How to Repin on Pinterest

Repinning on Pinterest is a fundamental part of how the platform works, serving as a powerful way to share content, build your visual brand, and connect with your audience. This guide walks you through exactly how to repin on any device, the strategy behind effective repinning, and best practices to help you curate content like a seasoned pro.

What is a "Repin," Anyway? (And Why Did the Name Change?)

If you've been using Pinterest for a while, you know the term "Repin." It was the original name for saving someone else's Pin to one of your own boards. A few years ago, Pinterest simplified its terminology and replaced "Repin" with "Save" across the platform. While the name changed, the function is identical. A Pin, a Save - it's all the same action.

Think of it as the Pinterest version of a "share" on Facebook or a "retweet" on X. When you save a Pin, you're not just bookmarking it for yourself, you're broadcasting it to your followers, helping that content reach a wider audience. This simple action is the engine of content discovery and distribution on the platform. It's how great ideas travel from one person's home feed to another, building momentum and driving traffic back to the original source.

For brands and creators, this mechanism is incredibly valuable. Every time someone saves your content, your reach expands organically. Understanding how to do it - and why - is the first step to mastering your own Pinterest strategy.

How to Repin on Pinterest: The Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're browsing on your computer or scrolling through your phone, the process for saving a Pin is straightforward. Here’s how it works on each device.

Repinning on a Desktop or Laptop Browser

Using Pinterest on a desktop computer gives you a bigger canvas for inspiration and makes organizing your boards easy.

1. Find a Pin you want to save. Scroll through your home feed, a search results page, or another user’s profile until you find an image or video that catches your eye.
2. Hover your cursor over the Pin. When you hover, several options will appear. You'll see the name of the board it was saved to and a red "Save" button in the top-right corner.
3. Click the red "Save" button. A pop-up will appear showing a list of your existing boards. Pinterest may also suggest a board it thinks is the best fit.
4. Choose the right board. Click the name of the board you want to save the Pin to. If you want to create a new board for it, simply scroll to the bottom of the list and click "Create board."
5. Your Pin is now saved! You'll see a confirmation message, and the Pin has been successfully added to your chosen board.

We'll talk more about this later, but after you save it, you have the option to click "See it now," which takes you to your saved pin, where you can modify the description. This is a powerful step many people skip.

Repinning on the Pinterest Mobile App (iOS & Android)

Saving pins on the go is even faster. The mobile app experience is designed for quick curation and discovery.

1. Open the Pinterest app and find a Pin. Browse your feed or search for ideas just as you would on desktop.
2. Tap on the Pin to see it in a full-screen view. This gives you a better look and allows you to read the full description.
3. Tap the red "Save" button. You'll find it below the Pin, usually near the "Comments" and "Share" buttons.
4. Select a board. A list of your boards will slide up from the bottom of the screen. Tap the one where you want to save the Pin. A “Saved to [Board Name]” message will briefly appear.

That’s it! The mobile process is optimized for speed, allowing you to curate dozens of ideas in just a few minutes.

The Strategy Behind Repinning: It's More Than Just Saving

Hitting the "Save" button is easy, but using repins strategically can seriously elevate your Pinterest presence. Content curation is an art, and when done right, it adds massive value to your audience and strengthens your brand identity. Here’s how to think about repinning as a growth tool.

1. Curate Valuable Content Hubs for Your Audience

Your Pinterest boards shouldn't just be a collection of things *you* like, they should be well-organized resources for your target audience. Use repins to build comprehensive boards that solve a problem or provide inspiration. By saving high-quality content from other creators, you position yourself as a trusted curator in your niche.

Example: A certified personal trainer should certainly post original workout videos. But they can also build boards filled with repins for "Healthy Meal Prep Ideas," "Post-Workout Stretches," and "Affordable Athleisure Wear." These boards provide holistic value and make their profile a one-stop-shop for someone on a fitness journey.

2. Keep Your Profile Active and Consistent

The Pinterest algorithm favors accounts that consistently add new Pins. However, creating new, high-quality original content every single day is a huge task. Repinning is the perfect way to supplement your own content and keep your profile looking fresh and active.

