Have you ever wondered who is pinning your posts from your blog? Did you know there is an easy way to find out?

Type this in your navigation bar:

www.Pinterest.com/source/YourWebsite.com

In place of the YourWebsite.com you would put your own URL. For example, to find out who is pinning from this site we type in Pinterest.com/source/beckyandpaula.com and it shows us all the recent pins from our site.

When I track pins from my personal blog I always do Pinterest.com/source/beautythroughimperfection.com

Why is this important? Several reasons!

1.  It gives you the opportunity to thank the pinners. I go through periodically and comment on pins people have done from my site. I usually say something like, “hey, glad you liked the post, thanks for pinning!” I even take a minute to follow some of the people that have pinned some of my posts. Sometimes they respond or start following me after that, so it’s a great way to build your following on Pinterest!

2. You can like the pins. When I go through commenting on some of the pins from my site, I also try to “like” each of them, by clicking the little heart. The more likes and comments on a pin, the more exposure it gets during searches, so this can help give pins from your site a little boost in visibility.

3. It allows you to see which images are doing best/what people are saying about them. Look at what is being pinned the most from your site, what images people are enjoying and if they are leaving their own comments in the description of the pin, you might be able to find out some info about what they liked most about the post. This can help give you some direction for future posts.

Did you know that you can find out who is pinning your posts from your site? How have you used it to your advantage? 

The post Find Out Who Is Pinning Your Posts appeared first on Becky & Paula.

It is so important to be pinning your things!   Last week I posted a lot of great Pinterest stats (check them out if you haven’t yet!)

There are two options in Pinterest:
1- Pin them organically – whenever you have time.
2- Schedule them with an app.

If you go for the first one (I go back and forth between #1 and #2), just be sure to pin your stuff when your audience is on.  I pin the most in the evening, because that is when mothers of young kids have the time to get online.   I can also pin early in the morning, before her kids are up.  (my articles are mostly parenting).

If you go for scheduling, you have a lot of tools to choose from:  (almost all of them have free & paid options, or at least a “try it for free before you buy” option).

1- Board Booster.   I use this one and it is pretty easy to use.  You can also loop your material (meaning that it will re-pin for you over & over).   There is a free and paid option, depending on how often you are pinning.

2- ViralTag – The Pinterest scheduling tool, ViralTag, is one that a lot of people love.  You can pin to a board and set the time/interval that it goes out.

3- Ahalolgy– I loved this one, but my plugin kept breaking.  It made it really easy to have my pins looped.

4- Tailwind – a lot of my friends love this option, too!   The app seems to be really helpful & people swear by it!

5- ViralWoot – people love this one for the stats that it provides, really giving you insight into what is working.

There are so many more, but those are the ones that I hear about the most often.      I want to encourage you to try these out and find the best option for you.  Remember that you can’t mess things up, so just try it.   Play around with these apps and websites and really give it a good shot (if you are confused, find a video on youtube to help!)

Want more help?   Check out our books or our personal conference, where we look at your blog and tell you how you can improve it to reach your goals.

The post SERIES: GET ON A SCHEDULE: Pinterest Scheduling Options appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Which are you more drawn to…

A link or an image?  I”m guessing that you are going to say Image… that is what I would say, anyways (I am a visual person).

The reason is that the majority of people are visual, like myself.  We like to see something and then when they have us interested, we want to see more.

Here are my two favorite ideas to get you started.

1.  Pinterest
2- Hometalk -I am going to share how to use HomeTalk (It is a DIY blog, but I post kid crafts, recipes & house ideas on there)

 I am a member of hometalk and it is sort of like Pinterest.  It is very image-heavy.  I am going to show you how to use it with pictures (screenshots) below…  I don’t use it that often, but I have had over 5,000 views from home talk in the past few months (and that is when I am only getting on it about once a week) so imagine if I started using it like I use Pinterest or Facebook!

I am going to give it more of an effort- do you want to join me?

First- go to hometalk.com 

Sign up

Then when you are ready, go to POST & ASK (in red below)

Once you click the red button, you will see this pop-up.   Click on ADD A POST.

You will see this new window:

Add your title and then add details.  You need to add 3 pictures so that you can include your link.   My title is JELLY BEAN TREE (see below)

Here is another one of the 3 images that I added:

I like to fill out the details under ADDITIONAL INFO: 

Now that I have added three photos, I can include my link to my Jelly Bean Tree Craft. 

