Pinterest Strategy for Self-Published Authors: How I Grew Quill Town Books with Manual Pinning & SEO

I didn't have a clear plan when I first started using Pinterest for my author brand. Like many authors, I juggled book launches, social media, and content creation. However, once I made a few strategic changes, my Pinterest started working for me instead of sitting in the background.

Here’s a look at my personal Pinterest strategy—what I’m doing, what I’ve learned, and how it’s helping grow Quill Town Books.

Want a free printable of my Pinterest strategy checklist? Click here to download it now

I focused on setting a strong foundation before I even touched my boards or pins. I updated my Pinterest profile banner to reflect the heart of Quill Town Books, using my brand colors and images of my published books. I included award badges on each book image to build trust and credibility.

I also updated my profile picture to match the one I use across all my social media accounts for a cohesive look. Then, I added Pinterest keywords directly into my profile: "Quill Town Books / Books and Printables for Kids". I followed this up with a keyword-rich profile description clearly explaining who I serve and what I offer.

Once my branding was solid, I turned my attention to my boards. I currently have 13 boards, ranging from "Books to Love" to "Mindfulness Journal Prompts" and "Children's Book Merch & Teacher Gift Ideas."

Each board has:

• A branded cover with my signature colors

• A keyword-rich title

• Pins grouped by relevance

I aim for each board to have 50–100 pins and am mindful to avoid overlapping content. While I love plants, my "Plants" board is the only one that doesn't reflect my brand (yet!).

I use Canva to design all my pins. I start with my own pictures whenever possible. If I can’t find the perfect image, I search Canva’s photo library. I vary pin sizes, mainly sticking to the Pinterest-recommended 2:3 or 9:16 formats. I’ve also started experimenting with video pins and will write about what I learn in a future post.

My pins always reflect my brand. I use my color palette (light tan, light pink, dark pink, and dark brown), include my logo, and add my website to each pin. I even add alt text in Canva by right-clicking on the image—another layer of Pinterest search power!

Each week, I upload seven pins to a different board and schedule them to post one daily. I make sure each pin links to a unique URL (like my blog, book page, lesson plan, or product listing). I aim to batch-create 30 pins and schedule them all simultaneously using Pinterest’s native scheduler.

I switch between "Create a Pin" and "Create an Idea Pin" formats. Idea Pins let me tag the content into relevant categories like "Reading Activities" or "Books to Read," which helps with visibility.

Titles and descriptions matter—a lot. I research keywords using Pinterest Trends and the Pinterest search bar. I pick 3–5 strong keywords, then use ChatGPT to help craft compelling titles and descriptions that I later refine in my voice.

Every pin I post includes:

• A clear, relevant title

• A description that naturally uses the keywords

• A link that delivers on what the pin promises

In spring 2025, I overhauled my Pinterest strategy. But instead of deleting my old pins, I updated them.

I revised the titles, added proper descriptions, reassigned them to better boards, and updated the destination URLs. Many of my older pins were imported automatically from Instagram and didn’t even have a URL attached. Now, they lead to my books on Amazon, lesson plans, or blog posts.

My content is built around my books' lessons: kindness, compassion, creativity, screen time balance, generosity, and early learning. Every pin points to something meaningful:

• Social emotional learning tips

• Early learning printables

• DIY paper crafts for holidays

• Activity books and journals

• Free lesson plans for teachers

I currently pin my content and spotlight other self-published authors through book reviews.

Pinterest isn’t about instant results—it’s a long game. I check my analytics weekly, but track my performance monthly. Starting April 28, 2025, I began logging impressions, engagements, clicks, and saves.

I plan to design a Canva-based Pinterest Tracker Spreadsheet to monitor growth more easily and adjust strategy when needed.

Pinterest has become a vital tool for Quill Town Books. It’s not just for pretty pictures—it’s a search engine. With the right strategy, thoughtful pins, and consistency, it can drive organic traffic to your books, blog, and printables.

Want a free printable of my Pinterest strategy checklist? Click here to download it now.