Your First Pinterest Opt-In: Start Small, Serve Big

Picture this: You’re cruising the aisles of Costco. Your cart is already heavy with all the things you actually came for—paper towels, organic snacks, maybe even a bulk box of your favorite candles. But then…you see it.

A sample stand.
A smiling attendant offering you a tiny paper cup with a bite of beef jerky you never thought you needed. Or a delicate cracker topped with an overpriced dollop of crab dip.

You hesitate. Then you think: It’s free. Why not?

You take a bite.
Whoa.
It’s delicious.
So delicious, in fact, you’re tempted to send your husband back in line for a second helping.

That, my friend, is exactly what an opt-in is.

A taste. A morsel. A no-strings-attached invitation to try something you might not have discovered otherwise.

On Pinterest, your opt-in works the same way. It entices someone scrolling past a hundred other pins to stop and say, “Wait—this looks interesting.” And because it’s free, there’s no risk for them to take a taste.

If they like it? They’ll want more. They’ll come back for seconds. And soon enough, they’ll be filling their (metaphorical) cart with everything you have to offer.

So…What Is an Opt-In? (And Why You Already Have What It Takes to Make One)

Let’s keep this simple.

An opt-in is a free, valuable resource someone gets in exchange for their email address. That’s it. No PhD required. No fancy software. No 87-page PDF filled with secrets of the universe.

Here’s the truth: if you’re reading this, you’re already an expert in your field. You have insights, routines, tools, and ideas that someone else—your perfect reader, your ideal client, your future superfan—is dying to get their hands on.

Not convinced? Let’s break it down:

• Do you read genre-specific books? Make a book list or text set featuring your favorites. Someone else will love discovering it.

• Do you have a writing ritual or tools you swear by? Create a quick resource list. Bonus points for links so others can grab them too.

• Who do you admire and why? Make a list of your inspirations with links to their websites.

• What inspires your work? Share your behind-the-scenes magic. Dish, baby. Dish.

You don’t have to overthink it. Pinterest users aren’t asking for a college course—they’re looking for a taste. A little morsel of your brilliance that solves a problem, sparks curiosity, or brightens their day.

Think of it like the Costco sample from earlier. They don’t hand you the whole brisket. Just a bite-sized piece to make you want more.

Who Really Benefits From Opt-Ins? (Spoiler: You AND Your Audience)

Here’s the beauty of Pinterest: once your content has had time to settle in and index—a process that rewards a little patience and a lot of strategy—the Pinterest algorithm starts working like a concierge. It’s out there 24/7, gently nudging your pins into the hands of the exact people who are searching for what you offer.

Now add your opt-in to the mix, and boom: you’re not just inspiring browsers—you’re starting real conversations with future superfans.

And you don’t have to be “salesy” to do it. Think of it like addressing a heartfelt letter:
“Hey teachers, I made this just for you.”
“Hey parents, here’s something to make your day easier.”
“Hey illustrator pals, check out these software tricks I just figured out.”

Here’s how different book world rockstars can use opt-ins:

• Authors – Grow a list of readers who are excited for your next launch. Offer them exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks, reading guides, or a book club starter kit.

• Illustrators – Share coloring sheets, desktop wallpapers, or printable art. Watch your fan base grow.

• Publishers – Offer teacher and librarian guides for your new releases—perfect for your core Pinterest audience.

And let’s not forget Pinterest’s powerhouse user groups: parents, teachers, librarians, and homeschooling families. They’re already on the platform, searching, planning, and pinning. Your opt-in simply helps them say yes to staying connected.

Because at its heart, an opt-in isn’t a pitch—it’s a gift.

How to Make Sure Your Opt-In Is Valuable (The Jerky-Sized Bite Approach)

Here’s the secret to creating a valuable opt-in: you don’t have to teach everything. In fact, you shouldn’t.

When I’m working on an opt-in, I remind myself to break the process down into a bite-sized morsel—something small, flavorful, and satisfying enough to leave my audience wanting more.

My jam is Pinterest (duh). And there are a billion little nuances to managing a platform. But I don’t try to hand over the whole banquet in one go. Instead, I ask:

What’s one little corner of Pinterest my audience needs help understanding right now?

Then I create an opt-in around just that. A quick win. A tiny taste of success.

Take my Keyword Toolkit, for example. It doesn’t teach you everything about Pinterest strategy. It zeroes in on one specific skill—how to brainstorm, organize, and use SEO keywords to get your pins in front of the right people. Inside, I include:

• A glossary to demystify Pinterest jargon

• Templates for keyword-rich pin titles and descriptions

• Real examples to spark ideas

• A step-by-step blueprint for DIY pin crafting

The result? People come away feeling empowered—not overwhelmed. And because they’ve experienced a win, they’re more likely to come back for seconds.

