How to Get Followers on Pinterest

Gaining Pinterest followers isn't about chasing vanity metrics, it's about building a dedicated community that clicks your links, saves your ideas, and genuinely engages with your brand. The right followers on Pinterest are actively looking for solutions and inspiration that you provide. This guide breaks down the simple, repeatable strategies you can use to attract those people and grow a following that matters.

Start with a Profile Built for Follows

Before anyone decides to follow you, they'll land on your profile. A weak, confusing, or incomplete profile is a dead end. Yours needs to instantly tell visitors who you are, what you offer, and why they should stick around. Think of it as your digital storefront - if it's not clear and inviting, people will walk right by.

1. Switch to a Business Account

If you haven't already, the first step is to convert your personal account to a Pinterest Business account. It's free and unlocks essential tools you can't get otherwise. With a business account, you gain access to:

• Pinterest Analytics: You can see which Pins and boards are performing best, what your audience is saving, and how much traffic you're driving to your website. This data is invaluable for refining your strategy.
• Rich Pins: These are enhanced Pins that automatically sync information from your website. For example, a product Pin can show real-time pricing and availability, and a recipe Pin can include ingredients and cooking times.
• Advertising Tools: You get the ability to create promoted Pins to reach a wider, targeted audience.

2. Write a Keyword-Rich Profile Bio

Your bio isn't just a place for a witty one-liner. It’s a prime spot for Pinterest SEO. The platform uses the words in your bio to understand what your account is about and show it to relevant users. Your goal is to clearly state who you help and what you do, using terms your ideal audience is searching for.

A simple formula that works is:

“I help [your target audience] with [their main problem] through [your content/solution].”

For example:

• A food blogger: "Helping home cooks create easy, healthy weeknight dinners with simple video recipes and meal prep ideas."
• An interior designer: "Your daily source for modern coastal home decor inspiration. I help you create a bright, airy style on a budget."

3. Use a Clear Profile Picture and Cover Image

Visuals are everything on Pinterest. Your profile picture should be a clean headshot if you’re a personal brand or a crisp logo if you're a business. Avoid busy photos where your face or logo is hard to see.

Your cover image is your banner ad. Use this space strategically to showcase your best content or brand aesthetic. You can use a high-quality photo representing your niche, a collage of popular product shots, or even a video that introduces your brand.

Create Pins That Followers Can’t Resist

On Pinterest, your content does the heavy lifting. People follow accounts that consistently publish helpful, inspiring, and beautiful Pins. To get more followers on Pinterest, you need to create content that’s worth following.

1. Think Vertically

Pinterest is a mobile-first platform, which means vertical content dominates. Your Pins will take up more screen space and grab more attention if they follow the recommended 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels). This applies to static images, Video Pins, and Idea Pins. Horizontal images get lost in the feed and look unprofessional.

2. Lean into Video Pins and Idea Pins

While standard static Pins are still effective, Pinterest is heavily promoting video content. Video Pins and multi-page Idea Pins are fantastic for storytelling, how-to tutorials, and showing a product in action. They tend to have higher engagement rates and can get your profile in front of many new eyeballs, making them a powerful tool for follower growth.

3. Use Compelling Text Overlays

Imagine someone scrolling quickly through their home feed. What will make them stop? A great image helps, but a text overlay with a hook is even better. This text gives instant context to your Pin without the user having to read the description.

Good text overlays are:

• Bold and Easy to Read: Use a clear font that contrasts with the background image.
• Benefit-Driven: Focus on benefits. Instead of "Lasagna Recipe," try "The Easiest-Ever Vegan Lasagna." Instead of "Budgeting Tips," try "5 Ways to Save $500 This Month."
• Curiosity-Inducing: Pose a question or make a statement that makes people want to know more, like "Are You Making These Decorating Mistakes?"

4. Write Descriptions that Work for Both People and The Algorithm

Your Pin’s description is your opportunity to convince someone to click or save, but it's also a powerful signal to the Pinterest algorithm. Write a few sentences that describe what the Pin is about, naturally including 2-3 of your most important keywords. Write in a conversational tone and always include a gentle call-to-action, like "Click the link to get the full recipe!" or "Save this idea for A/B testing your landing pages."

The Strategy: How to Get Your Pins Seen

Creating great Pins is half the battle, the other half is making sure the right people see them. This takes a bit of strategy centered around Pinterest SEO, consistency, and organization.

1. Master the Basics of Pinterest SEO

Pinterest is not just a social network, it's a search engine. Users type keywords into the search bar to find what they want, and you need your content to show up. The best way to find relevant keywords is to use the Pinterest search bar itself. Type in a broad topic related to your niche (e.g., "living room") and see what keywords Pinterest suggests. These autocomplete terms are exactly what users are searching for.

Once you have a list, use these keywords in your:

• Profile Bio
• Board Titles
• Board Descriptions
• Pin Titles
• Pin Descriptions

2. Build Highly Specific Boards

Your boards act as folders that categorize your content. Don’t just create one giant "Blog Posts" board. Instead, create niche boards that are specific to the topics you cover. A food blogger might have boards named "Healthy Breakfast Recipes," "30-Minute Vegan Dinners," and "Holiday Baking Ideas."

Each board should have a clear, keyword-optimized title and a detailed description that tells both users and the algorithm what kind of content they'll find there. A well-organized set of boards shows users that you're an authority on a topic, making them more likely to hit "Follow" to get all of your future ideas.

3. Pin with Consistency

The Pinterest algorithm favors creators who are active. An empty or stagnant profile doesn't look like an authority and is less likely to be recommended. Aim to pin at least a few times every day. It doesn't have to be brand new content every single time. You can (and should) re-pin older, successful content to different relevant boards to keep it circulating.

Spreading your Pins throughout the day is generally more effective than pinning them all at once. This increases the chances of your content being seen by users in different time zones.

4. Share Your Content In the Right Places

Leverage the audience you already have! Promote your Pinterest profile wherever you can.

• Add a link to your Pinterest profile in your other social media bios (like Instagram).
• Include a "Follow me on Pinterest" link in your email newsletter footer.
• Cross-promote popular Pins as Instagram Stories.
• Install a "Pin It" button on your blog or website so readers can easily save your content directly to their boards. This small action can generate tons of organic traffic and follows over time.

Final Thoughts

Growing a dedicated following on Pinterest comes down to a simple loop: creating value, optimizing for discovery, and staying consistent. By setting up a magnetic profile and consistently pinning high-quality, keyword-rich content your audience is searching for, you'll attract followers who are not just numbers, but an engaged community that helps your brand grow.

Of course, consistency is often the hardest part - planning, designing, and remembering to post daily Pins can feel like a full-time job. With that in mind, we designed the visual calendar in Postbase to make the process completely seamless. You can see your entire Pinterest strategy laid out for the month, drag and drop Pins to different time slots, and schedule everything in advance, so you stay consistent without the daily pressure. It gives you the space to focus on creating great ideas that bring people back for more.