Since Pinterest is a visual search engine, it’s super important to create pin graphics that will resonate with your target audience and get them to take action.
Having a solid Pinterest image strategy is the first step in converting scrolling pinners into fans of your online business, shop, or blog.
Think of Pinterest pins as tiny little billboards for your content – Pinterest graphics use to-the-point, targeted phrases that convey what someone will discover on the other side of the pin.
Images used to create Pinterest graphics need to be relevant, tell the story of your content, and use a text overlay that teases the user to click to find out more.
This post is part of my series about the pillars of successful Pinterest marketing.
Here are the pillars:
Pinterest Marketing Pillar #1 – Keyword Strategy
Pinterest Marketing Pillar #2 – An Optimized Pinterest Account
Pinterest Marketing Pillar #3 – A Content Marketing Strategy
Pinterest Marketing Pillar #4 – An Image Strategy
Pinterest Marketing Pillar #5 – A Consistency Strategy
We’re going to deep dive into Pinterest graphics and the things you need to include in your image strategy for success.
What Are Pinterest Pin Graphics?
Let’s start right at the beginning – I teased what Pinterest graphics are at the start of this post but let’s go a little deeper.
Pinterest pin images are what a pinner (Pinterest user) first sees when they are either searching for something or scrolling their feeds.
They are like mini-advertisements for your content.
There are 3 different types of pins – static image pins, video pins, and carousel pins.
The two most popular styles of pins on Pinterest are image (a static image) and video pins (features a video with or without an overlay).
Pinterest pin graphics should be created using the following guidelines:
➝ Use an aspect ratio of 2:3 – the recommended size in pixels is 1000px X 1500px.
➝ Use imagery and photos that accurately convey what the person will find after they click through.
➝ Feature a text overlay that is targeted and lets the person know what the pin content is about.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what Pinterest pin graphics are, let’s move on to…
How To Design Scroll-Stopping Pinterest Pins
One of the biggest questions I get as a Pinterest manager and strategist is, “How do I create or design pins that will stop the scroll?”
Does the thought of opening a blank page to design a pin seem awful?
You’re not alone.
Creating scroll-stopping Pinterest pins doesn’t have to be hard, especially with the creation of graphic design platforms like Canva where you can scroll through Pinterest pin templates and then customize them to your own business branding and target keywords for your text overlays.
If you’re a Pinterest marketing beginner, I highly recommend you go the Canva route as it will help you get started.
If you are fairly good at design, you can go ahead and create from scratch – just make sure to use the 2:3 aspect ratio or 1000px X 1500px.
Here’s what good pin design includes:
➝ Fonts that are easy to read.
➝ Properly aligned fonts (can’t stress this enough – the amount of poorly aligned fonts I see…).
➝ Good use of white space to get the user’s eye to go where you want it to go.
➝ Good-quality photos that are relevant to the piece of content on the other side of the click.
➝ Use your brand colors for consistency.
➝ A call to action that invites the person to click through to see more.
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of designing Pinterest pins consistently? Let us do it for you! Check out our Pinterest pin design service here.
Check out our Pin Design Portfolio!
RELATED READ: How To Use Pinterest for Marketing Your Online Business
How To Get Your Pinterest Pins Seen
Now you understand the basics of good Pinterest pin images including how to design scroll-stopping pins but how on earth do you get those pins seen by the people who need the information?
That’s when you use Pinterest SEO or in other words KEYWORDS to get in front of your ideal audience.
Pinterest is a visual search engine which means you need to use keywords to let the algorithm know what your content is about.
PRO TIP: Include some of those keywords on your pin image text overlay for an SEO boost!
If you’re not sure how to find keywords on Pinterest, check out this post on Pinterest keyword research.
Want to see some of our pin designs? Check out our Pin Design Board on Pinterest!
Pinterest Image Tips to Boost Engagement
I wanted to share my top tips about what to include in your Pinterest pin images that will lead to more engagement and conversions.
The top tips for boosting the engagement on your Pinterest pin graphics:
- Make sure the image or video used in the Pinterest graphic is super relevant to the piece of content.
- Use keywords in your pin text overlay – remember pins are little advertisements so when someone sees a pin that uses the same or similar wording to what they are interested in or searching for, the chances they will click for a closer look, save the pin, or click through to your website is so much higher – all of these things are engagements!
- Use a strong call to action – this isn’t new – people literally need to be told what action to take or what to do so make sure to include CTAs on as many of your pins!
Creating Your Own Pinterest Pin Image Strategy
Now that you have an understanding of what Pinterest pin graphics are and the important things to include on and with your images, how exactly do you create a Pinterest image strategy?
A successful Pinterest image strategy will depend on how much content you have and how many pins you can create weekly.
Here are the starting points of a successful Pinterest pin image strategy:
- Create multiple pins for the same piece of content targeting different BUT RELATED keywords on the text overlay.
- Choose the photographs and other imagery styles that will accurately tell the story of the content plus showcase your brand/online business.
- Include your brand colors and then experiment with other colors as you get comfortable – remember Pinterest is a search and discovery platform so pinners won’t know who you are just yet.
Make sure to include these things in your Pinterest graphics strategy:
- The right image dimensions – vertical pins using a 2:3 aspect ratio (1000px X 1500px).
- When using a static (not video) image, make sure to use JPEG or PNG for your format when uploading to Pinterest.
- Use visually appealing imagery to convey what the content is about that is bright and easy to see – poor image quality will affect performance.
- Use a descriptive text overlay that isn’t too wordy but also uses keywords you’re targeting.
- Use consistent color and branding so that pinners begin to recognize your content – then start testing other colors – that will be down the road but thought I should mention.
- Make sure the pin’s image is RELEVANT to the content that it links to – the last thing you want to do is create images that are misleading.
- Use Canva templates to make pin creation so much easier – just make sure to edit them to your own branding and imagery!
- Include a CTA (call to action) as much as possible – this will boost engagement and conversions.
- Include keywords not only on your pins but also in titles and descriptions when uploading to Pinterest.
- Create pins for seasonal and trending content – think big box stores – trends and seasons start early on Pinterest so make sure to stay on top of those.
- REMEMBER that most of the people seeing your pins will be on a mobile device so take that into account when designing pins.
- A/B test different pin styles to see what resonates and performs best for your audience.
There you have it – a deep dive into Pinterest marketing pillar #4 – a solid Pinterest pin image strategy.
A scroll-stopping pin has a few different elements to make it successful – the basics to remember are to use a vertical image, a text overlay, and consistent imagery.
Explore different types of Pinterest pin graphics to see what works best for your online business.
Overwhelmed at the thought of designing Pinterest pins?
No problem, let us do it for you! Check out our Pin Design Services here.
Drop any questions you have in the comment section below!