Choose your topics.  Add as many as you can.  (They will not let you add things like Kid Activities, so you have to pick from what they offer).   I picked ones based on the rooms that this will be displayed in at my house.

Lastly, click APPROVE TOPICS and DONE.
YOU WILL THEN SEE THIS:  SUCCESSFULLY POSTED AND SHARED WITH YOUR HOMETALK FOLLOWERS.

Here is what it looks like when it is displayed on the homepage:

Like always- it is all about getting your blog out there.  Use different methods and find what works for you!

The post An Alternative to Facebook – how to use Hometalk to bring them to your page. appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Do you want to know how to get more traffic & followers on Pinterest?

Pinterest brings around 3,000 people EVERY DAY to my blog.   It is just like free advertising.  I think that is is helping so many blogs grow.  If someone likes your pin, they will follow it to your page.  If they like your page, they will share it, return to it, love it!  It is easier than you think to Grow your blog with Pinterest.

**** See #6 for a super-handy tool that pins for you, to the boards that you pick, at the peak time. ****

Here is how it works:

1- Put your pins into the correct boards & use clear categories.   I had a board called “Be a savvy saver” and when I changed it to “Money saving tips” my followers on that board grew… a lot.  Be clear about what you have.

Now pin them AGAIN into a big group board!!!  (I have 2 group boards that you are welcome to join – Saving Money & Easy Dinner Recipes with Little Prep Time) and Paula has some, too!  If you want to join them, leave us a comment on one of the pins on those boards & we will see it & add you. 

2- Under your pin, be sure to add a “Wow!” description!
Tell me which one you would rather read…
“Good kid book”  or “BEST kid book I’ve ever read!  Your kids will learn SO MUCH reading this book!”

3- Follow others!
Don’t just let everyone follow you- you need to follow others to get great images to pin.  You don’t want to only pin your own things.  You will be seeing more great ideas to share with your own followers.

4- Use a great photo.  Edit all of your photos on Picmonkey or in another editing page.  No one’s photo looks great right off the bat.  Play around & edit it.  Add your blog name to it, too.  I like to use the size 500 X 500 or 500 X 700 because they are more pin-able.

5- Do a pin-swap!!  
Have a “pin-it” group on Facebook (here is how to find one), where you pin each other’s pins.  You share what you want pinned every day and they will share what they want pinned.  You have just boosted each other’s traffic by how every many visitors you have.  Get a few people in the group and now you are reaching even more people!   Re-pin others pins.

Stop by our Pinterest Party on Saturdays. Paula & myself co-host them on our personal blogs, with two other great bloggers & friends, Kristi & Gabby.  This is a great way to show off your pins & have them re-pinned.)

Share & share alike… “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” (as my son tells me often, “Mom, he/she must know the Golden Rule because they are being really nice!” haha!)

*****SO… ARE YOU READY FOR THE SECRET TIP? *****

There are companies, like Ahalogy.com and ViralTag.   You have to apply & be approved.   I’ll share more on how to use it next week.
These companies will pin for you, at the peak times.  Your pins will be repined more often, and it puts and awesome button on your page, that pops up & says Recommended Pinner.

I hope that information was helpful! 

FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST  – leave us a comment WITH YOUR PINTEREST NAME & we will follow you back, of course!  (we do not check our followers on our social media, because we use our extra time to spend with our kiddos & our husbands (instead of looking into things like that), so we probably won’t notice each & every follow…. please be sure to leave us your name below so that we can find you).  

The post SECRET TIP!!! How to get more traffic from Pinterest (& more followers) appeared first on Becky & Paula.

If you follow our posts, I”m sure that you have seen the emphasis that we put on social media, with Pinterest being a star player.   It drives traffic with all of the wonderful eye candy!   How does a Pinterest coaching session sound to you?

Today, Kathryn, a good friend of ours, from  Singing Through the Rain is offering one of her Pinterest Coaching Packages to you… for free!
This will be presented to one lucky winner.
You have a week full to apply.  Good luck!!

Kathryn’s Pinterest Coaching:
“Need a little help with your Pinterest boards?
Here what this package includes:

• How to get more followers (Kathryn has 9,000 +)
• How to get more pins and repins
• How to make better graphics for your blog posts so they get pinned
• How to make your boards more attractive, and total overhaul of your pinterest boards.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post WIN a FREE Pinterest Coaching Session! appeared first on Becky & Paula.