How to Post Pins on Pinterest

Posting Pins on Pinterest is more than just sharing an image, it’s a strategic move to drive traffic, build a brand, and connect with millions of people looking for their next great idea. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create and post every type of Pin, providing step-by-step instructions and best practices to get your content seen.

First Things First: What Makes a Great Pin?

Before you hit that "Publish" button, it’s important to understand the components of a Pin that grabs attention and earns clicks. The Pinterest algorithm, and the users scrolling the feed, favor content that is both visually appealing and informative. Nailing these five elements from the start will make all the difference.

1. Vertical, High-Quality Visuals

Pinterest is a visual platform, and screen real estate is everything. Always use a vertical aspect ratio, with 1000 x 1500 pixels (a 2:3 ratio) being the sweet spot. This format takes up more space on mobile feeds, making your Pin more prominent and eye-catching. Make sure your images are crisp, clear, and well-lit. Blurry, dark, or pixelated visuals will get scrolled past every time.

2. Clear, Compelling Text Overlay

Most users are scrolling quickly, so you only have a split second to communicate what your Pin is about. A text overlay on your image or video is a powerful way to do this. Use large, easy-to-read fonts and super-concise, action-oriented language. For example, instead of a simple photo of a meal, add the text “5 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes.” This immediately tells the user what value they’ll get by clicking.

3. A Catchy and SEO-Friendly Title

Your Pin title is a major factor in how Pinterest categorizes and shows your content in search results. You have up to 100 characters, so use them wisely. Your title should be intriguing but, more importantly, packed with keywords your target audience is searching for. Think like a user.

• Good Example: "Easy Vegan Lasagna Recipe with Cashew Ricotta"
• Needs Improvement: "My Family's Favorite Dinnertime Meal"

The first example uses clear, searchable keywords like "vegan lasagna recipe" and "cashew ricotta." The second is vague and unlikely to appear in relevant search results.

4. A Detailed, Keyword-Rich Description

The Pin description (up to 500 characters) gives you more space to tell both users and the Pinterest algorithm what your content is about. Write in a natural, conversational tone, incorporating relevant keywords throughout. Use sentences, not just a jumble of hashtags. It’s also a great place to include a gentle call-to-action (CTA) to encourage engagement, like “Click through to get the full tutorial and step-by-step photos!” or “Shop the full collection on our website.”

5. The All-Important Destination Link

Almost every Pin you create should lead somewhere valuable. This is the whole point of using Pinterest for marketing! A Pin can link to a blog post, a product page, a specific service you offer, a lead magnet, or your YouTube channel. Always double-check that your destination link is working correctly and goes to the exact page you promised in the Pin. A broken link leads to a frustrated user and signals a poor experience to the algorithm.

How to Create a Standard Pin: The Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a Standard Image Pin is the foundation of any Pinterest strategy. It's straightforward and effective. Here’s exactly how to do it on both desktop and mobile.

1. Start the Upload Process:
   • On Desktop: Log in to your Pinterest account. In the top-left corner, click the bright red ‘Create’ button and select ‘Create Pin.’
   • On Mobile: Open the Pinterest app. Tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom center of your screen, then select 'Pin.'
2. Upload Your Visual: On the left side of the screen (on desktop), you’ll see an area to upload your image. You can either drag and drop your file directly into the designated area or click to browse files on your computer. Choose the high-quality, vertical graphic you prepared.
3. Add Your Title: To the right of your image preview, you’ll see the field for your title. Write your keyword-rich title here, keeping it under 100 characters.
4. Write a Description: Fill in the description box below the title. Use this space to detail what the Pin offers, telling a small story and including more contextual keywords.
5. Add Your Destination Link: Copy and paste the URL you want users to visit into the 'Add a destination link' field. Test it by clicking the little arrow icon next to the link to ensure it directs to the correct page.
6. Choose a Board: In the top-right corner, you’ll see a drop-down menu that says 'Publish.' Click it to select the most relevant board from your list. Having highly specific, well-organized boards (e.g., "Keto Dinner Recipes" instead of just "Food") helps Pinterest understand your content's context.
7. Tag Related Topics (Optional but Recommended): Below the board selection, you might see an option to 'Tag related topics.' Add a few very relevant tags. This is another small signal that helps Pinterest categorize your Pin correctly and show it to people interested in those specific topics.
8. Publish Now or Schedule for Later: You have two options. You can click the red 'Publish' button to post the Pin immediately, or you can select 'Publish at a later date' to use Pinterest's built-in scheduler.

