The Powerhouse Marketing Strategy Every Small Business is Sleeping On
- Amy Brown
- Nov 18
- 4 min read
If you are exhausted with trying to keep up with social media and are worrying “Is Pinterest social media, too?” You might just love what I am about to share. In this blog I will answer the burning question that so many of my clients ask: Is Pinterest a search engine? As well as how to get the most out of Pinterest SEO.
As small business owners, we are constantly being told to “keep up” with Instagram, TikTok, or other social platforms. Post every single day. Don’t forget to engage with your audience. Make another dancing reel with this trending audio, post another story and talk about your personal life, then wake up the next day and do it all again. It can quickly feel exhausting and, honestly, unsustainable.
We are not monkeys in a circus. It can feel overwhelming to constantly be told to do more and perform more.
These social media apps are just here to provide others with entertainment.
But what if there was a platform that worked differently? One where your content doesn’t disappear after 24 hours, one that continues driving traffic long after you hit “publish”? Sounds like a dream…doesn’t it?
It’s not! That platform exists, and it is Pinterest.
If you have been wondering, is Pinterest social media? Pinterest is a visual search engine, not another social media platform.
Your success on Pinterest is not determined by the amount of followers you have, or any dancing videos, ever!
Learning Pinterest SEO can help you to get consistent website traffic and have Pinterest be your main source of lead generation for your business.
Is Pinterest Social Media?
Pinterest vs. Traditional Social Media Platforms
The first step is understanding how Pinterest differs from Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.
Feature | Instagram/TikTok | |
Content Lifespan | Hours to a few days | Months to years |
Effort Required | Frequent posting & engagement | Strategic pinning & SEO |
ROI | Short-term, immediate | Long-term, compounding |
Discovery | Follows & hashtags | Search & keywords |
Goal | Engagement & visibility | Traffic & conversions |
Unlike social media, where your posts vanish after a day or two, Pinterest pins can continue generating clicks months later, even years later if optimized correctly.
Leveraging Pinterest as a Search Engine
So, is Pinterest a search engine? YES! Pinterest users open up Pinterest to discover solutions, ideas, and new inspiration. That means your content can be found by people actively searching for what you offer.
The key to success on Pinterest is learning how to use Pinterest SEO.
Pinterest SEO = Using keywords strategically in your Pinterest content to maximize the visibility from the search engine.
By optimizing pin titles, descriptions, and board names with the right keywords, you increase the chances your pins show up in search results. For example, a single well-optimized pin can generate hundreds of clicks over time, long after it’s published.
Case in point: one Amytime client is a blogger. Her top performing pins continue to circulate for years because each holiday season, Pinterest knows her past pins did so well, they continue to circulate them for her. For example, each Valentine’s Day, her new Valentine’s Day Pins do just as well as her Valentine’s Day Pins from all the previous YEARS! Instagram would never!
Think about it: the last time you searched on Pinterest for dinner inspiration, I can almost guarantee the pin you chose is actually YEARS old!
Pinterest SEO Creates Long-Term Traffic Potential
Pinterest traffic compounds over time. Unlike social media, where reach diminishes quickly, your pins keep working for you.
Here’s how small businesses can take advantage:
Evergreen content: Blog posts, product pages, and guides can be turned into pins that attract clicks long-term.
Keyword strategy: Use keywords in titles, descriptions, and boards so your content is discoverable.
Visual appeal: Eye-catching graphics with clear calls-to-action increase click-throughs.
Shift your mindset: Pinterest isn’t about posting daily to “stay relevant.” It’s about creating content that works for you for months or years…the kind of algorithm we actually all want right?
How Small Business Owners Can Use Pinterest SEO
Whether you’re a service provider or e-commerce business, Pinterest can drive traffic with less effort than traditional social media. Trust me, I’m the expert.
DIY Approach:
Learn the fundamentals of Pinterest SEO in Pin School to optimize your pins and boards.
Plan and schedule pins to build a consistent presence.
Track which content generates traffic and refine your strategy over time.
Schedule a 1:1 Consulting Call to learn exactly how to make Pinterest work for your business.
Done-with-You or Done-for-You Approach:
Hire a Monthly Pinterest Manager to handle your Pinterest Strategy every month from keyword research to pin design, scheduling, and ongoing optimization.
Focus on running your business while a professional ensures your pins keep driving traffic.
Pinterest is not just another social media platform
Pinterest is more than just social media. With Pinterest SEO, it’s a sustainable marketing POWERHOUSE that generates long-term website traffic, leads, and potential sales.
Stop burning out trying to “keep up” with the toxic boyfriend of social media. Start using Pinterest strategically, either by learning the ropes with Pin School or letting a professional Pinterest expert manage your pins for you. Your future self (and your website traffic) will thank you.
