Pinterest Trends: How to Spot and Use Them for More Traffic

Pinterest is more than a social media platform; it's a visual discovery engine where over 450 million people go to plan their lives, from what to cook for dinner to what to wear to their wedding. This unique user behavior makes Pinterest a powerful "crystal ball" for marketers, providing a window into consumer interests months before they hit mainstream search. The key to unlocking this potential is understanding and leveraging Pinterest's trend data.

1. Introduction to Pinterest Trends

Pinterest Trends is a dedicated tool that allows anyone with a business account to explore the top search terms and topics on the platform. It's a real-time, data-rich resource that goes beyond the obvious to reveal what people are truly interested in, and more importantly, when.

1.1 Why Pinterest Trends Matter for Marketers

Pinterest's trend data is a game-changer for marketers because it provides a competitive advantage.

• Early Trend Adoption: Unlike other platforms where you're reacting to what's already trending, Pinterest's data allows you to get ahead of the curve. Pinners are planners, and they start searching for things months in advance. For example, searches for holiday-related content begin as early as July, giving marketers a huge head start in creating relevant content.

• Data-Driven Content Strategy: Instead of guessing what your audience wants, Pinterest Trends provides hard data on what they're actually searching for. This allows you to create a content calendar that is not only relevant but also timed perfectly to meet user demand.

• Keyword Optimization: The tool is a goldmine for keyword research. You can use the trending terms to optimize your Pin titles, descriptions, and boards, which boosts your organic visibility and ensures your content is seen by a high-intent audience.

1.2 How Pinterest Predicts Future Trends

Pinterest's ability to predict trends is not magic; it's a direct result of its unique user behavior. The platform's annual "Pinterest Predicts" report is a testament to this, boasting an impressive track record of predicting what's to come.

• Planning-Based Behavior: Pinners use the platform to plan for future events, projects, and purchases. They create boards for everything from "2025 Summer Wardrobe" to "Kitchen Renovation Ideas," providing Pinterest with an unparalleled amount of data on future consumer interests.

• Visual Search Engine: As a visual search engine, Pinterest understands the connections between images, keywords, and user intent. This allows its algorithm to identify emerging patterns in user behavior that other platforms might miss.

• Extensive Data Analysis: Pinterest's team of data scientists and researchers analyze billions of searches and saves to identify emerging trends with at least a 20% year-over-year increase. They don't just look at what's popular now; they look at what's growing in popularity.

1.3 Difference Between Pinterest & Other Trend Platforms

While tools like Google Trends are invaluable, Pinterest Trends operates on a fundamentally different principle that makes it a unique asset for marketers.

• User Intent: Google Trends primarily reflects informational search intent ("how to fix a leaky faucet," "news headlines"). Pinterest Trends, on the other hand, reflects inspirational and commercial intent ("calm space ideas," "cozy fall outfits"). Pinners are on the platform to discover and plan, which often leads to a purchase.

• Content Lifespan: A trend on Google can be a fleeting news story. On Pinterest, a trend often has a longer, more deliberate lifespan, as it's tied to a user's long-term planning process.

• Predictive vs. Reactive: Google Trends is reactive; it shows you what people are currently searching for. Pinterest Trends is predictive; it shows you what people will be searching for, often months in advance, giving you a crucial head start.

1.4 Case Studies: Brands That Leveraged Trends Successfully

Many brands have used Pinterest's trend data to drive significant business growth.

• IKEA: The furniture giant integrated Pinterest's trend predictions with its own products. By identifying that users were searching for "renovation" and "reorganizing" topics, IKEA created targeted Pins and boards that linked directly to its products, helping customers turn their inspirational ideas into tangible projects.

• IT Cosmetics: After learning that 91% of beauty searches on Pinterest were unbranded, IT Cosmetics shifted its strategy to focus heavily on keywords like "CC cream" and "concealer." This keyword-first approach helped the brand acquire new customers who were looking for a product type but didn't have brand loyalty yet.

• Michaels: The craft store, a natural fit for Pinterest, leverages the platform's seasonal trend data to plan its holiday campaigns. By creating content around seasonal craft projects well in advance, Michaels drives both online and in-store traffic, proving that Pinterest is a powerful tool for driving conversions across multiple channels.

2. Current Pinterest Trends: What’s Happening Now

To build a successful Pinterest strategy, you need a deep understanding of not only what trends are emerging, but also how they manifest across different aspects of the platform. This involves analyzing everything from visual aesthetics to content formats. Here’s a breakdown of the key trends dominating Pinterest in late 2024 and heading into 2025.

2.1 Visual & Design Trends

Pinterest is a visual-first platform, and the design trends that captivate Pinners are constantly in flux. Staying ahead of these shifts is crucial for creating content that stands out in a crowded feed.

• Color Palettes Gaining Popularity: While classic neutrals never fully disappear, there's a strong push toward bold and expressive colors. "Heatmap" colors, which involve vibrant, gradient-style palettes that pop off the screen, are gaining traction. We're also seeing a revival of vintage-inspired, muted tones, and pastel eclectic décor, as users embrace "dopamine decor" and "whimsical" aesthetics.

• Typography Styles: In 2024, typography on Pinterest is all about making a statement. We're seeing a rise in bold, geometric fonts that are easy to read on mobile. The "serif revival" continues, with elegant and ornate vintage fonts being used to convey a sense of luxury and nostalgia. There's also a growing preference for hand-drawn, quirky fonts that add a personal, whimsical touch to Pins.

