Anytime Pinterest releases a new program, like the new Verified Merchant program, I try to watch from the sidelines for a bit before jumping in full-force. As a fact-finder, I prefer to stick to my predetermined podcast schedule and do my research before releasing content on the topic. 

But since I know that many of you have had problems figuring out Pinterest catalogs, I decided to go ahead and release this bonus episode to help you with everything you need to know about that, and the Verified Merchant Program, instead of waiting until it neatly fit into the schedule.

And since one of my favorite people, Julianne from The Garter Girl, shared her experience online about trying to get approved for the Verified Merchant program, (and some of the bumps in the road she went through in the process) I knew she would be the perfect person to come on with me to talk about it. 

I’m going to warn you- this isn’t like my usual episodes. It’s a real conversation, with real kid noises in the background. (Hey, it’s quarantine; don’t judge.) 

But the value here is high. Julianne and I talk about how to get your products on Pinterest through the Verified Merchant Program, what we see on mobile vs desktop, and what Julianne experienced trying to connect Shopify and Pinterest. 

So, if you’ve been feeling frustrated trying to figure out how to set up Pinterest catalogs and how to get yourself approved for the Verified Merchant Program, listen in, because I guarantee you’ll be encouraged before it’s over!

What Is the Verified Merchant Program?

Because Julianne is in the wedding space, her business has ground to a complete halt over the past few weeks as weddings are postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, since she had some time on her hands, and since she has been wanting to figure out how to set up Pinterest catalogs, she decided now would be a perfect time. 

And while she was in the middle of that process, Pinterest launched their Verified Merchant Program. So, she applied for that as well. And she ultimately got approved. But not before wanting to throw her computer through a window. 

The first thing she noticed after approval was that she now has a blue, Verified Merchant checkmark by her name. And in addition to her Activity tab and her Community tab, she now has a Shop tab, along with the typical Boards tab and Pins tab. 

How Pinterest Catalogs Intersect with Verified Merchants

If you click on the Shop tab, you can see all of Julianne’s products. And to the best of Julianne’s knowledge, this is her Pinterest catalog. 

Pinterest said they want the pinner to have easy access to the products they see in pins, and to be able to get more information about those products. 

On the seller side of things, it’s not clear to Julianne what changes have been made, if any. This seems to be consistent with any new program that Pinterest releases; it takes us a month or more to figure out how it benefits us as marketers or what changes it brings about on our end. 

Julianne got the catalog function up and running first, and then applied for the Verified Merchant Program. It took approximately 24 hours for her to be approved. 

The Requirements to Be Approved as a Pinterest Verified Merchant

If you go to the page on Pinterest to apply for the Verified Merchant program, you will see that there are some