How to Get More Views on YouTube With Pinterest: Insights from Meagan Williamson
In the world of content creation, finding new ways to increase your YouTube views is crucial. One often overlooked strategy is leveraging Pinterest to drive traffic to your YouTube videos. In this blog post, we'll explore insights from Pinterest marketing expert Meagan Williamson on how to effectively use Pinterest to boost your YouTube success.
Understanding Pinterest as a Search Engine
Pinterest is more than just a social media platform; it's a visual search engine where users come to find inspiration and solutions for future projects or purchases. Unlike platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest is focused on discovery and planning for the future.
Meagan explains, "Pinterest started as the original platform where you pinned inspiration... It's this visual search engine and people are curating and saving things they want to return to."
The Complementary Relationship Between YouTube and Pinterest
YouTube and Pinterest work well together because they both cater to users seeking information and solutions. While YouTube excels at nurturing and creating community, Pinterest serves as a top-of-funnel discovery tool.
"Pinterest is top of funnel. You are not in the DMs. You are not necessarily creating a community," Meagan notes. "Pinterest is this sort of anonymous place for dreamers. But as business owners, we can insert ourselves to be helpful."
Creating Content for Both Platforms
When repurposing YouTube content for Pinterest, focus on creating short-form videos. Meagan advises, "Short form video does very well on Pinterest. I think it allows people just because it tends to be more original and dynamic."
Ideal video length for Pinterest ranges from 15 seconds to one minute. The goal is to give users enough information to spark interest but encourage them to click through to your full YouTube video for more details.
Optimizing Pinterest Pins for YouTube Traffic
When creating pins that link to your YouTube videos, consider these tips:
Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels).
Include clear, concise text overlays that communicate the value of your YouTube video.
Use visuals that accurately represent your content.
Meagan warns against simply using YouTube thumbnails: "Please, for the love of god, if you're going to share your YouTube videos or your YouTube channel, don't just share your thumbnail from YouTube."
Understanding User Intent Across Platforms
Users search differently on Pinterest compared to YouTube or Google. On Pinterest, searches tend to be broader and more inspiration-focused. Meagan explains, "People on Pinterest when they're searching, they have their root word and then they're adding in specific words to bring down the things that are more relevant."
Tailor your Pinterest content to match this search behavior, using relevant keywords and phrases that align with how Pinterest users search.
Strategies for Product-Based Businesses
For product-based businesses, focus on creating content that showcases how to use your product. Meagan shares an example of a business that went viral by demonstrating how to use their eco-friendly dish soap: "She did a demo. Honestly, that demo was mesmerizing. So she showed us how she lathers the thing. She's literally at a sink. She's not wearing anything fancy. She shot it with her iPhone, millions of views."
Tracking and Measuring Success
Measuring the impact of your Pinterest strategy on YouTube views can be challenging due to attribution issues. Meagan points out that when driving traffic from Pinterest directly to YouTube, it's difficult to track the user's journey once they leave Pinterest.
However, Jamar offers a solution to this tracking problem:
Use UTM parameters on the links in your YouTube video descriptions.
Send interested Pinterest traffic to your YouTube videos.
Check YouTube Analytics to see which views came from Pinterest and for which videos.
Examine your website analytics to see if there's a correlation between website sign-ups coming from YouTube videos that have views from Pinterest traffic.
This method allows you to connect the dots between Pinterest, YouTube, and your website conversions. Jamar explains, "You're able to see the traffic sources of where your views come from and the external traffic source would be Pinterest from here."
By implementing this strategy, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how Pinterest is contributing to your YouTube growth and overall marketing funnel. It requires some additional work, but it provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your cross-platform strategy.
Remember, Pinterest users often save content for future reference, so the impact of your Pinterest strategy may not be immediate. Look at longer-term trends in your YouTube analytics and website conversions to get a fuller picture of Pinterest's impact on your channel growth.
Start Boosting Your YouTube Views with Pinterest Today
Now that you understand the power of using Pinterest to drive traffic to your YouTube videos, it's time to put this knowledge into action.
Key Takeaways for Using Pinterest to Grow Your YouTube Channel
Optimize your Pinterest content for the platform's visual nature and search behavior.
Create short, engaging video pins (15 seconds to 1 minute) that entice viewers to watch your full YouTube videos.
Use clear, descriptive text overlays on your pins to communicate the value of your YouTube content.
Tailor your Pinterest strategy to complement your YouTube content, focusing on providing solutions and inspiration.
Implement the tracking strategy suggested by Jamar to measure the impact of Pinterest on your YouTube views and overall conversions.
Don't forget Meagan's wise words: "Good content is good content." Focus on creating valuable, engaging content for both platforms, and you'll be well on your way to YouTube success with the help of Pinterest.
Ready to take your YouTube channel to the next level? Start incorporating Pinterest into your marketing strategy today. With consistency and the right approach, you can tap into Pinterest's vast audience and watch your YouTube views grow.