• Photo vs. Illustration Preferences: Both photos and illustrations have their place, but a key trend is the blending of these styles. Brands are increasingly using a mix of high-quality lifestyle photography and dynamic illustrations to create unique and eye-catching Pins. Pixel art is also experiencing a revival, offering a retro yet modern aesthetic that merges nostalgia with innovation.

• Video Style Trends: Short-form video continues to dominate, but the style is evolving. Vertical, fast-paced videos with text overlays and clear call-to-actions are the most effective. "Day in the life" vlogs, quick tutorials, and aesthetic product showcases are performing exceptionally well. The focus is on providing value in a short amount of time, making the video feel less like an ad and more like a helpful piece of content.

2.2 Content Category Trends

Pinterest's strength is its ability to serve a wide range of interests. By understanding which categories and niches are growing, marketers can align their content with what users are actively searching for.

• Top Growing Interest Categories: While core categories like Home Decor, DIY, and Food & Drink remain immensely popular, other categories are seeing significant growth. "Health and Wellness," "Education," and "Parenting" are all expanding rapidly. Furthermore, subcategories like "mental wellness," "sustainable living," and "educational activities for kids" are experiencing a surge in searches.

• Seasonal Trend Cycles: Pinterest's seasonal cycles are a powerful tool for planning. Searches for major holidays often begin months in advance. For example, "fall fashion" and "Halloween costume" searches start as early as August, while "holiday gift ideas" and "Christmas decor" ramp up in July. This predictive data allows brands to create and publish content well ahead of the competition, capturing high-intent Pinners.

• Emerging Niche Topics: Beyond the broad categories, specific niche trends are gaining momentum. In fashion, searches for "tomboy femme" and "rocker chic" outfits are on the rise. In home decor, "dopamine decor" and "whimsical decor" are replacing minimalist aesthetics. And in beauty, "90s makeup" and "foxy red hair colors" are making a strong comeback.

• Declining Interest Areas: While it's important to focus on growth, it's also smart to be aware of declining trends. The best way to identify these is by using the Pinterest Trends tool to see which search terms have a downward trajectory. This helps you avoid investing resources in content that is no longer resonating with the audience.

2.3 Format & Feature Trends

Pinterest is continuously launching new features to enhance the user experience. Leveraging these new formats is a key way to maximize your reach and engagement.

• Idea Pins Performance: Idea Pins, a multi-page Pin format, continue to be a top priority for the platform. They perform exceptionally well for creating mini-tutorials, step-by-step guides, and visual stories. Their long-form nature allows brands to tell a deeper story and build a stronger connection with their audience, leading to higher engagement and saves.

• Shopping Feature Adoption: Pinners are not just discovering products on Pinterest; they're actively shopping. The adoption of shopping features is at an all-time high. With over 85% of weekly users making a purchase based on brand Pins, features like a connected product catalog, Shoppable Pins, and the "Shop from a Board" feature are more critical than ever for e-commerce businesses.

• AR Try-On Usage: Augmented Reality (AR) try-on features are a game-changer for the beauty and fashion industries. This technology allows users to virtually try on makeup, hairstyles, and accessories directly from a Pin. The adoption of this feature is growing rapidly, as it reduces the friction of online shopping and gives users more confidence in their purchasing decisions.

• Interactive Content Growth: Beyond AR, interactive content is gaining traction across the board. This includes features like polls within Idea Pins, as well as Pins that encourage users to comment, save, and share. The platform's algorithm favors content that promotes meaningful engagement, making it a powerful way to boost your reach and build a community.

3. Accessing Pinterest Trend Data: Your Toolkit for Success

To effectively harness the power of Pinterest's trends, you need to know where to look and how to interpret the data. Fortunately, Pinterest offers a suite of powerful, free tools that provide an unparalleled look into what's on the minds of its users. Combined with a few third-party resources, you can build a comprehensive trend-forecasting system.

3.1 Pinterest Trends Tool Walkthrough

The Pinterest Trends tool is the ultimate resource for real-time keyword research and content planning. It's a goldmine for understanding user intent and timing your content perfectly.

• How to Use It: Simply navigate to the Pinterest Trends tool and type in a keyword or phrase related to your business. The tool will then show you a graph of how that term has trended over the past year. This allows you to see exactly when interest in a topic begins to rise, peaks, and falls.

• Key Features:

  • Compare Up to Four Terms: You can compare up to four search terms at once on a single graph. This is incredibly useful for A/B testing your keywords and seeing which one has the most search volume. For example, you can compare "cozy fall outfits" with "autumn fashion" to see which term is more popular.

  • Related Keywords: The tool provides a list of related, popular search terms. This is a fantastic way to discover long-tail keywords that you may not have thought of and to broaden your content strategy.

  • Popular Pins: Below the graph, Pinterest shows you a selection of popular Pins for that search term. This provides a visual cue as to what kind of content is resonating with the audience, helping to inform your own design and content style.

• Strategic Application: Use the Pinterest Trends tool to plan your content 45-90 days in advance of a trend's peak. If you see that searches for "summer recipes" start to rise in March, you should be creating and publishing your summer content in March and April to capitalize on the trend as it grows.

