

3. Verify Your Website:

Access Settings: Go to account settings by clicking on the dropdown arrow at the top right of the screen and selecting ‘Settings’
Claim Website: In the ‘Claim’ section, click ‘Claim’ next to Websites. Enter your website URL and follow the instructions to add the provided HTML tag to your website’s header. This step is crucial as it allows Pinterest to attribute your content to you, providing analytics and additional branding opportunities. If you are having problems locating the area to add the HTML tag, consult with your website designer or hosting site for advice.

4. Create your Pinterest Business Name.

Consistency is Key: Your Pinterest business name should be consistent as previously mentioned as it helps to build trust and recognition among your audience. However, if your preferred name has already been taken, choosing one with a slight variation is okay and shouldn’t cause any issues engaging with your target audience especially when you market yourself across your entire social network.
Incorporate Keywords: It’s important to include relevant keywords in your business description. For example, “Elegant Weddings Photography” can help convey your speciality.

5. Design Your Banner:

Optimal Size: The recommended size for your Pinterest banner is 800 x 450 pixels. This size works well for not only desktop but also mobile users.
Visual Appeal: Choose a banner that visually represents your brand and style, incorporating your brand colours and fonts. It could be a collage of your best work of a professionally designed graphic. You could find a professional on ‘Fiver’ for example, however, you just as easily use a template on Canva.

Writing a clear and Keyword-Optimised Description.

1. Crafting Your Description:

Who you Are: Start with a brief introduction about who you are and what your business does.
Example: “At [Your Business Name}, we specialise in capturing timeless wedding moments with a blend of elegance and artistry”

What you Offer: Highlight your services and what sets you apart.
Example: “We offer bespoke wedding photography services, ensuring every shot reflects the beauty and emotion of your special day.”

Your Style: Describe your photography style to attract the right audience.
Example: “Our style is a mix of candid and classic, perfect for couples looking for a blend of natural moments and traditional poses.

2. Keyword Optimisation:

Relevant Keywords: Incorporate keywords in your board descriptions & your single pin that potential clients might use when searching for wedding photographers. Keywords can include “wedding photography”, “destination weddings”, “candid wedding shots”, etc. There are many different ways to search and narrow down good keywords that will boost the monthly active users to your Pinterest profile, and this is covered in another blog in detail.
Natural Flow” Ensure the description reads naturally and isn’t just a string of keywords.

3. Call to Action:

Encourage Engagement: Include a CTA (call to action) to prompt users to visit your website, view your portfolio or contact you for booking information.

Example: “Visit our website to see our full portfolio and book your free consultation today!”

By following these first few steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a professional and effective Pinterest business account that all professional photographers, in my opinion, should have.

The correct and consistent use of Pinterest will help not only drive traffic to your website but at the same time ensure that your brand is consistently represented across the web.

This is only a very brief introduction to Pinterest. Please check out my other blogs for more in-depth reading, or reach out if you would like to engage my services in getting a successful Pinterest account generating organic traffic for your wedding photography biz.

Thanks for reading and I hope we catch up again soon.

Nicky x