Simple Pin Podcast: Mastering Product Tagging on Pinterest - Detailed Summary
Release Date: June 18, 2025
Introduction
In the latest episode of the Simple Pin Podcast, host Kate Ahl delves into the intricacies of product tagging on Pinterest, a feature that transforms regular pins into shoppable content. Aimed at both product sellers and affiliate marketers, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide to leveraging Pinterest's powerful tools to boost business sales and lead generation.
Kate Ahl introduces the topic enthusiastically:
“Today we're going to be talking about mastering product tagging on Pinterest. This will essentially be your guide to shoppable pins.”
[00:00]
She emphasizes the collaborative effort with Pinterest, highlighting her role as an educator on their team, which provides her with valuable insights and statistics for the episode.
What is Product Tagging?
Product tagging is a feature that allows users to transform any pin into shoppable content by tagging up to 20 products within an image. Although the maximum limit is 20, Kate advises against over-tagging to maintain user experience.
“You can turn any pin that you pin to Pinterest into what's referred to as shoppable content by tagging up to 20 products on the image.”
[05:30]
She differentiates product tagging from other Pinterest features like Tagged Topics and the Pinterest Tag used for ads, ensuring clarity for listeners.
Why Product Tagging Matters
Kate underscores the importance of creating a seamless shopping experience on Pinterest. By enabling product tagging, pins become direct shopping opportunities, reducing the friction between inspiration and purchase.
“Having this product tagging removes the barriers and allows for a smooth shopping experience. I'm much more likely to purchase the chair.”
[15:45]
She explains the concept of lifestyle pins versus traditional product pins:
- Lifestyle Pins: Show products in context, helping users envision them in their own lives.
- Traditional Product Pins: Display the product standalone.
This distinction helps increase the likelihood of user engagement and conversion.
For Affiliate Marketers
Product tagging offers significant opportunities for affiliate marketers to generate commissions by tagging products they recommend. Kate advises authenticity and connection with the audience to maximize effectiveness.
“If you are an affiliate marketer...you want to use high quality images that match the landing page. So think about the vibe of what the pinner is looking for.”
[35:20]
She cautions against overpromising earnings, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and quality content over unrealistic income claims.
For Product Sellers
For those selling their own products, product tagging enhances visibility and direct sales through Pinterest. Kate illustrates the workflow from a pin to the product detail page, showcasing how effortless the process can be.
“When you click on it, that's what they see to the shop's detail page. This is all about the chair.”
[50:10]
She highlights the ease of tagging products via catalog IDs or website links, and the necessity of including detailed product information such as price and availability.
Best Practices
Kate shares several best practices to optimize the use of product tagging:
- Use High-Quality Images: Ensure that images are clear and appealing to match the landing page.
- Direct Links: Affiliate pins should link directly to the product page to avoid frustrating users.
- Transparency: Always disclose affiliate links as per FTC guidelines.
- Consistency with Branding: Maintain a cohesive aesthetic that aligns with your brand and resonates with Pinterest's users.
“Always want to be transparent and follow all the rules according to the FTC or your local guidelines.”
[55:05]
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Kate identifies several common pitfalls:
-
Broken Links: Always verify that product links are functional to prevent a frustrating user experience.
“Broken links was one of them. And I think that's really, really important to check your link before you add it in there.”
[60:15] -
Mismatch Between Product and Pin Theme: Ensure that the tagged products align with the overall theme of the pin to avoid confusing the audience.
“So think if you have a winter pin and you tagged a beach ball... you want to make sure that people are clicking on that and they're going to exactly what it is they're looking for.”
[62:30]
Seasonal and Trending Considerations
Kate advises adapting tagged content to reflect seasonal trends and evergreen themes to keep the pins relevant and engaging.
“If you're a product seller, how to position your lifestyle pins on more of a seasonal way as well as evergreen.”
[68:00]
For example, showcasing products in a winter setting versus a summer one can keep the content fresh and appealing throughout different times of the year.
Troubleshooting
In case of issues with product tagging, Kate provides practical solutions:
-
Tags Not Showing: File a support ticket with Pinterest for assistance.
“You can file support ticket if your tags aren't showing up. Pinterest can help you with that.”
[72:10] -
Unavailable Products: If a tagged product becomes unavailable, only update the tag if the pin is performing well. Otherwise, focus on creating new content with available products.
“Don't go back and update or edit the product tagging as it may not be a good use of your time unless the pin is being widely saved.”
[73:45]
Analytics and Tracking
Measuring the success of tagged pins is crucial. Kate suggests using Pinterest Analytics to monitor performance metrics such as clicks, saves, and impressions.
“Right now there are no filters in Pinterest analytics, so you will have to go to the pin itself. That is where you're going to track performance.”
[78:20]
She recommends starting with a small batch of tagged pins and tracking their performance manually to understand the impact before scaling up.
Addressing Creator Concerns
Some content creators worry that enabling product tagging might lead Pinterest to automatically tag their pins, diverting attention from their original content. Kate reassures listeners that Pinterest will not auto-tag products; instead, it will suggest similar products unless tagging is manually enabled.
“If you do not tag any products on your pins, Pinterest will still display similar products in Shop the Look. That generally will not be your products.”
[82:00]
Creators can opt-out by turning off shopping recommendations if they prefer not to have any product tags displayed.
Conclusion and Final Tips
Kate wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of compliance with Pinterest guidelines and focusing on enhancing user experience. She encourages listeners to experiment with product tagging to discover what works best for their specific audience and business goals.
“Focus on user experience. Get your buyers from point A to point B effortlessly and in a very authentic way.”
[90:05]
She invites listeners to share their experiences and feedback through comments on YouTube or via email, fostering a community of learning and growth.
“I would love to hear from you. Have you tried out tagging products? What has been your experience?”
[93:20]
Kate expresses her gratitude towards Pinterest for their support and the opportunity to educate users on maximizing their platform's potential.
“Thanks again so much to Pinterest. I have been delighted and just overjoyed to be a Pinterest educator...”
[95:45]
Key Takeaways
- Product Tagging transforms pins into shoppable content, enhancing user convenience and increasing potential sales.
- Lifestyle Pins are more effective in engaging users compared to traditional product pins.
- Both affiliate marketers and product sellers can significantly benefit from this feature by maintaining authenticity and focusing on user experience.
- Best practices include using high-quality images, ensuring direct and functional links, and adhering to transparency guidelines.
- Monitoring analytics and adapting tagged content to seasonal trends can optimize performance and engagement.
- Addressing common mistakes and troubleshooting ensures a smooth implementation of product tagging.
By mastering product tagging, businesses and creators can tap into Pinterest's engaged shopping audience, driving sales and fostering meaningful connections with their target market.
For more insights and weekly Pinterest marketing tips, visit simplepinmedia.com.