427. Sustainable Marketing Through Pinterest, with Meagan Williamson

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Meagan Williamson about Pinterest for travel brands. She shares actionable strategies for using this powerful, often overlooked platform to amplify discovery, boost SEO, and support long-term marketing success. In this episode, she breaks down how Pinterest differs from other social media, why its visual search engine is perfect for the travel and tourism industry, and how its evergreen content can drive results for months—or even years—after posting.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• How Meagan’s journey from travel blogger to Pinterest expert shaped her approach to digital marketing for travel brands
• Why Pinterest offers a unique advantage as a discovery-based marketing platform, especially for travel and tourism organizations
• What makes Pinterest content evergreen, and how it supports sustainable, long-term marketing ROI compared to other social channels
• How Pinterest can bolster your SEO strategy in the age of AI-driven search and why search-optimized social content matters more than ever
• Why understanding your audience’s planning and decision stages is key to creating high-performing, search-friendly Pinterest content
• What mistakes to avoid and best practices to follow when considering a paid Pinterest advertising campaign for your tourism business

Using the Power of Pinterest for Travel Brands

When it comes to digital marketing in the travel and tourism industry, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Google dominate conversations. But there’s another powerhouse that forward-thinking brands are using to drive long-lasting, discovery-based growth: Pinterest expert Meagan Williamson shares why travel marketers shouldn’t sleep on this visual search engine, and how a strategic Pinterest presence can generate lasting results.

Discoverability and Sustainability are Pinterest’s “Secret Sauce”

Pinterest isn’t just another social media channel—it’s a visual search engine where users plan, dream, and discover their next adventure. Unlike traditional social platforms with short content life cycles (think 48 hours for an Instagram post), a well-optimized Pinterest pin can drive traffic for months—or even years creating valuable, evergreen content that keeps working for you over time.

Travel brands and destinations are rich in visual assets, and using Pinterest capitalizes on this by connecting brands with users who are actively planning their next trip, whether it’s searching for family-friendly cruises or researching accommodations with accessibility features. The planning nature of Pinterest’s audience means they are open to discovering new destinations and businesses, making it a goldmine for travel marketers seeking sustained growth and discoverability.

Pinterest vs. Traditional SEO

As a visual discovery engine, Pinterest has always been optimized for search intent. With Google increasingly ranking social and visual content, Pinterest pins can act as “SEO juice” for your brand, sending positive signals to Google and boosting your authority.

Recent shifts in Google’s algorithms have given social content more weight in rankings. This means a Pinterest strategy isn’t just useful for referral traffic; it can directly boost your brand’s visibility in search results, especially as AI-generated search answers evolve. Every pin is a chance to link directly to your website, booking page, or resource library, without being penalized by the platform.

Resources:

• Website: https://meaganwilliamson.com/
• How To Create Pins That Attract, Grow + Convert Your Audience: https://meaganwilliamson.com/perfect-pinterest-image-guide/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meagan-williamson-pinterest/

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