Starting Somewhere Different: How Clarity Changed the Way I Approach Pinterest Strategy

For years, I would jump straight into Pinterest strategy with clients — boards, pins, keywords, all the moving parts.

And honestly? It worked… but not as well as I wanted it to.

Something shifted when I began starting somewhere different: not with promotion… but with clarity.

Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from my mentor, Pia Silva. Her new book, SCALE SOLO, explores how experts can build meaningful, sustainable businesses by simplifying their approach and focusing on what truly matters. The Impact Map is my Pinterest-centered adaptation of Pia’s Lead Product framework — a philosophy she shares throughout the book — and I’m cheering her on during this launch because I believe deeply in her message, not just in theory, but because I’ve seen its impact firsthand.

As I began applying what I was learning to my own work, something remarkable happened. Instead of trying to promote an author’s work right away, I started slowing down long enough to understand the heart of their message first. And suddenly, I was able to hone in on an author’s core themes, audience, and purpose faster — and more clearly — than ever before.

That shift eventually became what I now call the Impact Map — a starting place that helps authors see the full shape of their work before we ever create a single pin.

What happens when we start with clarity

Over time, I’ve noticed something fascinating. When we begin with clarity, the entire Pinterest process feels different — calmer, more focused, and far more meaningful for both of us.

Here’s what I’ve discovered happens inside the Impact Map:

• We begin with conversation, not promotion.

  • The process starts with a 90-minute conversation — and yes, we talk about the project. But we also talk about the bigger picture: your hopes for your work, the impact you want to have, the readers you want to reach, and the space you hope to occupy in the literary world. Because authors aren’t just promoting books. They’re building legacies.

• The strategy becomes clear from the very beginning.

  • After our conversation, I create a detailed marketing roadmap grounded entirely in what already exists on your website — your content, your voice, and your body of work. Instead of discovering possibilities months into working together, everything becomes visible up front: where your content naturally fits on Pinterest, what opportunities already exist, and where growth can happen next. No guesswork. No murky middle. Just clarity.

• We connect your evergreen work to real reader behavior.

  • One of my favorite parts of the process is exploring how an author’s evergreen content aligns with Pinterest trends and seasonal searches. Sometimes we discover beautiful opportunities already waiting to be shared. Other times, we uncover ideas for new content that readers are actively searching for — allowing your work to meet them at exactly the right moment.

• A true partnership begins.

  • Perhaps most importantly, the Impact Map creates space for trust to grow. By the time we move forward, we understand one another — the work, the goals, and the vision behind it all. The project stops feeling like a service and starts feeling like a collaboration. And that changes everything.

If you’ve ever wondered how your work might live and grow on Pinterest — or if you’ve felt unsure where to begin — the Impact Map is where we start.

It’s not about jumping straight into promotion. It’s about stepping back long enough to see the full picture of your work, your message, and the readers who are already looking for what you create.

The Impact Map interview is simply a conversation — a thoughtful starting place where clarity comes first and strategy grows from there.

If that sounds like something you’ve been needing, I’d love to invite you to consider scheduling an Impact Map interview.

Before I close, I want to give credit where it’s truly due.

Working alongside Pia Silva these past two years has changed the way I think about strategy, service, and the role clarity plays in creative work. Her philosophy — that simplicity and intention create freedom — helped me slow down, ask better questions, and ultimately build a process that serves authors more deeply.

Supporting the launch of SCALE SOLO feels personal to me because I’ve watched these ideas transform real businesses and real people, myself included.

Here’s to clarity, meaningful work, and stories that keep finding their readers.