June 25, 2026
If you’re a small business owner, you probably know how challenging it can be to attract new customers online while juggling everything else that comes with running a business. That’s why Pinterest’s latest announcement is worth paying attention to.
The platform has unveiled two new artificial intelligence-powered advertising tools designed specifically to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) get better results from their marketing efforts without needing a huge budget or a team of advertising experts.
As social media platforms continue to compete for advertising revenue, Pinterest is focusing on making its platform more accessible and effective for smaller businesses. The latest additions build on its existing Performance+ suite, which uses AI to automate and optimise advertising campaigns.
Finding More New Customers
One of the biggest challenges for any business is finding new customers. While it’s great to encourage repeat purchases from existing customers, growth often depends on reaching people who haven’t bought from you before.
Pinterest’s new Performance+ New Customer Acquisition (NCA) tool is designed to do exactly that.
The feature allows businesses to upload information about their existing customer base. Pinterest’s AI then analyses that data to identify common characteristics, interests, and behaviours. Using this information, the platform can find and target users who are likely to be interested in your products or services but haven’t yet purchased from you.
The system also gives advertisers more control over their spending. Businesses can decide how much value they want to place on acquiring new customers and adjust their campaigns accordingly. This means your advertising budget can be focused on attracting fresh leads rather than simply reaching people who already know your brand.
According to Pinterest, early testing produced impressive results, with businesses seeing an average 64% increase in new customer conversions. While results will vary depending on the industry and audience, it’s a promising indication of how AI can help businesses target the right people more effectively.
Simpler Shopping Campaigns for Shopify Users
Pinterest’s second announcement will be particularly welcome news for Shopify merchants.
Creating advertising campaigns can often feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the technical side of digital marketing. Pinterest hopes to remove some of that complexity with its new one-click Performance+ shopping campaigns.
Eligible Shopify users can now launch a Pinterest shopping campaign directly from their Shopify account using pre-built campaign templates. These templates have been designed using Pinterest’s recommended best practices and are ready to go with minimal setup.
Rather than spending hours configuring campaign settings, businesses can quickly launch a campaign with many of the optimisation features already enabled by default.
For busy business owners, this could save valuable time while also helping to improve campaign performance.
Why Pinterest Is Investing in AI
Like many social media platforms, Pinterest is looking for new ways to grow its advertising revenue. The company recently reported lower-than-expected revenue growth, prompting a stronger focus on expanding its advertising opportunities.
Part of that strategy involves increasing its presence in international markets, but Pinterest is also placing greater emphasis on attracting small and medium-sized businesses.
This makes sense. SMBs represent a huge market, and many are looking for cost-effective ways to reach new customers online. By simplifying advertising and using AI to improve targeting, Pinterest hopes to make its platform a more attractive option for businesses of all sizes.
What This Means for Small Businesses
The introduction of these tools highlights a growing trend across digital marketing: artificial intelligence is making sophisticated advertising techniques more accessible than ever before.
Features that once required specialist knowledge or significant advertising budgets are increasingly being automated, allowing smaller businesses to compete more effectively online.
For businesses already using Pinterest, these updates could provide an easier way to expand their reach and attract new customers. For those who haven’t explored Pinterest advertising yet, now may be a good time to see what the platform can offer.
Of course, while AI tools can help improve campaign performance, they work best when combined with a clear social media strategy, engaging content, and a good understanding of your audience.
That’s where expert support can make all the difference.
Need Help Managing Your Social Media?
Keeping up with social media trends, creating content, running advertising campaigns, and analysing results can quickly become a full-time job. If you’re struggling to find the time or simply want to get more from your social media marketing, our team is here to help.
From content creation and community management to paid advertising and social media strategy, we can help you build a stronger online presence and connect with the right audience.
Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can take the stress out of social media management and help your business grow.