Pin Talk - Pinterest Tips and Updates for Creators Episode: S1E16 Third Party Schedulers vs the Native Scheduler (Or “Manual”) Pinning Release Date: April 24, 2025
In this insightful episode of Pin Talk, hosts Tony Hill and Carly Campbell, both Pinterest experts, delve deep into the debate surrounding the use of third-party Pinterest schedulers versus Pinterest's native scheduler and manual pinning methods. Released on April 24, 2025, this episode offers valuable perspectives for bloggers and content creators aiming to optimize their Pinterest strategies for better traffic and engagement.
Introduction
00:02 - 01:52
Tony and Carly kick off the episode by introducing the hotly debated topic of Pinterest pinning methods: third-party schedulers, Pinterest’s native scheduler, and manual pinning. They acknowledge that while it might seem niche, this discussion is crucial for Pinterest enthusiasts who want to fine-tune their pinning strategies to enhance traffic and achieve success, whether part-time or full-time.
Tony Hill:
"We recognize that you may be currently using some sort of third party scheduler... or you might be considering it, or maybe you are using the Pinterest native scheduler."
[00:25]
Personal Experiences with Pinning Methods
02:03 - 05:30
Carly shares her journey from manual pinning using a physical binder to experimenting with third-party schedulers. She highlights the challenges of maintaining consistency without automated tools and the impact of cost on her decision-making.
Carly Campbell:
"I was one of those flying by the seat of your pants people who was just creating pins and putting them on Pinterest... it was very, very successful."
[02:52]
Tony admits his limited involvement with Pinterest in the past, relying on his team for manual pinning without clear organization strategies.
Advantages of Third-Party Schedulers
14:46 - 16:31
The hosts explore the benefits of third-party schedulers, emphasizing their ability to schedule pins far in advance and provide enhanced calendar views. They discuss the integration of AI features in these tools, which can assist in generating pin titles, descriptions, and even images.
Carly Campbell:
"With the Pinterest native scheduler being limited to 100 pins and six weeks out, third-party schedulers offer much more flexibility."
[14:46]
Tony Hill:
"Visually, it's easier to keep up with your pins when they're scheduled on a calendar view."
[16:00]
They also mention their own tools, Pinscriber and Pinner Analytics, designed to complement Pinterest's native features by aiding in description generation and long-term analytics tracking.
Disadvantages of Third-Party Schedulers
21:42 - 26:44
Carly and Tony delve into the drawbacks of third-party schedulers, starting with the financial burden. Costs can range from $25 to $100+ per month, especially when accommodating multiple team members or utilizing advanced features like AI generation.
Tony Hill:
"With a lot of team members, the costs of third-party schedulers can add up quickly."
[22:31]
A significant concern they highlight is the potential negative impact on Pinterest account quality. Third-party schedulers may reduce direct interaction with Pinterest, signaling less authentic engagement and potentially triggering Pinterest’s spam detection algorithms.
Carly Campbell:
"Pinterest is looking for real user interaction... If you create a Pinterest account and never log into it again, that is literally like copy-paste action from the Handbook of How to Be a Spammer."
[25:16]
They also discuss technical issues like the "pin description glitch," where third-party tools struggle to populate pin descriptions correctly, leading to potential content quality problems.
Native Scheduler vs Third-Party Schedulers
33:00 - 42:41
The conversation shifts to comparing the native scheduler with third-party options. While Pinterest’s native tool is free and ensures regular platform interaction, it is criticized for being user-unfriendly and time-consuming.
Carly Campbell:
"The native scheduler is free and keeps you connected to the platform, signaling to Pinterest that you're a real person."
[42:17]
However, Tony points out the limitations, such as restricted scheduling capacity and increased workload when integrating with tools like Notion to manage pin schedules.
Tony Hill:
"Using the native scheduler requires more manual work, which can increase your overall workload."
[42:41]
Tools and Innovations
16:31 - 21:37
Tony introduces Pinscriber, a Chrome extension designed to streamline the pin description process by allowing users to generate and paste descriptions efficiently within Pinterest’s native scheduler. Additionally, he discusses Pinner Analytics, a tool aimed at preserving and analyzing long-term Pinterest data, overcoming the platform’s limited native analytics.
Tony Hill:
"Pinscriber generates descriptions and titles directly within Pinterest, saving time without relying on third-party tools."
[17:18]
Carly Campbell:
"Pinner Analytics will let you store and analyze your Pinterest data long-term, helping you identify trends and seasonality."
[19:13]
Recommendations and Best Practices
44:04 - 53:03
Carly and Tony offer strategic advice for Pinterest users considering transitioning from third-party schedulers to the native scheduler. They recommend a gradual shift to maintain account integrity and avoid sudden changes that could flag the account as spammy.
Carly Campbell:
"If your account is doing very well using a third-party scheduler but you want to switch, make the change very slowly."
[44:04]
Tony emphasizes the importance of active engagement, suggesting that new accounts should focus on manual pinning and native scheduling for at least six months to establish credibility and growth.
Tony Hill:
"Pins can take anywhere from a few weeks up to eight months to start to pick up and take off."
[52:52]
They stress that Pinterest success is not passive income; it requires consistent effort and active participation on the platform.
Conclusion
53:03 - End
Wrapping up, Tony and Carly reiterate the importance of active engagement over reliance on third-party schedulers. They encourage listeners to utilize their developed tools, such as Pinscriber and Pinner Analytics, to enhance their Pinterest strategies while maintaining a genuine presence on the platform.
Carly Campbell:
"If someone is considering switching from a third-party scheduler to the native scheduler, transition slowly and maintain active engagement."
[44:04]
Tony Hill:
"We created pinnertools.com where you can find both free and paid tools to help manage your Pinterest account more effectively."
[50:08]
They invite listeners to explore their resources and join their communities for further assistance, underscoring the continuous evolution of Pinterest management strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Third-Party Schedulers: Offer advanced scheduling capabilities and AI features but come with significant costs and potential risks to account quality.
- Native Scheduler: Free and ensures active platform engagement but is limited in functionality and can be time-consuming.
- Manual Pinning: Requires more effort but fosters genuine interaction and better account health.
- Best Practices: Transition gradually between scheduling methods to maintain account integrity and avoid spam flags. Utilize specialized tools to enhance functionality without relying entirely on third-party schedulers.
- Recommended Tools: Pinscriber for efficient pin description generation and Pinner Analytics for long-term data analysis.
For more insights and resources discussed in this episode, visit pintalkpodcast.com and explore pinnertools.com. If you found this episode helpful, please rate and review the podcast to support the hosts.