Let’s talk about something we all feel but don’t always say out loud: the Pinterest and blogging industry is full of fluff, fear-mongering, and way too many bros trying to turn your Pinterest board into a funnel spreadsheet.

I’ve been on both sides — the DIY-er who felt like she was doing it all wrong, and the strategist who saw behind the curtain. So in this post, I’m airing out some of the icks I’ve collected over the years in the Pinterest and blogging industry… so you can avoid the gimmicks and actually grow on your own terms.

7 Tips for Navigating the Pinterest and Blogging Industry Ethically

1. The Corp Bro Strategy Disguised as “Content Systems”

You’ve seen it. The sales page promising $10K months by “repurposing your blogs into 17 Pinterest pins and an email funnel in one hour a week.” It sounds smart. Efficient. Scalable.

But here’s the thing: it’s often copy-pasted corporate bro strategy that works better for SaaS companies than creative humans. If your business is based on connection, nuance, and storytelling? That kind of rinse-and-repeat approach will suffocate your voice faster than you can say “conversion metric.”

2. Fear-Mongering = Bad Marketing

If someone is telling you that you’re missing thousands of leads every day by not blogging? Run.

Fear is a shortcut to attention, but not a shortcut to trust. Ethical marketers know the difference. If the pitch is anxiety-inducing instead of empowering, that’s not strategy — that’s manipulation. There I said it.

3. Do You Really Need Pinterest & Blogging to Grow?

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. The answer depends on your goals, your audience, and your offer.

Pinterest can be an incredible traffic source. Blogging can be a trust-builder. But only if they’re aligned with your business model. You don’t need to blog just because everyone else is. You need to blog if it helps your audience make informed decisions about working with you. Head to this post to learn more about the 4 different types of blogging! 

4. You Don’t Need a Massive Content Library to Start

No. You do not need 25 blog posts and a million branded pins to start using Pinterest. You just need:

• Clear offers
• Clear calls to action
• A few well-structured posts or landing pages

Start where you are. You can build the rest as you go. Don’t let the gurus gatekeep strategy behind content volume. In all seriousness, I started pinning content from my etsy shop directly from my iPad and my content grew to 70K consistent months of impressions with over 100 clicks to my shop. There was no strategy – just a desire to share. 

5. Outsourcing Too Soon? Big Nope.

If you don’t know the basics of your own content strategy, it’s hard to hire the right help. I’m all for outsourcing — but after you have a grip on your goals, audience, and brand voice.

Learn just enough to:

• Vet your Pinterest manager or blogging strategist
• Know what results actually matter
• Ask better questions

Outsourcing before clarity is a fast track to disappointment.

6. Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Pinterest or Blogging Manager

If they:

• Promise overnight traffic or virality
• Talk more about impressions than conversions
• Don’t ask about your funnel or offer
• Sell strategy as “pin templates”
• Ghost you after onboarding

…they’re probably not the one.

ALWAYS ask them to walk you through how Pinterest fits into your overall visibility and sales strategy. If they can’t? Keep looking.

7. Real Ones Only: My Trusted Pros List

Not everyone in the Pinterest or blogging world is a walking red flag. Some of them are the real deal — strategic, supportive, and honest about what’s possible.

Here’s a list of humans I trust with your content strategy: 

• Sarah Burk
• Danielle with Defy Creative Co
• Hannah Reed
• Natty Writes
• Nicole Sturgeon 
• Annaliese Overman 
• The Pinners Circle 
• Serena Javens

(And no, none of these are affiliate links. Just pure respect for kick ass creatives that are truly good at what they do.)

If you’ve been burned by bad content strategy advice, I hope this helped clear the fog. There is a better way — one rooted in clarity, calm, and building a system that works for you.

Want to see how I build content systems that don’t make you want to scream into the void? Reach out or check out my services here →