The Best Pinterest Courses and eBooks for Bloggers
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As a Pinterest manager, one of the questions I get asked a lot is about what kind of courses and eBooks there are that cover Pinterest. The truth is that there are a lot! Despite being something of a course junkie, I’ll admit I’ve only taken a few. Others come recommended to me by fellow bloggers.
So, I thought to help answer the question of the best Pinterest courses and eBooks for bloggers, I would start creating a directory post of them.
Table of Contents
What makes a good course?
Of the two, courses are generally a bit more expensive than eBooks because there’s more goes into them. So, let’s start with a quick check about what makes a good course, about Pinterest or in general.
Regular updates
One thing you want to see is how often is the course updated. While some courses can get away with every couple of years, you really want a Pinterest course that is updated at least every year and sometimes more often if there has been a big change. Otherwise, there’s a risk that the content could be outdated.
No magic promises
You know those courses that ‘promise’ to get you 2 million viewers a month in 30 days? Or other magic numbers in very short time frames – keep away from them! I’m not saying you can’t get results like this but that you can’t guarantee that a student will get them. Every Pinterest account is different, and 3-6 months is typically how long it takes to see sustained growth, sometimes longer.
Qualifications or experience
While you can’t get a teacher qualification for Pinterest or many other online topics, you can look for a combination of qualifications and/or experience. For example, if the course creator has studied with a number of well-known Pinterest experts or used a particular system to get their results and create their own training from it, this is a good foundation. Experience with their own or client’s accounts is another good credential.
Learning method
Finally, look at how the course is taught and see if this works for you. For instance, I prefer to read most topics unless it is something that a step-by-step shows you how video works best. So, for me, if there’s a transcription of video content, it is a big plus for me. Think about how you like to learn and look for this in a course.
What about an eBook?
When it comes to an eBook, these tend to be at a lower price point but can still be full of value, especially if you like to read content like me. Some of the points overlap with a course too.
Comprehensive or covers a topic well
There are lots of options with eBooks, but I like one that either takes me through a whole topic at a level where I can quickly get the hang of the basics and see what else I need to learn. Or that covers a specific part of a topic comprehensively.
Regularly updated
Like courses, look for a regular update, ideally at least once a year or after any major changes on the subject.
Easy to access
You don’t want any weird formats or complex processes to get at the content. I’m a fan of SendOwl distributing my eBook because people can immediately download it after purchase. No waiting around for the email to deliver or unusual file formats – just a simple PDF.
Authority of author
Again, like above look for someone who has some credentials in what they teach even if they aren’t traditional teaching credentials.
Best Pinterest courses
Okay, armed with some general things to look for, let’s start taking a look at some of the courses I’ve either taken myself, had recommended, or worked with the course creator. Let’s start with the general Pinterest courses that cover everything you need to get started and grow your Pinterest presence.
Pins to Profits
This course comes from McKinzie at Moms Making Cents and there is actually a series of courses or one larger bundle that you can buy. There’s a beginner’s course, one on affiliate marketing and promoted pins. I’ve also been through the free Pinterest Primer course which is a great way to see how McKinizie teaches before you buy.
Pinteresting strategies
Pinterest Strategies comes from Carly at Blogging Like You Mean It and is a top recommendation when it comes to manual pinning. While I love Tailwind, I know not everyone wants the extra cost and this is one of the best courses to learn how to manually pin and still get great results. It is also very budget-friendly!
Top Pinterest courses for specific skills
Pinterest courses come in two types – general and specific ones. Sometimes you want to get the hang of the whole topic and that’s great. But other times, you want to learn something specific and that’s where these courses come in.
Pins Made Pretty
Designing pins for Pinterest and having them convert is a huge part of getting that traffic. But not everyone can afford to hire a graphic designer to make pins for them. The next best solution is to learn from one – and that’s what Kristen from Applecart Lane offers with Pins Made Pretty. The course is designed to help you understand how to brand your pins and create designs that stand out.
You can also start with Kristen’s free mini design course.
