How to Create a Pinterest Video Pin Tutorial

Creating a Pinterest video pin that actually stops the scroll and drives traffic might seem like a tricky task, but it’s one of the most effective ways to grow your brand on the platform today. More than just a social network, Pinterest is a visual discovery engine where video can tell a richer story, demonstrate a process, and captivate an audience in a way static images can't. This guide will walk you through every step of planning, shooting, and publishing a Pinterest video pin that gets results.

Why Video Pins are a Game-Changer on Pinterest

If you're still only using static images on Pinterest, you're leaving a massive opportunity on the table. Video Pins are inherently more dynamic and attention-grabbing. A user casually scrolling through their feed is far more likely to pause for a moving image than a still one. The Pinterest algorithm recognizes this user behavior and often prioritizes video content, giving it a better chance to reach new audiences.

But beyond just catching the eye, videos allow you to:

• Tell a More Compelling Story: Show your brand's personality, walk through a product’s features, or share a mini-tutorial. Video lets you connect on a deeper level.
• Demonstrate Value Quickly: Nothing beats video for a quick how-to. Think about showing a 15-second process for creating a recipe, a simple workout move, a makeup trick, or a DIY craft. It's education and entertainment rolled into one.
• Increase Engagement and Clicks: Because video holds attention longer, it often leads to higher engagement rates - more saves, more clicks, and more eyes on your brand’s content.

Whether you're selling a physical product, promoting a blog post, or building a personal brand, video provides a powerful format to achieve your goals.

Before You Hit 'Record': Planning Your Video Pin

The most successful video pins start with a clear plan, not a random impulse to hit the record button. A few minutes of prep will save you hours of frustration later. Here's what to consider.

Define Your Goal

What do you want someone to do after watching your video? The entire video should be built around this single objective. Your goal could be to:

• Drive traffic to a blog post (e.g., "See the full recipe on the blog").
• Increase sales for a product (e.g., "Shop this look now").
• Grow your email list (e.g., "Download my free guide").
• Build brand awareness (e.g., "Follow for more daily tips").

Knowing your goal from the start helps you craft a clear and effective call to action (CTA) at the end of the video.

Brainstorm Your Concept

Keep your ideas simple and focused on providing a single, valuable takeaway. Pinterest users are looking for inspiration and solutions. Your video should deliver one of them quickly. Some proven concepts include:

• Quick Tutorials: Show a process from start to finish. Examples: decorating a cupcake, styling a shelf, a three-step skincare routine.
• Transformations: Before-and-after videos are incredibly captivating. Examples: a messy room becoming organized, a sketch turning into a final design, an ingredient pile becoming a meal.
• Product Demonstrations: Show your product in action. Don't just show a picture of a coffee mug - show someone enjoying a cozy morning with it.
• Hacks and Tips: Lists perform exceptionally well. Examples: "3 Ways to Tie a Scarf," "5 iPhone Photo Hacks You Didn't Know," "My Favorite Cleaning Trick."

Outline your Video in Three Parts

You don't need a formal script, but having a simple outline keeps your video on track. Think of it in three parts:

1. The Hook (First 1-3 seconds): This is your most important part. Start with immediate action or a bold text overlay that asks a question or makes a promise. Examples: "You've been using this wrong," or show the stunning final result of a project first.
2. The Value (The Middle): This is the "how-to" or the reveal. Keep it fast-paced, cutting out any unnecessary pauses or steps. Show, don't just tell.
3. The Call to Action (The End): End with clear text telling the viewer what to do next. "Learn more," "shop now," or "save this idea" works great.

The Tech Specs: Getting Your Video Pin Format Right

Pinterest has specific requirements for video uploads. Sticking to these guidelines helps your pin look professional and prevents upload errors. Here’s a quick checklist to keep handy:

• File Type: .MP4, .MOV or .M4V
• File Size: Maximum of 2GB. You are unlikely to hit this with a short video.
• Video Length: Minimum 4 seconds, maximum 15 minutes.
• The Sweet Spot for Length: While you can upload a 15-minute video, remember the attention span of a scroller. The best-performing video pins are typically 6 to 20 seconds long. Deliver your value and get to the point.
• Aspect Ratio: Always shoot and edit vertically. The ideal aspect ratio is 2:3 (e.g., 1080 x 1620 pixels) or 9:16 (the standard smartphone story size, 1080 x 1920 pixels). This ensures your video fills the screen on a mobile device, which is where most Pinterest users are.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Pinterest Video Pin

You don't need a fancy video production studio. Your smartphone and a free editing app are more than enough to create high-quality video pins.

