How to Track Your Pinterest Growth (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)
Share
You’re posting consistently. You’re experimenting with new ideas. Maybe you’ve even seen a few viral spikes that made you feel on top of the world for a day or two. But when you open Pinterest Analytics, it’s just a blur of numbers — impressions, clicks, saves — and it’s hard to know what any of it actually means.
That’s exactly where I was when I started. I’d check my analytics every few weeks (or every 5 minutes), get excited or disappointed depending on what I saw, and then move on without really understanding why it was happening.
Then one day, I started tracking my numbers week by week. Nothing fancy — just a simple spreadsheet. And within a few weeks, I started noticing patterns that completely changed how I approached Pinterest.
Why Tracking Pinterest Analytics Matters
Pinterest can feel unpredictable, but the truth is, it’s quietly predictable if you’re watching the right things.
Here’s why keeping a simple tracker can change everything:
-
You’ll see trends instead of isolated moments. One “bad” day doesn’t feel like a failure when you can see steady growth over time.
-
You’ll spot what’s actually working. Maybe your audience loves your tutorial pins but scrolls past product ones — now you can prove it.
-
You’ll stay motivated. When you see numbers rise — even a little — it reminds you that consistency really does pay off.
-
You’ll make smarter time decisions. No more guessing which content deserves effort. The data will tell you.
The Metrics That Actually Matter
Pinterest gives you a lot of data, but not all of it tells a useful story. Focus on these four:
-
Impressions – How many times your pin was shown.
-
Pin Clicks – How many people opened your pin to look closer.
- Outbound Clicks – How many people actually followed your link (this is the gold).
- CTR (Click-Through Rate) – The percentage of viewers who clicked through. This one shows how effective your design and headline really are.
When you track all four, you’ll see the full picture — not just how many people saw your content, but how many actually engaged.
How to Start Tracking Your Data
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a data analyst. My process takes less than ten minutes a week.
Once a week, I:
- Open my Pinterest Analytics.
-
Write down my impressions, pin clicks, outbound clicks, and CTR.
- Compare the numbers to the previous week.
That’s it. Small habit, big clarity.
To make it easier (and honestly, prettier), I built a Pinterest Performance Tracker — a Google Sheets template that does the math for you. It automatically calculates your CTR and helps you visualize your progress without any formulas or confusion.
How to Use What You Learn
Tracking is only helpful if you use what you find.
Here’s how I read my data now:
- If impressions go up but clicks don’t, I test new headlines or thumbnails.
- If CTR goes up, I double down on that pin style — it’s resonating.
- If a week is slower, I don’t panic. I just note it and move on — one data point doesn’t define the trend.
Over time, these small insights stack into a real strategy that’s based on facts, not feelings.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to post more or work harder to grow on Pinterest — you just need to understand what’s already working.
Tracking your growth gives you control over your strategy, confidence in your progress, and a clearer picture of your audience than any viral pin ever could.
Start simple. Be consistent. And celebrate the small numbers — they always lead to big wins. 🌿
💻 Want to make tracking easy? You can grab the exact Pinterest Performance Tracker I use right here on Etsy. It’s editable in Google Sheets and ready to go the moment you download it!
