A Pinterest account’s potential lives and dies on its pin design, but watching a clean canvas or the wall of gorgeous pins already on the platform could make you are feeling like a deer within the headlights. Maintain onto your laptop computer, as a result of we’re going to blast via that feeling with Pinterest design ideas and greatest practices that can put together you to dazzle the followers awaiting you on the platform.
Information to Pinterest design ideas and greatest practices
Associated: The entrepreneur’s information to Pinterest advertising
Why does pin design matter?
When somebody hires me to assist them enhance their Pinterest account, the primary three issues that I have a look at are (on this order):
- Account set-up
- Pin optimization
- Pin design
Optimization and account set-up decide how many individuals see a pin, and pin design determines if the person saves, clicks or (the horror) retains scrolling.
As for wonderful Pinterest pin design? You’ve discovered your roadmap. And it’s an excellent factor you’re right here.
Everybody likes to blame the algorithm when their content material isn’t performing nicely. Generally the algorithm does trigger mysterious dips and shifts, however when your content material doesn’t look the half, it’s good to be on the lookout for options and alternatives to enhance.
Pinterest is a visible platform. A Pinterest person decides whether or not or to not interact based mostly solely on how a pin appears.
Sure, pins have titles and descriptions. However are you able to bear in mind the final time you learn one? Customers don’t learn the small print of pins. They scroll, so your entire alternative to seize consideration boils right down to how your graphics look.
There are enormous alternatives at stake right here.
Most customers mistake Pinterest for a social media platform, nevertheless it’s really a search engine. Consider it as Google’s cool cousin, with some fairly distinctive benefits and alternatives for manufacturers.
On Google, you combat for a web page in your web site to point out up within the No. 1 spot for a search. However are you able to think about in case your web site occupied all three of the highest spots? Or all 5?
That is the chance that manufacturers have on Pinterest.
Pinterest’s search algorithm doesn’t restrict what number of occasions a single model can present up in a single search. The key to dominating search outcomes is to make distinctive pins that can appeal to totally different viewers to click on.
Optimize your pins accurately, and you may take dwelling an unlimited slice of the pie:
The magnitude of your success on the platform rests in your Pinterest pin design, so let’s focus on fundamentals.
Pinterest design 101
Good Pinterest pin design is all about getting the viewer to click on or save your picture. However don’t dive straight into designing the snappiest graphics on the internet with out nailing down the nitty-gritty.
Earlier than moving into some particular do’s and don’ts of Pinterest pin design, let’s speak in regards to the rules of efficient design on Pinterest.
Pin format
The really helpful Pinterest pin dimension is 1000 × 1500 pixels. Alternatively, you can even make lengthy pins which can be 1000 x 2000 pixels.
Sq. graphics can typically be efficient (for instance, many quotes and product photos are sq.), however use them sparingly. By no means use horizontal photos on Pinterest.
Instance of an extended pin on Pinterest from Loveleigh Loops:
Save your photos as PNGs and shrink them utilizing TinyPNG or one other lossless picture compressor to make your photos extra environment friendly.
Give photos file names that match their content material. For instance, “Pinterest advertising pin.png” as a substitute of “my pin.png.”
Originality
By no means obtain photos from Pinterest and re-upload them as your individual pins. This infringes on different creators’ work and can get your account flagged as spam or suspended.
Stolen or misused content material runs rampant on Pinterest, and encompasses:
- Downloading a pin from another person and importing it your self
- Doing this even whereas crediting the unique supply
- Creating pins that ship Pinterest customers to a web site that you simply don’t personal (for instance: creating pins for an article that you simply printed on Medium)
On high of breaking Pinterest’s Community Guidelines, it undermines your account’s credibility. Solely use unique photos or inventory photographs that you’ve the rights to (an necessary notice on utilizing inventory photographs developing in a minute).
Readability
When a Pinterest person sees your pin, they’ll spend milliseconds deciding in case your pin might help them or not.
You must make it abundantly clear what this piece of content material provides pinners otherwise you’ll immediately lose them.
