How to Write an Epic Pinterest Bio

How to write an epic Pinterest bio - tips for optimizing your Pinterest profile to attract new followers and subscribers. A guest post from Moms Make Sense.

With any introduction, you want to make an impact and great first impression! You want them to remember you and to catch their attention. For Pinterest, this is introduction is your bio. In this section of your profile you get the opportunity to introduce yourself and your business. 

When the viewer sees your Pinterest bio and they should instantly see who you are and what you represent. It only takes a few seconds to make a first impression. In these seconds the pinner will decide whether you are someone they should follow or not. You need to maximize this time to stand out!

For one of my clients, I was able to help their tiny following of fewer than 300 followers average over 20,000 impressions every single day. Today I am going to share with you a few of the strategies you need to create and epic Pinterest bio that will attract more followers, get more repins and direct more traffic to your site.

Optimize Your Pinterest Profile

LOGO OR PHOTO

Your profile picture is very important. This is the face of your brand on Pinterest. It’s the first thing that people see when they visit your page and it’s the first to make an impression. I recommend having the same profile image across all social media accounts. This unifies your brand and helps followers to remember you.

If you are a selling a physical product or have the account exclusively for your business you can use your logo as your profile photo. If you are a blogger, get more creative! Color and composition are very important. Your photo should not be a bathroom selfie! Have bright, crisp colors that will make you pop. This will reflect who you are and what your blog is about.

BRAND NAME, PERSONAL NAME OR BUSINESS NAME

If you have converted your account to a Pinterest business account you have the option to list your business name instead of first and last name as it would be on a personal account.

Whether you use your brand name or a business name, make sure it is complete and catches people’s attention.

If you are a business you can simply list your business name. If you are a blogger I recommend listing your name followed by a line and then your blog name or industry related keywords. Using SEO friendly keywords is important here because this helps you be more visible when people search for a specific topic.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”It only takes a few seconds to make a first impression. In these seconds the pinner will decide whether you are someone they should follow or not. You need to maximize this time to stand out!” quote=”It only takes a few seconds to make a first impression. In these seconds the pinner will decide whether you are someone they should follow or not. You need to maximize this time to stand out!”]

WRITING YOUR BIO

Pinterest only allows you to write up to 160 characters for your bio. It is important to write a tagline that is short and sweet. It has to describe you simply and strategically so people will get who you are right off the bat. Don’t beat around the bush or try too hard to be unique, just be yourself. Speak to your audience and convey your message as naturally as possible.

Pinterest is not like Instagram or Twitter where hashtags are a priority for being seen. Pinterest finds the keywords you place in your bio, descriptions and boards to help users find you. Focus more on including a bio with rich keywords. If you can’t help yourself from using hashtags only use them when you have a specific name or brand you want to promote.

Pinterest-course-optin-graphic-625

LINK YOUR WEBSITE AND VERIFY YOUR PINTEREST ACCOUNT

Your Pinterest account needs to be linked to your website. By verifying this you are able to have your website function as a clickable link in your bio. This will direct pinners to your website which means more page views, sales, and subscribers. Having this builds trust and therefore you can develop a better business and personal relationship.

ADD OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

The only social media account I suggest linking is Twitter. People can quickly click through, and follow to be updated daily about you and your business. You can connect to any of your Twitter accounts whether they are business or are personal accounts.

You should not connect Pinterest to your Facebook account. If you link your Facebook page it will automatically link it to your PERSONAL Facebook page. Pinterest hasn’t made it available for people to connect directly to their business page or product page on Facebook. I recommend maintaining some separation between your business and personal life.

ADD A CALL TO ACTION (CTA)

A call to action, or a CTA, is a link that you add to your bio that will directly send viewers to a targeted place on your website. I recommend including a call to action followed by a short link to a content upgrade or another incentive you have on your website. For example, I have the link to my free Pinterest Course. That way you can convert your Pinterest followers into email subscribers.

Alright, beautiful ladies! Does your profile meet the six criteria? Remember to have fun with it and be creative then your following will grow in no time!

If you want to learn more about my Pinterest strategies come hang out with me on my website Moms Make Cents or check out my FREE Pinterest course for bloggers and online biz owners!

Pinterest-course-optin-graphic-625

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

McKinzie is a chocolate addict, Pinterest obsessed and loves all things Tina Fey. She is wifey to Devin, Mama to Tyler, and the blogger behind Moms Make Cents. McKinzie empowers women by teaching them how to build businesses, market their products and understand their finances as entrepreneurs. 

Visit her WEBSITE

Follow her on PINTEREST / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK

Expert Tips On Getting Clients From Instagram

Instagram isn't just for pretty pictures or product-based businesses. 5 experts share tips on getting clients from Instagram - plus beginner mistakes / what NOT to do!

