You’re staring at your Pinterest business account wondering if you should take the plunge into paid advertising. The organic reach feels slow, and you’re curious whether throwing some budget at Pinterest ads could actually move the needle.
I get it. A couple of years ago, I was in the exact same spot. So I decided to put my money where my mouth was and ran a $1,000 test campaign in the jewelry niche. Spoiler alert: While I initially broke even after factoring in costs, the long-term value made it absolutely worthwhile.
Let me walk you through exactly what happened and whether Pinterest ads are worth your marketing dollars.
What Are Pinterest Ads?
Pinterest ads are promoted Pins that appear in users’ feeds and search results just like organic content. You’re paying to get your content in front of more eyeballs, but unlike other platforms, Pinterest ads blend seamlessly into the user experience.The only visual difference between an ad and an organic Pin is the word “Sponsored” underneath the Pin title.
Here’s what makes Pinterest advertising unique: users aren’t just scrolling mindlessly. They’re actively planning, shopping, and looking for inspiration. When someone searches for “minimalist jewelry,” they’re already in a buying mindset.
Pinterest ads work by leveraging interest-based targeting, keywords, demographics, and shopping behavior. It’s like having a conversation with someone who’s already interested in what you’re selling.
How Pinterest Ads Work
Pinterest ad formats
Pinterest offers several formats: Standard Pins for showcasing products, Video Pins for demonstrations, Shopping Ads for e-commerce, and Carousel Ads for multiple products. Based on Tailwind’s 2025 research studying over 1 million Pins, 89% of viral Pins were Image Pins, so standard ads are your best bet.
Cost of Pinterest Ads
Pinterest uses an auction system with cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) bidding. Industry averages range from $0.10 to $1.50 per click. According to Tailwind’s benchmark data, Pinterest excels for fashion, decor, beauty, and DIY content.
Our $1,000 Jewelry Test: Pinterest Ads ROI Revealed
The setup
I tested with a handmade jewelry brand — perfect for Pinterest’s visual nature. I created five ad creatives with vertical 2:3 aspect ratios, targeting women aged 25-44 interested in fashion accessories and minimalist style.
Campaign performance
The numbers after six weeks:
- Click-through rate: 1.2% (above Pinterest’s 0.8-1.0% average)
- Cost-per-click: $0.62
- Conversions: 48 sales
- Average order value: $25
The Results: Break-Even With Long-Term Value
Here’s the realistic breakdown:
- Ad spend: $1,000
- Revenue: $1,200 (48 sales × $25)
- Cost of goods sold: $480 (40% COGS for handmade jewelry)
- Gross profit: $720 ($1,200 – $480)
- Net loss: -$280 ($720 gross profit – $1,000 ad spend)
So yes, I actually lost money on the initial campaign when factoring in all costs. But here’s why it was still worthwhile:
- Those Pins continued generating organic traffic and sales without additional spend. Over six months, including repeat customers and organic reach, the campaign generated over $2,000 in total revenue.
- Only a couple of images tested! These results came in with just a few images thrown quickly together in Canva.
- Store optimization – with some CRO the results would be much better.
My main point is: the campaign needed more optimization and would get into profit!
Why Pinterest Ads Work (Especially for Visual Brands)
Pinterest users are planners and buyers, not casual browsers. They’re in planning mode organizing weddings, redecorating homes, updating wardrobes, etc. This high-intent audience is why Pinterest ads can be effective.
According to Tailwind’s research, Fashion, Decor, Food, Beauty, DIY, and Art categories are particularly well-represented among viral content.
Unlike other platforms where content disappears instantly, over 60% of saves come from Pins over a year old. Your ads become evergreen assets that keep working.
Pinterest Ads Best Practices for Better ROI
Design vertical images with 2:3 aspect ratio.Create content specifically for Pinterest’s format.
Add clear calls-to-action. “Shop now” or “Get the look” guide users toward action.
Target keywords + interests. Combine interest-based targeting with keyword targeting for best results.
Create Fresh Pins, not promoted Saves. Pinterest heavily prioritizes original Creates over Saves, with over 90% of website traffic coming from newly created Pins (not saves of other Pins).
Keep shopping recommendations enabled. Pins with shopping recommendations perform better, earning much more impressions despite concerns about losing traffic to competitors.
Pro Tip:
Use Tailwind’s Pinterest extension to create Fresh Pins directly from your website content and optimize posting times with Tailwind’s Pinterest Scheduler.
Final Verdict: Are Pinterest Ads Worth It?
For visual brands in fashion, decor, beauty, and DIY — yes, but with realistic expectations. While my initial campaign lost $280 after all costs, the long-term value made it worthwhile.
Pinterest ads work best when you consider customer lifetime value and organic amplification, not just immediate ROAs.
The content you create for ads becomes evergreen marketing assets that keep working long after you stop paying.
Start small with a $300-500 test budget. Pick your best visual content, target specific audiences, and track both immediate returns and long-term value. You might initially lose money, but Pinterest’s unique longevity often delivers compound returns for the right businesses.
FAQ: Common Questions About Pinterest Advertising
How much should I budget for my first campaign?
Start with $300-500 for meaningful data while keeping risk low.
How long before judging success?
Give campaigns 1-2 weeks minimum. Pinterest users often plan future purchases rather than buying immediately.
Can Pinterest ads work for services?
Yes, but focus on visual end results or educational infographic-style content.
Should I promote existing Pins or create new ones?
Always create Fresh Pins for ads. Pinterest’s algorithm heavily favors original Creates over Saves.
The post Are Pinterest Ads Worth It? We Spent $1,000 to Find Out. appeared first on Tailwind Blog.