3.2 Pinterest Predicts Annual Report

Pinterest Predicts is not a trend report; it's a "not-yet-trending" report. Published annually, this report is a high-level overview of the major trends that Pinterest’s data scientists predict will take over in the coming year. Its predictions have an impressive track record, making it a must-read for any marketer looking to get ahead of the curve.

• What's in the Report: The report covers a wide range of categories, from fashion and beauty to food and home decor. Each trend comes with a high-level description and a list of key search terms that are growing in popularity.

• Strategic Application: Use Pinterest Predicts to inform your long-term business strategy. If the report predicts a trend that aligns with your business (e.g., "farmhouse cottage interiors" for a home decor brand), you can start creating content and products around that theme well in advance. This gives you a significant head start on the competition and positions your brand as a trendsetter.

3.3 Seasonal Trend Calendars

Pinterest offers a variety of seasonal and content calendars to help marketers time their content perfectly. These guides go beyond the major holidays to include more niche, evergreen, and everyday moments that Pinners are planning for.

• How to Use It: Pinterest's official business blog and its "Create" section often publish a content calendar for the year. This calendar will outline key moments like "Back to School," "Wedding Season," or "Self-Care Day."

• Strategic Application: A seasonal calendar is essential for content planning. It allows you to align your content with user intent and the planning cycles of your audience. For example, if you sell jewelry, you know that searches for "Mother's Day gifts" will spike in March, giving you time to create and promote a dedicated campaign. Similarly, you can plan for "everyday moments" like "movie night ideas" or "brunch recipes" that have consistent, year-round search volume.

3.4 Third-Party Trend Analysis Tools

While Pinterest's native tools are powerful, a few third-party platforms can provide an even deeper level of insight and streamline your workflow.

• Google Trends: While Pinterest and Google are different, a cross-platform approach to trend analysis can be highly effective. Use Google Trends to see if a rising Pinterest trend is also gaining traction in broader informational searches. This can help you determine the overall market demand for a topic.

• Tailwind: As a Pinterest-approved partner, Tailwind offers a suite of tools that go beyond scheduling. It provides detailed analytics on your own Pins, helping you identify what content is performing best for your specific audience. It also has features that help you find and share trending content, further boosting your brand's visibility.

• Other Social Media Listening Tools: Tools like Brand24 or Semrush can also be used to track the volume of mentions and keyword popularity across various social media platforms, including Pinterest. This provides a holistic view of a trend and helps you understand the conversation surrounding it.

4. Interpreting Pinterest Trend Data: From Insight to Action

Accessing Pinterest's trend data is only the first step. The real magic lies in interpreting that data and translating it into a strategic plan that drives tangible results for your business. This requires a nuanced understanding of how to differentiate between fleeting fads and sustainable trends, as well as how to tailor your strategy to specific demographics and buyer behaviors.

4.1 Distinguishing Between Fads & Sustainable Trends

A key to successful trend-based marketing is knowing which trends to invest in and which to pass on. Chasing every fad can lead to wasted resources and damage your brand's credibility, while latching onto a lasting trend can provide a significant competitive edge.

• Fads: A fad is a temporary craze that catches on quickly but fades just as fast. On Pinterest, this might look like a sudden, sharp spike in a search term with no historical context, followed by an equally rapid decline. For example, a meme-based craft project might get a lot of attention for a few weeks but will likely disappear from the trending charts soon after. Fads can be a fun place for "nimble teams" to create short-term content for a quick boost in visibility, but they lack long-term substance.

• Sustainable Trends: A sustainable trend is a deeper, longer-lasting shift in consumer behavior that has the potential to influence the market for years. On Pinterest, a sustainable trend will show a consistent, gradual upward trajectory on the Pinterest Trends tool, often with seasonal peaks that repeat year after year. A good example is the growing interest in "sustainable fashion" or "dopamine decor." These aren't just temporary interests; they represent a fundamental change in how people are approaching their purchasing and lifestyle choices.

• How to Differentiate:

  • Analyze the Timeline: Use the Pinterest Trends tool to view search data over a full year. If the trend shows a sustained upward climb over several months, it's more likely a sustainable trend. If it's a sudden, sharp spike, it's likely a fad.

  • Look for Broader Connections: Does the trend connect to a wider cultural or social shift? For example, the rise of "Castlecore" in home decor is connected to a broader interest in fantasy, escapism, and unique aesthetics, making it more likely to have staying power than a one-off viral challenge.

4.2 Regional Trend Variations

Pinterest is a global platform, and a trend in one country may not be a trend in another. For businesses with an international presence, a one-size-fits-all approach is a missed opportunity.

• How to Access the Data: The Pinterest Trends tool allows you to filter your search by region, so you can see how a keyword is performing in the U.S. versus the UK or Brazil. This is an essential step in localizing your content.

• Strategic Application:

  • Localization: Use regional trend data to localize your content. For example, if you sell home decor, you might find that "hygge" is a popular search term in Northern Europe, while "coastal grandmother aesthetic" is more popular in the United States. Your content strategy should reflect these regional differences.

  • International Ad Campaigns: For paid campaigns, regional trend data is crucial for targeting. You can create different ad campaigns with different keywords and creative for each country, ensuring your ads are highly relevant and effective.

