Thursday Press #99: it won't work without both
[28 SEPT 2023] Week 3 of Pinterest 101: crafting effective pins
Do you want to know my biggest pet peeve about Apple?
(besides the virtual monopoly they have, how their laptops seem to break after 4 years, and how dang expensive everything is...)
These three words:
"Charger sold separately"
For as long as I can remember, unboxing a new iPhone was like opening up your stocking on Christmas morning... that sh*t was PACKED!
Now, the only thing that comes in that sleek little box other than your phone is a charging cord.
Not, of course, one that works with the dozens of USB-A blocks you've accumulated in the past years, but a USB-C to lightning cord for ~fAsTeR cHarGiNg~ 🙄
I get it. We all love faster charging. And I love that this move probably eliminates electronic waste.
But now I have to order yet anOTHER product just to make the $1,000+ phone I bought work?!?!
(yes i know the old charging cords work but it's the PRINCIPLE of the thing)
Fact is — a charging cord on its own isn't going to do anything but create clutter and get tangled.
You need both parts (cord and block) to power up that overpriced hunk of metal and technology that I can't even leave when I go to the bathroom...
Your Pinterest marketing is like that, too.
You can't just create your account and expect people to come flocking to it; you need some sort of content to push out there.
And when it comes to your Pinterest content, you can't have just good design or just good Pinterest SEO.
You need both to create content that actually converts users to clicks, sales, and clients!
That's why in today's lesson (Part 3 of our Pinterest 101 series), we're covering exactly how to create scroll-stopping, click-worthy pins!
Missed a few classes? That's okay, there's still time to catch up!
Week 0: Why Pinterest
BELOW THE FOLD
There have been over 240 billion pins and counting saved across all of Pinterest.
I'm sorry... what?!?!
That's a lot of content. What's going to make yours stand out, bestie?
Short answer: creating SEO-optimized, visually appealing pins that encourage users to click and convert.
Great pins have TWO things in common:
Scroll-stopping pin design
Keyword-rich pin copy
(Oh, and you should know before we continue — "great" pins don't necessarily mean "viral" pins
A viral pin might not necessarily be converting the way you want it to (aka in the form of sales & subscribers). A great pin is one that's accomplishing your goals.)
So what does scroll-stopping design and SEO pin copy actually mean?
Glad you asked… 😉
DESIGNING GREAT PIN GRAPHICS
Pinterest is an incredibly visual platform. When users are scrolling through their home feed or search results, they often won't see any of the pin copy until they actually click on the pin.
That means your pin designs need to catch your target audience's attention enough that they stop their scroll and want to know more about what's behind the image.
Here are some best practices to follow:
Use a vertical pin ratio
At least 2:3 is best, but you can make the image longer if you like
Pick relevant, high-quality imagery
Pinterest cares about the visuals, so make sure they make sense for your content topic and aren't blurry or pixelated
Make sure your text is easy to read
Font sizes should be big enough to read on mobile and have enough contrast between the font color and background color
Stick to consistent branding
Using consistent visual branding helps grow your brand awareness, but you don't have to strictly adhere to your brand fonts/colors if you don't want to
Use icons, mockups, and graphics where relevant
This is especially true if you're creating graphics to promote a digital product or lead magnet!
Include your logo or website on the pin
Visually associating your brand with the content helps to build brand awareness and keep attribution on the image in case it ever gets disconnected from your account
WRITING GREAT PIN COPY
Your pin copy simply refers to your pin title and description, and can impact both your pins' distribution in the algorithm and whether or not a user clicks from the pin to your website.
That's why it's essential to know how to write SEO-optimized pin copy!
Unfortunately, it's not as easy as just throwing a bunch of keywords and phrases into a description and calling it a day. Here's what you should be doing instead...
Use your most important keyword in your pin title
Bonus points if it's also the board title of the board you're saving the pin to!
Make your Pinterest pin titles interesting in some way
Differentiate your content by adding extra details, numbers, or asking a question
Incorporate keywords naturally throughout your pin descriptions
Slamming a wall of keywords into your pin descriptions is keyword stuffing and spammy, so don't do it
Include multiple long-tail variations of your main keyword
Example: copywriting tips ➝ best copywriting tips, copywriting tips for beginners, website home page copywriting tips
Don't forget a call to action
A quick CTA at the end of your pin description could give Pinterest users that extra push to follow through to your website & take your desired action
Want even more tips on creating pins that convert? You already know I've got a blog for ya...
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Click-Worthy Pins
Reminder: not every pin has to be perfect.
If agonizing over your keywords or spending hours perfecting designs in Canva is keeping you from being consistent on Pinterest, STOP. 🛑
There are plenty of ugly and imperfect pins that are already ranking and driving traffic to their creators' sites.
Start somewhere, and then you'll have more data to work with as you fine-tune and improve your skills!
And if you really can’t fathom the idea of going it alone on Pinterest, here are a few ways I can support you…
>> Pinterest Management: Custom Pinterest strategy and content creation for the busy service-based entrepreneur ready to start driving more passive traffic, sales, and leads without ever having to log in to Pinterest themselves. Learn more here!
>> Pinterest Toolkit: Got the DIY spirit but want some tools to speed up your workflow? Grab the Pinterest Toolkit, including designed-to-convert pin templates, pre-researched keywords, and a content planning guide to keep you on track.
QUESTIONS? LET'S HEAR 'EM!