Becoming a Pinterest VA: A Step-by-Step Manual

If you’ve ever dreamed of embarking on a career as a freelance virtual assistant, Pinterest is an incredible platform to explore. With a staggering 445 million active users each month, Pinterest is a rapidly expanding social network. It serves as a visual search engine, where users discover ideas and inspiration for their upcoming projects, purchases, or adventures.

Numerous businesses and bloggers aspire to enhance their Pinterest strategies, yet they often lack the time or expertise to do so themselves. This presents a remarkable opportunity for individuals seeking to establish themselves as Pinterest Virtual Assistants (VAs).

Having managed Pinterest accounts for various businesses for approximately three years, I’m here to guide you step-by-step on becoming a successful Pinterest VA.

What can you expect to earn as a VA?

As a VA, you have several payment options, including hourly rates, project-based fees, or commissions.

Personally, I find that working on a project basis offers the greatest convenience. Clients choose a package for which you receive monthly compensation. However, it’s crucial to thoroughly evaluate and estimate the average number of hours you anticipate spending on each package beforehand, ensuring that you don’t undervalue your services.

If you opt for an hourly rate, the average range typically falls between $30 and $100 per hour, depending on your experience, skills, and the type of clients you collaborate with.

The income potential as a Pinterest VA can vary significantly, but rest assured, it’s entirely feasible to earn a substantial income by positioning yourself effectively and offering valuable services. It’s vital to have a realistic assessment of your skills and experience, enabling you to determine your rates based on what is reasonable and competitive within your market.

A Guide to Becoming a Pinterest Virtual Assistant in 5 Steps

Step 1: Master the Essentials of Pinterest

The first step to becoming a successful Pinterest VA is to grasp the fundamental workings of Pinterest. This involves understanding how the platform functions, how the algorithms operate, and how to develop an effective Pinterest strategy.

You can learn this by simply experimenting with the platform itself. Learn how to create boards, organize pins, read analytics, and promote Pinterest pins.

Step 2: Establish Your Own Pinterest Account

Before seeking out clients, it’s crucial to create and optimize your own business Pinterest account. This gives potential clients a glimpse into your expertise and the value you bring.

Craft a professional-looking Pinterest profile with a clear description and consistent branding. Build boards around your interests or niches to showcase your knowledge. Continuously add fresh content and ensure your pins are of top-notch quality.

Step 3: Develop Your Portfolio

If you don’t have clients yet, dedicate time to building your portfolio. For instance, offer to optimize a few accounts for entrepreneurs or bloggers you know, without charging a fee.

Ensure your portfolio showcases various aspects of Pinterest marketing, such as board creation, pin design, description optimization, and result analysis.

Naturally, you can also utilize your own Pinterest account as a starting point for building your portfolio.

Step 4: Find Clients

Now that you have a solid grasp of Pinterest basics, have built your own account, and developed a portfolio, it’s time to attract clients. You can achieve this by offering your services on freelance platforms, leveraging social media networks, and networking with other freelancers or businesses in your niche.

Personally, I often find my Pinterest clients through Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!

Create a clear and professional website where you showcase your services and outline your rates. Ensure your value proposition shines through and differentiates you from other Pinterest VAs.

Step 5: Increase Your Visibility and Establish Your Reputation

Once you’ve gained some experience as a Pinterest VA, it’s crucial to increase your visibility and establish a strong reputation. You can achieve this by becoming part of online communities and social media groups that focus on Pinterest marketing and VA services.

In addition, writing blog posts and guest blogs about Pinterest marketing and VA services will position you as an expert in the field.

Collecting reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients is equally important. You can showcase them on your website and social media platforms to instill trust in potential clients regarding your services.

The Essential Tools for a Pinterest VA

As a Pinterest VA, it’s essential to be familiar with various tools that can optimize and streamline your work. Here are some valuable tools for Pinterest VAs:

1. Tailwind – an automated tool for scheduling and analyzing pins.
2. Canva – a graphic design tool that helps you create visually appealing pins.
3. Google Analytics – an analytics tool to monitor and analyze your website’s performance.
4. Pinterest Analytics – a tool to gain insights into the performance of your pins and boards.
5. Pinterest Populair Tab – a tool to discover and leverage trends on Pinterest to enhance your strategy.

What are the Challenges of Working as a Pinterest VA?

While being a Pinterest VA offers numerous advantages, it’s important to be aware of some challenges:

• Finding consistent work can be a struggle, especially when you’re still building your client base and gaining experience.
• Income fluctuations are common as a VA. Remember that your income is not fixed and can vary based on the assignments you receive and the workload you can handle.
• Dealing with demanding clients who have high expectations and poor communication can lead to stress and frustration.
• High expectations: Having a thorough understanding of how Pinterest works is vital as a Pinterest VA. It’s important to manage expectations and communicate that instant results are not typical on Pinterest. Building a solid foundation and organic traffic takes time.
  You’re a VA, not a magician. To expedite results, it’s beneficial to suggest promoting pins in addition to organic traffic building.
• Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial. When working with package deals, ensure you stay within the allocated time. Pinterest is a platform that requires patience and persistence, and it’s tempting to do more to achieve quicker results. Remember that your role is to fill in the hours that the business owner would otherwise spend, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks.
• Feeling isolated is a common challenge when working as a VA. Since you often work from home, it’s important to prioritize social interactions outside of work to avoid loneliness and isolation.

What Are the Key Skills You Need as a Pinterest VA?

To become a successful Pinterest VA, there are several skills you need to master. These include:

• Having a solid grasp of the Pinterest platform and how it operates.
• Possessing knowledge in SEO, marketing, and copywriting. It’s crucial to be able to write compelling and persuasive content that resonates with your clients’ target audience.
• Having some experience in graphic design and creating eye-catching images and videos.

Do I Need a Certificate to Start as a Pinterest VA?

No, you don’t need a certificate to begin your journey as a Pinterest VA. However, it’s highly recommended to have some experience and general knowledge of the platform and digital marketing. Taking courses or online training can be beneficial in acquiring this knowledge, but it’s not mandatory.

How Much Time Do I Need to Invest to Become a Successful Pinterest VA?

It’s challenging to provide an exact timeframe as it varies depending on factors such as your current knowledge and experience, the amount of time you can and want to invest, and how quickly you learn. It’s important to understand that building a thriving VA practice takes time and dedication. It may take a while before you have enough clients and income to sustain yourself.

Do I Need to Assist Clients with Platforms Other Than Pinterest as a Pinterest VA?

As a Pinterest VA, your primary focus revolves around the Pinterest platform and its related tasks, such as creating pins, optimizing profiles and boards, and analyzing statistics.

However, it’s not uncommon for clients to also seek assistance with other platforms like Instagram or Facebook. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to take on these tasks and if you possess the necessary knowledge and skills to do so.

Final Thoughts

As a Pinterest VA, you have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the Pinterest strategies of businesses and bloggers. However, it requires knowledge and skills to be effective in this role. By utilizing appropriate training and tools while continuously developing yourself, you can become a successful Pinterest VA and contribute to the achievements of your clients.