4.3 Demographic-Specific Trends

Pinterest's audience is diverse, and different age groups and genders have unique interests and behaviors. Understanding these demographic-specific trends allows for more precise targeting and more relevant content.

• How to Access the Data: The Pinterest Trends tool and Pinterest Analytics provide a breakdown of your audience by age, gender, and location. For example, Pinterest Predicts 2025 shows that Gen Z and Millennials are driving trends like "Castlecore," while Gen X and Boomers are driving trends like "Surreal Soirees."

• Strategic Application:

  • Targeted Content Creation: Use demographic data to inform your content creation. If you're targeting Gen Z, you might focus on creating short, dynamic videos and vibrant, meme-able Pins. If you're targeting Millennials, you might focus on creating more in-depth tutorials and aspirational lifestyle content.

  • Paid Advertising: Demographic data is the cornerstone of effective ad targeting. You can create different ad sets with different creatives and messaging for each demographic, ensuring that your ads resonate with the specific audience you're trying to reach.

4.4 Correlating Trends with Buyer Behavior

The ultimate goal of using Pinterest trends is to drive business results. This means connecting trend data to the buyer journey, from the initial planning stages to the final purchase.

• Early Signals of Purchase Intent: Pinterest users with purchase intent tend to save and click on more content, and their activity becomes more topically focused as they get closer to a purchase. They start searching for specific, high-intent keywords 3-5 days before they are ready to buy.

• The Buyer Journey on Pinterest:

  • Inspiration: The user starts with a broad search, such as "wedding ideas."

  • Planning: They create a board and start saving Pins for "bohemian wedding dresses" or "rustic wedding venues."

  • Refinement: They start searching for more specific, high-intent terms like "bohemian wedding dress with lace sleeves."

  • Purchase: They click on a Pin that leads to a product page and make a purchase.

• Strategic Application:

  • Create Content for Each Stage: Your content strategy should include a mix of Pins for each stage of the buyer journey. Create aspirational content for the inspiration stage, helpful guides and tutorials for the planning stage, and product-specific content for the refinement stage.

  • Use Shopping Features: For the final stage of the journey, ensure your products are easily discoverable and shoppable. Use features like Shopping Ads, Rich Pins, and product tagging to reduce friction and guide the user directly to a purchase.

5. Trend-Based Content Strategies: The Art of Timing and Authenticity

Effectively leveraging Pinterest trends requires a dynamic content strategy that balances reactive agility with long-term foresight. It's a three-pronged approach: creating content that capitalizes on a trend as it's happening, anticipating future trends to get ahead of the curve, and, most importantly, ensuring that your brand's unique identity remains at the heart of it all.

5.1 Creating Trend-Reactive Content

Trend-reactive content is about being timely and relevant. It's the art of quickly creating and publishing content that taps into a surge of user interest, giving your brand a chance to be part of the conversation.

• Quick-Turnaround Content Formulas: To move quickly, you need a pre-defined process. A simple formula is to take a viral concept and apply your brand's unique spin. For example, if "cottagecore" is trending, a home decor brand can quickly create a Pin with the title "How to Get the Cottagecore Look with Your Existing Decor." You can also create simple, text-based Pins with bold fonts and a trending keyword. The key is to be fast, but not sloppy.

• Trend Adaptation Frameworks: A structured approach ensures you're not just mindlessly jumping on a trend. A simple framework is:

  1. Identify: Use the Pinterest Trends tool to spot a new, rapidly growing keyword.

  2. Evaluate: Ask yourself, "Is this trend relevant to my brand and audience?" and "Can I create something of value?"

  3. Execute: Use your quick-turnaround formulas to create a Pin, video, or Idea Pin that addresses the trend.

  4. Promote: Use the trending keyword in your Pin title and description, and share it with your audience.

• Evergreen Content with Trend Elements: The best trend-reactive content often has an evergreen core. This means taking a topic that is always relevant to your business (e.g., "healthy breakfast ideas") and adding a trending twist to it (e.g., "Protein-Packed Breakfasts for a 'That Girl' Morning Routine"). This allows the Pin to have a long, useful lifespan even after the trend has faded.

5.2 Anticipating Future Trends

While reactive content is about timeliness, a proactive strategy is about getting a significant head start. This is where Pinterest's unique user behavior as a planning platform gives you an edge.

• Early Signal Detection: The key is to look for early signals of a trend before it hits the mainstream. Use the Pinterest Trends tool to look for keywords that are showing a sustained, gradual upward trajectory over a long period. For example, if you see searches for "grandmillennial decor" consistently increasing year-over-year, you can start creating content around this topic long before it becomes a dominant trend.

• Cross-Industry Trend Analysis: Trends rarely exist in a vacuum. A trend in one industry can often be an early signal for another. A fashion trend on Pinterest may signal a change in home decor preferences in 6-12 months. An advanced service provider will monitor trends across various industries—from music and pop culture to technology and social movements—to find these connections and anticipate what's coming next.

• Cultural Event Forecasting: Many trends are tied to major cultural events. It's about looking ahead on the calendar and identifying opportunities. For example, a major film release could inspire a new wave of fashion or home decor searches. A service can use this foresight to create a content calendar that aligns perfectly with these events, ensuring your Pins are ready before the public starts searching for them.

