As the internet landscape becomes increasingly dominated by names such as Facebook and Instagram, one platform appears to be making a comeback. If you were around in the early days of social media, you've likely visited Pinterest before. But don't be mistaken; Pinterest isn’t just a place for recipes and DIY inspiration anymore.

For businesses, creators, and everyday users, it has become a visual search engine, a place where ideas and products are shared and trends take off. But staying consistent with posting, organizing boards, or keeping track of engagement can be overwhelming.

That’s where IFTTT comes in. By connecting Pinterest with over 1000 other apps and services, IFTTT helps you automate your social media strategy, save time, and ensure your best content always reaches the right audience.

Whether you’re running a small shop or just scrolling through your lifestyle boards, this article will cover everything you need to know about getting started with Pinterest automation on IFTTT. We’ll also explore some practical use cases to help you use the platform better.

A quick review on Pinterest

Before diving into the automation side of things, it's helpful to know exactly how Pinterest works. It's a little more unique than most other platforms and markets towards those looking for a more authentic collection of aesthetic and inspirational content.

Pinterest describes itself as a visual discovery engine. Unlike traditional social media platforms, where the main focus is on updates from friends or followers, Pinterest is built around ideas. Users create “Pins”, which are visual bookmarks that link to websites or other resources and organize them into themed “Boards.”

What does this mean for marketers and small business owners?

Since content on this site is evergreen and searchable, a single pin can keep driving traffic to your site or shop for months or years. This makes Pinterest one of the most powerful platforms for long-term content visibility, compared to fast-moving feeds like Instagram or TikTok.

Since the platform serves as basically an aesthetic Wishlist, Pinterest users are often in “planning mode,” which means they’re closer to making a decision or purchase. Having consistent pins with good visual appeal can be an excellent way to spread the word about whatever you are promoting.

Understanding Pinterest automation

We already learned that it's important to keep users engaged with good pinning habits. Keeping your boards active requires frequent pinning and smart timing, which isn't the easiest if you have a busy schedule. Here's where automation can help.

Instead of logging in several times a day to manually post, you can use IFTTT Applets to take care of it for you. These are simple “If This Then That” recipes that connect Pinterest to thousands of other tools you already use, no coding, no fuss.

You can use IFTTT for all sorts of use cases, which we will cover in this article. For now, if you see any Applet bubbles that catch your attention, simply click on them to get started.

Why should you consider automating your Pinterest workflow? For marketers, time is precious (duh). Managing Pinterest manually is tedious (also duh). Automation offers a way to maintain an active presence without having to worry about posting all the time.

Some more key reasons marketers should consider Pinterest automation include:

• - Time efficiency: Save countless hours with automated tasks.
• - Consistency: Maintain regular and on-brand posting without manual effort.
• - Enhanced insights: Use tools to track performance and trends for you.

To help maximize your marketing efforts, IFTTT is the best tool for the job. Now, let's look at some use cases using our platform that could be helpful for Pinterest marketers and content creators.

Pinterest + IFTTT: Use cases

Here's a guide on some of the most popular and creative ways people use Pinterest with IFTTT. We're assuming you've got some of the basics down in regard to setting up an Applet with IFTTT, but if not, we've provided a short reminder:

1. Select an existing Applet or click on "Create."
2. Choose the trigger; e.g., a severe weather alert is issued.
3. Set the action; e.g., call my mobile device.
4. Configure specifics, like time delay or filter code.

Test your setup to confirm everything works correctly, and adjust settings as needed to optimize performance. For additional help, visit our support page here.

1. Share your blog posts automatically

Instead of manually creating a pin every time you publish, connect WordPress, Medium, or Ghost to Pinterest. You can choose a featured image and link to get pinned instantly, driving more readers to your content.

2. Turn social media into a Pinterest funnel

Your best content deserves a second life. With IFTTT, each new post (or posts with a certain hashtag) can be pinned automatically to a chosen board. This includes YouTube videos, Instagram and Facebook posts, and many more.

3. Save music inspiration as pins

Art can be found everywhere, and a great example of this saying is in your favorite album covers. If you've got a creative eye for this unique intersection of music and design, Pinterest is a perfect place to save them as pins. Simply use an Applet to forward images from your liked albums to Pinterest.

4. Collect pins from anywhere

Found an image, recipe, or idea you want to save for later? Connect tools like Pocket, Instapaper, or even Slack, and have those links automatically pinned to a private board for reference. This can lead to some really interesting automation potential by integrating Pinterest into your daily apps.

5. Promote your shop automatically

Running an Etsy, Shopify, or eBay store? Each new product listing can instantly appear on a Pinterest board, keeping your followers updated without you lifting a finger. This type of automation not only saves time but also helps you tap into Pinterest’s massive audience of shoppers who are actively searching for both trendy and timeless products.

Common challenges and best practices

Connecting IFTTT and Pinterest should be smooth and trouble-free, but there's always a chance you could run into a roadblock. As a general rule, make sure whatever services you want to automate are working correctly before connecting with IFTTT, and you have granted all necessary permissions. Ensure that both the IFTTT app and any services are updated and double check that any added filter code or delay functions are set up properly.

Some common troubleshooting points include:

• - Applet triggers are not functioning as expected.
• - Connectivity issues between platforms.
• - Overlapping automations are causing redundancies.

To overcome these hurdles, check your connectivity and make sure the right permissions are enabled for each service. Adjust triggers and actions to align with your specific needs.

As far as best practices, we don't have much for you. The beauty of IFTTT is the freedom you gain to automate however you want. However, there are a few things to keep in mind for the best results:

• - Avoid spammy behavior: Don’t overwhelm your followers with too many automated posts in a short time. Spread out the posts to maintain a natural posting rhythm.
• - Stay visually consistent: Pinterest is all about aesthetics. Make sure your images are high-quality and on-brand, even when they’re being posted automatically.
• - Double-check links: Ensure that automated posts always link to the right destination to avoid losing your audience.

By following these tips, you're guaranteed to find the best success when automating Pinterest.

Supercharging Pinterest with IFTTT

We've been saying that Pinterest is about ideas, and IFTTT is about making those ideas flow effortlessly between the thousands of tools you use every day. With IFTTT, you’re not just saving time, you’re creating a system where your best content and inspirations can always find their way to the right audience.

Whether you’re a small business owner or a content creator trying to stay consistent, or just someone who loves collecting inspiration, automation can give you the edge you need. Start small with one Applet, like sending your blog posts straight to Pinterest, and then expand into more creative workflows as you go.

With the right setup, Pinterest can become more than just a visual discovery platform. It can evolve into a powerful, automated engine for growth and connection, all while running quietly in the background.

Sounds good? Click the button below to get started for free!