I recently realized that usually, when I hear someone say “I don't know what to post on Instagram” – it's someone with a service based business. It's easy to come up with ideas for Instagram photos when you have products, but for service-based businesses – it's not always so obvious what we should be doing. BUT – that definitely doesn't mean that you can't get clients from Instagram (I've shared my thoughts on this myth before) – the majority of my clients over the past several months have found me through Instagram and I know that I'm not alone!

I asked a few fellow biz owners (and all around awesome gals!) how they use Instagram to attract potential clients and also what mistakes they made in the beginning that might have prevented them from getting potential clients – here's what they had to say:

AlishaJohns

On getting clients from Instagram…

As a social media strategist, stylist & photographer, Instagram acts as a working portfolio to help attract potential clients. It is the perfect platform to not only display the creative work that I'm producing, but also to interact with the potential clients who may appreciate it the most. The hashtags that I use, and the community that I have built all support a bright, happy, and colorful brand aesthetic, and those are exactly the type of clients who reach out to me saying that they saw my work on Instagram and would love to work together somehow. I also frequently include a call to action to “click to the link to in my profile to…” which increases site traffic and ultimately leads to more inquiries.

But in the beginning… 

At the very beginning, I didn't realize the importance of having my email address listed in my profile description, I assumed clients would just visit my website if they wanted to get in touch, and that was definitely a mistake. Having my email address listed nearly doubled the number of inquiries I was receiving from potential clients, especially for influencer related work.

Visit Alisha's website + follow her on Instagram (photo credit: @asiacrosonphotography)

HollyMeyer

On getting clients from Instagram…

Instagram is one of my favorite social media platforms because it's incredibly visual, which works to my advantage as a graphic designer! It has sort of become my mini portfolio. I use Instagram to showcase client branding + web design projects, my own personal projects (i.e. free downloads + courses), and mood board inspiration. I also use strategic hashtags to get more eyes on my posts from dream clients. Doing this has helped me book a custom web design project and more inquiries about my services.

But in the beginning… 

The biggest mistake I made in the beginning was not posting relevant work on Instagram. I was mostly using Instagram to document life and realized that if my audience doesn't SEE the type of work I do, they'll have no idea what kind of services I offer. Of course, I don't post work all the time. I still like to mix in some personal posts or styled desk shots here and there. But I noticed a huge difference in my ability to attract and book clients when I started sharing more of my design projects.

Visit Holly's website + follow her on Instagram (photo credit: Amy Paulson Photography)

[click_to_tweet tweet=”A potential client can get a feel for your knowledge, style and personality – all from your feed!” quote=”A potential client can get a feel for your knowledge, style and personality – all from your feed!”]

Louise Henry Solopreneur Sidekick

On getting clients from Instagram…

I started seeing real traction in my business once I started writing as though I was talking to my best friend! It’s a simple tip – but really works! By doing this, my followers get to know me and I’m able to establish a deeper connection with them. I also make sure to deliver as much value as I can before they are a client (inspiration, advice & humor work particularly well on Instagram). I believe the visual aspect of Instagram shouldn’t be overlooked either – it says a lot about you. A potential client can get a feel for your knowledge, style and personality – all from your feed! Once I realized this and wasn’t afraid to be myself, Instagram became a main driver of clients for me!

But in the beginning… 

When I first started out, I thought that I was “engaging” simply by liking lots of photos! As soon as I made the switch to genuine comments, I saw a tremendous increase in connections made. It can be tempting to go for the “quick like” method because you feel as though you’re accomplishing more, but it is truly not nearly as effective! Focus on quality, not quantity, in order to get clients.

Visit Louise's website + follower her on Instagram

SarahShuttle

On getting clients from Instagram…

I post consistently with on-brand content, and I include my own work every day because potential clients need to see what they're getting! I also always ask a question in my caption – starting engagement and forming a relationship is much more likely to turn a potential client into a definite!

But in the beginning… 

I had no ‘organic' followers. I relied on ‘follow for follow' ladders which meant the majority of people weren't my target audience and weren't actually interested in my content or work, they just wanted to boost their own following.

Visit Sarah's website + follow her on Instagram

So there you have it – Instagram is NOT just for product-based businesses! If you have additional tips for finding or attracting clients on Instagram, share them in the comments!

Not sure what to post on Instagram for your business? Here's a handy list of 365 Instagram prompts to help you out!

4 Elements of An Effective Instagram Content Plan

If you still think Instagram is just posting some pretty pictures and using some hashtags, you're wrong. Especially if you're using Instagram for your business! When I first shifted my Instagram account from mostly personal use to more professional (even though my professional presence is kinda personal), it was confusing. I wasn't sure what people really wanted to see, and striking a balance between my “real life” and a perfectly curated “Instagram life” took a bit of trial and error. Even though I've spent a lot of time managing other brand's accounts, doing it for myself has always been the hardest – but once I developed my own Instagram content plan, it was MUCH easier!

