Does the perfect Pinterest pin even exist? Why sure it does…If it attracts your perfect client, customer or buyer then it in fact is the perfect Pinterest pin.
In this post, I will help you understand what you need to create the “perfect” Pinterest pin for your target audience or customer.
Why Your Pin Design Matters More Than You Think
First, you need to remember that Pinterest is a visual search engine. You are going to need to stop the scroll. You will not earn the click if your pin design is not on point.
Designing pins is not always easy! You want to follow the rules and stand out!
The perfect pin builds brand trust, stops the scroll, and drives traffic. This is especially important for small business owners and creators.
Anatomy of the Perfect Pinterest Pin
To create pins for Pinterest, you will need your favorite graphic design software. Mine is Canva. I have the paid version, but you can create some pretty awesome pins inside Canva with the free version.
Next, you will want to open up your blank design by clicking Create. In Canva, you can type in Pinterest, and there will be 2 sizes that it recommends. 1000 x 1500 px or 1080 x 1920 px. Pinterest prefers a 2 to 3 ratio.
Now, you can either use one of Canva’s many templates or start from scratch.
Now that you have everything open, you are ready for:
A Catchy Headline
You want to create a headline (using keywords) that will catch your target audience’s eye!
Be sure that you are making your keywords stand out. You want people to see those and click into your pin.
Great Image
You want to be strategic when selecting your image for your pin. It’s best to use your own images because Pinterest hasn’t seen these before, but if you don’t have any, you can use stock images.
Canva has stock images that you can use; just remember that everyone else can use them, too. You can go to any stock photo website and purchase some if you want to stand out without taking your own.
It’s important to remember that your image needs to represent what your pin is about, this is called relevancy. Pinterest looks at the image when deciding who to show your pin to, so it should be relevant to the topic on the pin, in the description and on the page that you are linking back to.
Also, remember that you need to select a photo that your text can overlay without covering up anything important. I like to choose photos that have a “white space” for text to go. Like the example below.
You also want to stay away from images that are too busy. This can make your text disappear, and it’s hard for the user to figure out what it’s about.
Call to Action
You want to always have a strong call to action (when applicable) on your pin. This is you telling the person what they need to do next.
Some examples are:
- Click here
- Read more
- Learn More
- Get started for free
- Don’t miss out
- Save for Later
- Sign Up
- Get started
- Snag _______
- Steal my ________
- Get the recipe
- Grab the ________
- Read the pro tips
- Learn to DIY this
- See how it works
- Compare the ______
- Start now
- Try this
- Leverage these
- Reserve your spot
- Save your seat
Logo or Url
You want to make sure you brand your pins with your logo or your URL. I like to put mine either in the middle on top or bottom of the pin. This helps promote brand recognition on Pinterest.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes that people make when designing pins.
- Too much text clutter
- Using low-contrast colors
- Forgetting your keywords
- Making pins that don’t match the landing page
- Not adding a call to action
Make sure the pin text is readable, and the photo is not too busy. Use contrasting colors. Do
Tools to Make Your Life Easier
- Canva (free + pro features)
- Tailwind Create
- Creative Market or Styled Stock Society (for feminine stock photos)
- Get my Pin templates here!
(I get extra fonts from Creative Fabrica)
Bonus Tips for Clickable Pins
- Use curiosity-driven headlines
- Test different designs (A/B testing)
- Pin consistently (hire a Pinterest Manager)
If you feel overwhelmed and creating the perfect Pinterest pin still feels like torture, or you simply don’t have the time to do it consistently, I’ve got you. As a Pinterest manager, I specialize in helping busy content creators and business owners like you grow their traffic and sales with strategic pin design and smart scheduling.
From keyword research to pin creation to analytics, I take Pinterest off your plate so you can focus on what you do best…running your business. Let’s turn your Pinterest into a powerful lead machine! Reach out, and let’s chat! Email me at shannon@shannonva.com or message me on Pinterest.