A Strategic Vision for Pinterest’s Future

A Case Study in Shopping, Booking, and Bringing the Platform Back to Life

There was a moment I sat in front of my Pinterest board and realized something that felt oddly frustrating. I don’t actually do anything with the things I save. They just sit there.

That realization was my starting point. I kept thinking, what could Pinterest be doing better? How can this platform bridge the gap between inspiration and action? I wasn’t trying to come up with just any feature. I wanted to solve a real user problem. And I also wanted to understand what Pinterest, as a company, is trying to achieve. Because what’s the point of any product idea if it doesn’t benefit the business too?

So I went deep. Not just into Pinterest as a product, but into how people interact with it, how creators engage with it, and how the business makes money from it.

The Problem: People Love Pinterest, But It’s Not Doing Enough

Pinterest is one of those rare places where people still go to feel inspired. It’s not TikTok, Instagram, or Amazon. It’s quieter, more visual, more creative. And that’s what makes it special.

But when I started reflecting on how I actually use Pinterest, and listening to what others were saying, I saw a clear gap. People save content but rarely act on it. Pins just sit there.

Shopping technically exists on the platform, but users don’t trust the links. They feel disjointed. There’s no clear legitimacy or assurance. And users aren’t visiting Pinterest with the mindset of buying right away. They’re there to gather ideas. To visualize and plan.

And when it comes time to take action on those ideas, Pinterest doesn’t really help.

I also started digging into community feedback. Long-time users are noticing a shift. Many feel the platform is trying too hard to sell and losing what made it special in the first place. Some even compared it to Amazon, and not in a good way.

That’s when I realized Pinterest doesn’t need to do more of the same. It needs to rethink how it helps people act on their inspiration without losing its soul.

My First Instinct: Fix Shopping

At first, I thought the answer was simple. Pinterest just needed to improve its shopping features. The ability to buy products is already there. But right now, it’s clunky. You click a link and suddenly you're redirected to a random site with no clear protection or flow. It doesn’t feel like Pinterest anymore.

I imagined something cleaner. A more thoughtful experience.

Let’s say a beauty influencer uploads a video. Underneath it, you see the exact products they used — foundation, lipstick, lashes, whatever. But not in a generic block of text. This would be a scrollable, beautifully designed product list. Each item would feel native to the Pinterest aesthetic. You could click to buy one or tap Add All to Cart.

This doesn’t make Pinterest Amazon. It keeps the platform inspiring but helps people take the next step more easily.

Yes, Pinterest already has affiliate links. But this would feel different. Curated. Legitimate. Verified. It would encourage creators to post more because there’s real earning potential, and it would give users the confidence to buy because the platform itself would help verify quality.

Then I Took It Further: What If It’s Not Just Products?

The more I sat with this idea, the more I realized it wasn’t just about buying things. It was about doing things.

Pinterest isn’t just about beauty products or clothes. It’s about starting projects. Planning a wedding. Redesigning your space. Reworking your wardrobe. Changing your hair.

People come to Pinterest at the beginning of a creative journey. But then what?

Right now, there’s no way to follow through. There’s no clear path to action.

So I asked: What if Pinterest helped you book the people who could bring your pins to life?

The Bigger Vision: Connecting Inspiration, Shopping, and Services

That’s when the vision became clear. It’s not just about commerce. It’s about helping people execute on their inspiration. That means rethinking how products and services are offered on Pinterest and doing it the Pinterest way.

1. Clean, Beautiful Shopping Integration

• Creators tag the exact products used in their content.

• Products appear below in an aesthetic, scrollable list.

• Users can tap to buy one or Add All to Cart.

• Products are either linked via verified affiliates or through Pinterest brand partners.

• Verified links are marked clearly. Suspicious ones are filtered out or warned.

• Creators earn. Pinterest earns. Users trust what they see.

This keeps inspiration at the forefront while allowing action in a seamless, non-intrusive way.

2. Booking Services with Creators

Here’s where it gets really exciting.

• A nail design you love? Book the artist.

• A room layout that speaks to you? Hire the interior designer.

• A beauty look you saved? Book the actual makeup artist.

Let creators build portfolios directly on Pinterest. Let users browse those portfolios, read reviews, see prices, and book directly. This could start with a small pilot focused on beauty and design, with creators opting in.

Pinterest wouldn’t need to become a marketplace like Amazon. It would simply offer a new layer of utility that matches the natural path of its users.

3. Keeping Pinterest, Pinterest

This was important to me.

The core of Pinterest is inspiration. And that must stay intact.

So these features — shopping and booking — should be optional layers. Subtle, beautiful, and non-obtrusive. Verified creators, trustworthy links, and no cluttered "shop now" buttons that scream e-commerce.

Pinterest can become more powerful without becoming something else entirely.

Why This Strategy Works

This approach supports all three sides of the Pinterest ecosystem.

For Users:They go from saving ideas to actually doing something with them. With trust and confidence.

For Creators:They can now earn more from their content — either through affiliate revenue or services.

For Pinterest:The company gains two new revenue streams: verified affiliate shopping and service bookings. It keeps people on the app longer, improves content quality, and aligns with its mission.

What I’d Test Next

• A “Shop the Look” pilot with top creators

• A service booking pilot with makeup artists, stylists, and designers

• A verified affiliate program that flags safe product links

• Creator tools for managing portfolios, bookings, and tagged products

• Metrics around conversion from pin to action

  
  
  
  

Final Thought

Pinterest doesn’t need to reinvent itself. It needs to recommit to what made it powerful: being a place to imagine and plan.

But imagination without action is empty. And users are craving more.

This concept allows Pinterest to close the gap — between saving and doing, between planning and purchasing, between dreaming and building.

It keeps inspiration at the center, but invites the next step in.That’s how Pinterest becomes the platform that truly brings ideas to life.

— Donna Louissaint

Brand & Product Strategist