Take this instance from Sarah Design of a drinkware mockup tutorial:
Even at a fast look, you instantly perceive what this pin is about and may self-select whether or not or not it might enable you. This needs to be the objective of each pin that you simply design.
Present traits
On Pinterest, trending matters will come up (who WASN’T making sourdough bread in 2020) however design traits for creators are a lot much less necessary.
Pins that you simply make this yr will nonetheless be circulating in 2025, so don’t marry your Pinterest pin design to traits.
As an alternative, let’s have a look at the traits which can be particular to Pinterest customers.
Seasonal content material
Pinners flip to Pinterest for his or her planning moments, and so they flip early. Wouldn’t it shock you to be taught that Christmas searches begin as early as July?
You need to produce your seasonal content material the quarter earlier than the season itself. Pinners aren’t off-put to see Thanksgiving concepts whereas they’re nonetheless in shorts — they respect it.
Large textual content
The massive textual content pattern is a response to pinners’ brief consideration spans. Large textual content not solely jumps out of the feed, nevertheless it additionally forces creators to boil their content material down to some phrases.
Take this instance from The Mindful Mocktail. As an alternative of claiming “the simplest wholesome different to consuming a raspberry alcoholic margarita,” we have now “straightforward raspberry margarita mocktail.” Increase.
Inspiring photos
Pinners open the Pinterest app to plan, be taught and be impressed. Faucet into this want together with your picture choice.
Take this instance from Grateful Gypsies. All of us learn the textual content however really feel the imagery.
Think about these very same phrases written on a white web page. The impact wouldn’t even be shut.
Pinterest design ideas for non-designers
Are you pondering, “this all sounds good, BUT…”
Let me guarantee you: you don’t want to be a graphic designer to make Pinterest pin designs that talk to your readers and drive site visitors to your web site. You simply must create a pin design course of that works for you.
Make a temper board
Browse the platform for Pinterest pin designs that you simply suppose look good. Then, save all of them to a secret board.
Use this secret board as a temper board to search out templates that you simply like, or to ship to a graphic designer for those who select to outsource.
Use pin templates
Together with your temper board in hand, browse Pinterest templates and search for designs that match your branding and communicate to your readers.
When modifying Pinterest templates, at a minimal, customise:
- Colours
- Fonts
- Photographs or video
- Plus, add your model identify
These ought to all match your branding and make your pin look totally different from the others on-line created utilizing the identical template.
You’ll accumulate extra saves, clicks and Pinterest followers in case your pins are distinctive and never a knock-off of what customers have already seen.
With these fundamentals in thoughts, listed below are among the high Pinterest pin design secrets and techniques that can enable you maximize your potential on the platform.
Observe: With hundreds of customizable templates, GoDaddy Studio is designed particularly that will help you simply create beautiful content material in minutes.
Pinterest design ideas: Do’s and don’ts
Feeling energized to create pins in your model? Don’t get misplaced down the design concepts rabbit gap with out sticking to those fundamental greatest practices.
Do: Use photos that match content material
Keep away from the urge to make use of generic enticing photos in your pin designs. Picture selection performs a big half on Pinterest, each to the person and the algorithm.
The front-end of the Pinterest SEO process is much like different serps: you do key phrase analysis, then embrace these key phrases within the pin title, description and file identify.
However Pinterest veers away from different platforms with its superior visible search capabilities.
The Pinterest algorithm can also be studying the textual content on the picture, and scanning the picture’s contents.
Be particular whenever you will be. Take this instance from Ms Travel Solo. She may’ve shared a generic journey image for this weblog put up on journey gear, however as a substitute, she confirmed pinners the gear itself:
Don’t: Use templates or photos that match everybody else
Whereas it’s good to take a look at what’s already performing nicely whereas designing your pins, don’t marry your design course of to what you already see otherwise you danger being redundant.
Exhibit A: this widespread free inventory picture. A fast visible search on Pinterest exhibits that dozens of accounts have used this actual inventory picture repeatedly, unedited and with no added branding.
Take the time to customise inventory imagery and free Pinterest pin templates:
- Add your model colours or filters on inventory photographs
- Change the font to match your branding
- Complement inventory images with unique images
I do know I’m repeating myself, however skipping this step actually units your designs again. And it’s straightforward to amend.