4 ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE INSTAGRAM CONTENT PLAN

If you feel like you don't know what to post on Instagram, here are a few key things to keep in mind to make sure your content is working for you!

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE

You should know WHY you're on Instagram and WHAT you're trying to accomplish with this aspect of your social media. Are you trying to build brand awareness? Generate leads? Build influencer relationships? What's the end goal?

Your purpose should dictate your content. If the purpose of your account is to sell your products, then you should be regularly posting photos of your products – that's pretty straight forward. But that doesn't mean basic product photos on a white background that you would most likely see on a website – Instagram is a VISUAL platform so if you want to sell more of your products from Instagram, they need to look good! Use styled images to help people envision would it would look like to have your products in their life (or a aspirational version of their life).

If you don't sell physical products, then think about what your audience would want to see / learn before they hire you or before they visit your blog / website. People aren't in buying mode when they're scrolling through Instagram. No one says, “I need a tulle skirt so I'm going to go buy one on Instagram” or “I need a health coach so I'm going to go search for one on Instagram” – that doesn't mean they won't come across a tulle skirt they love or a health coach they trust on Instagram, but it's probably not the reason they opened the app to scroll through.

So even though your purpose may be “get more design clients” – that doesn't mean your posts should all be “I'm a designer, hire me!” – but what you can do is share posts that allow your followers to get to know you + how you can help them so that you can build that know/ like/ trust factor that can lead followers to becoming clients. In this specific example, a graphic designer might share things like examples of her work (completed or in progress) / tips on why good design matters / testimonials from clients whose brands she's transformed / relevant blog posts / behind the scenes photos of her workspace, etc. All of these things relate to her ultimate purpose of getting more clients, but the focus is really on educating + inspiring potential clients rather than selling to them.

CLICK HERE for more ideas on what to post on Instagram!

If you're not clear on your purpose, you're going to have a hard time figuring out what to post and you're probably going to have a hard time growing your following as well.

Planoly - best visual Instagram scheduling tool

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

One of the reasons I love Instagram so much is that it feels like the most “personal” network of what I think of as the “big 4” (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram) – yes there's also Snapchat, LinkedIn, Google+, Periscope, etc. – but Instagram is my jam and how personal you want to get really depends on your audience.

If you're the face of your brand (blogger / solopreneur / small business owner) then, your Instagram content is probably going to be more personal. People want to connect with people, so it makes sense to share behind the scenes content and personal stories that help people relate to you as a business owner / mom / dog-mom / etc. Some people may share mostly business-related content plus a little bit personal content mixed in. Some people may share mostly personal content with a little bit of business mixed in. Some people may split it completely 50/50. There's not a single “right” way – because what works for me or you may not work for someone else.

If you're trying to find the right balance between personal / professional content, remember your purpose. If your purpose is getting clients for your graphic design business, then most of your content should be related to that. If your purpose is getting more people to read your blog, then you should be regularly sharing your blog posts. If photos of what you ate for breakfast or what you wore on Friday night or what your kid did at school aren't related to your purpose – don't share them!

KNOW YOUR BRAND

Keeping your purpose and your audience in mind, your Instagram content should also be on brand. So if your brand is fun, colorful, and artistic, your content should be fun, colorful, and artistic. And if your brand is minimal, refined, and monochromatic, your Instagram should be as well. When someone comes across your Instagram account, they be able to recognize your brand from the rest of your online presence (and vice versa). So when you're crafting your content make sure that the colors / patterns / style / voice are all aligned with your brand – you don't want to confuse people by sharing off brand content just because you felt like sharing a random photo!

Read this: Defining your personal brand

[click_to_tweet tweet=”You should know WHY you're on Instagram and WHAT you're trying to accomplish with this aspect of your social media. ” quote=”You should know WHY you're on Instagram and WHAT you're trying to accomplish with this aspect of your social media. “]

BE CONSISTENT

Finally, an effective Instagram content plan is going to involve consistency. Consistency in style / voice / branding, but also consistency in content. That doesn't mean you need to share the same thing every day (I actually don't think you should!), but there should be a certain level of consistency so people know what to expect. That could mean every every Tuesday you share a tip or every Saturday you share a behind the scenes photo of yourself or every other post you share a quote. By creating consistency (and potentially even creating a visual pattern), you are more likely to draw your audience in and keep them engaged.

Looking for more Instagram tips? Here are posts on 10 ways to grow your Instagram following, how to get more engagement on Instagram, and the best resources for Instagram props!

Not sure what to post on Instagram for your business? Here's a list of 365 Instagram prompts to help you out!