5.3 Balancing Trends with Brand Identity

The most common mistake in trend-based marketing is adopting a trend that doesn't align with your brand's core identity. This can confuse your audience, damage your credibility, and ultimately lead to a loss of trust.

• On-Brand Trend Incorporation: Before you create any trend-based content, ask yourself: "How does this trend authentically connect to my brand's values, products, or mission?" The goal is to bring your unique brand identity to the trend, not the other way around. A high-end fashion brand that is built on a timeless, classic aesthetic, for example, should be very selective about which fast-moving fashion trends it incorporates.

• Trend Filtering Criteria: Create a set of clear criteria for evaluating a trend before you invest in it. A simple framework is to ask:

  1. Relevance: Is this trend relevant to my business and my target audience?

  2. Authenticity: Can I speak to this trend in my brand's authentic voice?

  3. Value: Can I add value to this conversation, or am I just adding to the noise?

• Authenticity Considerations: In an age where consumers value authenticity above all else, forced or insincere content can do more harm than good. A professional service will always prioritize your brand's voice and integrity. They understand that a Pin that is perfectly on-trend but feels off-brand will ultimately be less effective than a Pin that is perfectly on-brand but only loosely connected to a trend.

6. Industry-Specific Trend Applications: Customizing Your Strategy

Pinterest's trend data is a universal language, but how you apply it to your business is highly specific to your industry. A trend in home decor, for example, requires a completely different approach than a trend in fashion. The most effective marketing strategies are those that translate broad insights into actionable, industry-specific plans.

6.1 Ecommerce & Retail

For ecommerce and retail brands, Pinterest trends are a direct line to consumer demand. Leveraging these trends allows you to sell more effectively and even influence future product development.

• Product Trend Forecasting: Instead of waiting to see what your competitors are doing, you can use Pinterest Trends to predict what consumers will be looking for months from now. If you see searches for "oversized blazers" and "lug sole loafers" consistently rising, you can create marketing campaigns and promotions around these products well in advance. For 2025, a key trend is "Cherry Coded Commerce" where cherry aesthetics, colors, and motifs are trending, signaling an opportunity for brands to create cherry-themed product lines and packaging.

• Merchandising Strategies: Use trending keywords and visual styles to merchandise your products on Pinterest. If "Cottagecore" is a rising trend, you can create a board titled "Cottagecore Essentials" and fill it with Pins of your products that fit the aesthetic. You can also create Idea Pins that showcase how to style your products to fit a trending look.

• Collection Development: For larger brands, Pinterest trends can influence the design and development of future collections. If you see a sustained, year-over-year increase in a trend like "sustainable living," you may consider creating a dedicated line of eco-friendly products. The platform's ability to identify niche aesthetics like "Rococo Revival" also provides a direct path for brands to develop highly specific collections that meet an emerging demand.

6.2 Home & Interior Design

The home decor audience on Pinterest is in a perpetual state of planning, making trend data a critical component of any strategy in this industry.

• Emerging Decor Styles: In 2025, Pinterest predicts trends like "Rococo Revival" and "Surreal Soirees" are on the rise. For a home design brand, this means creating content that showcases how to achieve this look. This could include Pins of ornate furniture, pastel color palettes, and over-the-top party decorations. The key is to provide a mix of inspiration and actionable advice.

• Color Scheme Adoption: Color is a huge part of the home design journey. Use the Pinterest Trends tool to see what colors and palettes are trending. For example, if "sage green" and "terracotta" are on the rise, you should create Pins that showcase your products in those colors and use those terms in your Pin descriptions.

• Sustainable Materials: The trend of "sustainable consumption" is a major theme for 2025. This presents a huge opportunity for brands that specialize in sustainable materials. Create Pins that highlight your products' eco-friendly features and use keywords like "reclaimed wood," "organic cotton," or "zero-waste decor" to connect with this growing audience.

6.3 Fashion & Beauty

Fashion and beauty are fast-moving industries, and Pinterest's trend data is essential for staying ahead of the micro-trends that drive the market.

• Micro-Trend Identification: While broad trends like "Y2K" or "bohemian" have long lifespans, the key to success is identifying the micro-trends within them. For 2025, a trend like "Aura Beauty" with searches for "full color makeup" and "purple blush" is gaining popularity. A beauty brand can create tutorials and product showcases around this specific aesthetic. The platform also identifies niche styles like "Moto Boho" and "Fisherman Aesthetic," which allows brands to target highly specific audiences.

• Style Adoption Curves: On Pinterest, the style adoption curve is often longer than on other platforms. Users are planning their wardrobes and beauty looks for a full season. This means you can get ahead by creating content for the next season well in advance. For example, in August, you should be creating and promoting content for "winter outfits" and "holiday party looks."

• Beauty Technique Trends: Pinterest is a go-to for beauty tutorials and inspiration. Trends like "sea witchery" and "90s grunge makeup" are on the rise. A beauty brand can create video tutorials and Idea Pins that teach users how to achieve these looks using their products, positioning themselves as a trusted resource.

6.4 Food & Beverage

Pinterest is the ultimate recipe and meal-planning resource. For food and beverage brands, trend data provides a direct line to what people are craving.

• Flavor Trends: The "Cherry Coded" trend in 2025 shows a growing interest in cherries. A food brand could create Pins for cherry-based recipes, from desserts to savory dishes, to tap into this trend. Other trends, like "Rebel Floats" and "Pickle Fix" present unique opportunities for brands to experiment with retro recipes or unconventional flavor combinations.