When planning your own opt-in, think:

• Does it solve a specific problem?

• Can someone implement it quickly?

• Would I be excited to exchange my email for this?

Remember, your opt-in isn’t meant to be a 50-page manifesto. It’s more like a Costco sample: a small, delightful preview of the full experience you offer.

Pro Tip: Don’t Make It All About You

Here’s the biggest mistake I see people make with opt-ins: they turn them into mini-biographies.

Remember our Costco sample? When I pop that little bite of beef jerky into my mouth, I’m not immediately wondering who made it. I’m thinking:

“Whoa. This is GOOD.”

That moment—the moment when I’m wowed by the flavor—is when the brand earns my attention. I might not grab a full package right then and there, but I’ll remember that name. Next time I see it? I’m much more likely to toss it into my cart.

That’s how opt-ins work.

They’re not about shouting, “Look at me! Aren’t I amazing? Here’s all my stuff!”
They’re about serving your audience first. Giving them something that solves a problem or delights them in a small, meaningful way.

When you lead with value, you’re building trust. You’re leaving a positive impression in their brain:

“This creator gets me. This is GOOD.”

And guess what? That positive impression is what opens the door for them to want more from you later—without any strong-arming or pushy sales tactics.

Closing: It’s Your Turn to Serve Up Something Delicious

You’ve got this.

Somewhere in your day-to-day work as a book creator or seller lies the seed of your first (or next) opt-in. It might be:

• A curated book list

• A writing ritual or worksheet

• A printable coloring page

• A guide to your favorite tools or techniques

• Or even a collection of inspiring quotes from icons in your field

Choose one small corner of your knowledge, your values, your process—just one. Then break it down into bite-sized, malleable pieces. Little samples your ideal reader can savor, enjoy, and share.

And remember: the goal is to offer value for them, not to spotlight you. Sure, you’ll include your branding and contact information on the download (you’re no amateur), but resist the urge to oversell.

Because when someone takes a bite of your opt-in and thinks:

“Wow. This is GOOD.”

They’ll naturally be curious about the creator behind it. They’ll remember you. And when the time comes, they’ll be ready to toss your full offering—the book, the guide, the workshop—into their proverbial cart.

So go ahead: create that small but mighty opt-in. Feature it on your website, share it on social media, bring it to speaking engagements, and yes—oh yes—pin it to Pinterest for all to discover.

Your audience is out there, waiting for what only you can offer.

From Book Piles to Pin Clicks: What I Learned from Organizing a School Library

This is a true story about a messy library, a reluctant fourth grader named Billy, and the surprising lessons that still shape the way I think about connection, curiosity, and building something meaningful—on Pinterest, of all places.

In 1998, I was an Upper Elementary teacher at White Rock Montessori School in Dallas, Texas. We’d just moved into a brand-new facility near White Rock Lake after years of operating out of borrowed spaces—church basements, Sunday school rooms, wherever we could make it work. The new building was beautiful. But like any big move, it was a bit chaotic.

One of the most memorable hot messes? The school library. It was tucked into a cozy alcove just across the hall from my classroom comprised of a vibrant group of 9- to 12-year-olds. While the rest of the school bustled with newness and excitement, the library looked like a book tornado had blown through. Shelves were half-full. Books were piled in stacks. Some didn’t even have covers.

Valiantly, my students and I adopted the mess as our own. We turned our classroom science table into a makeshift library headquarters, complete with rotating jobs and a shared goal: organize the entire collection using the Dewey Decimal System.

It was a big job. But we were all in.

Well… almost all of us.

There was one fourth grader—we’ll call him Billy—who made it crystal clear that he hated books and wanted nothing to do with the project. And Billy? He was not the quiet protestor type. I reassured him he wouldn’t have to read anything, but I also reminded him: this was a team effort. Like it or not, he was part of the crew.

Weeks passed. Our plan was in motion. Kids were sorting, labeling, and shelving. My little squad was turning chaos into order.

Then one day, Billy disappeared.

I checked the hallway. No Billy.

Sent a classmate to check the library nook. No Billy.

I began to panic…for real.

Then came a shout: “There he is!”

Burrowed into the piles at our classroom workstation, cross-legged in the middle of the chaos, Billy was reading. Totally absorbed in a book about sharks.

And that’s when it hit me.

We weren’t just organizing books.
We were building a place for discovery.
For belonging.
For connection.

And that’s exactly what a well-built Pinterest platform can do for authors.

Here are the steps we took to make the library project happen, and how you can follow to make your Pinterest platform a success.

Step One: Analyze

Before we touched a single book, we had to look around and assess. What did we have? What topics were overrepresented? What was missing? What needed love?

That’s the first step on Pinterest, too.

Before you create pins or boards, you stop and ask:

• What content do I already have?

• Who am I trying to reach?

• What’s connecting? What’s being overlooked?

