Although it is one of the fastest-growing social platforms, Pinterest is still an underused marketing tool for many writers. Perhaps authors aren’t sure how to translate their words into pictures, or maybe they think that Pinterest is mainly for craft or recipes. But Pinterest can allow you to give your readers a visual peek into your book, as well as a chance to connect with you, the author, on a personal level.
What is Pinterest? Pinterest is a free website that allows users to save images found online. These images are saved (pinned) to a virtual bulletin board. Each board is named according to its subject matter. I have boards for crochet, baking, art, books, clothing, etc. Many people recommend creating a cute and pithy board name, but if you have a large number of boards, you need to be able to find them and pin appropriately, so choose carefully.
Pinterest packs a bigger punch than Facebook when it comes to sales. Pinterest users spend on average $180 per user versus Facebook’s $85 per user. Pinterest users constantly pin things they want, items they are interested in, and whatever catches their fancy. The boards are a reminder of where they saw the item that caught their eye and give instant access to links and sales.
Demographically, 80 percent of Pinterest users are women. How does that tie into book sales? 65 percent of readers, particularly fiction readers, are women. There is an excellent chance that your audience is already established on Pinterest. You just have to find them!
- Use Pinterest to connect to your target audience.
Consider your book’s target audience. What are their interests? What content are they pinning? Create boards that follow those interests. For example, if you write urban fantasy, your audience may be interested in mythological creatures, vampires, werewolves, etc. If you write mysteries, your audience might like Sherlock Holmes or CSI. Another way to connect is to have a board that spotlights one of your readers. Readers love to be highlighted and will engage in a flurry of pinning.
- Show your audience a glimpse of yourself.
Create boards that display your own interests: your favorite books or sports team, jewelry, or whatever touches your heart. People love to discover others who share their interests. Someone might start following your jewelry board, like your pins, and decide to check out your book. Furthermore, let your audience see a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes action. Take a picture of your writing room, trusty laptop, or favorite pen. This is where the magic happens!
- Create boards that allow readers to “see” inside your book.
Where is your book set? The American Midwest? The gritty streets of London? Find images that match your imagination and pin them to your board. This is the beauty of Pinterest. You have the ability to visually engage and titillate your readers. Some authors create WIP (Work-in-Progress) boards. They pin clothes, accessories, and people that resemble their characters and their characters’ styles. If you don’t want to reveal too much to your audience, you can pin these to secret boards and do a “big reveal” when you’re ready.
- Pin quotes from your book. A good sentence or tagline can go viral and be repinned hundreds of thousands of times. Someone may see your pin and, curious about the book or the author herself, start following you.
- Create boards from your character’s point of view.
You’ll need to be clear when naming and describing the board. Imagine what Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series would pin!
Don’t be afraid to wade into that vast universe of pins. Not only can it help you market your book and provide inspiration for your work, but you may also just become addicted.
Join us on Pinterest for writing inspiration, advice, prompts, and just good ol’ fun! https://www.pinterest.com/jerapub/