• Presentation Styles: Presentation is everything on Pinterest. Trends in "Rococo Revival" and "Surreal Soirees" aren't just about the food; they're about the aesthetic. This means creating visually stunning Pins with pastel colors, over-the-top decorations, and whimsical table settings to capture user attention.

• Dietary Movement Tracking: Trends around dietary movements, like "plant-based" or "keto," are easy to track on Pinterest. A brand can use this data to create and promote recipes and products that cater to these specific dietary needs, positioning themselves as a go-to resource for a dedicated audience.

6.5 B2B & Professional Services

While often seen as a B2C platform, Pinterest has a growing B2B audience that is actively seeking inspiration, education, and solutions.

• Visualizing Industry Trends: Pinterest is a powerful tool for visualizing complex industry data and trends. A B2B company can create Pins that turn data from industry reports into visually compelling infographics. This helps them position themselves as thought leaders and drives traffic to their website, where users can download the full report or learn more.

• Educational Content Angles: The B2B audience on Pinterest is looking to learn and grow. A professional service can create Pins that promote educational content like webinars, whitepapers, and how-to guides. For example, a marketing agency could create an infographic that outlines the "Top 5 Pinterest Trends for Small Businesses in 2025."

• Professional Tool Innovations: For tech or software companies, Pinterest is an excellent place to showcase their products in action. Create video Pins and Idea Pins that demonstrate how a professional tool can solve a user's problem, making the product feel more accessible and user-friendly.

7. Trend-Based Advertising Strategies: Turning Trends into Conversions

A sophisticated Pinterest marketing strategy goes beyond organic content to include a robust advertising plan. When executed correctly, paid Pinterest campaigns can amplify the reach of your trend-based content, ensuring it's seen by the right people at the right time. This guide delves into the advanced tactics of using paid advertising to ride a trend wave to increased brand awareness, traffic, and sales.

Learn all about various strategies you need to grow your business in our Complete Pinterest Marketing Guide

7.1 Timing Trend Campaigns

Timing is everything in trend-based advertising. Launching a campaign too early can result in a wasted budget, while launching it too late means you've missed the peak of the trend. Pinterest's trend data provides a clear roadmap for perfect timing.

• Pre-Peak Launch: Use the Pinterest Trends tool to identify when interest in a topic begins its upward climb. Pinners are planners, and their search behavior often starts 2-3 months before a trend's peak. For example, searches for holiday-related content begin as early as July, so campaigns for holiday sales should launch in late summer or early fall. By launching your ads during this pre-peak period, you can capture a high-intent audience that is still in the planning and discovery phase.

• Peak-Moment Budget Allocation: Allocate a larger portion of your advertising budget to the period when a trend is at its peak. The Pinterest Trends tool shows you a clear graph of when search volume is highest. This is the moment to double down on your most effective ads, using a higher bid to ensure your content is front and center when people are most likely to convert.

• Post-Peak Re-engagement: Don't abandon a campaign just because a trend's peak has passed. You can use your collected first-party data to re-engage with users who saved or clicked on your trend-based Pins. This is a powerful retargeting strategy that can turn interest into conversions well after the initial trend has faded.

7.2 Audience Targeting Approaches

Your audience is a critical component of a trend-based ad strategy. The right targeting ensures your trendy creative is seen by the people who are most likely to care about it.

• Keyword & Interest Targeting: Pinterest's targeting capabilities are centered around user intent. For a trend-based campaign, this means using a combination of keywords and interest targeting. If "Rococo Revival" is a trending style, your ad campaigns should target keywords like "rococo decor," "baroque furniture," and "ornate mirrors." You can also target users who have shown an interest in broader categories like "antique decor" or "European art."

• Actalike Audiences: Once your trend-based campaigns have gathered some traction, you can use the data to create "actalike audiences." Pinterest will find and target new users who have similar characteristics to those who have already engaged with your ads. This is an effective way to scale a successful campaign and find new, high-value customers who are likely to be interested in the trend.

• Demographic & Placement Targeting: A trend may be popular with a specific demographic, so your targeting should reflect that. If a trend like "Cherry Coded Commerce" is primarily driven by Gen Z, you should set your ad campaigns to target that age group. You can also optimize your ad placement to appear in the home feed, search results, or related Pins to ensure your ads are seen at the most impactful moments.

7.3 Creative Adaptation Techniques

Trend-based advertising requires a flexible and agile creative strategy. The goal is to adapt your creative to fit the trend while still maintaining your brand's unique identity.

• "Borrowing" Trend Aesthetics: You don't have to overhaul your entire brand to tap into a trend. Instead, "borrow" a trend's aesthetic elements. For example, if "dopamine decor" is trending, you can use vibrant colors, playful fonts, and whimsical imagery in your Pins without changing your core brand identity. A brand like Malibu UK successfully used this approach by incorporating the "Fringe with Benefits" trend into its campaigns, adding a playful twist that resonated with its audience.

• A/B Testing Creatives: A/B testing is crucial for any advertising campaign, but it's especially important for trend-based campaigns. Test different creatives with different versions of the trend to see what resonates most with your audience. For example, you could test an ad that uses a bold, geometric font against one that uses a hand-drawn font to see which performs better.

