How Can You Use Pinterest to Grow as a Creator or Business?

When you think of growth platforms, Instagram reels, TikTok challenges, and LinkedIn networking often come to mind. Pinterest, however, plays a quieter but equally powerful role in shaping consumer behavior. What sets it apart is the mindset of its users. They don’t come to simply scroll or be entertained—they arrive with a plan. They’re looking for recipes, outfit inspiration, design ideas, or even products to purchase.

For creators and businesses in the UAE, this makes Pinterest a high-value channel. A single Pin can continue driving traffic and engagement for months, even years, unlike posts on other platforms that fade in hours. Picture this: you publish content around Ramadan home décor or Eid gifting ideas, and every year as the season approaches, your Pins resurface in searches. That’s sustained visibility with minimal effort.

How can you harness this intent-driven platform to grow? Let’s break it down step by step.

Pinterest as a Planning and Discovery Tool

Pinterest functions as a visual search engine. Users type queries into the search bar the same way they would on Google, but instead of text-heavy results, they get curated images, tutorials, and shoppable links. This makes it incredibly powerful for decision-making moments.

Someone searching “iftar recipes,” “Dubai wedding stage décor,” or “minimalist workspace setup” isn’t looking to kill time—they’re preparing for a real purchase or event. Every search is an opportunity for a brand or creator to be discovered at exactly the right time.

For businesses, this intent translates into higher-quality engagement. Instead of competing for attention against a flood of viral memes, you’re showing up for people already motivated to act.

Building a Strong Foundation

Success on Pinterest begins with a solid setup. Without it, your content risks getting lost.

Create a Business Account: This unlocks advanced features such as analytics and ads.
Claim Your Website: By linking your site, you build credibility and ensure traffic from your Pins is properly tracked.
Enable Rich Pins: These allow real-time updates of product information, article headlines, or recipes.
Profile Optimization: Use keywords in your bio, boards, and display name. For example, instead of a vague name like “Design Ideas,” use “Dubai Modern Home Décor” or “Eid Gift Inspirations.”

Think of your Pinterest profile as your storefront. If it isn’t clear what you offer, potential customers won’t know to step inside.

Crafting Content That Gets Discovered

Content on Pinterest thrives on relevance and timing. While other platforms favor trends, Pinterest rewards evergreen value and seasonal planning.

Use Pinterest SEO: Start with Pinterest Trends and autocomplete to discover what people are searching. Incorporate these terms naturally into your Pin titles, descriptions, and file names.
Board Strategy: Organize your boards around user needs. A bakery could create boards like “Ramadan Desserts,” “Wedding Cakes Dubai,” and “Quick Everyday Treats.” A fashion creator might focus on “Eid Outfits,” “Office Wear Essentials,” and “Summer Dresses.”
Formats to Experiment With:
- Static Pins: Best for direct inspiration and clear visuals.
- Video Pins: Great for tutorials, recipes, or product demos.
- Idea Pins: Multi-page formats perfect for step-by-step guides or storytelling.

Consistency matters. A wellness coach might share evergreen tips like “10-Minute Yoga Routines” while also preparing timely seasonal guides such as “Healthy Suhoor Recipes.” By planning ahead, creators ensure their content aligns with what people are already searching for.

Ask yourself: if someone in Dubai is preparing for Eid two months in advance, will your content be among the first things they find?

Turning Pinterest Into a Revenue Stream

Inspiration is only one side of Pinterest. The platform has been designed to connect discovery with action, making it a strong channel for revenue generation.

Product Catalogs and Shopping Pins: Businesses can upload their product feeds so items automatically appear as shoppable Pins.
Product Tagging: Creators and businesses can tag products in lifestyle images, allowing users to buy directly from the content.
Affiliate Links: Creators can recommend products through affiliate networks, earning commission while helping audiences discover useful items.
Sponsored Collaborations: Brands often partner with creators to publish seasonal or themed content. A beauty brand might collaborate on “Eid Glow Skincare Tips,” and the Pin continues to circulate long after the campaign ends.

For UAE businesses, especially in fashion, beauty, and home décor, Pinterest can act as an always-on catalog that meets customers at the exact moment they are ready to purchase.

When and How to Use Ads

Organic reach is strong on Pinterest, but advertising can help scale visibility quickly, especially around seasonal peaks.

Timing Ads: Launch campaigns 6–8 weeks before high-demand periods. A local fashion brand, for example, could promote Eid collections starting in February, ensuring visibility when users begin planning.
Ad Formats:
- Standard Pins for clear product promotion.
- Video Ads to demonstrate usage or tell a brand story.
- Carousels to showcase multiple product variations.
- Collection Ads that combine lifestyle imagery with tagged products.
Targeting Options: Choose keywords, interests, or “act-alike” audiences (similar to lookalikes on other platforms).

The strength of Pinterest ads lies in reinforcement. Users may first see your brand organically, and later encounter your ad, solidifying trust and increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Tracking What Actually Works

Growth depends on understanding performance. Pinterest Analytics provides detailed insights into what’s resonating.

Impressions show how many people are seeing your Pins.
Saves indicate how valuable your content is—users want to keep it for later.
Outbound Clicks measure direct impact, showing whether your Pins are driving traffic to your site or shop.
Conversions track actual sales or sign-ups (with the Pinterest Tag installed).

Reviewing this data regularly helps identify which Pins consistently perform well. A high-performing recipe Pin can be repurposed with a new design, while underperforming boards can be adjusted with stronger keywords. The goal is to refine continuously, not guess.

Sustainable Growth Habits

Pinterest rewards consistency, and building sustainable habits ensures long-term visibility.

Pin Regularly: Daily or weekly activity, even if scheduled in advance, keeps your profile active in the algorithm.
Refresh Old Content: Update designs and keywords for evergreen Pins to keep them relevant. A Ramadan recipe from 2022 can be updated with new visuals for 2025.
Collaborate With Others: Group boards and joint Idea Pins expand reach by introducing your content to new audiences. Imagine two Dubai-based creators co-curating a board on “Ramadan Home Décor Ideas”—both benefit from each other’s audience.
Plan Ahead: Pinterest users prepare months in advance. Upload Eid gift guides early in the year, create back-to-school boards in June, and publish Dubai Winter Festival ideas by September.

Consistency builds authority. The more frequently you show up in searches, the more the platform associates your content with reliability.

Pinterest is one of the few platforms where content has a long shelf life. While other channels demand constant posting to stay visible, a single well-optimized Pin can continue bringing results year after year. For creators, it’s a chance to showcase expertise and collaborate with brands. For businesses, it’s a way to connect with buyers at the exact moment they are planning purchases.

By setting up correctly, creating SEO-driven and seasonal content, using monetization tools, running ads strategically, and tracking results, Pinterest can transform into a steady engine of growth.

The next time you plan your content calendar, ask yourself: am I only focusing on short-lived platforms, or am I investing in content that keeps working for me long after I’ve hit “publish”?