How to Use Pinterest as an Author

Pinterest is far more than a digital scrapbook for home decor and recipes, it's a powerful visual search engine that can connect you directly with millions of readers searching for their next great story. Unlike fast-moving feeds on other platforms, your content on Pinterest has an incredibly long lifespan, driving traffic to your books and author website for months or even years. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up your author profile, what kind of content to create, and how to use Pinterest's search-friendly features to build a dedicated readership.

Why Authors Should Seriously Consider Pinterest

Think of Pinterest not as a social network, but as a visual discovery tool. Users actively search for inspiration, ideas, and products. For authors, this means you can get in front of people looking for things like "dark academia books," "cozy fantasy novels," or "reading recommendations."

Here’s why it works so well:

• Evergreen Content: A single Pin can continue to generate clicks and traffic for years. Compare that to an Instagram post or a Tweet, which becomes nearly invisible after 24 hours. This makes Pinterest an invaluable long-term marketing asset.
• High-Intent Audience: Pinners are planners. They save Pins with the intention of coming back to them later. When they save your book cover, they’re adding it to a mental (and digital) "to-be-read" list.
• Drives Website Traffic: Every Pin can link back to a URL. This is a massive advantage for authors who want to drive readers to their blog, their book's sales page, or an email list sign-up.

Step 1: Set Up an Author Pinterest Profile That Works

Before you start pinning, you need a solid foundation. An optimized profile tells Pinterest’s algorithm and potential readers exactly who you are and what you write about.

Switch to a Business Account

If you have a personal account, switch it to a business account. It's free and unlocks essential tools like analytics, the ability to run ads, and the option to claim your website. Go to Settings >, Account Management >, Convert to a business account.

Optimize Your Bio and Profile Photo

Your profile is prime real estate for keywords. Think like a reader looking for you.

• Profile Photo: Use a clear, professional headshot. Readers connect with authors, so let them see you.
• Display Name: Use your author name. If possible, add a keyword describing your genre, like "Jane Doe | Fantasy Author."
• Bio: You have 160 characters. Don't just say you love coffee and writing. Tell readers what you write and who you write for. For example: "Author of epic fantasy novels filled with morally grey characters and ancient magic. Find my books, writing tips, and world-building inspiration here."

Claim Your Website

Claiming your website links your Pinterest account directly to your author site or blog. This gives you branding on any pins saved from your site and provides deeper analytics on how your content performs. You can find this option in Settings >, Claimed accounts.

Step 2: Create Boards Readers Will Love

Your Pinterest boards are like bookshelves for your ideas. They categorize your content and help readers find what they’re looking for. Create several boards that cover topics related to your books, your author brand, and your readers' interests.

Here are some board ideas to get you started:

• [Your Book Title] Aesthetic: A visual mood board for your book. Pin images that represent scenes, characters, settings, and the overall vibe. This helps readers visualize your story.
• Character Inspiration: A board for each of your main characters. What do they look like? What clothes do they wear? What are their hobbies?
• World-Building &, Setting: Create a board with inspirational images for the world your story takes place in, whether it’s a futuristic cityscape or an enchanted forest.
• Quotes from My Books: Design simple, eye-catching graphics featuring powerful lines from your writing.
• Writing Tips for Aspirants: Share your knowledge. This positions you as an expert and builds community. Pin graphics linking to your blog posts about writing.
• Books to Read if You Like [Your Genre]: Recommend other books in your genre. This shows you're a connected member of the reading community and helps Pinterest understand what kind of content your audience likes.
• Behind the Writer's Desk: Offer a glimpse into your writing process. Photos of your writing space, research piles, or snippets of your outlining process can be very engaging.

Pro Tip: For every board you create, write a keyword-rich description. For your "[Book Title] Aesthetic" board, you might write: "The official mood board and aesthetic for my dark academia fantasy novel. Filled with gothic architecture, secret societies, and magical inspiration for readers who love books like..."

Step 3: What to Pin? Your Author Content Strategy

The goal is to move beyond just pinning your book cover. While you should absolutely do that, a successful strategy involves a mix of content designed to attract, engage, and convert readers.