Going Beyond Static Images: Other Pin Formats

While Standard Pins are the workhorse of Pinterest, the platform also offers dynamic formats like Video Pins and Idea Pins that can significantly boost engagement and help you stand out. Diversifying your content types keeps your feed fresh and appeals to different user preferences.

Creating an Engaging Video Pin

Video is one of the best ways to stop scrollers in their tracks. Motion is instantly more eye-catching than a static image. Use Video Pins to show a product in action, demonstrate a quick DIY tutorial, or bring a recipe to life.

• How to Create: The process is identical to creating a Standard Pin. Just follow the steps above, but when you upload your visual, select a video file (.MP4 or .MOV) instead of an image.
• Best Practices:
  • Keep it short and sweet. The best-performing Video Pins are often between 15 and 60 seconds long.
  • Design for sound off. Most users browse with their sound off, so use text overlays or strong visual cues to tell your story.
  • Choose a compelling cover image. Select a specific frame from your video to act as the static thumbnail. This is the first thing people will see, so make it intriguing!

Mastering Idea Pins

Idea Pins (formerly Story Pins) are Pinterest’s answer to the "story" format seen on other platforms, but with a key difference: they don't disappear. Idea Pins are multi-page collections of video and image content that live permanently on your profile. They are fantastic for telling a complete story, like a step-by-step recipe, a mini-tutorial, or a listicle.

One critical thing to note: Most Idea Pins cannot have a direct, clickable outbound link. Their primary goal is to build an audience and engagement *on* Pinterest itself. The main call-to-action is for users to "Follow" your profile. From there, they can click the link in your bio.

• How to Create: On the mobile app, tap the '+' icon and select 'Idea Pin.' You can upload up to 20 pages of content, combining short video clips and static images. The creation studio includes tools for adding text, music, stickers, and even a voiceover.
• Best Practices:
  • Tell a complete story. An Idea Pin should take the user on a journey from beginning to end without them needing to go anywhere else.
  • Use video on the first slide. A video opener is more likely to grab attention in the feed.
  • End with a clear CTA. Finish your Idea Pin by encouraging viewers to follow you for more content just like it.

Pinning Smarter, Not Harder: Strategies for Success

Posting is just one part of the equation. A truly successful Pinterest strategy involves posting the right content, at the right time, with a clear purpose.

1. Consistency is Your Best Friend

The Pinterest algorithm rewards active and consistent creators. It's far better to post 1-3 new Pins every single day than it is to post 20 Pins one day and then go silent for a week. A steady stream of content signals to Pinterest that your account is a reliable source of fresh ideas for its users.

2. Create "Fresh" Pins Regularly

Pinterest has stated publicly that its algorithm prioritizes *new content.* In Pinterest's terms, a "Fresh Pin" is a brand new image or video that has never appeared on the platform before. This doesn't mean you have to create a new blog post every day. You can create multiple, unique Pin graphics that all point to the *same* destination link. Simply changing the text overlay, using a different photo, or switching up the colors makes it a Fresh Pin.

3. Use Pinterest Trends for Inspiration

The Pinterest Trends tool (available at trends.pinterest.com) is a goldmine of data. You can see what topics are gaining popularity and when they typically peak. Use this to plan your content calendar ahead of time. For example, search for "fall home decor" in July or August to see what pinners searched for last year and get your content ready before the trend hits its peak.

4. Keep Brand Consistency in Mind

As users scroll through their feed, your goal is for them to instantly recognize your content. Develop a consistent brand style for your Pins. Use the same set of 2-3 fonts, your brand colors, and add a small, unobtrusive logo to each graphic. Over time, this builds recognition and trust with your audience.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to post a Pin is the first step, but understanding the strategy behind creating compelling visuals, writing SEO-rich descriptions, and using different Pin formats is what truly drives growth. By focusing on high-quality, valuable content and maintaining a consistent pinning schedule, you can turn Pinterest into a powerful engine for your brand or business.

Maintaining that consistency across multiple platforms can feel like a full-time job. To make our own workflow more manageable, we use Postbase to plan and schedule all our social media content - not just for Pinterest, but for the short-form video on Reels and TikTok that often dominates our time. Having everything on one visual calendar helps us stay organized and allows us to focus more on creating great content instead of just trying to keep up with posting schedules.