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#55 Pinterest for Online Course Creators: How to Use Pinterest as a Visual Search Engine for Long-Term Course Traffic (with Tim Adam)

Jan 20, 2026

Join Tim Adam, founder of Pinterest Skool and Pinterest expert, as he shares invaluable insights for online course creators. Discover why Pinterest acts as a powerful search engine rather than just another social media platform. Tim reveals how to use keywords effectively, maximize engagement withpins, and create appealing visuals even if your business isn’t naturally visual. He also discusses strategies for late adopters and the impact of Pinterest boards on SEO. Dive into practical tips for driving sustainable traffic to your courses!

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INSIGHT

Pinterest Is A Visual Search Engine

Pinterest functions primarily as a visual search engine where users seek solutions rather than social interaction.
That search intent makes Pinterest excellent for driving long-term, high-conversion traffic to courses and resources.

ADVICE

Start With Keyword Research

Do keyword research before creating pins using Pinterest Trends and tools like PinClicks to find real search demand.
Target keywords in board titles, board descriptions, pin titles, and pin descriptions so Pinterest can surface your content.

ADVICE

Make Pins Fast Using Templates

Create tall, text-overlay pins quickly using templates in Canva and reuse formats to keep design under ten minutes.
Use AI to draft concise pin titles and descriptions to speed up publishing without sacrificing SEO.

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If you’ve ever thought, “I should probably be on Pinterest,” and then immediately felt overwhelmed by the visuals, the time commitment, or the sheer number of pins already out there, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Tim Adam, founder of Pinterest Skool, who has built a business around helping creators use Pinterest strategically, without treating it like another full-time social channel.

Together, we unpack what makes Pinterest different (and why that difference matters for course creators), how to think about pins when you don’t have an “obviously visual” business, and what it actually takes to build consistent traffic that doesn’t disappear 24 hours later.

This isn’t a “post more” pep talk. It’s a practical look at how Pinterest works as a search engine, and how online educators can use it to funnel the right people into their ecosystem.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About

Why Pinterest behaves more like a search engine than a traditional social media platform—and how that changes your strategy
The real role of keywords on Pinterest (and why it’s the piece most people skip)
Whether you “missed the boat” if you weren’t an early adopter, and what the data suggests now
What course creators can pin when their business doesn’t feel visual
The difference between creating fresh pins vs. constantly needing fresh links
How Pinterest boards support discoverability and help Pinterest understand what your content is about
What a realistic timeline can look like for traffic, and what to watch for so you know you’re on the right track
How to think about using Pinterest within a larger funnel (especially when your paid offer is higher-ticket)
A quick but important note on affiliate links and disclosures on Pinterest

About Tim Adam

Tim Adam is the founder of Pinterest Skool and has been using Pinterest since its earliest days. He began as a full-time Etsy seller, then started teaching other creators how to grow visibility and traffic through Pinterest. He’s known for practical, clear teaching and for helping people build momentum without relying on followers or daily content performance.

Connect with Tim

Tim’s best starting point is his free community, Pinterest Skool.

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