In the vast universe of social media marketing, Instagram captivates countless brands and individuals with its visual appeal. However, as competition intensifies, marketers face the challenge of standing out and effectively increasing their Instagram influence. Surprisingly, Pinterest—the image-sharing platform—can serve as a powerful accelerator for Instagram growth. This article explores strategic ways to harness Pinterest's unique features to drive more traffic and followers to Instagram.
The Strategic Synergy Between Pinterest and Instagram
While Pinterest and Instagram serve different purposes, their user bases and content formats complement each other remarkably. Instagram focuses on instant sharing and engagement, whereas Pinterest emphasizes content discovery and long-term value. By combining both platforms, marketers can achieve effective traffic conversion and enhanced user retention.
Pinterest's link-friendly nature makes it an ideal channel to direct users to Instagram accounts. Well-curated Pinterest content can attract potential users to click through to Instagram profiles, thereby increasing visibility and follower count.
Five Proven Strategies to Grow Instagram Through Pinterest
1. Claim Your Instagram Account: Establish Brand Association
Claiming your Instagram account on Pinterest is the foundational step to building brand connections. This process offers several advantages:
- Enhanced analytics: Access Pinterest's robust analytics tools to track pin performance metrics including impressions, clicks, and saves.
- Brand attribution: Any pins created from your Instagram content will automatically display your Pinterest profile, maintaining brand visibility.
- Increased Instagram traffic: Your profile picture and follow button appear prominently on pins, encouraging direct clicks to your Instagram.
- Extended content lifespan: Unlike Instagram's ephemeral posts, Pinterest preserves content visibility over longer periods.
2. Post to Instagram First, Then Pin to Pinterest
To ensure proper attribution and optimal presentation, always publish content to Instagram before pinning it to Pinterest. This workflow guarantees all traffic is correctly credited to your Instagram account while avoiding copyright issues.
Focus on quality over quantity by selecting your best-performing Instagram content for Pinterest. Recipe posts with text overlays, infographics, and visually striking images typically perform well. For multi-image Instagram posts, consider creating a Pinterest-optimized collage that links back to the original post.
3. SEO Optimization: Treat Pinterest as a Search Engine
As a visual search platform, Pinterest requires strategic keyword optimization:
- Research keywords your target audience uses on Pinterest
- Incorporate relevant keywords in pin titles and descriptions
- Use 5-10 keywords and 3-5 hashtags per pin
- Optimize board names and descriptions with search terms
4. Cross-Promote IGTV Videos
Video content thrives on Pinterest, with video views increasing sixfold from 2018 to 2019. Repurposing IGTV videos for Pinterest allows brands to:
- Showcase product demonstrations and tutorials
- Extend content reach beyond Instagram
- Drive traffic back to Instagram profiles
Note that Pinterest videos have a 15-minute maximum length, requiring possible edits for longer IGTV content.
5. Repurpose Instagram Stories
While Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, converting them to Pinterest pins extends their visibility. To repurpose Stories:
- Download Stories as MP4 files from Instagram
- Remove any interactive elements that won't function on Pinterest
- Upload the edited video as a new pin
Building Lasting Connections Through Engagement
Attracting followers is only the beginning. Sustainable growth requires:
- Creating unique, valuable content
- Responding to comments and messages
- Participating in relevant discussions
- Hosting interactive events
Conclusion: Pinterest as Instagram's Growth Catalyst
When used strategically together, Instagram and Pinterest create a powerful visual marketing ecosystem. By implementing these five tactics—account claiming, content optimization, video cross-promotion, Story repurposing, and active engagement—brands can significantly enhance their Instagram presence through Pinterest's unique capabilities.