Hootsuite Social Trends 2024 Report

[hnbullock]

Hello!

I am studying to become a Pinterest Manager. Currently, I have one client and just pitched another. He had questions about Pinterest and mentioned Hootsuite's 2024 Social Trends Report. Pinterest did not fare well, and I'm seeking suggestions to counter his hesitation.

His company sells moderately priced jewelry and housewares. They use an ad agency and advertise on FB and IG exclusively. They don't post much on FB and IG and haven't posted to Pinterest in years. Their store is not connected, and their account needs to be updated and optimized. So, they do not have current Pinterest activity they can refer to.

Hootsuite received 3,891 responses to their survey. According to the report:
1. Only 36% of brands have confidence in Pinterest
2. Only 19% of the respondents have a presence on Pinterest
3. And 11% of the respondents left Pinterest between 2022-2023

I have strong confidence in Pinterest and love the platform. As I am new-ish in terms of my experience and understanding, I wonder if anyone in the community has suggestions for building my potential clients' vision of and trust in Pinterest. I can't promise an ROI with the specific numbers (new website visitors and conversions) he is asking for.

Granted, he might not be a good fit for me, but I thought I'd check in to see what folks have to say.

Thanks so much!
Hilary

[bodymindmood]

@hnbullock 

I read your post and the best suggestion I can provide to research, review and get visual with the Pinterest Verified Merchant Program.

There are steps to getting verified but nothing that is complicated.

Pinterest Verified Merchant Program

I hope this helps.

[hnbullock]

@bodymindmood - thanks so much for your response! And yes, becoming a Verified Merchant is part of my proposal to this company. His questions have more to do with wanting me to define the ROI and wondering why Pinterest ranks the way it does in the Hootsuite survey.

Have a great day!

[bodymindmood · Accepted solution]

@hnbullock 

No problem - who knows why Pinterest ranked that way its never clear where some of these companies get their data or how valid the data is - I personally know many business + merchants who are extremely successful on Pinterest.

ROI in laymen terms there are approx. 460 million Pinterest users world wide that's a lot of eyes on his business, products, ads et al. as a VMP

The true ROI will be determined by whether or not he is successful as a VMP - Jewlery + housewares are popular items on Pinterest 

REMEMBER that Pinterest vetts all of their merchants, provides special features including the coveted blue checkmark and has some very solid stats to support the amount of shopping pinners do on the platform think of the story where you go into the grocery store to buy one item and you buy 10 items its like that on Pinterest.

I have had many merchants tell me they are gold on FB + IG so what's the problem with Pinterest et al. and I always remind merchants that FB + IG are not the same as Pinterest nor does Pinterest vett their merchants the same way. Its a big deal if your a VMP and I have found on other platforms that there is some negativity towards the VMP Program because they were not approved by Pinterest.

I used the VMP Program back in 2016 and it has changed significantly....its better!

I hope this helps .... between you and I this is a "no-brainer" for a business with product.

[hnbullock]

Thanks for the additional insight @bodymindmood! I agree, it is a no-brainer. And thanks also for the reminder about the vetting process. We'll see what his reply is during our next conversation.