Listen, being a Pinterest manager is THE BEST. I LOVE being a “Pinterest manager!!” And I know that you’re probably really freaking good at the Pinterest part of things. You can probably do keyword research, Pin creation, descriptions, scheduling, analytics, and reporting like nobody’s damn business!! Here’s the tough love, though: there’s a HUGE difference between Pinterest managers vs. Pinterest strategists, and being good at those tasks doesn’t automatically make you understand Pinterest strategy.  

So, if you’re scrolling on Instagram seeing other Pinterest strategists who are keeping clients around for YEARS and consistently creating actual results from Pinterest, thinking, “ohhhh… THIS is the level I need to grow into…” Welcome, babes. 

I’m Nicole, a Pinterest strategist with 5+ years of experience, and inside Pinterest Academy, I help VAs and Pinterest managers go from completing Pinterest tasks to confidently leading the strategy behind them!! 

Pinterest Manager vs. Pinterest Strategist

First things first: this doesn’t automatically mean Pinterest manager = bad and Pinterest strategist = good. 😂 It’s more about executing Pinterest results vs. interpreting Pinterest results. And all of that leads to clients who STAY. 

A Pinterest manager can tell you what happened. 

A Pinterest strategist can tell you why it happened, what it means, and what they are gonna do next. 

It’s about saying, “Your outbound clicks increased by 38% this month!! Yay!!” instead of, “Your outbound clicks increased by 38%, and most of that traffic is going to these two blogs, which is GREAT. People aren’t moving deeper into the site from one of them, though, so I think there may be a gap in the CTA or conversion path. Here’s what we’re gonna do about it!!” 

Pinterest Managers complete the strategy; Pinterest Strategists help shape the strategy.

Where a Pinterest manager executes content and scheduling, a Pinterest strategist determines content priorities and direction. Where a Pinterest manager tracks performance metrics, a Pinterest strategist interprets performance and recommends changes. Pinterest managers? They follow an established plan. Pinterest strategists? They build the plan and adjust it when needed. 

Pinterest strategists are a little bit more proactive. We’re not waiting for a client to ask why they’re not getting inquiries. We’re already looking at the data, identifying where things might be breaking down, and bringing recommendations to the table. THAT’S the difference. 👀

And YES, one person can absolutely do both. The difference isn’t necessarily your job title. It’s how much responsibility you’re taking for the strategy behind the work!! 

Signs You’re a Pinterest Manager, Not a Strategist (Yet!)

If you’re reading this and wondering, “Shiiiiit… Am I a Pinterest manager???” here are a few signs: 

• Deliverables are the biggest focus in your packages
• You report metrics without explaining what they mean
• You wait for clients to ask what’s going wrong
• Clients asking about ROI makes your stomach drop 
• You tend to stay inside Pinterest and not look at the larger funnel
• You know what to do, but not always WHY you’re doing it

And if that sounds like you, DON’T WORRY!! We’ve ALL been there!

A good starting point for you is my guide on how to show your clients that Pinterest is ACTUALLY working for them. 

Signs You’re Becoming a Pinterest Strategist

Think you’re out of that territory, but not yet in full-blown Pinterest strategist mode?? Yep. You’re probably experiencing things like: 

• Knowing how to connect Pinterest to your client’s business goals
• Interpreting analytics
• Looking beyond the Pinterest overview into things like blogs and website copy
• Noticing patterns + gaps throughout the sales funnel 
• Making proactive recommendations
• Understanding search intent
• Thinking about traffic quality, not just quantity 
• Communicating what happened → what it means → what’s next

And don’t get me wrong… Being a Pinterest strategist does NOT mean knowing everything. 😂 It’s all about knowing what to look at, what questions to ask, and what to test next. 

How to Start Thinking Like a Pinterest Strategist

If you’re not in that territory yet, here are three priorities to focus on: 

1. Start with the client’s business goal. Before creating content, ask what they’re trying to achieve and who they want to reach.
2. Make your reports actionable. For each important performance change, explain what it might mean and what you’d investigate or test!! 
3. Look beyond Pinterest. Review where your Pins send people and whether that content supports the client’s next step.

You don’t have to overhaul your entire service overnight, though!! Start by bringing ONE proactive recommendation to your next client meeting. That’s how you begin shifting from someone who executes the plan to someone who helps lead it.

Why Pinterest Strategists Keep Clients

A lot of Pinterest Managers think keeping clients longer comes down to just getting better numbers. And yeah, results matter!! But most of the time, clients stay because they feel like you understand their business… NOT because you schedule their Pins. 

When you’re not showing up with just, “Okay, here are your impressions!!” but with, “Here’s what changed, here’s what it means, and here’s what we’re gonna do,” it makes your value VISIBLE. And that leads to longer client retention, more referrals, raising rates, and finally ending that freaking cycle of having to constantly replace clients who leave. 

Why You Absolutely DON’T Need More Deliverables to Become a Pinterest Strategist 

Hear me out… Adding more deliverables into your packages isn’t the kind of value your clients want. 😂

A lot of Pinterest managers think, “I need to charge more, so I should add more Pins/more blogs /more reporting/more calls.”

Nope.

You can increase value by increasing the quality of your thinking. Because your client isn’t just paying for 3 or 5 Pins a day. They’re investing because they want Pinterest to support their actual business goals. More qualified traffic, more opportunities for inquiries, and ultimately more revenue. THAT’S what your strategy should be working toward.

How to Become a Pinterest Strategist in the Pinterest Academy

The Pinterest manager vs. Pinterest strategist comparison is EXACTLY why I built the Pinterest Academy. It’s not to teach you how to make a Pin. Or what a Board is. Or to hand you another giant beginner course when you already know how to do it all!! 

It’s for Pinterest managers who want to become confident strategists, charge for their expertise, build stronger client relationships, and create a more predictable income without constantly taking on MORE clients. 

If you’re ready to learn things like client funnels, buyer-intent traffic, recommendations, renewals, communicating value, and pricing… You’re in the PERFECT place, gorgeous!! 

Because the goal is not to become the Pinterest Manager who can do the most tasks. It’s to become the person your client trusts to help them understand what’s working, what isn’t, + what they should do next.