How I Landed My First Pinterest Clients Without Social Media (& What I’d Do Differently)

Struggling to land your first Pinterest client? Feeling like you can’t compete without a huge social media following? I get it – I was there too.

When I first started as a Pinterest manager, I had no Instagram presence, no industry connections, and no idea how to get my first client. The fear of reaching out and hearing crickets? Yeah, I knew that feeling well.

But here’s what I discovered: you don’t need a massive audience or flashy branding to book your first client – you just need the right strategy.

Back when I was working at a campsite, bouncing from one temporary job to the next, I realised something: I was already using Pinterest to drive traffic to my travel blog. And if I could do it for myself, why not for other businesses?

That’s when I decided to take the leap into Pinterest management.

It wasn’t a smooth ride. I wasted time in Facebook groups, hesitated to send cold emails, and learned some tough lessons about boundaries and pricing the hard way.

But within a few weeks of figuring out an ethical, non-spammy outreach strategy, I was waking up to multiple inquiries from brands wanting to hire me – without ever posting on Instagram.

In this post, I’ll break down:

✅ The mistakes I made in the beginning (so you can avoid them).

✅ The exact steps I’d take if I were starting from scratch today.

✅ How I booked my first clients without relying on social media.

If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start booking clients, let’s dive in.

My Journey: From Campsite Worker to Pinterest Manager

In the beginning, my life looked very different. My partner and I had been traveling full-time, picking up odd jobs to fund our adventures. 

At one point, I was working at a campsite, managing bookings and cleaning facilities – not exactly my dream job.

But during that time, I had a secret weapon: my travel blog.

I was using Pinterest to drive thousands of visitors to my site, and I kept seeing other bloggers and small businesses struggling to do the same.

That’s when the idea hit me: What if I helped others grow on Pinterest, too?

I had no formal training, no Instagram presence, and no clue how to find clients. But I was determined to make it work.

Here’s exactly how I went from no clients to fully booked in a matter of weeks:

The Biggest Struggle: How Do You Find Clients?

If you’re a new Pinterest manager, chances are your biggest roadblock is finding your first paying client. I remember feeling:

❌ Like an imposter – was my travel blog really enough proof of my skills?
❌ Overwhelmed by the advice to “just show up on Instagram” (I hated it).
❌ Unsure where to even start – was cold pitching too spammy?

The more I researched, the more I realised that waiting for clients to come to me wasn’t going to work. I had to put myself out there – even if it felt uncomfortable at first.

Why Instagram Wasn’t an Option for Me

A lot of Pinterest managers believe they need a massive Instagram following to book clients.

That’s simply not true. I had ZERO Instagram presence – and honestly? I had no intention of building one.

Instead, I focused on proactive outreach rather than waiting for clients to come to me.

I tested posting in Facebook groups, but nothing really stuck. That’s when my partner casually suggested:

“Why don’t you try cold emailing?”

I almost wrote off cold emailing as spammy – until I realised that when done right, it’s one of the most effective ways to land clients. A few strategic tweaks, and suddenly, my inbox wasn’t so empty.

The Cold Email Strategy That Landed My First Clients

Cold emailing might sound intimidating, but when done ethically and strategically, it’s one of the fastest ways to book Pinterest clients.

I was sceptical at first. The idea of reaching out to strangers felt spammy. But once I cracked the code on how to do it right – without being pushy or desperate – everything changed.

One morning, after sending out a batch of emails, I woke up to multiple replies from businesses eager to learn more about my services. 

Within days, I had my first paying client – no discovery call, no social media presence, just a simple, well-crafted email.

Within weeks, I was fully booked.

The Basics of a Great Cold Email

If you want your emails to get noticed (and answered!), here’s what to keep in mind:

✅ Target the right businesses. Not every brand is a good fit for Pinterest, and pitching to the wrong ones is a waste of time.
✅ Personalisation is key. A generic email will land in the trash. Show them you know their brand.
✅ Focus on value, not yourself. No one cares about your credentials – they care about how you can help them.
✅ Follow up. A lot of people didn’t respond to the first email – but they DID after a simple, friendly follow-up.

I break down my exact email template, follow-up sequence, and client research process in my How to Find Clients eBook – so you don’t have to guess your way through it like I did.

My First Clients & Hard Lessons Learned

Not every client was a dream. In fact, I’m not ashamed to say one was an absolute nightmare.

The Client Who Took Advantage

I made several rookie mistakes, including:

❌ Giving out my personal WhatsApp number (BIG mistake).

❌ Answering calls at all hours.

❌ Letting them dictate my strategy – even when I knew it wasn’t best.

After a month of low results, unpaid overtime and stress, they left. And I was so relieved to see them go, and the experience forced me to re-evaluate how I ran my business.

The Biggest Mistakes I Made (So You Can Avoid Them)

If I could go back and do it all over again, here’s what I’d do differently:

1. I Would Have Had a Contract Ready from Day One

The moment my first client said, “Great! Send over the contract,” my stomach dropped. Contract? I didn’t have one.

Cue midnight panic-Googling: how to create a freelance contract, Pinterest management contract template, do I need a contract to work with clients?

I ended up throwing something together, but I wish I had set up a proper system before that moment.

Now, I teach this in my Pinterest Manager Manual, so you can skip the stress.

2. I Would Have Set Boundaries from the Start

In the beginning, I bent over backwards for clients – answering messages at all hours, jumping on last-minute calls, and not charging enough for my expertise.

Don’t get me wrong, I still provide huge value to my clients, but I make my boundaries clear:

✔ Set office hours (and don’t answer messages outside of them).

✔ Be upfront about Pinterest timelines (real growth takes 3-6 months).

✔ Stick to the strategy you know works – not what a client thinks should work.

3. I Would Have Asked for Testimonials Sooner

Believe it or not, it took me a full year before I started asking clients for testimonials.

I assumed they’d offer if they were happy – but people are busy. Now, I make it a standard part of my client communications to ask if they’re happy to provide a review.

How to Land Your First Pinterest Client Today

If you’re struggling to book clients, here’s exactly what I’d do if I were starting over today:

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Offer

• What type of clients do you want to work with?
• Will you offer full management, strategy calls, one-off audits?

Step 2: Build a Simple Portfolio

• Use your own Pinterest account as proof.
• Create a case study (even if it’s just about growing your own blog).

Step 3: Start Cold Pitching (the Right Way)

• Personalise every email – mention their content, show interest.
  Follow up at least once – most clients reply to the second email.

Step 4: Set Boundaries from the Start

• Have a contract ready (don’t panic-Google this last minute like I did).

Be upfront about Pinterest’s timeline (3-6 months for real growth).

Final Thoughts: You CAN Do This

If you’re dreaming of becoming a Pinterest manager but feel stuck, I see you. I was exactly where you are now. It’s overwhelming at first, but if you take consistent action and have the right mindset, you’ll get there.

✨ There’s room for you in this industry. Now let’s go get those clients. 🚀

The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

📌 Need help landing your first client? Grab my How to Find Clients eBook.
📌 Want to skip the trial-and-error? My Pinterest Managers Manual has contracts, pricing guides, and tricky conversation templates to get you started.