Pinterest is changing — fast. Today, I’m walking you through what’s happening on the platform right now, how I’m adapting my content strategy, and how I’m using tools like Harpa and Ideogram to make better pins that actually perform.
Why I Paused My Pinterest Strategy
At first, my Pinterest account was growing steadily. Then I took a break — no new content, no fresh pins — and it definitely hurt my momentum. Pinterest thrives on consistency. When I stopped feeding it, the rhythm broke.
I’ve always been honest: Pinterest was a test project for me. I wasn’t just pinning for fun — I was experimenting.
- Could AI help me blog and monetize faster?
- Could we build successful sites without traditional SEO?
I wasn’t building a “made-for-AdSense” site, but I did create a lot of listicles — because that’s what still works on Pinterest.
What’s Happening with Pinterest + AI Right Now
Suddenly, reports started flooding in:
- Accounts stopped growing
- Traffic dropped
- Pinterest began labeling lots of content as “AI-generated”
That made me pause.
If Pinterest was going to push back on AI content, was it even worth investing heavy time there?
Meanwhile, Mediavine (an ad network) started cutting off sites they considered “made-for-AdSense” — especially those heavy on listicles. Even though my site wasn’t technically one of those, it made me rethink my blog formats.
Why I Came Back to Pinterest Anyway
After taking a break — and working on my TikTok business — I decided to check back in.
I turned Google AdSense back on and guess what?
I made more money with AdSense than I ever did with Mediavine.
Here’s where I’m at:
- 6.34 million monthly Pinterest views (likely would have been 10M without the break)
- Earning about $500/month between ads and affiliate links
Is it life-changing money? No.
Is it enough to ignore? Also no.
And I still believe it can grow way bigger.
How I’m Evolving My Blog and Content Strategy
I’m a blogger at heart. I love sitting at my desk, brainstorming blog ideas, and analyzing what’s working. But blogging isn’t the same as it used to be.
- Search traffic isn’t as reliable.
- Ad networks are shifting.
- AI content is everywhere.
Still, blogs serve a purpose:
- Affiliate sales (like countertop reverse osmosis systems!)
- Brand building
- Future sponsorship opportunities
That’s why I’m keeping blogging in my mix — but smarter.
Using Harpa + ChatGPT for Smarter Blogging
Here’s my new workflow:
- Open Harpa on a blog traffic page (like my Ballen Blogger site).
- Ask Harpa to list all my top-performing blogs from yesterday.
- Analyze the most popular categories.
- Ask ChatGPT for 10 new blog post ideas based on those insights.
- Narrow it down — add seasonal twists, niche spins, and creative angles.
Example:
Instead of just “Spring Porch Decor,” I pushed for something unique and landed on “Windchime Wonderland: How to Create DIY Windchimes for Spring” — way more interesting!
Creating Better Pinterest Pins with Ideogram
I’m using Ideogram (with prompts powered by Harpa) to create:
- More realistic, lived-in looking images
- Natural shadows and textures
- Pins that look like I actually took them with my phone
Why?
Because overly polished “magazine-style” images don’t perform as well on Pinterest anymore. Authentic wins.
I also generate separate Pinterest pins for each blog subheading and schedule them out a week apart using Tailwind.
My Final Thoughts on Pinterest (For Now)
- Pinterest still works — especially for blog traffic and affiliate sales.
- The platform is changing — you need to evolve your strategies with it.
- Consistency and creativity still win over perfect SEO.
For me, Pinterest remains an exciting playground for testing, learning, and earning money — even if it’s just one piece of my larger digital marketing strategy.
Get 10 actionable ChatGPT prompts to create viral blog posts, pins, and idea pins!
https://stan.store/loriballen/p/the-fast-track-to-pinterest-traffic
Upgrade to the Ultimate Pinterest Growth Prompt Pack
Unlock 50 done-for-you prompts to take your Pinterest strategy even further — just $27!
https://stan.store/loriballen/p/the-ultimate-pinterest-growth-prompt-pack
Join Blueprint Coaching
Want full access to my trainings, templates, and live coaching to build your brand and income?
https://ballenblueprint.com
Prompt Store: https://stan.store/loriballen
