How To Sell Art On Pinterest: The Complete Guide

Are you ready to learn how to sell art on Pinterest? Hopefully, you’re considering how much Pinterest has to offer:

Pinterest is one of the largest search engines small and large brands use to increase their reach and attract new customers. If you are an artist looking for a suitable platform to promote your art and make sales, Pinterest is the place to be.

Most first-time Pinterest users fail to recognize the marketing power of Pinterest. They think of the site as a social media network, but that’s far from the truth.

By all means, Pinterest is much more than a social media platform where you can build a following. It’s a visual search engine that will bring not only viewers but buyers as well.

Today, I’ll show you how you can start selling your art on Pinterest. You’ll also learn the best practices and strategies to sell more artwork on the platform.

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Why Should You Sell Art On Pinterest?

Before we move on to how to sell art on Pinterest, let’s cover the why. In other words, allow me to explain why marketing your art on Pinterest is something you must do to take your art business to the next level.

Firstly, Pinterest is a visual search engine. Unlike Google, Pinterest displays images that will lead the user to articles, online stores, product pages, promotional campaigns, etc. And you’re an artist – what could be more visual than a stunning artwork people won’t be able to take their eyes off?

Secondly, Pinterest attracts more than 460 million monthly users. According to statistics, the platform is the 4th most popular social media site in the USA. If that’s not a large enough pool of potential customers, I don’t know what is!

Lastly, most people spending time on Pinterest use the platform to plan a purchase rather than aimlessly browsing. A bit of research will show that over 80% of Pinterest users have purchased after discovering a product on the site.

Do I have to write down more words to convince you that Pinterest is the place to be if you want to bring more customers and make art sales to develop your art business?

How about we don’t waste time on that and move on to the reason why you are here, a.k.a to see how to sell art on Pinterest?

What Pinterest Formats Can You Use To Market Your Art?

At the time of writing, Pinterest will allow you to pin four different formats. These formats are a static pin, idea pin, carousel pin, and video pin.

No matter which format you choose to start with, each of your pins has to lead the user to where you want that person to arrive. That might be a blog post, article, or product page of your online store.

There is no need to decide which Pinterest format you should use the most. One thing I learned after using Pinterest for over five years now is that nothing can replace your personal experience of being on the platform and testing things for yourself.

I would suggest testing different formats to see which one will work best for your business. Also, keep in mind that the different pin formats have different functions and won’t bring you the same results.

For instance, idea pins tend to bring more engagement than static pins. An idea pin that goes viral can deliver your business an audience reach beyond your imagination.

Does this mean you should pin mostly idea pins? No, not at all!

Things will get clear once you get on Pinterest and start testing its waters for yourself!

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How To Sell Art On Pinterest For Free

First and foremost, you don’t have to pay anything to start selling art on Pinterest. Sure, you can take advantage of Pinterest Ads at some points, but using them is not mandatory:

One of the best things about Pinterest is that your art pins can bring you engagement and sales organically. While that will take some time, it’s also worth the effort.

Isn’t that the perfect situation if your business is brand new and doesn’t attract thousands of paying customers yet? After all, it’s always better to keep your costs as low as possible until you can afford to cover larger ones.

With that said, let me show you the best way to use Pinterest for artists in 2023 and beyond:

1) Create A Pinterest Business And Marketing Strategy

Unfortunately, most business owners overlook that first step. In my opinion, that’s a mistake:

I can understand the impatience that comes from wanting to visit Pinterest and get on with it. However, you’re a business owner, and spending hours on Pinterest with no clear vision about what you’re doing there won’t work in your favor.

To avoid wasting any time, I suggest sparing a day to do some necessary research. During that research, take notes about who your business competitors on the platform are, what their profiles look like, how they name their boards, etc.

As you probably already know, you can’t sell products successfully unless you market them to your target audience. But is your target audience on Pinterest? Do you know what their interests are? Furthermore, can your target audience afford your art or prefers to shop for cheaper artwork?

Having answers to these questions will help you tremendously once you start showcasing your art on Pinterest. Good preparation has never hurt anyone!

2) Create A Business Pinterest Account

how to sell art on Pinterest create a business Pinterest account

Assuming you’re reading other articles that cover how to sell art on Pinterest, some of them will most likely tell you that it’s OK to convert an existing personal Pinterest account to a business one.

