What Are Pinterest Ads? A Complete Guide for Beginners & Marketers

Pinterest Ads are a powerful way to reach users actively searching for inspiration, ideas, and products. Unlike other platforms where users scroll passively, Pinterest users are planners and buyers — making it an excellent space for eCommerce, blogs, and brand discovery.

In this guide, we’ll explore what Pinterest Ads are, how they work, types of ads, setup process, targeting options, and best practices for success.

✅ What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where users save and share ideas (called Pins) on everything from fashion and food to DIY, travel, home décor, and more.

As of 2025:

• 🎯 465+ million monthly active users
• 🛒 80% of users discover new brands or products on Pinterest
• 👩 60% of users are women, but male and Gen Z audiences are growing fast

📢 What Are Pinterest Ads?

Pinterest Ads are paid Pins that appear in the feed, search results, or related Pins section. They look like organic Pins but are promoted to a targeted audience.

These ads help businesses:

• Boost visibility
• Drive website traffic
• Generate leads
• Increase product sales
• Build brand awareness

🎯 Why Use Pinterest Ads?

• 📍 High Purchase Intent: Pinterest users are planners—most are close to making a purchase.
• 💡 Idea-Based Discovery: Great for promoting visual content, DIY, lifestyle, and inspiration-based products.
• 📈 Low Competition: Less crowded than Facebook or Instagram Ads.
• 🧠 Long Shelf Life: Pinterest Pins last longer than posts on other platforms.

📌 Types of Pinterest Ads

1. Standard Pins

• Look like a regular Pin (image + text)
• Can link to product pages, blog posts, or landing pages
• Ideal for brand awareness and traffic

2. Video Pins

• Short-form videos autoplay in feed
• Great for storytelling and product demos

3. Carousel Ads

• 2–5 swipeable images per ad
• Useful for showcasing product variations or step-by-step ideas

4. Shopping Ads

• Directly promote products from your catalog
• Users can click to buy from your website

5. Collection Ads

• Hero image with supporting products below
• Great for mobile commerce and visual storytelling

6. Idea Ads (Story Pins)

• Multi-page content format (not clickable but high engagement)
• Promote creativity, tutorials, or how-tos

🧰 How to Set Up Pinterest Ads (Step-by-Step)

1. Create a Pinterest Business Account

• Go to business.pinterest.com
• Convert your personal account or create a new one

2. Set Up Pinterest Tag

• Install the Pinterest Tag on your website to track conversions and events (similar to Facebook Pixel)

3. Create a Campaign

• Go to Ads > Create Campaign
• Choose your objective:
  • Awareness
  • Consideration (traffic)
  • Conversions
  • Catalog sales
  • Video views

4. Define Your Target Audience

• Target by:
  • Demographics (age, gender, location)
  • Interests & Keywords
  • Customer Lists (email retargeting)
  • Lookalike Audiences
  • Engagement Retargeting

5. Set Budget & Bidding

• Choose daily or lifetime budget
• Manual or automatic bidding

6. Create Your Ad (Promoted Pin)

• Upload your creative (image or video)
• Add a compelling title and description
• Include a destination URL

7. Track & Optimize

• Monitor results using Pinterest Analytics
• Adjust bids, creatives, or audience as needed

📊 Pinterest Ads Metrics to Watch

🧠 Pinterest Ads Best Practices

✅ Use High-Quality Vertical Images

• Ideal size: 1000 x 1500 pixels
• Clear, bright, and well-lit visuals perform best

✅ Add Text Overlay

• Help users understand your message without clicking

✅ Write Compelling Titles & Descriptions

• Include relevant keywords for SEO and ad targeting

✅ Create Multiple Versions of Ads

• A/B test different headlines, designs, and formats

✅ Use Keywords Strategically

• Pinterest is also a search engine—target keywords in Pin titles, descriptions, and boards

✅ Don’t Forget Seasonal Trends

• Create campaigns for holidays, festivals, and special occasions

📈 Pinterest Ads vs Other Platforms

🛍️ Who Should Use Pinterest Ads?

Pinterest Ads are ideal for:

• eCommerce stores (fashion, decor, beauty, food, DIY)
• Bloggers (recipe, wellness, parenting, finance)
• Brands targeting women (60% of Pinterest’s user base)
• Businesses offering tutorials, how-tos, and visual ideas

💡 Final Thoughts

Pinterest Ads are one of the most underrated paid traffic channels with incredible potential for businesses that rely on visual storytelling, inspiration, and product discovery.

With the right strategy, Pinterest can help you drive traffic, grow brand awareness, and increase sales — often at a lower cost than other platforms.

Start small, test creatives, and optimize consistently — success on Pinterest is a matter of relevance, creativity, and consistency.