Pinterest in 2026: Cold Traffic, AI Slop, and Smarter Search with Kate Ahl

Pinterest has changed a lot over the years, and if you still think of it as the place where people save wedding inspo and recipes, it may be time for a little refresh.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Ahl of Simple Pin Media to talk about what’s actually working on Pinterest in 2026. We get into why Pinterest is still one of the best platforms for cold traffic, how users are searching and saving content right now, and what business owners need to know before adding Pinterest to their marketing strategy.

Kate breaks down why Pinterest is a slower-moving platform, what metrics matter most, and how to think about images, keywords, video, and ads without turning this into a full-time job. Bless.

We also talk about the AI situation on Pinterest, including AI-generated images, Pinterest’s AI labels and filters, and how AI is being used more thoughtfully inside ad tools and product visuals. Plus, Kate shares how she’s using AI in her own agency while still protecting the human strategy, creative judgment, and experience that make her work valuable.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why Pinterest is a strong cold traffic platform in 2026

How Pinterest users behave differently from Instagram and TikTok users

The two Pinterest metrics Kate recommends watching closely

What makes a strong Pinterest image today

How often business owners should actually be pinning

Where keywords matter on Pinterest

The current role of video on Pinterest

How Pinterest is handling AI-generated content

What to know about Pinterest ads and Performance Plus

How Kate is marketing her own business through Google, YouTube, Pinterest, email, and podcasting

What marketers can learn from choosing the platforms that match their energy

Kate’s quick action step is a good one: open the Pinterest app on your phone and use it like an actual person. Notice what catches your attention, what annoys you, what makes you click, and what makes you immediately back away from a website because there are approximately 175 pop-ups trying to ruin your day.

Because yes, sometimes the best marketing research is remembering that real humans are on the other side of the screen.