Step 1: Shoot Your Footage

Start with your plan and your smartphone. Always hold your phone vertically - never horizontally! Good lighting makes a huge difference, so try filming near a window for natural light. It's often better than any professional lighting setup. Shoot more clips than you think you’ll need, having extra footage (B-roll) to choose from is always helpful during editing.

Step 2: Edit Your Video Simply and Effectively

Editing boils down to stringing your clips together, optimizing them for the platform, and adding your branding. Popular, user-friendly mobile apps like Canva, CapCut, and InShot work perfectly for this.

Key Editing Tasks:

• Trim with Urgency: Your goal is to keep the pace moving. Cut out any moment where nothing is happening. Short, snappy clips are more engaging than long, slow ones.
• Add Text Overlays: This is a must. Most users watch videos on Pinterest with the sound off. Your text overlays must tell the entire story without audio. Use a bold, legible font that contrasts with the video background. Introduce your idea in the first few seconds with text.
• Include Your Branding: Add a small, unobtrusive logo or your website URL to one of the corners of the video. This helps with brand recognition as your pin gets saved and shared.
• Add Music (Optional but Recommended): Adding a trending BGM can enhance the viewing experience for users who do have their sound on. Most video editing apps offer a library of royalty-free music you can use without copyright issues.

Step 3: Design an Eye-Catching Cover Image

Before your video auto-plays, users see a static cover image (or thumbnail). This cover needs to grab attention and let them know what your video is about. A great cover typically includes:

• A high-quality image from the video.
• A clear, bold title summarizing the video's topic (e.g., "5-Minute Mediterranean Salad").
• A subtle icon, like a play button, to signal that it's video content.

You can create a custom cover image in a tool like Canva and upload it separately or select a frame from your video directly within Pinterest's uploader.

Step 4: Uploading and Optimizing on Pinterest

With your video file ready, it's time to upload it to Pinterest. The key here is not just uploading, but optimizing it for search.

1. Navigate to Pinterest on your desktop and click Create Pin.
2. Drag and drop your finished video file into the uploader.
3. Use the slider to select your cover image from a frame in your video, or click the plus icon to upload your custom-designed cover.
4. SEO time! Write a keyword-optimized Title. Think about what a user would type into the search bar. Instead of "My Favorite Dinner," try "Easy 20-Minute Chicken Teriyaki Recipe."
5. Write a detailed Description. Tell people what your video is about and what they stand to gain from watching it. Use more relevant keywords and a few broad hashtags (#dinnerideas, #easyrecipes, etc.).
6. Add your Destination Link. This is where you'll send traffic, such as a blog post or product page.
7. Choose the most relevant Board for your pin. Pinterest’s algorithm uses board titles and descriptions as context clues.
8. Add relevant Tags using Pinterest's guide to surfacing your content to the right people.
9. Decide to Publish immediately or click Publish at a later date to schedule it for a time your audience is most active.

Best Practices for Video Pins that Really Work

To give your video pins the best chance of success, keep these guiding principles in mind:

• Hook Them Instantly: You have about two seconds to capture someone's attention. Use your most visually interesting shot or a curiosity-piquing text overlay right at the beginning.
• Prioritize Sound-Off Viewing: Never rely on sound to tell your story. Assume it's muted and use on-screen text to guide the viewer from beginning to end.
• Lead with Value: Your video should solve a problem, offer inspiration, or teach something useful. Entertainment is great, but actionable value is what drives saves and clicks.
• Be Consistent: Just like with any platform, consistency is important. Aim to create and post video pins regularly to keep your account active and show the algorithm you’re a serious creator.

Final Thoughts

Creating engaging Pinterest video pins isn't about having Hollywood-level production skills, it’s about understanding what your audience wants and delivering it in a quick, helpful, vertical video format. By focusing on a clear plan, designing for silent viewing, and optimizing your titles and descriptions, you can turn your ideas into a powerful source of traffic, engagement, and brand growth.

Once you get into the swing of creating great video content, the challenge shifts to managing and scheduling it effectively across all platforms. We built Postbase specifically for creators who are all-in on short-form video. It lets you plan your entire content calendar visually and schedule all your video pins, Reels, TikToks, and Shorts from one clean dashboard. Because our tool was designed for today's visual-first social media landscape, we've focused on rock-solid reliability, so your scheduled content actually publishes when it's supposed to. If you are tired of old tools that treat video like an afterthought, Postbase might be what you're looking for.