A Simple Marketing Workflow that Includes Pinterest

[#1]

Are you tired of feeling like a chicken with its head cut off when it comes to managing your marketing tasks? Well, fear not, because I'm here to share some tips on creating a workflow that will save you time and keep you sane.

We all know that marketing can be overwhelming, with different platforms and endless to-do lists. But with a little bit of planning and creativity, we can make it all work seamlessly. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let's brainstorm some ideas that will make your marketing workflow not only effective but also enjoyable!

Your Business Goals Are First

Knowing your business goals is the absolute first step to creating a marketing workflow.  You really need to know what your goals are to be able to know the content you’ll create and then the workflow you’ll use.

Core Content 

A main form of marketing content is typically a Blog, Youtube Video, or Podcast.  Core Content (also known as main content, cornerstone content, or long-form content).  Having core content enables you to focus on one piece of content a week and turn that into several pieces of social marketing content (of course including on Pinterest).

Social Marketing Versus Search Marketing

Of all the platforms out there.  They are either search marketing or social marketing. So which should you use and why? (heads up that a trick question as you should use a combo of both.)

Social marketing platforms are:

• Tiktok
• Instagram
• Facebook

Social marketing is a hungry hungry hippo and needs to be fed often.  It’s bite-size info and it’s mostly (not totally) for nurturing your audience on there.

It’s also more personal and where people want to find out more about your beliefs, the way you speak, and what you say.  More importantly, it’s part of that know, like, and trust process potential clients typically go through wherever they start looking at your content.  

As an example: They see a pin on Pinterest.  They click through to your blog (or other long-form content).  There is more trust there as what you shared resonated with them.  Then they go to Instagram and sometimes TikTok to get to know you to see if they want to work with you.  

NOTE: I’ve had many many clients book me and they weren't following me on social.  They just stalked me and finally reached out.  I’ve been doing research on my clients since 2021 through deep-dive conversations on their client journey so I can work smarter, not harder. 

Downside: The posts and all that hard work on short-form videos (SFV) don’t last very long.  From 24hrs to two weeks.

Search marketing platforms are:

• Pinterest
• Youtube
• Google (your blog)

Search platforms are where people go to learn from you and for you to get new eyeballs on your content.  Search platforms are an amazing way to get found, and attract new potential clients, and your content lasts much longer than social platforms. 

As an example: Some of my top performing pins each month are 6-7 years old on my photography Pinterest (I’ve been using Pinterest since 2009 for that business).  It’s embarrassing but I’ve booked clients from what I think are horrible images and my clients who book and get wedding photos are blown away.  Win Win in my book!

Downside:  Search marketing takes time and consistency to see growth.  Give your hard work on Pinterest 6 months and you’ll see growth if you are consistent with posting and your content is good.  

My advice on social vs. search marketing

After years of creating content and running two businesses (not to mention working with my clients), I have found that the most advantageous way of marketing (that saves time but has a greater return on your time investment) is to pick at least one social and one search marketing platform.  

Search will provide new eyeballs and traffic to your content and maybe even convert clients immediately, but Social provides that know, like, and trust to give confidence to your potential clients to reach out about your services.

How does your brain work?

Knowing your brain or your work style will help you so much when creating a marketing workflow.  It’s so easy to listen to educators who share how they do it.  But maybe they don’t have 4 children under 5 at home. Or they have a full-time job and a side hustle.  

So let's focus on YOU!  Do you like to start and finish a project in one sitting? Do you like to be creative (coming up with a blog post or idea pin content) in one sitting and then analytical in another (writing or recording the content and editing it)?

Once you know how your brain works and what you prefer, you will have a better idea of how to work and when to do each part of the content creation and ultimately the marketing workflow.  Don't worry if you are new to marketing and don't know.  Try multiple ways to find what works for you.

Simple Marketing Workflow

Having a marketing workflow will save you hours and hours. This way you are working smarter and not trying to reinvent the wheel.  To help, I have created a simple marketing workflow that includes Pinterest that you can try.  

