Pinterest vs. Social Media: The Platform That Drives Traffic, Not Just Likes

Let’s talk about a question many travel agents and advisors ask: “If I only have time to focus on one platform, should it be Pinterest or Instagram?” 

The answer depends on your goal. If your goal is: 

• To get more traffic to your website 

  
  

• To attract leads you’ve never met before 

  
  

• To stop chasing algorithms that hide your content 

  
  

Then Pinterest is the better choice. 

What Makes Pinterest Different from Social Media? 

Pinterest isn’t social media. It’s a search and discovery platform. That means: 

• You don’t need followers to be discovered 

  
  

• You don’t need to post daily to stay visible 

  
  

• Your content has a much longer shelf life 

  
  

Instagram is built for engagement. Pinterest is built for action. 

So what does Pinterest vs Social Media look like?

Feature	Pinterest	Instagram/Facebook
Platform Type	Search Engine	Social Media
Lifespan of a Post	6+ months	24–72 hours
Who Sees Your Content?	People searching for your topics	Your followers (and maybe their friends)
Purpose	Inspire and lead to action	Engage and entertain
Link-Friendly?	Yes — links in every pin	Limited — only in bio or stories

Why Travel Agents and Advisors Should Care 

Because you're not here to entertain. You're here to: 

• Book trips 

  
  

• Grow your email list 

  
  

• Get new leads 

  
  

• Fill your sales pipeline 

  
  

Pinterest connects your content to people searching for it. 

Let’s say someone searches: 

• “Best river cruises in Europe” 

  
  

• “Italy honeymoon itinerary” 

  
  

• “Packing tips for African safari” 

  
  

Pinterest delivers your blog, guide, or lead magnet right to them. 

What Happens on Instagram… 

You post a gorgeous reel of a river cruise ship gliding through the Danube. It gets 45 likes, 2 comments, and 1 new follower.

That’s great for brand visibility—but did anyone click through to your website? Probably not. 

Now compare that to Pinterest. 

What Happens on Pinterest… 

You create a pin titled: “Top 5 Danube River Cruises for Wine Lovers” and link it to your blog post. 

• That pin is shown to people searching for “wine cruises,” “river cruising tips,” or “Danube travel ideas.” 

  
  

• A user clicks, reads your blog, and signs up for your lead magnet. 

  
  

• Two weeks later, they book a consultation. 

  
  

And it doesn’t stop there. That same pin could be found again and again for the next 6–12 months or longer. 

Stop Fighting for Attention. Start Getting Results. 

Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are noisy. You’re competing against influencers, trending audio, and a never-ending scroll. 

Pinterest is quiet, focused, and intentional. It’s where people go to plan their next move. 

And that’s exactly where you want your travel business to show up. 

Want to Build a Pinterest Strategy That Gets Results? 

Join our free Pinterest Masterclasses, hosted twice a year. You’ll learn: 

• What to post and when 

  
  

• How to create pins that drive traffic 

  
  

• How to turn Pinterest into your top lead source 

  
  

Visit our events page to register for the next series.