You start with a lay of the land. Because just like that messy library, your brilliant content might be buried under digital stacks no one can find.

And let’s not forget: Billy was there from the start. He was watching. Listening. Not engaged… yet.

The first step isn’t doing. It’s seeing.

Step Two: Strategize

Once we made sense of the mess, we needed a plan. The Dewey Decimal System became our guide—it helped us understand where things belonged and how they related to one another.

On Pinterest, your strategy is built around keywords and board structure. That’s your Dewey. That’s how you connect your content to the people searching for it.

Because sometimes, your shark book is in the cooking section—and no one’s going to find it there.

Keywords are the GPS. They help your audience discover your work—even if they weren’t looking for it.

Step Three: Implement

Once the plan was in place, we got to work. We labeled. We sorted. We shelved. We showed up for the long game.

That’s what Pinterest implementation looks like:

• Keyword-rich pins

• Intentional boards

• Consistent posting

• Small steps that build big momentum

Billy didn’t start out invested. But he showed up. And one day, the system worked its magic. He found something. Something that sparked curiosity.

Pinterest isn’t about overnight success. It’s about setting the stage for moments like that.

Step Four: Assess

Three months later, the library was transformed. But we didn’t just pat ourselves on the back and move on. We asked:

• What’s working?

• What’s being used the most? 

• What do we need to rearrange?

Pinterest works the same way.
It’s not set-it-and-forget-it.
It’s evolving visibility.

With analytics, you get to see what’s resonating. What’s being saved. What’s getting clicks. And you get to make it even better.

Because at the end of the day, our success wasn’t measured by how many books were shelved.

It was measured by Billy.
Reading.
Engaged.
Connected.

Final Thoughts

Pinterest isn’t just a marketing tool.
It’s a library.
A discovery zone.
A place to be found.

In short, not only is Pinterest a search engine, it’s also a place for connection.

When you build your platform with intention—when you organize your ideas and stories with clarity and purpose—your Billy will find you.

And that, my friend, is what makes the journey all worthwhile.  

Is Pinterest the Best Choice for Marketing Your Books? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Pinterest has become a powerful platform for book creators, offering an evergreen way to showcase work and engage new readers. However, diving into a new marketing platform raises questions. If you're an author, illustrator, publisher, or e-commerce seller considering Pinterest, here are some essential questions and practical steps to help you understand if Pinterest is right for your marketing goals.

• What Can I Gain from Marketing My Book on Pinterest?

  Pinterest offers book creators an incredible opportunity for lasting visibility. Unlike other social platforms where content fades quickly, Pinterest pins can keep drawing engagement for months, even years, after posting. As a visual search engine, Pinterest reaches users actively looking for specific ideas, genres, or content like yours, helping you connect with an audience that’s already interested in what you have to offer. Plus, it’s more than just visibility; Pinterest allows you to highlight the process behind your book, your unique inspiration, and your themes, building a brand that resonates deeply with readers. Think about the type of audience you want to reach and how your work can visually tell a story that captivates and inspires them on Pinterest.

• Is My Target Audience on Pinterest?

  Pinterest is a perfect space for book creators aiming to reach parents, teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, and avid readers. The platform has a vibrant community that eagerly seeks inspiration, education, and creative content, making it especially powerful for creators in children’s literature, YA, nonfiction, and visually rich storytelling genres. To make the most of this, take some time to explore Pinterest demographics and audience insights to see how your genre aligns with the interests of its users. At Pin Lit Marketing, we’re here to help you evaluate these insights so that your books connect with the right readers and potential buyers on Pinterest.

• How Much Time Should I Dedicate to Pinterest?

  One of Pinterest’s greatest advantages is its evergreen nature, meaning your content doesn’t require daily posting as it might on other platforms. Instead, consistency is key: creating a few well-optimized pins each week and engaging with trending topics in your niche can yield long-term results. Start by setting aside just 1-2 hours each week to plan and create pins. As you see what resonates with your audience and your content gains traction, you can adjust your schedule based on the results. This approach keeps your presence steady and manageable while maximizing reach.

• How Can I Best Use My Book’s Visual Elements on Pinterest?

  While visual appeal is essential on Pinterest, don’t worry if your book isn’t filled with illustrations—there are plenty of ways to create captivating pins. Text-based pins, such as quotes, reviews, behind-the-scenes insights, or even mood boards, can all effectively spark interest and drive engagement. To get started, identify 5-10 unique visual elements related to your book, like key settings, memorable character quotes, or central themes, and turn these into pin ideas. You might create “chapter teasers” or graphics that showcase inspiring quotes or imagery from your book, giving potential readers a taste of what they’ll find within its pages.

• Can Pinterest Help Me Build My Brand?