It's best to try a workflow and tweak things around when you find a piece of the workflow that doesn't work for you. Basically, make create your own.  

I hope that this information has helped and I’d love for you to share it with a friend so we can continue to grow this amazing community.

Finally, I’m curious about what your workflow is.  Is it similar? Is it totally different? Please explain below so there are more options for those that read this blog.

[hellohomegirl]

Love this! Thank you, @jenvazquezmedia ! This is so helpful.

[jenvazquezmedia]

@hellohomegirl I'm so happy you find it helpful!!  Let me know if you have any questions.

[letifarias_]

thank you😍

[xzouix]

Whenever I put out a new product, publish a well written article or have new photos from a photo shoot, I pin it all in my dedicated boards (I share here more than I do on IG). Pinterest has helped me organize my thoughts and projects in a big way, and sharing my work along the way is a big plus for people who follow my work and have similar fields of interest (design, motorcycles, motorcycle gear, leather and more).

I haven't had any customers as a results of my work on Pinerest (not even when I did paid ads), but for now, I am glad that it helps me move my thoughts and projects to the finish line more quickly.

Couple days ago I was actually thinking about this... "what if Pinterest goes away one day"? That would be a total disaster for my work flow, that's 100%, because right now it is kind of my external brain folder for all the good things being created and many others that are yet to be created.

[jenvazquezmedia]

@xzouix  Reminder that oftentimes, you don't know someone found you from Pinterest.  The path people often take is to see a pin and click to the products/website/service.  Then they go to TikTok or Instagram to find you and follow for a bit.  Then they reach out to you.  And when we as business owner say, "How did you find us" they will reply Instagram/TikTok when in actuality that's where they were when they decided to reach out.  What I learned from researching in 2020 all clients that said they found me on Instagram was that a large percentage of them found me via Pinterest, a blog or Google search. 

[visitinghubcom]

Reminder that oftentimes, you don't know someone found you from Pinterest.  The path people often take is to see a pin and click to the products/website/service.  Then they go to TikTok or Instagram to find you and follow for a bit.  Then they reach out to you.  And when we as business owner say, "How did you find us" they will reply Instagram/TikTok when in actuality that's where they were when they decided to reach out.  What I learned from researching in 2020 all clients that said they found me on Instagram was that a large percentage of them found me via Pinterest, a blog or Google search. 

[arslanbut9090]

marketing workflow, especially with a focus on Pinterest. Marketing can indeed be overwhelming, but with the right strategy, it can become more manageable and effective. Let's recap some key takeaways from your insights:

1. Start with Your Business Goals: Knowing your business goals is the foundation of your marketing workflow. Your goals should guide the content you create and the marketing strategy you implement.

2. Core Content: Focus on creating core content, which can be in the form of a blog, YouTube videos, or podcasts. This core content can then be repurposed into various social marketing content, including content for Pinterest.

3. Social Marketing vs. Search Marketing: Understand the distinction between social marketing and search marketing platforms. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are for nurturing your audience, building trust, and letting people get to know you. Search platforms like Pinterest, YouTube, and Google are for attracting new eyeballs and generating long-lasting content.

4. Balancing Social and Search Marketing: To save time and maximize your efforts, consider using a combination of at least one social and one search marketing platform. This allows you to attract new audiences through search while building trust and engagement through social.

5. Know Your Work Style: Recognize your work style and preferences. Do you prefer to start and finish a project in one sitting, or do you like dividing tasks into creative and analytical phases? Understanding how your brain works can help you plan your workflow more efficiently.

6. Create a Simple Marketing Workflow: Having a structured marketing workflow is crucial to save time and avoid reinventing the wheel. Your workflow can be adapted to your specific needs and preferences.

Incorporating Pinterest into your marketing strategy is a smart move, as it's a platform that can provide long-term results. Your advice on giving time for search marketing platforms like Pinterest to grow and the importance of consistency is valuable.