Pinterest has changed a lot over the years, and if you still think of it as the place where people save wedding inspo and recipes, it may be time for a little refresh.
In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Ahl of Simple Pin Media to talk about what’s actually working on Pinterest in 2026. We get into why Pinterest is still one of the best platforms for cold traffic, how users are searching and saving content right now, and what business owners need to know before adding Pinterest to their marketing strategy.
Kate breaks down why Pinterest is a slower-moving platform, what metrics matter most, and how to think about images, keywords, video, and ads without turning this into a full-time job. Bless.
We also talk about the AI situation on Pinterest, including AI-generated images, Pinterest’s AI labels and filters, and how AI is being used more thoughtfully inside ad tools and product visuals. Plus, Kate shares how she’s using AI in her own agency while still protecting the human strategy, creative judgment, and experience that make her work valuable.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why Pinterest is a strong cold traffic platform in 2026
- How Pinterest users behave differently from Instagram and TikTok users
- The two Pinterest metrics Kate recommends watching closely
- What makes a strong Pinterest image today
- How often business owners should actually be pinning
- Where keywords matter on Pinterest
- The current role of video on Pinterest
- How Pinterest is handling AI-generated content
- What to know about Pinterest ads and Performance Plus
- How Kate is marketing her own business through Google, YouTube, Pinterest, email, and podcasting
- What marketers can learn from choosing the platforms that match their energy
Kate’s quick action step is a good one: open the Pinterest app on your phone and use it like an actual person. Notice what catches your attention, what annoys you, what makes you click, and what makes you immediately back away from a website because there are approximately 175 pop-ups trying to ruin your day.
Because yes, sometimes the best marketing research is remembering that real humans are on the other side of the screen.
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Resources Mentioned
Kate Ahl / Simple Pin Media
Learn more about Kate’s Pinterest agency, resources, products, and community at Simple Pin Media.
🔗 Check out the website
SPM Insiders
Kate’s low-cost Pinterest community for asking questions, getting support, and talking through what’s working on Pinterest right now.
🔗 Check out the community
Pinterest Trends
A free Pinterest tool that lets you research keyword trends, search volume, seasonality, product trends, and what people are searching for in different countries.
🔗 trends.pinterest.com
Tailwind
A Pinterest scheduling tool Kate still recommends, especially for creators or businesses with a larger backlog of content to pin.
🔗Try Tailwind
The Mindful Marketing Lab
This month inside the Lab, we’re talking about internal marketing, customer onboarding, remarketing to past customers, and creating clearer systems behind the scenes.
🔗 onlinedrea.com/lab