• Using Pinterest's Ad Formats: Different ad formats can be used to tell a trend story more effectively. For a visually-driven trend like "Rococo Revival," a Carousel Ad could be used to showcase multiple products that fit the aesthetic. A video Pin could be used to create a short tutorial on how to style a room with trending pieces, and a Shopping Ad can be used to drive direct conversions for those products.

7.4 Budget Allocation for Trend Riding

Strategic budget allocation is the final piece of the puzzle. You need a plan that allows you to test and scale effectively without overspending on a fleeting trend.

• Allocate a Test Budget: When you first start riding a new trend, it's wise to start with a small, dedicated test budget. Allocate 5-10% of your total advertising budget to a trending keyword campaign. This allows you to gather initial data and see if the trend is a good fit for your brand before committing to a larger spend.

• Scale Based on Performance: Once you've identified a successful trend campaign, you can begin to scale your budget. Use Pinterest's analytics to see which ads are driving the most clicks, saves, and conversions. Then, allocate more budget to the campaigns that are performing best, ensuring you're getting the most return on your investment.

• Adjust Bids for Peak Periods: As a trend approaches its peak, you may need to adjust your bid to remain competitive. During key shopping periods like Q4, advertising costs can increase. Be prepared to increase your bids by 20-50% to maintain visibility and ensure your ads are seen by the largest possible audience.

8. Measuring Trend Campaign Performance: Proving the ROI

Launching a trend-based campaign is just the beginning. To truly understand its value and inform your future strategies, you must have a robust system for measuring its performance. This involves going beyond surface-level metrics to analyze engagement, understand the trend's lifespan, calculate the return on investment (ROI), and benchmark your performance against competitors. A data-driven approach is the only way to prove the value of your trend-based efforts.

8.1 Key Trend Engagement Metrics

When a Pin is created around a trending topic, its performance is measured differently than a standard, evergreen Pin. The focus shifts to how well the content is resonating with a high-intent audience.

• Saves and Save Rate: A "Save" on Pinterest is a powerful signal of intent. It means a user found your content so inspiring or useful that they want to refer back to it later. For a trend-based Pin, a high save rate indicates that you've successfully tapped into a trend and provided content that aligns with a user's planning journey. It's a key metric for understanding whether your creative is truly resonating.

• Outbound Clicks: This metric measures the number of times a user clicks on your Pin to go to your website. For a business, this is a crucial metric, as it's a direct indicator of traffic driven to your site. A high number of outbound clicks on a trend-based Pin means you've not only captured a user's attention but have also successfully converted their interest into a visit to your online store or blog.

• Pin Clicks and Click-Through Rate (CTR): Pin clicks represent the total number of times a user clicks on your Pin for a closer look. The CTR measures the percentage of users who click on your Pin after seeing it. For trend-based content, a high CTR shows that your creative is compelling and stands out in a crowded feed, encouraging users to learn more.

8.2 Trend Lifespan Analysis

A trend's lifespan on Pinterest is a key factor in determining your content and ad strategy. A trend often has a longer growth cycle on Pinterest than on other platforms, but it's still important to understand its trajectory.

• Tracking Performance Over Time: Use the Pinterest Analytics and Pinterest Trends tools to track the performance of your trend-based Pins over time. Look at the graphs to see when a Pin's impressions and saves begin to rise, when they peak, and when they begin to decline. This data provides invaluable insights into the natural lifecycle of a trend.

• Identifying Evergreen Potential: Analyze your trend-based Pins to see if any of them have an evergreen quality. A Pin created for a seasonal trend like "back-to-school" might see a decline in September, but if it's a Pin for "healthy lunchbox ideas," it will likely see a renewed surge in interest the following year. Identifying these "evergreen trends" allows you to update and re-promote your most successful content year after year.

8.3 ROI Calculation for Trend Content

The ultimate measure of a trend-based campaign's success is its return on investment (ROI). This goes beyond engagement metrics to measure the direct financial impact on your business.

• Organic ROI: For organic trend-based content, the ROI is measured in terms of time and effort. Track the time it took to create the Pin and the resulting traffic and conversions it drove. Use UTM codes on your Pin URLs to track the number of sessions, conversions, and revenue that came directly from a specific Pin.

• Paid Ad Spend ROI: For paid campaigns, the ROI is a more direct calculation. You can use a simple formula: (Revenue Generated - Ad Spend) / Ad Spend. For example, if you spent $1,000 on a trend-based campaign and it generated $5,000 in revenue, your ROI would be 400%. Pinterest's Ads Manager provides robust reporting on key metrics like ROAS (Return on Ad Spend), Conversion Rate, and Cost Per Acquisition (CPA), which are essential for proving the profitability of your campaigns.

• Brand Lift Studies: For businesses with a focus on brand awareness, a brand lift study can be a powerful tool. This type of study measures the impact of your ads on metrics like brand recall, favorability, and purchase intent. While often reserved for larger brands, these studies can prove the long-term value of your trend-based advertising efforts.

8.4 Competitive Trend Adoption Benchmarking

To maintain a competitive edge, you need to know how your brand's trend adoption stacks up against your competitors.

• Competitive Analysis: Keep a close eye on what your competitors are Pinning. Are they adopting the same trends as you? Are they creating more compelling visuals? Use their Pins as a benchmark to assess the quality of your own content.

