Pinterest Best Practices

1. Optimizing Your Pinterest Profile

Profile Bio

• Character Limit: Pinterest allows up to 160 characters for your bio.
• Best Practices:
  • Clear Description: Clearly describe your brand, business, or blog. Explain what you offer and what users can expect from your content.
  • Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords to improve searchability. This helps Pinterest’s algorithm understand your niche and display your profile in relevant searches.
  • Call to Action (CTA): Include a compelling CTA to encourage profile visitors to take action (e.g., “Visit our website for more tips!” or “Shop our latest collection now.”).
  • Website Link: Add your website URL to your profile to drive direct traffic. Ensure your website is claimed on Pinterest for access to analytics and additional features.

Profile Picture and Cover

• Profile Picture:
  • Use a high-quality logo or a professional headshot to represent your brand or personal identity.
• Cover Image:
  • Customize your cover image by showcasing featured boards or selecting specific content that reflects your brand aesthetic.

2. How Often Should You Post?

Consistency is Key

• Recommended Frequency: Aim to pin at least 1-3 times per day.
• Variety:
  • Mix original content with curated content relevant to your audience.
• Scheduling Tools:
  • Use Pinterest’s native scheduling feature or third-party tools like Tailwind to plan and automate your pinning schedule.

Why Consistency Matters

• Algorithm Preference: Pinterest’s algorithm favors consistent activity, which can increase your content’s visibility.
• Audience Engagement: Regular pinning keeps your audience engaged and encourages them to return for more content.

3. What Should You Post?

Content Types

• Static Pins:
  • Vertical Images: Optimal aspect ratio is 2:3 (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels).
  • High-Quality Photos: Use clear, well-lit images that are relevant to your content.
• Video Pins:
  • Engaging Videos: Videos can be up to 15 minutes long, but shorter videos (6-15 seconds) often perform better.
  • Captions: Include text overlays or captions, as videos autoplay without sound.
• Idea Pins (formerly Story Pins):
  • Multi-Page Content: Combine images, videos, text, and links in a single pin.
  • Interactive Elements: Great for tutorials, recipes, or step-by-step guides.
• Carousel Pins:
  • Multiple Images: Showcase multiple images in a single pin that users can swipe through.

Content Strategy

• Repurpose Content:
  • Adapt content from other platforms to fit Pinterest’s format and audience.
• Brand Consistency:
  • Use consistent colors, fonts, and imagery to reinforce brand recognition.
• Seasonal and Trending Topics:
  • Create content around holidays, seasons, or trending topics relevant to your niche. 

4. Optimizing Your Pins

Pin Design Best Practices

• Vertical Orientation:
  • Stick to the 2:3 aspect ratio to ensure your pins display correctly.
• Eye-Catching Images:
  • Use high-resolution images with vibrant colors and clear focus.
• Text Overlay:
  • Add concise and readable text overlays to convey the main message.
  • Use legible fonts and ensure text contrasts with the background.

Pin Descriptions

• Character Limit: Up to 500 characters.
• Best Practices:
  • Relevant Keywords: Incorporate keywords naturally to improve search ranking.
  • Detailed Descriptions: Provide context and details about the content or product.
  • Call to Action: Encourage users to take the next step (e.g., “Click to read more,” “Shop now,” “Download the guide”).
  • Emojis: Use emojis sparingly to draw attention or convey emotion.

Hashtags

• Usage:
  • As of recent updates, Pinterest deprioritizes hashtags. Instead, focus on keywords within your description.
• Recommendation:
  • If you use hashtags, limit them to 1-2 relevant ones, but prioritizing keywords is more effective.

Linking

• Destination URL:
  • Ensure your pins link to a relevant and high-quality landing page.
  • Check that all links are functional and lead to the intended content.
• Rich Pins:
  • Enable Rich Pins to pull additional information from your website to your pins (e.g., product details, recipe ingredients).
  • Types of Rich Pins include Product, Recipe, Article, App, and Movie Pins.

5. Board Optimization

Create Relevant Boards

• Board Titles:
  • Use clear, descriptive titles with relevant keywords.
• Board Descriptions:
  • Provide detailed descriptions using keywords to improve discoverability.
• Organize Content:
  • Group similar pins together to make it easy for users to find related content.

Featured Boards

• Highlight Key Boards:
  • Feature up to five boards at the top of your profile to showcase your best content.

6. Engage with the Pinterest Community

Interact with Other Users

• Repin Quality Content:
  • Share valuable content from others to provide more value to your followers.
• Comments and Messages:
  • Engage with users by responding to comments and messages.
• Follow Relevant Accounts:
  • Follow influencers, brands, and users in your niche to stay updated and build relationships.

Encourage User-Generated Content

• Collaborative Boards:
  • Create group boards to collaborate with other users.
• Contests and Challenges:
  • Host Pinterest contests to encourage users to create and share content related to your brand. 

7. Utilize Pinterest Analytics

Monitor Performance

• Pinterest Analytics:
  • Use built-in analytics to track impressions, saves, clicks, and overall engagement.
• Key Metrics:
  • Impressions: How often your pins are seen.
  • Engagements: Total interactions (saves, clicks, close-ups).
  • Outbound Clicks: Number of times users clicked to your website.
  • Top Performing Pins: Identify which content resonates most with your audience. 

Adjust Strategy Accordingly

• Content Optimization:
  • Focus on creating more of the content that performs well.
• Audience Insights:
  • Understand your audience demographics and interests to tailor your content.

8. Stay Updated with Pinterest Features

New Tools and Updates

• Shopping Features:
  • Utilize Shopping Pins to showcase products with up-to-date pricing and availability.
• Pinterest Ads:
  • Consider promoted pins to increase visibility.
• Verified Merchant Program:
  • Join to gain access to special features and increased trust with shoppers.

9. Additional Tips

• Consistency Over Quantity:
  • Regular, consistent pinning is more effective than sporadic bursts.
• Quality Content:
  • Prioritize high-quality, valuable content over sheer volume.
• SEO Optimization:
  • Treat Pinterest like a visual search engine; optimize your content accordingly.
• Legal Considerations:
  • Ensure you have the rights to all images and content you pin.
• Mobile Optimization:
  • Since many users access Pinterest via mobile, ensure your content looks good on smaller screens.