However, I don’t think you should do that, and here is why:

Even if you have a personal Pinterest account, the pins that fill its boards are probably all over the place. Unless each pin on such an account is about the art you’re trying to sell, don’t convert that account.

It’s better to start fresh and create a brand new Pinterest Business Account that will accommodate only art-related pins. You want to show Pinterest that you’re on the platform to benefit your business and you’ll operate as a creator and not a consumer.

Most importantly, a business Pinterest account comes with many perks, such as Business Analytics and many other tools for creators.

So, take the first step right now and register a Pinterest For Business Account. Next, apply for Rich Pins (you don’t want to use the regular ones as a business owner).

3) SEO Optimize Your Pinterest Profile

Earlier, I mentioned that Pinterest is a visual search engine. It won’t come as a surprise that you’ll need to do SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on the platform then!

Make sure you add relevant keywords to your Pinterest profile and description. You’re on the platform to sell art, and your profile must reflect that.

Now, how do you find keywords to add to your Pinterest business account? Is writing down search queries like art or artwork enough?

Of course, that’s not enough – the keywords you’ll place on your profile depend on your area of business.

What kind of artwork do you sell – abstract, acrylic, watercolor, or fluid? Furthermore, do you create portraits or landscapes? Most importantly, do you sell original art you’ll ship to clients or digital art prints they can download?

Whatever the answers to these questions might be, add their relevant keywords to your Pinterest business name and description.

4) Create SEO-Optimized Pinterest Boards

Let’s get this straight – creating 20,30, or even 40 boards in one day is not a great idea – you don’t want to overwhelm Pinterest.

Start with five boards and expand with more as you go. If you create abstract art, you can name your first boards Abstract Art, Abstract & Acrylic Paintings, Abstract & Oil Paintings, etc. (you get the idea).

Should you start pinning as soon as your boards are ready? Well, not so fast:

Since you’re a new account, Pinterest doesn’t know your business that well. In my experience, it’s better to pin a good number of other people’s pins before you start uploading your own. That will teach the platform what your boards are all about.

5) Start Pinning Consistently

pin consistently to sell your original art

Let me get this one out as fast as I can:

If you want to know how to sell art on Pinterest, I can give you one essential answer, and that is consistency.

Pinning one art product image once in a while will not deliver satisfying results (or any results, for that matter). Finding success on Pinterest is all about spending time on the platform daily and strategically pinning your artwork pins.

What do you mean by applying strategy during the pinning process? Here are a couple of ideas:

Pin a mix of your pins and third-party pins. Next, avoid pinning the same image to multiple boards. Also, follow Pinterest’s best practices and stay informed about any changes happening on the platform, like algorithm updates.

Things change on Pinterest – what may have worked years ago does not work any longer. So, pay attention and test different strategies until you find what works best for your art business.

How To Sell Art On Pinterest FAQs

Do People Sell Art On Pinterest?

Anyone can start selling art on Pinterest by creating a business account and uploading art product images (pins) that will lead to a website or online store.

Pinterest is a visual search engine and social media platform thousands of artists use to promote their art and increase product sales.

How Much Does It Cost To Sell On Pinterest?

Selling art or any other products on Pinterest is free:

Users can create Pinterest business accounts and begin selling products or services on the platform without paying anything.

Can You Sell Directly On Pinterest?

Yes, you can sell directly on Pinterest by connecting your online store to a Pinterest business account – that will turn your artwork into product pins.

What Sells Best On Pinterest?

At the time of writing, the most popular products and items you can sell on Pinterest are:

Digital downloads (planners, checklists)
Paintings and other original art
Bathroom decor
DIY crafts and handmade products
Shoes, bags, accessories

Final Say

Did this article explain in detail how to sell art on Pinterest? I hope so:

Marketing and offering your art for sale on the platform is worth the time and effort. Most Pinterest users are not only viewers but buyers as well.

And you should take advantage of that to take your art business to the next level!

What questions do you have on today’s topic?

Is there something you don’t understand or need additional help?

I’m here to assist you in any way I can, so let me know in the comments section below if you need me for further clarification on the subject of selling art on Pinterest.

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