How to Collaborate on Pinterest

Collaborating on Pinterest is one of the platform’s most powerful - and often underutilized - features for driving growth and creativity. It's more than just sharing a digital pinboard, it’s a strategic way to reach fresh audiences, co-market with partners, and organize your team's visual ideas. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from creating and managing your first collaborative board to finding the right communities to join.

So, What Exactly is a Pinterest Collaborative Board?

A collaborative board, often called a group board, is a shared Pinterest board where multiple users can add Pins. The creator of the board acts as the admin, inviting other Pinterest users to contribute. Once a user accepts an invitation, they can add, organize, and engage with content on that board just like any of their own boards.

Think of it as a shared workspace for visual ideas. For a blogger, it could be a place to gather recipe ideas with fellow foodies. For a marketing team, it can serve as a mood board for an upcoming campaign. For an e-commerce brand, it's a way to partner with influencers to create a curated product collection. The possibilities are vast, but the core function is simple: bringing people together to curate content around a shared theme.

Why Collaboration is a Game-Changer for Your Pinterest Strategy

Before jumping into the "how," it's worth understanding the "why." Group boards aren't just a gimmick, they're a core part of a winning Pinterest marketing strategy.

• Expanded Reach and Visibility: This is the biggest draw. When you Pin to a group board, your content is exposed to not only your followers but the followers of every single collaborator. If you join a board with 10 collaborators who each have 5,000 followers, you're tapping into a potential audience of 50,000 people that you might never have reached otherwise.
• Consistent Content Fuel: Running out of ideas or time to Pin? A healthy group board provides a steady stream of high-quality, relevant content curated by others. It keeps the board active and engaging, which Pinterest's algorithm loves, without you having to do all the heavy lifting.
• Authentic Brand Partnerships: Collaborating with influencers, complementary brands, or even loyal customers strengthens your community. It builds social proof and allows you to co-create content that feels more organic and valuable than a traditional ad. An interior designer collaborating with a furniture brand on a "Modern Farmhouse Living Rooms" board is a natural, value-driven partnership.
• Streamlined Team Projects: Internally, group boards are amazing for organizing visual projects. Marketing teams can use them to develop campaign mood boards, design teams can collect visual inspiration, and social media managers can plan out weekly content themes in a clear, visual format.

Setting Up Your First Collaborative Board: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to get started? Creating a group board is straightforward. You can either convert an existing board or start fresh.

1. Create or Choose Your Board

First, navigate to your Pinterest profile and click the '+' icon to create a new board. Give it a specific, SEO-friendly name. Instead of "Food," try "Easy Weeknight Vegan Dinners." Make it clear what the board is about.

You can also use one of your existing boards. If you have a board that you think would be a great fit for collaboration, just navigate to it to get started.

2. Invite Your Collaborators

Once you are on the board page, look for the circle icon with a '+' sign, which is right next to your profile picture at the top of the board. Click on it. A pop-up window will appear with options to invite people.

You have a few ways to add collaborators:

• By Username or Email: If you know the Pinterest username or the email address associated with the account you want to invite, you can search for them directly and click "Invite."
• Share an Invite Link: Pinterest also gives you the option to generate a special invite link. You can copy this link and send it via email, direct message, or any other channel. A word of caution: anyone with this link can join the board, so only use this method with people you trust or in a private setting.

The people you invite will receive a notification. Once they accept, they will appear in the list of collaborators and can start Pinning right away.

Playing by the Rules: How to Manage a Successful Group Board

Just creating a board and inviting a few people isn't enough. A successful group board needs clear direction and management to prevent it from turning into a chaotic, spammy mess. As the board owner, you're the leader.

Set Clear Guidelines in the Board Description

The board description is your rulebook. Use it to clearly lay out the dos and don'ts. Don't assume people will just know what to do. Your rules should answer questions like:

• What kind of content is allowed? (e.g., "Only vertical Pins related to handmade pottery. No DIY tutorials.")
• Is self-promotion okay? (e.g., "You can Pin your own blog posts, but please Pin at least three other high-quality Pins for every one of yours.")
• Are there any link restrictions? (e.g., "No affiliate links, redirect links, or URL shorteners.")
• Is Pin quality important? (e.g., "Please only add high-resolution images. Avoid blurry pictures or pixelated text overlays.")

Be direct. The clearer your rules are, the higher the quality of your board will be.

Vet Your Collaborators Carefully

Your board is only as good as its contributors. Don't be afraid to be selective. Before inviting someone, take a few minutes to review their Pinterest profile. Ask yourself:

• Do they Pin high-quality, visually appealing content?
• Is their niche relevant to your board's theme?
• Do they seem to be an active and engaged Pinner?

Ignoring this step is how group boards get filled with low-quality, irrelevant content that hurts everyone's reach.

Don't Be Afraid to Prune and Maintain

Every few months, conduct a little audit. Are all of your collaborators still active? Is anyone repeatedly breaking the rules? It's perfectly okay to remove collaborators who are either inactive or aren't respecting the guidelines. Go to the collaborators' list on your board and simply click "Remove" next to their name. This keeps the board healthy and a valuable resource for everyone involved.

Finding and Joining Great Group Boards

Being a collaborator is just as valuable as owning a group board. Joining established, high-quality boards can put your content in front of a massive, engaged audience. But how do you find them?

1. Use Strategic Pinterest Searches

The simplest method is often the best. Go to the Pinterest search bar and type in keywords related to your niche, followed by phrases like "group board" or "community board."

For example, search for:

• "Vegan Recipes Group Board"
• "Small Business Tips Community"
• "Home Decor Collaborative"

Look for boards that clearly state they are accepting contributors in their description. Often, they will provide instructions on how to join.

2. Analyze Your Competitors and Niche Leaders

Who are the top players in your niche on Pinterest? Go to their profiles and see what boards they're a part of. The boards with multiple profile pictures in the bottom corner are group boards. If a top creator is contributing to a board, it's likely a high-quality one worth exploring.

3. How to Request an Invitation (The Right Way)

Once you find a board you want to join, you need to contact the owner. Do not just leave a comment on one of their Pins. That’s the fastest way to get ignored.

Instead, follow these steps:

1. Find the Board Owner: The first person listed in the collaborators' list at the top of the board is the owner.
2. Follow the Board and the Owner: This is a simple, common courtesy. It shows you're genuinely interested in their content.
3. Send a Polite and Professional Message: If the owner has DMs open on Pinterest, send a message. If not, you may need to find their blog or website to get a contact email.

Your message should be short, respectful, and value-focused. Here’s a simple template:

"Hi [Owner's Name],

I came across your Pinterest board, '[Board Name],' and I absolutely love the quality of Pins you all are curating. I'm a [your title, e.g., 'food blogger who specializes in plant-based desserts'], and my content would be a great fit. I always Pin high-quality, vertical images and would be honored to contribute.

You can see my work on my profile here: [Link to your Pinterest profile].

Thanks for your consideration!

Best,
[Your Name]"

This message works because it’s personalized, demonstrates you understand their board, and makes it easy for them to vet you by providing a direct link to your profile.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, treating Pinterest collaboration as a strategic part of your marketing - not just a passive activity - is what separates brands that see real growth. By creating and managing your own quality boards, or by thoughtfully finding and joining existing ones, you can amplify your reach, source incredible content, and build a stronger community.

Putting these collaborative efforts into practice requires solid organization. At our company, we rely on Postbase to plan and schedule all our social media content, and that absolutely includes the Pins we design for our group boards. Having all our platforms visible on a central calendar helps us coordinate what everyone on the team is Pinning and when, ensuring our collaborative content aligns beautifully with our main brand strategy.