• Audience Crossover: Pinterest Analytics allows you to see the "Audience Insights" for your own account, including what other brands and topics your audience is interested in. This provides valuable data on your competitors' reach and can help you identify content gaps or new opportunities for your own trend-based content.

• Benchmarking Metrics: While you won't have access to your competitors' private data, you can use public metrics to benchmark your performance. Tools like TrueSocialMetrics allow you to compare key engagement metrics like saves, comments, and saves against your competitors. This can provide a clear picture of how well your trend-based content is performing in the wider market.

Learn all about various strategies you need to grow your business in our Complete Pinterest Marketing Guide

9. Tools & Resources for Trend Tracking: Your Digital Trend-Spotting Kit

Mastering Pinterest trends is a multi-faceted process that requires more than just a good eye for design. It demands a suite of powerful tools to help you identify, track, and act on trends in real-time. This guide breaks down the essential resources available to marketers, from Pinterest's native, free tools to advanced AI-powered platforms, so you can build a comprehensive trend-spotting system.

9.1 Native Pinterest Tools

Pinterest's own tools are the most reliable and direct source of trend data. They are free, easy to use, and provide a direct line to what's happening on the platform.

• Pinterest Trends: This is the most powerful tool in your arsenal. It allows you to explore the top search terms and topics on the platform, providing a graphical representation of a keyword's search volume over the past year.

  • Strategic Use: Use it to time your content perfectly. If you see that searches for "fall fashion" start to rise in August, you know to publish your fall-related Pins in late July or early August to get ahead of the curve. You can also use its "related searches" feature to find new, long-tail keywords for your content.

• Pinterest Predicts: This annual report is Pinterest's "not-yet-trending" forecast. It's a high-level overview of the major trends that its data scientists predict will dominate the coming year.

  • Strategic Use: Use this report for long-term strategic planning. If the report predicts a trend like "Rococo Revival," you can plan your product development, content calendar, and marketing campaigns around it for the next 12-18 months.

• Pinterest Analytics: While not a trend tool in and of itself, Pinterest Analytics is crucial for measuring the performance of your trend-based content. It provides data on impressions, outbound clicks, and saves, allowing you to see which of your trend-based Pins are truly resonating with your audience.

9.2 Third-Party Analytics Platforms

While Pinterest's native tools are a great starting point, third-party platforms offer a deeper level of insight and automation, making them invaluable for businesses that are serious about scaling their Pinterest marketing.

• Tailwind: An official Pinterest partner, Tailwind is an all-in-one platform for scheduling, analytics, and content discovery.

  • Strategic Use: Its in-depth analytics suite goes beyond basic metrics, providing "virality" and "engagement" scores for your Pins. This helps you identify which of your trend-based Pins are performing best and why. It also offers "Tailwind Communities," which are like group boards where you can share and discover trending content with other marketers in your niche.

• Brand24: A social media monitoring tool with AI-powered features, Brand24 can be used to track keywords and topics on Pinterest and other platforms.

  • Strategic Use: Use Brand24 to get a holistic view of a trend. It can track the number of mentions a keyword has, its reach, and its sentiment. This helps you understand not only what's trending but also the broader conversation around a trend, which can inform your messaging and tone.

• Sprout Social and Hootsuite: These are comprehensive social media management tools that offer robust Pinterest analytics.

  • Strategic Use: If your business manages multiple social media channels, these platforms can provide a centralized dashboard for all your social media data. They can track content performance, monitor audience demographics, and help you fine-tune your trend-based strategy by providing a holistic view of your social media ecosystem.

9.3 Cross-Platform Trend Correlators

A trend rarely exists in isolation. It's often a part of a larger cultural or social shift. Cross-platform trend correlators help you see if a trend on Pinterest is also gaining traction on other search engines and social media platforms.

• Google Trends: This is a fantastic free tool for seeing if a Pinterest trend has broader search appeal.

  • Strategic Use: If you see a trend rising on Pinterest, use Google Trends to see if it's also trending in broader search. This helps you gauge the overall market demand for a topic and can inform your SEO and content strategy on your blog and website.

• Semrush: A powerful SEO tool, Semrush can also be used for competitive research and to see what keywords your competitors are ranking for on Google.

  • Strategic Use: Use Semrush to see if a Pinterest trend is being reflected in your competitors' blog posts and marketing efforts. This can help you identify content gaps and create content that is not only on-trend but also fills a need in the market.

9.4 AI-Powered Trend Prediction Tools

The next frontier of trend spotting is AI. AI-powered tools leverage machine learning and vast amounts of data to predict future trends with a higher degree of accuracy.

• TrendWatching: This platform offers a "Trend Intelligence Platform" that uses AI to spot emerging consumer trends and business opportunities.

  • Strategic Use: Use TrendWatching to get a high-level view of what's coming next across various industries. This can help you inform your long-term business strategy, from product development to marketing campaigns, with an AI-driven foresight.

• AI-Powered Content Generation: Tools like Jasper AI and BlogToPin use AI to create content based on trending keywords.

  • Strategic Use: While not a trend prediction tool, these platforms can help you create trend-based Pins at scale. You can input a trending keyword, and the AI will generate optimized Pin titles, descriptions, and even full blog posts that you can use to drive traffic from Pinterest.