Blend repins into your content schedule to fill gaps. A great rule of thumb, especially for new accounts, is the 80/20 rule: start with 80% repins of amazing, relevant content and 20% your own original Pins. As your account grows, you can gradually shift that balance toward more original content.

3. Build Community and Network with Other Creators

Social media is, after all, *social*. When you repin someone's content, they receive a notification. This simple act is a digital nod of appreciation. Consistently saving content from other creators in your niche puts you on their radar. It can lead to them checking out your profile, following you back, or even repinning your content in return.

It’s a low-effort way to network and build goodwill within the Pinterest community. Just make sure you're saving content that is genuinely high quality and aligns with your brand's standards.

4. Kickstart New Boards with Quality Content

Starting a new Pinterest board from scratch can feel daunting. An empty board doesn't attract followers or signal to Pinterest what it’s about. Before you start adding your own content to a new board, jumpstart it with 10-15 high-quality repins that perfectly fit the board's theme. This instantly makes the board look established and gives Pinterest’s algorithm a clear idea of the topics it covers, helping it surface your board in relevant searches.

Best Practices for Repinning Like a Pro

To get the most out of your repinning strategy, follow a few simple guidelines. These small habits separate casual pinners from serious marketers.

• Always Check the Link. This is the most important rule. Before you repin anything, click through the Pin to make sure it links to a legitimate, high-quality source. A beautiful Pin that leads to a spammy, broken, or irrelevant website will frustrate your followers and damage your credibility. Protecting your audience is your top priority.
• Optimize Your Pin Descriptions. Never just save a Pin with its default description. Rewrite it to add your own voice, perspective, and, most importantly, your target keywords. Explain *why* you're saving this Pin and how it helps your audience. For example, instead of leaving the description as "Tuscan Chicken," you could edit it to say: "This one-pan Tuscan chicken recipe looks like the perfect 30-minute weeknight dinner for a busy family. Love the creamy sauce!" This helps Pinterest understand the context and shows your Pin to more people searching for those terms.
• Curate Quality Over Quantity. Resist the urge to repin hundreds of mediocre Pins. It’s far better to have a few highly selective, beautifully curated boards than dozens of disorganized ones filled with low-quality content. Every single Pin you save is a reflection of your brand. Ask yourself: does this Pin meet my quality standards? Is it genuinely helpful or inspiring for my audience?
• Save to the MOST Relevant Board. This might seem obvious, but it’s a sloppy habit many people fall into. Saving a business tip infographic to your "Summer Recipes" board creates confusion for both your followers and the Pinterest algorithm. Keep your boards tightly themed and organized. A clean, logical structure makes your profile more valuable and easier for users to get lost in - in a good way!

Frequently Asked Questions About Repinning

Can my followers see what I repin?

Yes. When you save a Pin, it appears on the board you saved it to, which is public by default. It also has a chance of being shown in your followers' home feeds, just like one of your own original Pins.

Does the original creator get notified when I repin their content?

Yes! Pinterest informs creators when their Pins are saved. For them, it's a great signal that their content is resonating with people. It's a positive part of the ecosystem.

Is it okay to repin my *own* Pins?

Absolutely, and you should! Saving a single one of your original Pins to multiple relevant boards is a smart distribution strategy. For example, if you create a Pin about a new DIY bookshelf project, you can save it to your "DIY Home Decor" board, your "Living Room Ideas" board, and your "Weekend Projects" board. This exposes the same great content to distinct segments of your audience who may only be following one of those specific boards.

Final Thoughts

Saving (or repinning) on Pinterest is a simple action with powerful strategic weight. It enables you to serve your audience with valuable curated content, maintain a consistent and active profile, and build connections within your niche. By moving beyond mindlessly saving and toward intentional curation, you transform your Pinterest profile from a simple collection of ideas into a valuable resource for your followers.

Building that consistency across all of your social platforms is what truly drives growth. Keeping a schedule for new Instagram Reels, TikToks, and original Pinterest content - on top of repins - can get overwhelming fast. We built Postbase to solve this headache for ourselves. Using its visual calendar, we can map out our entire content strategy across all platforms from one central hub, making it easy to spot gaps and ensuring our brand's presence stays strong and dependable.