Pin Talk - Pinterest Tips and Updates for Creators Episode Summary: S1E14 - 30 Possible Reasons Why Your Pinterest Traffic Just Dropped

In episode S1E14 of Pin Talk, hosts Tony Hill and Carly Campbell delve into the myriad factors that could be causing a decline in your Pinterest traffic. This episode is part one of a two-part series, addressing the first 10 of the 30 potential reasons. The discussion is comprehensive, offering practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to help bloggers and content creators navigate traffic fluctuations on Pinterest.

1. Seasonality

[09:20 - 15:05]

One of the primary reasons for traffic drops is seasonality. Pinterest users' interests fluctuate with seasons, holidays, and events, affecting how content is prioritized in feeds.

• Carly emphasizes: “Seasonally, your Pinterest traffic will be affected. Even if you are not blogging seasonally, you will see it go down and up and down and up.” [10:00]

• Tony adds: Encourages creators to embrace seasonal shifts and consider integrating seasonal content to maintain engagement. [11:16]

Key Takeaway: Understand and anticipate seasonal trends. Incorporate seasonal themes into your content strategy to align with Pinterest's content prioritization.

2. Algorithm Updates or Shuffles

[15:23 - 21:20]

Pinterest frequently updates its algorithms or shuffles content based on user engagement and platform objectives. These changes can unpredictably impact traffic.

• Tony explains: “Algorithm updates can lead to some people seeing their traffic go up and some go down.” [16:53]

• Carly cautions: “Be cautious assigning a traffic fluctuation to an algorithm update. Seasonal shuffles are often misconstrued as updates.” [20:08]

Key Takeaway: Monitor engagement metrics like outbound click rates and stay adaptable. Recognize the difference between algorithm updates and seasonal shifts to adjust strategies appropriately.

3. Changes in Search Suggestions and Guided Search

[21:45 - 38:43]

Pinterest's search suggestions and guided searches are dynamic, often changing based on trending topics and user behavior, which can alter the visibility of your pins.

• Tony shares: Utilizes the Pin Clicks tool to track changes in search suggestions, noting their frequent fluctuations. [27:12]

• Carly provides an example: When high-volume keywords like "postpartum" lost guided search prominence, necessitating content pivoting. [29:01]

Key Takeaway: Continuously track and adapt to changes in search suggestions. Utilize tools like Pin Clicks to stay informed about keyword trends and adjust your content to maintain visibility.

4. New Competition and Pins

[38:43 - 55:54]

An influx of new content creators and pins increases competition, potentially diluting your content's reach and engagement.

• Tony discusses: The necessity of differentiating your content amidst growing competition, recommending strategies from the "Blue Ocean Strategy" to find unique angles. [46:10]

• Carly highlights: Not all competition is detrimental; quality competition can inspire creativity and innovation. [50:39]

Key Takeaway: Focus on unique, high-quality content to stand out. Analyze competitors to identify gaps and opportunities for differentiation.

5. Spammers Taking Over

[55:54 - 60:12]

Spam activity, including the proliferation of low-quality or misleading pins, can adversely affect the user experience and, consequently, your traffic.

• Carly observes: Pinterest is actively working to reduce spam, which generally improves platform quality over time. [55:54]

• Tony notes: While spam is less common, encountering it can be frustrating but is typically addressed by Pinterest's cleanup efforts. [56:02]

Key Takeaway: Continue producing authentic, high-quality content. Trust that Pinterest's efforts to minimize spam will enhance the overall platform environment.

6. New Shoppable Pins or Shopping Pins Taking Over

[60:08 - 66:09]

The rise of shoppable pins prioritizes product-focused content, potentially overshadowing informational or inspirational pins that bloggers often create.

• Carly explains: Shoppable pins can crowd out informational content, making it harder for non-product-focused blogs to gain visibility. [62:24]

• Tony remarks: Pinterest is integrating more shopping features, which can create additional layers between users and blog content. [65:03]

Key Takeaway: Diversify your content to include shoppable elements if possible, or strategically target keywords that remain informational to maintain traffic.

7. New Shopping Features Taking Over

[66:09 - 73:10]

Enhanced shopping experiences, such as "Explore Featured Boards," push product-centric content further into users' feeds, impacting traditional bloggers.

• Carly advises: Focus on non-shopping keywords or adapt your content to include product elements if targeting sectors like home decor. [67:39]

• Tony adds: Using tools like Pin Clicks to analyze board performance can help diagnose impacts from these features. [68:46]

Key Takeaway: Stay informed about new shopping features and adjust your content strategy accordingly. Utilize analytics tools to track how these changes affect your traffic.

8. Shadowban

[73:17 - 77:55]

A shadowban occurs when Pinterest limits the visibility of your content without explicit notification, often mistaken for other issues like algorithm changes or seasonality.

• Carly references: Previous episodes discussing shadowbans and emphasizes distinguishing them from normal traffic fluctuations. [73:17]

• Tony concurs: Many traffic drops attributed to shadowbans might actually stem from other factors discussed in the episode. [74:00]

Key Takeaway: Before concluding a shadowban, rule out other common causes such as seasonality, algorithm changes, or increased competition. Refer to detailed resources or episodes dedicated to shadowbans for thorough understanding.

9. Bug or Glitch

[77:55 - 86:48]

Technical issues within Pinterest can cause sudden and temporary drops in traffic, often rectified swiftly by platform updates.

• Carly mentions: Traffic drops due to glitches are usually short-lived and resolve within 48 hours. [74:35]

• Tony agrees: Reporting glitches to Pinterest can help in swift resolution, though some issues may persist longer. [75:19]

Key Takeaway: Allow time for potential bugs or glitches to be resolved before making drastic changes to your strategy. Report persistent issues to Pinterest support to aid in their troubleshooting efforts.

10. Covering Too Narrow of Topics

[86:48 - 87:17]

Over-niching can limit your audience reach, making your content less discoverable to a broader user base.

• Carly explains: Niching down excessively confines you to a very narrow audience, reducing overall visibility. [84:21]

• Tony adds: Utilizing tools like Keyword Explorer and Pin Clicks can help identify broader, high-volume keywords to expand your content's reach. [81:08]

Key Takeaway: Strike a balance between niche-specific and broader content. Avoid over-niching to ensure your pins remain discoverable to a wider audience, enhancing traffic potential.

Conclusion

Tony and Carly provide a thorough exploration of the top 10 reasons behind Pinterest traffic drops, emphasizing the importance of understanding platform dynamics, staying adaptable, and utilizing available tools to diagnose and address issues. They encourage creators to remain proactive, leveraging strategies like seasonal content integration, diversified keyword targeting, and continuous content quality improvement to sustain and grow Pinterest traffic.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Hill: “Listen to this podcast, hopefully what you'll get from it is just some reassurance of like, what you're going through may be actually be normal.” [02:27]

• Carly Campbell: “Sometimes we don't think about the application of it on our own accounts. That's a big deal.” [08:41]

• Tony Hill: “Pinterest is in the business of leading people to content. And if Pinterest thinks that this content's more seasonally relevant… they're going to fill those spaces with seasonal content.” [10:00]

• Carly Campbell: “If you cover too narrow of topics… you're not allowed to play in the pool.” [80:33]

Additional Resources:

For the full list of 30 reasons, bonus insights, and a free PDF resource, visit pintalkpodcast.com/drop. Subscribe to receive immediate access and further enhance your Pinterest strategy.