Pinterest Ads in 2025

Pinterest is no longer just a mood board, it’s a full-scale marketing platform where businesses are turning casual browsers into loyal customers. With over 500 million monthly active users, Pinterest has evolved into a visual discovery engine that gives advertisers a unique edge. While Meta, Google, and TikTok dominate with aggressive targeting and fast-paced trends, Pinterest Ads offer a quieter, purchase-intent-driven environment that many brands are just starting to tap into.

Why Pinterest Ads Stand Out

Pinterest isn’t about endless scrolling or viral videos, it’s about planning. People come to Pinterest with future action in mind: outfits to buy, homes to decorate, weddings to plan, recipes to try. That makes Pinterest Ads naturally aligned with purchase intent.

Unlike Instagram or TikTok, where ads interrupt entertainment, Pinterest Ads blend in. Promoted Pins appear like organic content but are backed by advanced ad targeting options and flexible campaign goals.

Ad Formats on Pinterest

Pinterest offers a variety of engaging ad formats, including:

• Standard Pins: Ideal for promoting single images with clear CTAs.
  
  

• Video Pins: Captivating short or long-form video content to stop the scroll.
  
  

• Carousel Pins: Multiple image cards in one Pin to showcase collections or step-by-step ideas.
  
  

• Shopping Ads: Automatically pulled from your product feed and matched with user interest.
  
  

• Idea Ads: Interactive, story-style Pins that feel native to Pinterest’s discovery flow.
  
  

Compared to platforms like Meta Ads or YouTube, Pinterest provides a cleaner, less crowded space for your message to land, and stick.

Targeting Capabilities

Pinterest Ads might surprise you with how sophisticated their targeting tools have become. Options include:

• Interest & keyword targeting
  
  

• Custom audiences (site visitors, email lists)
  
  

• Actalike audiences (Pinterest’s version of lookalikes)
  
  

• Demographic filters (age, location, device, gender)
  
  

Compared to Facebook’s vast demographic profiling or Google’s search intent mastery, Pinterest strikes a balance, giving you keyword-level control alongside inspiration-driven audience segments.

Pinterest Ads vs. Competitors

Pinterest may not have the firehose reach of Meta, but it wins in niche appeal, low ad fatigue, and longer content shelf life.

Campaign Objectives on Pinterest

Pinterest Ads support several business goals:

• Brand awareness
  
  

• Video views
  
  

• Traffic generation
  
  

• Conversions
  
  

• Catalog sales
  
  

Each objective uses Pinterest’s algorithm to show your ads to users most likely to take action based on your goal. And the conversion window can be longer than other platforms, since users often save pins for later use, something rare on TikTok or Instagram.

Cost of Advertising on Pinterest

Pinterest uses a bidding model based on CPC (cost-per-click), CPE (engagement), or CPM (impressions). Average CPCs range from $0.10 to $1.50, making it more affordable than Facebook or Google in many niches.

While TikTok may offer lower CPMs, Pinterest’s high-intent audience often converts better, especially for home, fashion, food, travel, DIY, and beauty brands.

Analytics and Tracking

Pinterest provides robust insights through its native analytics and ad manager:

• Pin performance
  
  

• Engagement rate
  
  

• Link clicks
  
  

• ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)
  
  

• Conversion tracking (with Pinterest Tag)
  
  

These tools rival Facebook Ads Manager in usability and integrate with Google Analytics, Shopify, and other platforms for deeper insights.

Best Practices for Pinterest Ads in 2025

1. Design for inspiration – Pins should feel native and inspirational, not overly promotional.
   
   

2. Use rich, vertical visuals – Pinterest prioritizes vertical content in its algorithm.
   
   

3. Add keywords to descriptions – Just like SEO, Pinterest relies heavily on text relevance.
   
   

4. Target by season – Align ads with seasonal searches (e.g., summer outfits, holiday gifts).
   
   

5. Test multiple creatives – A/B test images, formats, and headlines to learn what drives results.
   
   

6. Install the Pinterest Tag – For retargeting and conversion tracking, this is essential.
   
   

Who Should Advertise on Pinterest?

Pinterest Ads work best for:

• E-commerce brands (especially lifestyle, fashion, and decor)
  
  

• Bloggers and content creators
  
  

• DIY, craft, and home improvement products
  
  

• Travel, events, and experience-driven brands
  
  

• Coaches and online educators with lead magnets
  
  

How to Download Pinterest Images to Create Better Performing Pins?

Download high-quality images using our Pinterest Video Downloader Pro to create better-performing pins. Instantly save visuals for inspiration, analyze trends, and craft eye-catching content that drives traffic and boosts engagement. Start now!

FAQS

Do I need a product catalog to run ads?
No, but having a product catalog enables Shopping Ads, which automatically promote your products to users interested in similar content.

Can service-based businesses run Pinterest Ads?
Yes. While e-commerce thrives on Pinterest, service businesses, especially in wellness, coaching, design, or events, can use ads to promote blog posts, lead magnets, or consultations.

Do Pinterest Ads work well for lead generation?
Yes, With the right visuals and a lead magnet, you can use Pinterest Ads to drive traffic to landing pages and grow your email list effectively.

How long should I run a Pinterest Ad campaign?
Pinterest content builds traction over time, so it’s smart to run campaigns for at least 2–4 weeks to allow for saves, clicks, and delayed conversions to accumulate.

Do Pinterest Ads require a business account?

Yes, you must convert to a Pinterest Business Account to access Ads Manager, analytics, and ad features like the Pinterest Tag.