  Pinterest is an ideal platform for sharing far beyond just your book covers. By posting behind-the-scenes glimpses, insights into your creative process, or educational content, you’re able to build authority in your niche and create a memorable brand that resonates with your audience. To get started, list three unique elements of your creative journey or brand—these could be aspects of your writing style, the inspiration behind your stories, or themes you’re passionate about. Use these as the foundation for your Pinterest boards and pins, ensuring that each post aligns with your values and speaks directly to the readers you hope to connect with.

• What’s the Investment for Setting Up a Pinterest Strategy?

  Getting started on Pinterest is free, but many creators find that using promoted pins adds value by reaching larger, more targeted audiences. However, to make the most of your Pinterest strategy, an investment of time is also needed to create consistent, high-quality content that engages viewers. Start by posting organic pins to see what resonates most with your audience. If you notice certain pins gaining traction, consider running small-scale ads to further boost their reach. At Pin Lit Marketing, we can help you design budget-friendly strategies tailored specifically to book creators, ensuring your content reaches the right readers.

• What if My Platform Isn’t Growing as Quickly as I’d Hoped?

  Achieving success on Pinterest is a gradual process, as it can take weeks or even months for pins to gain traction and become fully indexed by Pinterest’s search engine. The key is to remain patient and consistent with your efforts. To stay on track, regularly review your Pinterest analytics to measure growth and understand what content resonates most with your audience. Use your top-performing pins as inspiration for future content, keeping your strategy responsive to what works best. At Pin Lit Marketing, we’re here to help fine-tune your approach along the way, ensuring your audience remains engaged and your goals stay within reach.

Pinterest is a powerful marketing tool, especially for book creators looking to establish an evergreen presence online. By addressing these questions and implementing a consistent, strategic approach, you’ll be equipped to decide whether Pinterest aligns with your goals. Pin Lit Marketing is here to support you every step of the way, helping your books get the visibility they deserve!

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Pin Lit Marketing is the premier Pinterest strategist for books, blending literary insight with unmatched expertise in captivating young readers. Your new audience awaits! Sign up for a Fit Call today!

Unbranded Searches Make Pinterest Anybody’s Game

Last week, while attending a Pinterest managers round-up meeting, the speaker commented that 97% of the searches on Pinterest are “unbranded.” Dang! That’s an impressive percentage of users, but what does that mean for authors, illustrators, and book creators everywhere? 
 
An “unbranded search” is a detailed description of a Pinterest user’s desire for exploration. These searches reflect how Pinterest users behave on the platform. Here’s what Pinterest has to say about this:
 

Such a high percentage of unbranded searches is a strong indication that Pinterest users are on the platform to seek inspiration and discover new ideas.

 
Anticipating unbranded search trends does require a bit of finesse, but the effort is well worth it. For example, some topics are seasonal, such as “Earth Day”, “Hanukkah”, and “Back-to-school”. Other topics like “middle grade nonfiction books about space”, “early literacy for toddlers”, or “gift books for baby showers” are on-going topics, searched as the Pinterest user sees fit. 
 
The ultimate challenge for us all is to anticipate the needs and desires of our intended audience. All we must do is discover ways that our books, programs, and products might inspire, educate, or encourage them. And then creatively create graphics and concise context that will help them find us on the platform. Build it and they will come, right?
 
The fun never, ever ends! For sure.
 
Need help with your presence on Pinterest? Like an unbranded search, we’re here whenever you need us.
 

Lasting Reflections Of Self Expression: The Idea Pin

We’re so excited to announce the Second Annual Pinterest Pals Summer Reading Book Club is off and running! The Landing Page is launched. Clients’ video and static organic pins are scheduled on my platform and Tailwind. We’re even making our mark over on Instagram. Now, we have one more aspect of the campaign to create – The Idea Pins. The Idea Pins I made for last year’s campaign have brought in over 7K impressions, thus far (Which means that over 7,000 sets of eyes landed on them! Yay!). I’d like to double that number this year.

With Idea Pins, we discover ways to inspire, educate, and inform our audience with videos, stills, animation, text overlays, and audio. Once known as the Story Pin, the intent of Idea Pins is to tell the story of you. They’re evergreen flickers of color and movement revealing who you are, what your stories are about, and ways your audience can build a relationship with you. Imagine constructing something original, genuine, lasting, and wildly creative that doubles as a marketing tool. Cool, right?

Please be our guest and tour the Pinterest platforms linked to the Second Annual Pinterest Pals Summer Reading Book Club Landing Page. There you will discover how a poet, a historian, a writing coach, a yogi, a literary activist, and others are telling their stories with Idea Pins.

Contact me if you want to know more about building a Pinterest platform founded on you and your authentic messaging. Let’s explore creative ways to enhance your reach with Pinterest.

Also, you conference planners, consider adding Pinterest to your marketing panel discussions. Your attendees will be very glad that you did.