You Don’t Need Followers to Win on Pinterest
- Sandra M
- Apr 5
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Why Visibility on Pinterest Isn’t Tied to Popularity
Most travel agents/advisors think that in order to get results from online marketing, they need to grow a massive audience first.
On Instagram? You need thousands of followers to even link in Stories.
On Facebook? Organic reach favors popular posts from popular pages.
On TikTok? You might go viral—but only if the algorithm likes you that day.
It’s no wonder that newer travel agents or those transitioning into a new niche often feel discouraged.
You’re told to “show up consistently,” “post every day,” and “be more visible,” even if you’re not seeing any results.
But what if we told you there’s a platform where follower count doesn’t matter at all?
Where zero likes and zero comments don’t mean zero visibility?
Where your content can show up in front of travelers searching for exactly what you offer—even if you just started your account last week?
That platform is Pinterest. And it might just be the best-kept secret in travel marketing.
Pinterest Isn’t Social Media—And That’s a Good Thing
Let’s start with this: Pinterest is not a social media platform.
Pinterest is a visual search engine. Think of it as Google with images, organized by boards instead of pages.
That means your content gets discovered through keywords, not popularity.
Someone planning a luxury cruise to the Mediterranean isn’t searching “#travelinspo.”
They’re typing something like:
“Best Mediterranean cruises for couples”
“What to pack for a luxury cruise”
“Rome to Barcelona cruise itinerary”
If you’ve created pins that match those topics—and they link to a helpful blog post, guide, or lead magnet—Pinterest will show them, even if your account has no followers at all.
How Pinterest Visibility Actually Works
On platforms like Instagram or Facebook, your content is shown to a fraction of your followers—and then maybe a few more if it performs well.
On Pinterest, your content is shown to people who are actively searching for that exact thing.
Here’s how it works:
You create a pin with a keyword-optimized title and description.
That pin gets indexed in Pinterest’s search engine.
A user searches for something related (like “family-friendly Costa Rica trips”).
Your pin appears in their results—regardless of how many followers you have.
If they click, save, or engage, Pinterest keeps showing it to more users.
The better your keywords, the more visibility you get. Follower count? It barely factors in.
Real-World Travel Niches That Thrive Without Followers
Let’s look at a few travel niches and how they can succeed on Pinterest without a large audience:
Luxury Cruising
Imagine you’re a new travel advisor focused on ocean and river cruises. You don’t have a big following—but you’ve written a blog titled:
“5 Reasons to Choose a Danube River Cruise Over the Mediterranean”
You create three pins using the keywords “Danube cruise itinerary,” “river cruise Europe,” and “best luxury cruise for food lovers.”
Each pin links to your blog.
You don’t need likes or followers. Your audience finds the content because Pinterest wants to match their search with your pin.
Family Travel
Let’s say you specialize in multigenerational travel and post a pin that says:
“10 Best Resorts in Mexico for Toddlers + Grandparents”
You link it to your blog and include keywords like “family resort Mexico,” “travel with toddlers,” and “multigenerational vacation.”
Even with no followers, this content appears in searches as parents begin trip planning for school breaks and holidays.
Adventure Travel
You’ve built a new brand around soft adventure and wellness. You publish a guide called:
“What to Pack for a Trekking Tour in Patagonia”
You use keywords like “Patagonia hiking gear” and “adventure travel checklist.”
Pinterest shows your pin to users planning bucket-list trips—no popularity needed.
Romance Travel
You write a blog titled:
“How to Plan a Surprise Proposal in Santorini”
It includes links to proposal photographers and tips for booking the perfect spot.
Even if your account is brand new, your pins show up when users search “romantic trip ideas,” “proposal spots in Europe,” or “best places to get engaged.”
Pinterest Is a Great Equalizer
Pinterest isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a value platform.
This is what makes it a game-changer for:
Newer travel agents just launching their business
Advisors entering a new niche
Established advisors without the time (or interest) to build a big social following
Agencies that rely more on SEO and email than social engagement
Your visibility on Pinterest depends on:
Relevance
Keywords
Quality visuals
Helpful links
Not followers. Not comments. Not likes.
Can a Pinterest Account with 0 Followers Get Results?
Yes. Here’s what you need to get started:
A Business Pinterest Account – Set it up properly with a website link and keywords in your profile.
Optimized Boards – Use specific titles like “Luxury Cruises Europe” or “Family Travel Packing Tips.”
Keyword-Rich Pin Titles and Descriptions – Think like a traveler searching on Google.
Link to High-Value Content – Send users to blog posts, lead magnets, or trip planning pages.
Consistency – Pin regularly (even if batching and scheduling once a month).
You don’t need to post daily. You don’t need to dance on camera.
You just need to show up with searchable, valuable content.
You’re Not Behind—You’re Actually Early
Most travel agents/advisors are still pouring their energy into Instagram and Facebook, chasing engagement that rarely leads to inquiries.
Pinterest is still underused in the travel space, which gives you an edge.
You’re not late. You’re early.
And by building a pin strategy now, you’re creating an asset that grows over time, regardless of your account size.
Final Thoughts: Stop Waiting to Be “Visible” First
You don’t need 5,000 followers before you get results. You need a few great pins that link to content your audience is already searching for.
Pinterest makes that possible.
Let go of the “grow first, convert later” mindset. With Pinterest, you can do both at the same time.
Want to Learn How to Make Pinterest Work Without a Following?
At Travel Marketing & Media®, we show travel agents/advisors how to use Pinterest to grow traffic, leads, and authority—without needing to be “popular” first.
We host free Pinterest Masterclasses twice per year, where we teach:
How to get discovered without a big audience
The most important keywords to use
What to post and when
Real strategies that work, even with 0 followers
Visit our events page to save your seat for the next free session.
Start using Pinterest the way it was designed—to grow your business from day one.
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