Selling an online course with Pinterest: The ultimate funnel for introverts

Let’s be honest: selling an online course can feel a bit overwhelming, especially for introverts. I myself am an introvert, which is why I was especially excited to create this post. The idea of constantly putting yourself out there, running high-energy launches, or engaging in non-stop self-promotion can feel like a lot. You’re not alone in this—plenty of course creators feel the same way, even those who aren't introverts.
But here’s the good news: Pinterest is your quiet superpower. It’s visual, evergreen, and passive, which makes it a perfect platform for introverts. You can showcase your course and attract leads without the hustle of constantly having to engage or sell.
Why I Wanted to Create This Post
I personally became attracted to this strategy after coming across several online entrepreneurs who tout Pinterest as an incredible source of leads and funnel traffic for their online businesses. As an introvert, this really appealed to me.
"In 2021, I left instagram and chose to focus on my Pinterest account. With a sustainable strategy in place, here's what my results looked like: 87% of our leads were generated from Pinterest. Our email list grew x10 (and counting). We reached 9 million monthly impressions." - Sarah Ann Design
Check out this blog by Taylor Stanford, "How My Pinterest Glow Up Took Me From $30k to $200k a Year as a Blogger." Yes, she talks about blogging, but she also talks about how pinning directly to a product was a game changer for her. P.S. I discovered Taylor via Pinterest.
"You don’t have to send every pin to a blog post. Pinterest isn’t just for driving blog traffic (although it’s great for that too). I started pinning directly to affiliate products, landing pages, and digital products—and saw instant income growth." - Taylor Stanford
In this post, we’ll walk through how you can set up a Pinterest-powered sales funnel that works for you. No pressure, no overwhelm—just a simple, effective way to get more eyes on your course and fill it up with ease.
Why Pinterest is Ideal for Introverted Course Creators
Pinterest = Passive Marketing
Here’s the beauty of Pinterest: it’s like having a 24/7 salesperson on autopilot. Once you set up your pins and funnel, they work for you around the clock, generating traffic without you needing to constantly be online. Say goodbye to the pressure of keeping up with social media trends or feeling like you have to post every day.
Visual & Evergreen
Unlike Instagram or Facebook, where posts fade away after a few hours, Pinterest pins have an incredibly long lifespan. Some of your pins can continue to drive traffic for months—or even years—after they’ve been posted. That means your efforts keep paying off long after you’ve hit “publish.”
Low-Pressure Selling
Pinterest isn’t about DMing people or hustling to get someone’s attention. It’s not about fast-paced conversations or constant engagement. It’s more like quietly sharing your wisdom and offering value, with the chance for your audience to discover you when they’re ready. Perfect for introverts, right?
Before you go all in on Pinterest, we need to check a couple things:
- Is your audience on Pinterest?
- Does your course topic make sense for Pinterest?
Understanding Pinterest’s Demographics: Is Your Audience Here?
Before diving into Pinterest marketing, it’s important to make sure that your target audience is actively using the platform. The good news is that Pinterest has a massive and engaged user base, especially in niches like online courses, DIY, lifestyle, and business education. Let’s take a look at some key demographics to help you determine if Pinterest is the right fit for your course:
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Predominantly Female Audience: Pinterest is known for having a largely female demographic, with around 60-70% of users identifying as women. If your course appeals to women—especially in areas like personal development, wellness, or lifestyle—Pinterest can be an ideal platform to connect with your audience.
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Educated Users: Many Pinterest users are college-educated and interested in self-improvement, making it a great platform for online courses in business, marketing, tech, and personal growth.
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Age Range: The majority of Pinterest users are between 18-44 years old. If your course is designed for younger adults or busy professionals, Pinterest can be an excellent way to reach them.
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Intent-Driven Users: Pinterest is often used as a search engine, with users actively seeking inspiration, ideas, and solutions to problems. This makes it a great platform for people who are looking to invest in personal development, learning new skills, or solving specific challenges that your course addresses.
If your ideal students align with these demographics, then Pinterest is likely a great platform to focus your marketing efforts. By creating a strategy tailored to Pinterest’s user base, you can attract engaged, motivated leads to your course.
Now, let's look at course topics that can do well when promoted on Pinterest.
What Course Topics Do Well on Pinterest?
Before diving in, it’s important to choose a course topic that fits well with Pinterest. This isn’t just about what you want to teach—it’s about what Pinterest users are searching for. So, here are some course ideas that do especially well on Pinterest:
1. DIY & Creative Projects
If your course teaches people how to create something cool—whether it’s crafting, photography, home décor, or even art—Pinterest is the place to be. People flock to Pinterest for creative inspiration, so if you have a hands-on, DIY-focused course, you’re in luck!
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Example: “How to Start Your Own Etsy Shop in a Weekend” or “DIY Living Room Décor on a $250 Budget”
2. Personal Development & Self-Improvement
Pinterest is full of folks looking for ways to grow, improve, and motivate themselves. Whether you’re teaching mindset, productivity hacks, or personal growth strategies, this is a perfect fit.
