woman with grey sweater and black pants in a grey chair.

Kate Ahl, CEO Simple Pin Media, and KateAhl.com

I first started on Pinterest when it was invite-only back in 2011. I waited 3 weeks for my invite. 

Once on the platform, I was really confused and didn’t think it stood a chance of surviving. I was wrong.

Then in 2013 sitting at a friend’s table I was broke, living on food stamps wondering how we would pay our mortgage. In despair, my friend suggested that I start providing Pinterest management services. I told her she was crazy and she told me I had no other options. She was right. 

I bought the domain simplepinmedia.com in November of 2013 and invested the last of our savings into building a super simple website. 

Three beta clients agreed to start services with me in January of 2014. I told them that if it didn’t work out we would just forget the whole thing ever happened. 

Well, they didn’t want to forget it, they wanted to tell their friends. 

Three clients turned into 5, 6, 7, and then 9. Whoa, I was maxed out and didn’t know what to do next. Sure, I had simple systems but what I really had was a sweet spot in the marketing. Either I grabbed on real tight and made it work or I stayed small. 

I’m not the type to stay small. 

Under distress when my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the summer of 2014, I hired my first team member. (She’s still on my team!)

We sat in a grocery store cafe and I explained what I did. Then I asked her if she was in for this crazy ride. She said yes and the leadership bug was ignited in me that day.

There’s a ton in between then and now that is a super cool part of the story. I’ve recorded it all in a podcast, including how I went through a very traumatic foster care experience right at the height of the growth of my company. 

Here are the episodes I suggest you listen to:

The Start of Simple Pin Media

How to Build a Team

Going through a crisis while growing a business

Lessons learned over the last 8 years

I’ve worked with over 700 Pinterest accounts, taught thousands how to do Pinterest and I still love the platform despite its changes. I really believe that Pinterest is one of the best resources for businesses to use to grow their awareness and reach. 

You can learn more about our services here.

And if you’re not ready to hire, you can learn more about our products so you can do Pinterest on your own.

Obviously, I don’t eat, breathe and sleep Pinterest. Here’s a bit more about me outside of Simple Pin:

:: I have one husband (almost 20 years, baby!) and three kids (2 girls and a boy, they are now all teenagers. Plus, one foster daughter).

:: I love eating out at fun funky restaurants (good thing I like in Portland, Oregon) but HATE buffets.

:: My oldest daughter is a Type 1 diabetic diagnosed at 8. 

:: I hate movies. Just another way to be emotionally manipulated into crying my face off. Give me all the non-emotional government dramas. West Wing, anyone?

:: I grew up on a farm with cows, chickens, llamas, and small trees. I know a lot about tree seedlings. My parents are still wondering when one of us is going to take over the family business. Never gonna happen.

:: I’m proof that you can take a small idea and turn it into a full-fledged business that supports your family. 

Are you ready to get serious about your Pinterest strategy? 

Here’s how we can help:

Podcast — Subscribe here!

Blog — If you prefer reading. Use the search bar to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Products — We like to make these simple.

Services — We have something for every need and budget.

If you’d like to learn more about how to grow and scale an agency, visit kateahl.com for more information.