Promotional Content (The "Buy My Book" Pins)

• Book Cover Mockups: Don't just pin the flat cover. Create mockups of your book on a phone, in a flat lay with props that match its theme, or being held by a reader.
• Quote Graphics: Pull compelling, emotional, or exciting quotes from your book and put them on a branded graphic. Make them shareable.
• Chapter Teasers: Create a graphic with the first paragraph or a Pin that links to a blog post featuring a sneak peek of a chapter.
• Positive Reviews: Turn glowing reviews from readers or professional critics into sharable graphics. Social proof is powerful. Think of it as a book-cover blurb in pin form.

Content That Builds Your Brand ("The Author" Pins)

• Blog Posts: Every time you publish a blog post, create multiple Pin graphics for it. Test different headlines and images to see what resonates. This is one of the best ways to drive consistent traffic.
• Lead Magnets: Got a free short story, a character "what-if" scene, or a world-building guide for your email subscribers? Create Pins promoting it to grow your email list.
• Author Q&,As: Create "Ask Me Anything" style graphics or short video pins where you answer reader questions about your books or the writing life.

Content That Serves Your Audience ("The Reader" Pins)

• Reading Lists &, Recommendations: Pin graphics like "5 Sci-Fi Books with Amazing World-Building" or "My Favorite Enemies-to-Lovers Romances." This provides value and attracts your exact target reader.
• Genre Aesthetics: If you write romance, create Pins about "cozy reading nook" ideas. If you write thrillers, create Pins about "crime procedural tropes."
• Bookish Lifestyle Content: Pins about organizing bookshelves, the best reading mugs, or DIY bookmarks are great ways to engage with the broader book-loving Pinner community.

Step 4: Designing Pins That Actually Get Attention

Pinterest is a visual platform, so design matters. You don't need to be a graphic designer, but following a few best practices will make your Pins stand out.

• Go Vertical: Always use a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels). Vertical Pins take up more space on the screen and perform significantly better than horizontal or square images.
• Use Bold Text Overlays: Add a clear, readable headline directly onto your Pin image. Tell people what the Pin is about. Use your brand colors and fonts for consistency.
• Choose High-Quality Images: Use professional stock photos (from sites like Unsplash, Pexels, or Canva) or your own high-resolution photography. Avoid blurry or pixelated images.
• Incorporate Video: Video Pins are an amazing way to capture attention. A simple animated text graphic, a short slideshow of aesthetic images, or a quick video of you talking about your book can work wonders.

Step 5: Master Pinterest SEO to Supercharge Discovery

To succeed you have to think like a search engine. Good Pinterest SEO ensures your content shows up when readers search for a book just like yours.

Keyword Research is Simple

Use the Pinterest search bar. Start typing a term related to your book or genre, like "fantasy books." Pinterest will show you a dropdown of popular related searches, such as "fantasy books aesthetic," "fantasy books for adults," or "fantasy book recommendations." These are the exact phrases people are searching for. Use them!

Where to Use Your Keywords:

• Pin Title: This is the most important place. Be clear and direct. Instead of a creative title, use a keyword-focused one like "Epic Fantasy Book Recs for Adult Readers."
• Pin Description: Write a couple of conversational sentences describing your Pin, naturally weaving in 2-3 of your most important keywords. Think of it as a mini blog post. Tell people what they'll find when they click.
• Board Titles and Descriptions: Use clear, searchable titles for your boards. Instead of "Magical Things," try "Enchanted Forest &, Fantasy Book Inspiration."

Final Thoughts

Using Pinterest as an author is a long-term strategy that pays dividends in visibility and website traffic. By creating an optimized profile and consistently sharing a mix of valuable content that serves your ideal reader, you can turn this visual discovery engine into a powerful-yet-sustainable book marketing channel.

Consistency is often the biggest hurdle for authors juggling writing with marketing. We built Postbase to solve this very problem. Our platform makes it simple to plan your Pinterest content visually on a calendar and schedule your Pins in advance, alongside everything else for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. This way, your marketing runs smoothly in the background, freeing you up to focus on what you love most - writing your next book.