Are you using Pinterest stories yet?

As entrepreneurs, we always think of, “what’s next?” What can we do differently? How can we reach our ideal audience? Personally, I stay looking for “X” in the success equation. We live in a world that constantly shifts. The way we research and consume information, the way we shop, and even the way we live. Survival means businesses, especially small ones must shift and adapt.

So, we took steps to improve our reach and engagement. Our research pointed us to Pinterest and eventually Pinterest stories. Experts say that “  9 in 10 people use Pinterest for purchase inspiration, and 98% of people polled by the company say they try new things based on what they find.”  Once we saw that we immediately dusted off our Pinterest account and utilized it.

Warm leads

Pinterest is a search engine on steroids with millions of people looking for inspiration and how-to tips. What I really like about Pinterest is that it delivers warm leads. Pinners who engage with your content are already looking for that specific information.  So, they are more likely to comment, like, and save your pins and story pins. Within four months of consistently using Pinterest, our following grew from 500 to 7000.  More importantly, our monthly reach jumped from 60 thousand to as high as 16 million views. Pinterest stories were pivotal here!

Here are some tips for utilizing Pinterest stories.

Pinterest recently introduced story pins. Story pins are pinned at the top of your account and are a quick and easy way to reach a new wider audience. We have seen a lot of engagement and growth from our story pins almost as soon as they are posted. So if you have access to stories use them

Answer a question

Structure your content such that it answers a question. People use Pinterest as a resource. I’d refer to it as a visual dictionary. How to style a blazer,  where to put your hands when posing, or what skincare products to use. How can your business, product, or content help or add value? Answer that then frames your content including the title and details of your video and images as such.

Share details, details, details

Use the details section of Pinterest Stories to share step-by-step tricks and tips and teach your audience. If they are looking at the content chances are they are genuinely interested. So give them the nitty-gritty so they can make that hair oil on their own, replicate that Starbucks drink, or try a new workout. The details section as well as the title of your story pin also helps direct viewership.

Give a lil inspiration

Like many of the 460 million pinners, I go to Pinterest for inspiration. Ask yourself is your story pin is answering a question, is it educating or is it inspiring? Find creative ways to tell a story and share your business or product with your audience. Perhaps behind the scene footage or the benefits of your product. “Research says 98% of people try new things based on what they find.”

Provide next steps

Add a call to action to your Pinterest stories! This is especially important since we are not yet able to use direct links in stories. We must direct our audience to the next steps. What action do you want them to take? Utilize your voice-over or text overlay to tell pinners what you want them to do. Should they go to your bio for a direct link, look at the details for more information, save and share, or go to a related pin? Clear directives pull the pinner through the sales funnel.

Be relatable

An important aspect of Pinterest stories success is relatability. This may be the most important point! Be authentic and relatable. Years ago my marketing professor said, “all things being equal, friends buy from friends. All things being unequal, friends still buy from friends.” Befriend your audience. If your audience can identify with you and your story they are more likely to re-pin, save, comment and respond to your call to action.

Have you used Pinterest stories fashNfriends? What other tips do you have? Share in the comments.