Best tips and tricks for making the most of Pinterest

It seems like Pinterest is constantly changing these days. Views and impressions have been dropping like crazy lately. Some creators are saying their pins are getting more clicks though. So, are we doing something wrong?

I'm here to share the latest tips and tricks for those of you interested in getting blog traffic from Pinterest, those looking to make more money with affiliate marketing, and pretty much everyone who is frustrated with this platform lately.

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Pinterest tips and tricks 2021

• Pin consistently at least 5-10 times a day.

I recommend you pin your own content to your own boards but also repin 1 or 2 pins from other people.

Some users who pin 10 new pins per day say that they're seeing increased pin impressions and click-throughs.

• Work with other Pinterest users

Group boards are a great way to reach a wider audience. This is especially true if you share high-quality content. Remember that if you choose a board with thousands or even thousands of contributors, your activity will be required to make an impact and stand out among the rest.

• Schedule your pins

Virtual assistants and bloggers have been using a paid service called Tailwind to schedule pins ahead of time for years.

This is no longer necessary in my opinion. I have used Tailwind but seen no real value compared to the cost.

Pinterest offers a free scheduling tool that allows you to plan your Pins up until 2 weeks in advance.

1. Use the '+’ Pin builder tool to upload your pin.

2. Select "Publish at a later time"

3. Choose the date and time you would like your Pin published.

• Use Idea Pins

Pinterest's video-first feature, "Idea Pins," is now available. It is aimed at creators who wish to share their stories with video, music, creative editing tools, and other media. This feature is reminiscent of Pinterest's TikTok-style version, but with Stories. With the new Pins, creators can record and edit creative videos up to 20 pages in length using tools such as voiceover, background music, and transitions.

These idea pins don't disappear after a certain time like Instagram's stories do. So, they're a potential for creating evergreen content on Pinterest.

The one thing I don't like is that people can't swipe up or click-through the stories (ideas) directly and have to go to the description or visit your profile.

• Use links in pin descriptions

This is a no-brainer but you wouldn't believe how many people forget to add a link to their blog, website, product, or social media. Sure, people might save your pin but what is it leading them to? You need to link the pin to an external source so it can bring you blog traffic or lead people to a sales page or landing page.

• Make sure you have the right-sized images

Pinterest's business blog shares a lot of great strategies and tips in its videos and downloads. This one is super actionable and interesting.

You need to have the right-sized images if you want the algorithm to pick up your pin and make it go viral. Random-sized pins or poor-quality images don't do well on this platform.

The vertical pins always perform best.

Pinterest images have the best aspect ratio of 2:3 or 1:13.5 with a minimum width of 600 pixels.

Pins look their best when they are vertically oriented. An image 600 pixels wide should be between 900px to 2100px high.

• Create quality pin images

I am not a great graphic designer so I buy Pinterest pin templates from Etsy. These are editable on Canva.com

But, if you want to save money and create your own pins on Canva or other sites, you can do so. Just make sure the text is bold, easily legible, colorful, and eye-catching. Use images that draw the viewer in.

• Make use of video pins

I like to animate my pins in Canva because then they're considered video pins. These pins usually perform much better these days compared to regular pins.

Pinterest is prioritizing video content and idea pins over classic vertical pins.

If you want to sell a product, the video pin is your best tool.

Video Length

Videos should be no longer than 40 seconds. No matter what industry, anything more than 40 seconds won't work on Pinterest. A video that is between 30-40 seconds in length was the sweet spot.

I recommend a shorter video between 15 to 40 seconds. This will allow you to tell a full story with your video, without sharing too much or too little.

People have a short attention span so short and sweet is a good idea.

Video pins sometimes get fewer clicks than standard pins. However, some people noticed that saves were greater on video pins. This is why video pins should be included in the Pinterest marketer’s toolbox. They increase brand awareness and credibility. Potential customers can save a video and then click through later on and make that purchase.

• Don't forget about keywords & trending searches

Pinterest keywords are always changing and so are the trends. You need to do keyword research all the time.

People ask me "how to find Pinterest keywords". There are two main ways:

1. Pinterest's advertising keyword search tool is the best way to discover keywords that are most searched. Pinterest's keyword tool makes it easy to find the most searched keywords in your niche. You can also use this tool to identify relevant keywords that you can use to optimize your Pinterest account.

2. Go to the search bar and make sure that your search through ALL the pins, not YOUR PINS. Then, start typing a word and you'll get a bunch of suggestions. These are usually a combination of short keywords, long-tail keywords, and certain questions or phrases people type into the Pinterest search bar.

I hope these tips are helpful and make sure to check back as I will add more as I discover them!

Also read: Is Pinterest still relevant in 2021?