The Strategy Behind My Top Pinterest Idea Pin
Is it just me or is it a little…pinny…around here lately? In my last post, I talked about my 3 Step Pinterest Pin creation process and today I’m going to share the strategy behind my top engaged Pinterest idea pin. Let me preface this by saying I don’t have a huge Pinterest following so I’ve been looking into how I can increase engagement and have new users discover my site. Been there? Let’s tackle this together.
What are Pinterest Idea Pins?
I remember opening my Pinterest app after Idea Pins were launched and thinking “why is everyone trying to be Instagram?” So in short, think of a Pinterest idea pin just like an Instagram story. It’s basically a collection of images and/or video that you can caption, add stickers, and link products to. Their intended use is for a collection of ideas or a story. Rather than a bunch of pins from different categories, they’re designed to drive higher engagement with your users (which is fueled by the fact that it’s a whole collection).
Unlike an Instagram story, Idea Pins don’t disappear after 24 hours. While you can repurpose Instagram story content in your Pinterest Idea Pins, Pinterest says the best use for them is to share engaging, long-lasting ideas. Keep that in mind when you’re brainstorming which content to share in this area to get the most value for the time you spend creating them. Be sure to check out Pinterest’s Creator Code for a beautifully designed set of guidelines for making content that meets their community guidelines.
My Top Engaged Idea Pin
Now that we have an idea about what Idea Pins are, let’s get into a real-life example. My top-performing idea pin to date is one I created for my On a Roll Planner. When I was brainstorming ideas, I asked myself: “what are some topics someone who wants to track their habits would be interested in?” My goal was to provide value to the user over simply promoting my product. If my product is there to support a healthy and productive life, it would be super fitting to include other tips and tricks to further that goal for the person that sees the pins.
I stuck to a simple design and just three slides. I chose to include a recommendation for a productivity book that I personally love and a round-up of products that align with taking care of yourself. Whether or not someone is interested in my product, they’ll walk away with tangible and helpful tips.
The other element I believe contributes to the success of these idea pins is the design. Pinterest (especially on mobile) is a bit chaotic. It’s a nonstop reel of images, text, and clutter. Sticking to a clean and simple design with minimal text helped me stand out amongst the noise. I also made sure that my headlines were clear and readable so someone scrolling by quickly could see keywords like “productivity” and “habit building” jump out at them.
You can apply this idea to any idea you’re posting, whether you’re selling a product or simply creating content. If you’re a food blogger, maybe you share your best margarita recipe then follow it up with slides that have different themed drink ware and accessories for different styles of parties. If you’re a photographer, maybe it’s a gorgeous shot from an engagement shoot paired with ideas on the most flattering types of outfits to wear in front of the camera.
The main takeaway from this article should be to always put yourself in the audience’s shoes and strive to create the most value you can for them.
Sounds great, so how do I make Idea Pins?
If you’re new to Idea Pins, I’ll refer you to the Pinterest Help page for the most up-to-date information on creating them. Don’t worry, their articles are very clear and easy to read! Now at the risk of you asking “well if you’re just going to link somewhere else, what the heck are you doing writing this article?"….Trust me. Also, because I always end up Googling this, here is the exact image dimensions for Idea Pins:
Sizing: A 9:16 ratio (1080px by 1920px) just like Instagram stories. Let the multipurposing commence!
Above you can see how on desktop you can create an idea pin. Simple. Easy. Here’s the kicker though: creating Idea Pins on desktop doesn’t allow for product linking (!!!).
If you’re a product-based business, this is a huge missed opportunity! How are we supposed to promote products if we can’t link them? Enter: creating idea pins on mobile.
Here’s how:
Find the “+” icon on the bottom of the Pinterest app, then upload your image.
Next tap “Stickers” in the bottom right.
Choose the “Product” sticker from the stickers menu.
The next screen will prompt you to insert a link.
Important: be sure to turn off “sponsored post” on the screen after you add your link. For some reason my eyes skip right past this whenever I’m making a pin on mobile.
That’s it! It’s admittedly a bit of a pain to mess with your phone when it could be so, so easy on desktop (are you listening, Pinterest?!) especially since Instagram stories allows for it. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for updates from Pinterest and will update this post if that feature changes. Until then, happy pinning!
