The Most Common Pinterest Mistakes Travel Agents/Advisors Make (And How to Fix Them)

Get Better Results by Avoiding These Errors

So you’ve set up your Pinterest account. You’ve created some boards.Maybe even posted a few pins.

But the traffic isn’t coming.Your pins aren’t getting clicks.And you’re wondering, “Is this even working?”

You’re not alone.

Many travel agents/advisors jump into Pinterest with the best intentions—but without a clear strategy or understanding of how the platform works.

As a result, they either give up too early or continue spinning their wheels with little to show for it.

The good news?

Most Pinterest problems are fixable.

Sometimes it just takes a few tweaks to turn things around.

Let’s walk through the most common Pinterest mistakes travel agents make—and more importantly, how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Using Instagram-Style Captions

The Problem: Pinterest is not social media. So if your pin descriptions sound like Instagram captions (“Dreaming of Bali with this sunset 🌅 #travelinspo”), Pinterest’s search engine doesn’t know how to categorize it.

Why It Matters: Pinterest is a search engine. That means keywords—not hashtags or emojis—determine who sees your content.

The Fix: Use clear, descriptive language that includes the exact phrases a traveler might type. Instead of “Just wow,” say: “Romantic overwater bungalows in Bora Bora for your honeymoon”

Bonus Tip: Add location-specific keywords and include what the user will get if they click (e.g., a full blog, guide, or checklist).

Mistake #2: Skipping the Link (Or Linking to the Wrong Place)

The Problem: Some advisors forget to add a destination URL to their pins—or worse, they link to their homepage instead of a relevant blog post.

Why It Matters: Pinterest is built for click-through traffic. If your pins aren’t taking users directly to a specific page, you’re wasting their curiosity.

The Fix: Always link each pin to the most relevant page on your website.

Examples:

• A pin about “10 Romantic Resorts” → link to your blog post with all 10 resorts.

  
  

• A pin about “Family Packing Checklist” → link to your lead magnet opt-in page.

  
  

• A pin titled “Start Planning Your Honeymoon” → link to your consultation form.

Every pin should serve a purpose—and every click should have a destination.

Mistake #3: Using Poor-Quality Graphics or Templates

The Problem: Pins that are cluttered, hard to read, or just visually unappealing don’t get saved or clicked. If you’re reusing Instagram stories or Canva templates with lots of text and tiny fonts, users will scroll right past them.

Why It Matters: Pinterest is a visual platform. People scroll fast—and your pin needs to stand out and communicate the topic at a glance.

The Fix: Use high-contrast text, bold fonts, and vertical graphics (2:3 ratio).

Your pins should:

• Be easy to read on a mobile screen

  
  

• Use branded colors and fonts for consistency

  
  

• Have a clear, keyword-rich title

  
  

• Feature a relevant image (preferably your own or a professional stock photo)

  
  

What Works:

• Titles like: “Top 5 Danube River Cruises for Wine Lovers”

  
  

• Images: River ships, vineyards, happy couples with wine glasses

  
  

• Simple overlays: white text on a dark overlay or vice versa

  
  

Mistake #4: Not Using Keywords in the Right Places

The Problem: Some travel agents use great keywords—but only in pin descriptions, not in titles, board names, or their profile.

Why It Matters: Pinterest uses all of these fields to index your content. The more aligned your keywords are across your account, the more discoverable you become.

The Fix:

Use keywords in:

• Pin titles

  
  

• Pin descriptions

  
  

• Board titles

  
  

• Board descriptions

  
  

• Your Pinterest profile (business name + about section)

  
  

Example: If you plan Italy honeymoons, don’t just say “Honeymoon Ideas” as a board title. Say:“Italy Honeymoon Planning Tips & Romantic Destinations”

Mistake #5: Posting Inconsistently (Or Not at All)

The Problem: You pin five things on Monday… then disappear for a month.

Why It Matters: Pinterest rewards consistent activity. It doesn’t have to be daily, but it needs to be steady.

The Fix: Batch and schedule your pins weekly or monthly using Pinterest’s built-in scheduler or a trusted tool.

Start small:

• 3–5 pins per week = solid visibility

  
  

• 10–15 pins per week = strong momentum

  
  

• 20+ = if you’re managing multiple blogs, niches, or want to scale faster

  
  

You don’t need to be everywhere every day. But you do need a plan.

Mistake #6: Not Having a Blog or Landing Page to Support Your Pins

The Problem: You’re posting pins—but there’s nowhere for them to lead.

Why It Matters: Pinterest is the beginning of the journey. Your blog or lead magnet is what turns a curious browser into a future client.

The Fix: Create blog content that answers specific questions, solves travel problems, or inspires decision-making.Great travel blog ideas include:

• “Best Christmas Market Cruises on the Danube”

  
  

• “Packing List for a 10-Day Safari in Tanzania”

  
  

• “How to Choose the Perfect All-Inclusive Resort for Your Family”

  
  

• “What to Know Before Booking a Honeymoon in Bora Bora”

  
  

Pair each blog with 3–5 pins targeting different keywords.

Mistake #7: Giving Up Too Soon

The Problem: You try Pinterest for a few weeks… and give up when it doesn’t go viral.

Why It Matters: Pinterest traffic builds over time. It’s a snowball platform—not a sprint.

The Fix: Trust the process. A pin might take 2–6 weeks to gain traction—and when it does, it can keep working for months or even years.

Some of the best-performing pins we’ve seen from travel agents/advisors were created 6+ months ago.

Stay consistent. Stay strategic. And keep creating pins that link to value.

Final Thoughts: Mistakes Are Part of the Process

Pinterest isn’t just a platform. It’s a long-term traffic engine.

If you’ve been posting but not getting results, chances are you’re just one or two tweaks away from getting traction.

Avoiding these common mistakes—and knowing how to fix them—is the first step toward building a Pinterest funnel that works while you sleep.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to keep showing up, optimizing, and linking to content that helps your ideal client plan the trip of their dreams.

Want Help Avoiding These Mistakes (And Getting Real Results)?

At Travel Marketing & Media®, we help travel agents/advisors turn Pinterest into a consistent source of website traffic and leads.

Our free Pinterest Masterclasses—held twice per year—are where we teach:

• What’s working right now on Pinterest

  
  

• How to avoid time-wasting mistakes

  
  

• How to batch content and stay consistent

  
  

• Real strategies you can apply that week

  
  

Visit our events page to sign up for the next session.

We’ll help you stop guessing—and start growing.