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Example: “How to Overcome Procrastination with a Simple 3 Step System” or “Q4 Goal Setting for Busy Entrepreneurs Who Want to Cash In Before Christmas”
3. Health & Wellness
From fitness to healthy eating to mental well-being, health-related content is always in demand on Pinterest. If your course helps people live healthier lives—whether physically, mentally, or emotionally—it’s going to do great.
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Example: “30 Days of Yoga for Beginners” or “1-Hour a Week Healthy Meal Prep for Busy Moms”
4. Business & Marketing
Pinterest is packed with entrepreneurs and business owners looking to learn how to build and grow their businesses. Courses on digital marketing, social media strategies, or even starting a side hustle are highly sought after.
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Example: “How to Build a Profitable Blog in 3 Months” or “30-Minute-a-Day Facebook Marketing for Small Businesses”
5. Lifestyle & Organization
Are you all about making life easier or more organized? Courses that help people streamline their routines, declutter, or organize their homes resonate well with Pinterest users.
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Example: “How to Organize Your Pantry to Promote Healthier Eating” or “Decluttering Your Life in 30 Days”
6. Finance & Money Management
Personal finance courses are trending on Pinterest as more and more people look for ways to manage their money, budget, and save for the future. This is a growing niche, especially for introverts who want to share practical financial advice.
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Example: “How to Budget for a Family (Including 2 Vacations a Year)” or “Investing for Beginners: How to Start With Just $100”
By choosing a course topic that aligns with Pinterest’s strengths, you’ll naturally attract the right audience who’s already interested in what you’re teaching. The best part? You don’t need to “sell” them on it—they’re already searching for solutions!
Setting Up Your Pinterest Sales Funnel: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Optimize Your Pinterest Profile
Your profile is like your Pinterest business card. Make sure it’s clear, professional, and aligned with your course topic. Add a concise bio, link to your course landing page, and organize your boards to reflect your course content.
Step 2: Craft High-Converting Pins
Your pins need to grab attention and communicate the value of your course. Make them visually appealing with bright colors, clear text, and strong calls to action. Don’t forget to use keywords in your pin descriptions to help your pins get discovered in search. Test out different designs and headlines to figure out what works best for you.
Step 3: Drive Traffic with Lead Magnets, Blog Content, and Direct Sales Page Links
Using Lead Magnets to Attract Potential Buyers:
Offer a valuable lead magnet (like a free eBook, checklist, or mini-course) related to your online course. This preview will give potential students a taste of what’s to come. Create pins that link to a landing page where people can grab your freebie and join your email list. From there, you can nurture them with valuable content and guide them toward buying your full course.
Directly Linking to Your Sales Page:
Don’t forget to create pins that link directly to your sales page. This works well for people who are already familiar with your content or those who are ready to buy. Design pins that highlight the course’s benefits and use strong CTAs like “Enroll Now” or “Start Your Journey Today.”
"Pinterest isn’t just for driving blog traffic (although it’s great for that too). I started pinning directly to affiliate products, landing pages, and digital products—and saw instant income growth...
Combining direct pin-to-product with pin-to-blog strategies was a total game changer.
If you’re strategic about how and when to use direct links, you can make a serious income with just a few high-performing pins." - Taylor Stanford
Leveraging Blog Content to Drive Traffic:
Write blog posts that dive deep into topics related to your course. In these posts, include Pinterest-optimized images with links to your lead magnets or sales page. The combination of blog content and Pinterest will help you reach more potential students, while providing tons of value along the way.
Create a Pinterest Board Around Your Course Topic:
Create a Pinterest board that focuses on your course theme. For example, if your course teaches digital marketing, curate a board with valuable resources on marketing tips, tools, and strategies. Include pins that lead directly to your lead magnets or course sales page, and keep your followers engaged with related content.
Promote Testimonials and Case Studies:
Social proof is one of the most powerful tools in marketing. Share testimonials, success stories, or case studies from students who have taken your course. Create pins featuring these stories and link them directly to your course sales page.
"I recently joined a high ticket program after a case study I came across on Pinterest. It completely drew me in, I was instantly obsessed with the results in the case study, and wanted those results for myself, too." - Amanda Hamilton, Just Add Your Brand
Step 4: Build a Sales Funnel Using Pinterest
This can truly be so simple:
- Pin > Blog (also promotes a digital product) > Sales Page
- Pin > Sales Page
- Pin > Lead Magnet Opt-In > Email Sequence > Sales Page
Introvert-Friendly Marketing Mindset
Staying Authentic: It’s important to stay true to yourself while selling your course. Focus on offering value and sharing your expertise—this doesn’t require being loud or over-the-top.
Quiet Marketing Doesn’t Mean No Marketing: Just because you’re not shouting about your course doesn’t mean it’s not effective. Quiet marketing can be powerful when done right.
Avoiding Overwhelm: Embrace the calm, steady pace of an automated sales funnel. You don’t need to rush or hustle—let the funnel work for you.
Final Thoughts
Pinterest gives introverts the chance to create a low-pressure, passive sales funnel for their online course. With a little setup and some strategic pinning, you can generate consistent leads and sales, all without feeling overwhelmed.
Remember, the quiet approach works. Pinterest allows you to market your course in a way that feels natural, authentic, and completely aligned with who you are as an introverted creator.
- Tags: Course Creation