Let’s talk about something no one told you when you started your online business: you might be ignoring the most powerful platform for driving traffic—and no, it’s not Instagram. In fact, Pinterest > Instagram might be the traffic strategy you’re missing.
In this episode of INHABIT, I sat down with Melissa Lunt, the visionary behind Superhero Design Co, to unpack how she built a $200,000 template business using Pinterest as her primary marketing engine. Yep, Pinterest > Instagram—and this conversation will show you exactly why.
If you’re burned out from the constant demand of social media, wondering why your efforts aren’t converting, or simply curious how someone scales without being glued to their phone—this one’s for you.
How can female entrepreneurs grow their businesses without burning out on social media?
Melissa built her passive income empire selling Canva and Showit templates with an evergreen traffic source: Pinterest. And here’s the kicker—many of her viral pins were posted six months prior. Meanwhile, on Instagram? You’re lucky if your content gets traction after six hours.
Her story is a breath of fresh air in a space that often tells women to hustle harder. Instead, she shows us how to build smarter.
Why Pinterest > Instagram (and What That Actually Means)
Pinterest is not a social media platform. It’s a search engine. And that distinction matters.
While Instagram relies on engagement algorithms and constant output, Pinterest works like Google. It rewards consistency, quality visuals, and strong keywords—not virality or timing.
Melissa said it best:
“You can pin something and six months later, it goes viral. You’re still getting ROI from that pin—and it took five minutes.”
The real magic?
Pinterest brings traffic to your website, not to your DMs. That means you’re building something sustainable. You’re playing long game strategy, not short game dopamine.
The Real ROI of Evergreen Marketing
If you’ve ever felt like content creation is a full-time job, this strategy is for you.
Melissa’s workflow looks more like a CEO than a content hamster. Here’s how she maximizes her time:
- Repurposes existing templates and screenshots into hundreds of pins
- Uses AI to generate keyword-optimized descriptions
- Tests different pin variations with small ad spends
- Promotes freebies first to build momentum and SEO trust
The result?
A marketing engine that works while she sleeps (or changes diapers).
“It’s not just about making money while you sleep,” Melissa said. “It’s about creating something that keeps giving back—without giving all of you.”
The Hidden Power of SEO, Templates, and Focus
We also dug into the underestimated power of SEO—and how Melissa and I both saw real ROI from our websites. I shared the story of a woman who found my Sedona Writing Retreat just by Googling “women’s writing retreat Sedona.” She booked without a single call.
That’s the power of visibility that works while you’re off the grid.
Melissa also had wisdom for anyone feeling overwhelmed with where to start:
“Pick one thing. Focus all your energy on that offer. Test, refine, promote. Then move on.”
No fluff. Just what works.
Pinterest Traffic Strategy: 5 Quick Wins to Get Started
Want to try this for yourself? Here are 5 steps Melissa recommends:
- Start with a freebie: Pin it to build traffic and boost your SEO trust
- Design visually appealing pins: Use Canva or pre-made branding kits
- Use keyword-rich descriptions: Think like your audience searches
- Test pin variations: Run $5–10 ad tests to find your winner
- Focus on evergreen content: Build assets, not just posts
“You should be making one piece of content that turns into 100 assets,” Melissa explained. “Pinterest makes that scale possible.”
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why Pinterest is a better long-term traffic source than Instagram
- How Melissa built a 6-figure business with templates and SEO
- Actionable Pinterest marketing tips for digital product creators
- The mindset shift from hustling to compounding
- How to build trust and visibility without showing up constantly
Whether you’re…
…a high-achieving woman tired of hustling for visibility, or a creative entrepreneur ready to scale with ease, this episode gives you a smarter, soul-aligned strategy. It’s time to stop chasing the algorithm—and start building a business that honors your energy, your vision, and your life.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of INHABIT with Alessia Citro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
This blog post was generated by AI. Want to learn how I do this in 5 minutes or less? I teach this and more in The Audio Authority Blueprint Podcast [Systems Only] program. Click here to learn more.
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