Take this instance from Courtney Kelly, who made her pin stand out by making use of a pink filter to this inventory photograph and supplementing along with her personal images:
There’s nothing flawed with utilizing free inventory images in your Pinterest pin design course of, however don’t lower corners when customizing them.
Associated: Tips on how to use a inventory photograph 8 alternative ways
Do: Embrace your branding
This level is so necessary that we have to zoom in. Together with your branding in your Pinterest pin design is a matter of:
- Readers remembering and revisiting your content material
- Constructing a novel visible identification
- Being acknowledged by the algorithm
Take this instance from Inspirational Tea Co. — the branding oozes out of each design ingredient on this pin.
It checks each field whereas nonetheless remaining true to the fashion of the model:
- The content material is evident
- The pinner instantly understands the call-to-action (store now)
- The product photos shine alongside textual content
The cherry on high: beneath of this pin, for those who scroll right down to the “Extra Like This” part, the algorithm is displaying extra content material from this model:
Good Pinterest pin design extends a hand to the viewer with out making all of it about them, which is a standard newbie fumble.
Don’t: Make all of it about you
Everybody who consumes content material on-line is subconsciously screening for a solution to the query “how can this assist me.”
The quickest solution to interact with viewers is to soak up the duty of speaking that message into your Pinterest pin design. Don’t make them surprise, guess or attempt to remedy the riddle themselves.
Educate from the “you” perspective, not “I.” For instance:
- “How I make $100 a day on-line” is about you.
- “How one can make $100 a day on-line” is in regards to the pinner, and goes to inherently choose up extra traction.
Right here’s one other instance:
- “How I wrote a complete e book in 1 month” is about you.
- “Secrets and techniques behind writing a complete e book in 1 month” is about what the reader can be taught.
Take this pin instance from Sojournies. This textual content may’ve learn “what I like and dislike about dwelling in Europe” however is in regards to the viewer as a substitute:
If you happen to battle with this in your Pinterest pin design, ask a pal for a second opinion earlier than you publish your pins.
Do: Add textual content
This is without doubt one of the most ignored Pinterest design ideas. You need to add textual content, even whenever you’re simply utilizing images.
Textual content on pins orients pinners and improves click-through charge and pin saves.
Ask your self which of those pins you’ll be most probably to interact with:
Even for those who’re creating pins that solely exhibit images, take the time to edit the design utilizing an answer like GoDaddy Studio so as to add just a few phrases that can orient the pinner.
Take this instance from Sisters’ Sunflowers. As an alternative of merely displaying off a standalone sticker picture, minimalist textual content aids viewers in understanding this content material.
Textual content ought to at all times be direct and support in understanding. Whilst you may be tempted to make use of playful copywriting like “you realize you need me,” direct language goes to assist customers self-select extra shortly. Simply don’t design pins with textual content that finally ends up working in opposition to you …
Don’t: Make it arduous to learn
Textual content that’s unclear, complicated or tough to learn will trigger viewers to maintain scrolling. A couple of guidelines of thumb:
- Use script fonts very sparingly
- Change font sizes to create a visible hierarchy
- Readability trumps every thing else
Take this instance from my model, Writing From Nowhere. Various textual content sizes and fonts create distinction and hierarchy:
The font dimension varies from 45 factors (backside row of textual content) to 275 factors (the phrase “profitable”). Had the entire textual content been the identical dimension or all been written within the script font, the lead would’ve been misplaced.
Remaining ideas
Do your pins move the take a look at? Earlier than importing to Pinterest, ask your self:
- Is it immediately obvious what this pin is about?
- Is it straightforward to learn, even on cell?
- Would I cease my scroll to take a look at this?
In case your pin design is an afterthought, your content material will observe go well with within the eyes of the pinner. Apply these Pinterest pin design fundamentals to your static pins, thought pins and product pins to see large enhancements to your engagement charge.
I hope that these Pinterest design ideas and greatest practices have left your fingers itching to begin designing! Get began proper now with GoDaddy Studio.
