What Makes Pinterest Different? The Only Platform That Wants To Drive Traffic To Your Website
- Sandra M
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
If you've ever spent hours crafting the perfect Instagram caption, designing engaging Facebook posts, or recording 15 takes of a TikTok—only to end up with low clicks and even lower leads—you’re not alone. Social media burnout is real, especially for travel advisors who are doing it all themselves.
The truth is, most social media platforms aren’t designed to send people to your website.
They want users to scroll, stay, engage, and consume on the platform.
That’s why links in bios, swipe-ups, and buried URLs are the norm. And it’s why your gorgeous destination photos and time-consuming posts often lead to crickets when it comes to actual inquiries or bookings.
But here’s the good news: there is one platform that breaks the mold, one that actually wants to send traffic to your website.
A platform that doesn’t penalize outbound links, doesn't rely on likes or follows to get results, and is actively trying to match your content to people who are ready to take action.
That platform is Pinterest, they want to send traffic to your website—and if you're a travel advisor trying to grow your business, it might be your best-kept secret.
Pinterest Is Not Social Media—It’s a Search Engine
Let’s get this out of the way first: Pinterest is not social media.
It’s a visual search engine. And it behaves more like Google than Instagram.
Pinterest users aren’t there to scroll for entertainment or dopamine hits. They’re there to plan.
- A bride planning a destination wedding
- A couple researching their anniversary cruise
- A family looking for ideas for next summer’s Europe trip
- A solo traveler daydreaming about Patagonia
These are the kinds of people searching Pinterest every day. And unlike on Facebook or Instagram, they’re not just looking—they’re clicking, saving, and taking action.
How Most Social Platforms Treat Links (Spoiler: Not Great)
Let’s compare Pinterest to the platforms most travel advisors use:
- One clickable link in your bio
- No links in standard posts
- Limited access to links in Stories unless you meet follower thresholds
- Prioritizes engagement (likes, comments, reels)—not traffic
- Organic reach is very low for posts with external links
- Engagement drops if you're linking off the platform
- Best used for community and nurturing, not discovery
TikTok
- Only one bio link
- Click-through rate is low unless you’re actively pushing people to it
- Videos have to go viral for meaningful traffic to reach your site
- Every single pin is designed to lead somewhere else
- Pins without outbound links don’t perform as well
- Your content isn’t penalized for encouraging users to leave
- Users actually expect to be taken to blogs, guides, and booking pages
Pinterest’s Superpower: It Wants Users to Leave
Pinterest is built on outbound clicks.
It’s literally a discovery platform. Its algorithm is trained to surface pins that help users take the next step—whether that’s planning, researching, comparing, or booking.
Every pin is meant to lead somewhere helpful.
If you’re a travel advisor with a blog, destination guide, lead magnet, or consultation form, Pinterest becomes your direct funnel fuel.
Let’s explore how this plays out in different niches.
Luxury Ocean and River Cruising
Example: You publish a blog called “Luxury vs. Expedition Cruises: Which Is Right for You?”
You create two pins—one showing a scenic polar expedition shot, and one with a Mediterranean yacht.
Each pin links to your blog. A user planning a future trip types “best luxury cruise for couples” into Pinterest and finds your post.
They click, read, and maybe download your “Ultimate Cruise Comparison Chart.”
Now they’re in your funnel—because Pinterest sent them.
Romance & Honeymoon Travel
Example: You publish a blog called “The 7 Most Romantic Adults-Only Resorts in the Caribbean.”
Pinterest users search things like:
- “honeymoon resorts with overwater bungalows”
- “adults-only Caribbean all-inclusive”
- “romantic trip ideas”
Your pin with a beautiful beach cabana and the title “7 Romantic Caribbean Getaways” shows up.
A couple planning their honeymoon clicks to read your post—and maybe signs up for your consultation checklist or planning form.
Family Travel
Example: You write a blog titled “Best European Cities to Visit With Kids Under 10.”
You create pins with images of Amsterdam’s canals, Lisbon’s trams, and Vienna’s playgrounds.
Parents searching Pinterest for “family-friendly Europe itinerary” stumble on your pins and click through.
They read your blog, join your list, and download your family packing list.
Adventure Travel
Example: You write a blog post called “Top 10 Safest Adventure Destinations for Solo Travelers.”
You post a pin titled “Solo Travel + Adventure = Yes Please!” featuring a photo of a mountain trek in Chile.
Pinterest users actively planning their bucket-list trip click through. And because your blog is optimized with CTAs and a lead magnet, they take the next step.
Pinterest Supports Every Stage of the Funnel
Pinterest serves every part of the buyer’s journey:
- Awareness: A traveler sees a beautiful image of a river cruise in spring. They’re intrigued.
- Consideration: They click the pin and read your blog about Danube itineraries.
Pinterest isn't just top-of-funnel. It helps guide people all the way through, especially when paired with:
- Blogs
- Lead magnets
- Quizzes
- Booking pages
- Consult forms
- Webinar sign-ups
Each of these becomes a clickable destination for your pins—and Pinterest is happy to send people there.
Pinterest Results Are Long-Term, Not Momentary
One of the biggest differences between Pinterest and other platforms? Your content doesn’t disappear.
On Instagram, your post lasts maybe 24–72 hours. On Facebook, you’re lucky to get a few hours of visibility. TikTok is even more fleeting unless you’re constantly churning out content.
But on Pinterest?
A pin you post today could drive traffic six months—or even six years—from now.
Your content lives in search results. It gets saved to boards. It resurfaces when people search similar terms. That makes Pinterest a long-term asset in your marketing ecosystem.
You Don’t Need a Huge Following to See Results
Another Pinterest myth? That you need a big audience to succeed.
Not true.
Pinterest doesn’t prioritize follower count. It prioritizes:
- Relevance
- Quality keywords
- Clear value
- Helpful links
This levels the playing field—whether you're a brand-new advisor or have been in business for a decade.
If you’re creating content that matches what people are searching for, Pinterest will help them find it. No influencer status required.
Want More Website Traffic? Start with Pinterest.
There’s no other platform that:
- Encourages users to leave and visit your website
- Rewards content that lives for months or years
- Doesn’t require you to be a video expert
- Aligns perfectly with how travelers plan, dream, and book
Pinterest is more than just another tool—it’s a traffic engine for your travel business.
Want to Learn Pinterest Step-by-Step?
At Travel Marketing & Media, we help travel advisors master Pinterest without the overwhelm.
Our free Pinterest Masterclasses are held twice per year, and they walk you through exactly how to:
- Design high-performing pins
- Create content your audience is searching for
- Set up scheduling tools
- And convert traffic into real, paying clients
Visit our events page to find out when the next series is happening—and reserve your spot early.
Pinterest was built to help you succeed. Let’s put it to work for your travel business.
Comments