If you’ve ever run Pinterest ads and thought —

“These clicks look great, but why aren’t people buying?”

You’re not alone.

Most brands treat Pinterest like a traffic faucet — turn it on, hope for sales, cross fingers.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Pinterest users don’t buy fast.

They buy smart.

And if you don’t understand how they move from idea → intention → purchase, you’ll keep wasting ad dollars trying to force conversions before the trust is built.

Let’s fix that.

This is the same funnel I use to turn total strangers on Pinterest into repeat customers for Shopify brands.

🧠 Step 1: Understand the “Dreaming Phase” (Top of Funnel)

Pinterest users are planners — not impulse buyers.

When they scroll, they’re collecting ideas for a life they want.

They’re not saying,

“I need this skincare product now.”

They’re saying,

“I want glowing skin this summer.”

That’s your first opportunity.

Your job here isn’t to sell — it’s to plant a vision.

Think of this as brand flirting.

Show lifestyle pins, aesthetic scenes, relatable moments — things that make people stop, save, and think, “This is so me.”

Here’s what works best here:

Soft product placement (no logos screaming BUY NOW).

Keywords like “ideas,” “inspiration,” “aesthetic,” “how to.”

Focus on aspiration, not transaction.

Your goal isn’t the click.

It’s the save.

Because saves are the breadcrumbs that lead them back to you later.

💡 Step 2: Move Them Into “Consideration Mode” (Middle of Funnel)

Alright — they’ve seen you, saved you, maybe even clicked once.

Now what?

This is where you turn from interesting to relevant.

In this phase, you start connecting the dots between their dream and your product.

Let’s say you sell handmade candles.

You don’t just show a candle — you show “How to make your living room smell like fall without overpowering it.”

If you sell skincare —

You don’t say “Buy our serum.”

You say “Here’s how to fix dull skin in under 10 minutes.”

This is where blog posts, tutorials, short guides, and carousel pins crush.

They give value before the sale, which builds trust (and data).

So while everyone else is shouting “Shop Now,”

you’re quietly whispering,

“Here’s how to make your life better.”

And that whisper? Converts louder later.

⚙️ Step 3: Activate the “Decision Triggers” (Bottom of Funnel)

This is the fun part.

Now we switch gears — because your audience already knows you.

You’ve been showing up in their feed for weeks.

They’ve seen your content. They’ve saved your pins.

Now they’re thinking,

“Okay, I like this brand… maybe it’s time.”

So what do you do?

You hit them with the right trigger at the right time.

Decision triggers that work beautifully on Pinterest:

Social proof: “10,000+ customers swear by this.”

Limited offers: “Only this weekend — 20% off.”

Transformation promises: “Before & After” visuals still rule this platform.

UGC (User Generated Content): Real people, real results.

At this stage, I use retargeting ads heavily.

We target users who’ve saved pins, visited the site, or added to cart.

It’s not about discovery anymore — it’s about decision.

And here’s where the ROI happens.

🔁 Step 4: Re-engage — The “Loyalty Loop”

Here’s what most marketers completely miss:

Pinterest doesn’t end at the sale.

It’s a platform built on repetition and routine.

So if you treat your buyers like one-time transactions, you’re leaving money on the table.

Keep showing up.

Keep pinning content that makes existing customers feel proud of buying from you.

Create boards like:

“How to style our pieces”

“Customer favorites”

“Behind the brand”

This builds community — and it keeps your old buyers feeding your new audience through saves and shares.

The Pinterest algorithm loves that feedback loop.

💬 Step 5: The Funnel in Action (Example Breakdown)

Let’s say you sell eco-friendly candles.

Here’s what your funnel looks like in real life:

Top of Funnel (Dreaming):

“Cozy Fall Home Ideas” → Lifestyle image of your candle on a coffee table.

Middle of Funnel (Consideration):

“How to Choose the Right Candle Scent for Your Mood” → Blog post that includes your product.

Bottom of Funnel (Decision):

“Fall Scent Collection — 20% Off This Week Only” → Retargeting ad with direct link to product.

Loyalty Loop:

“Your Candle Shelf Inspo” → UGC pins from happy customers.

It feels natural.

Non-pushy.

Completely in sync with how Pinterest users actually shop.

🚀 The Real Secret

The “secret” funnel isn’t really secret at all —

it’s psychology.

Pinterest users don’t need more ads.

They need to feel understood.

If your brand can guide them from idea to intention to action,

without forcing the sale — they’ll choose you. Every time.

Because you didn’t interrupt their dream.

You became part of it.

✋ Want This Funnel Built for Your Brand?

This is what I do — create Pinterest systems that attract, nurture, and convert customers on autopilot.

If you’re ready to stop throwing ad money at the wall and start building a funnel that actually prints profit,

let’s talk.

The Secret Pinterest Funnel That Turns Cold Traffic Into Paying Customers