Pinterest Insights
This is a course dedicated to learning to use Pinterest analytics and Google Analytics to understand your account better. Kristie Hill has created the course so you can understand what pins send traffic and what posts do well but also what you should do with the traffic.
The course is very affordable and she even has a free Dashboard you can add to Google Analytics to get a snapshot of your traffic and what the course will teach you.
You might also like The Most Important 5 Questions About Pinterest Followers Answered from Skylark Virtual Services.
Best Pinterest eBooks
eBooks can be an ideal way to get started, get the basics of a topic, or have an in-depth look at a particular area. Plus, I have my own so I’m a fan!!
Manual Pinning Simplified
If you want to try the manual route and not use Tailwind then this is the eBook for you. Kyla at Dish It Out has created the book to cover everything from a sample pinning schedule to how to pin from your smartphone when you are on the go. There are also some good bonuses including a masterclass on group boards.
Precision Pinning
This eBook from Tracie Fobes is ideal for newcomers and also for experienced Pinterest marketers and is ideal to help you analyse what is working and what isn’t. It covers a good range of topics including using boards to get maximum exposure and also how to use Tailwind. I haven’t read this one yet, but I do have Tracie’s sponsored post-course and she has a brilliant Facebook group too!
Pinterest for Beginners Quick Start Guide
This isn’t so much an eBook as a collection of resources to help you get started with Pinterest marketing – and it’s mine! I created this kit based on the things I do when I start a new account for myself or for a client. It includes:
- Basic steps of setting up a profile
- How to decide on your first five boards
- How to add pins in a few different ways
- A Pinterest dictionary to get the hang of basic terms
- A basic pinning schedule idea to get started
Check it out here!
Best Pinterest memberships
What is learning when it isn’t a course or an eBook – it’s a membership! I LOVE memberships and am in four at the moment in various ways. I love the mixture of interaction, learning, and help that you get from them. They may work out more expensive than a course, but the additional benefits included may make it the ideal solution for you. There are two I know that focus on Pinterest and I am a member of both.
Simple Pin Collective
If you have been around Pinterest marketing for any length of time, you will have encountered Simple Pin Media. With their brilliant podcast and blog posts, they are one of the go-to sources for all things Pinterest. So when they decided to launch their Collective, I was on the list immediately.
So far, it hasn’t disappointed me – we have covered many of the basics but also go in-depth into the topics to help you fine-tune what you do. With regular calls with Kate Ahl herself and loads of experts in the group, it is a worthwhile investment.
SMART Pin Pro
One of the big things that I find tricky with Pinterest is that you can find lots of ideas on what to do and plenty of tips on what NOT to do. But creating a strategy for your efforts can something seem a little difficult.
That’s where SMART Pin Pro comes in. Jennifer from Smart Creative Social has a brilliantly different approach from anyone else and her membership site is packed with courses. Plus, there are group calls, peer groups, and more with new content arriving all the time. At the heart of it, all is learning how to create a strategy for Pinterest, test it, and make changes that ensure your account continues to grow.
You can also sign up for Jennifer’s free 4 Step Framework for Massive Pinterest Traffic…Forever to see more about how she teaches!
Pinterest Mastermind
This is a combination of a monthly template subscription and a private Facebook group. Carly Campbell (of Pinterest Strategies above) has created this very cost-effective group as a way to share her ongoing knowledge and experiences with Pinterest as well as provide some gorgeous templates.
You can check out the latest templates here!
Finding the perfect Pinterest course (or eBook or membership!)
The trick with finding a course, eBook, or membership for any topic is knowing what you need. Do you want to get started with Pinterest or need some training on how to make great pins? Do you want to use ads or simply find out what to do after the basics are in place? By deciding what you want to learn, you can then find the perfect course, eBook, or even membership to help you do it!
Heads up – I will keep updating this post as more courses, eBooks, and memberships come to my attention so keep checking back. And if you have one of these things, feel free to email me at angela@skylarkvirtualservices so I can learn more about it to include it!
