Have you ever wonderd what it takes to get attention from Pinterest? I’ve been working on Pinterest-marketing for awhile now, and I’ve found 5 things that I believe every blogger needs to know about getting noticed on Pinterest.
Pinterest is such a huge tool for bloggers. All it takes is one image from your blog going viral, and you will see a huge spike in traffic! It can be hard to predict which posts will do exceptionally well on pinterest, and which will get little notice. There have been some times that I pin something, expecting my inbox to be flooded with people re-pinning it, and I’m surprised when it gets only one or two re-pins and that’s all. Then there have been other times where I half-heartedly pin something and I’m shocked when it gets re-pinned so many times that it quickly brings in thousands of pageviews.
I’ve been experimenting with pinterest for awhile now, and I’ve come up with a list of the top 5 ways to get noticed on pinterest. I’ve been implementing all of these, and have seen a huge (and lasting) increase in views since making these simple changes.
- Eye-catching Images – Using great, eye-catching and descriptive images is a MUST. This should be a high quality photo or a text-image you made yourself using a photo editing software, or a combination of the two! In my side bar there is a variety of images that I’ve made using the free photo-editing tools at picmonkey.com There is so much you can do with that program to enhance photos that you have taken, or to create new (royalty free) images of your own. There are all kinds of copyright laws in regard to images found online, so I’ve gotten in the habit of only using my own images. I never want to be stuck using something illegally, so I just create my own, rather than risk doing something wrong!
- Re-pin – If certain posts haven’t seen much action on pinterest in a few weeks or months, go back through and pin them again! This way your new followers will get a chance to see them, and even some of your old followers that may have missed them the first time around. Re-pinning has helped me considerably with my visability on pinterest. You don’t want to do this too much or you will be seen as a spammer, but sprinkling in a few, relevent older posts with your most recent pins is a great way to bring older posts to light. This is especially useful for seasonal posts. Did you write a great 4th of July, or Summer themed post last year? Re-pin in this year and watch what happens!
- Create New Image for Old Posts – This is a big one, and it is responsible for bringing hundreds of pageviews to my site everyday. Review some of your older posts and create new images for them. I recently learned how to use picmonkey to create better images, so I’ve been going through and creating fresh images for these posts that didn’t have an image, or had a very dull photo instead of a bright image rich with descriptive text. For a few weeks I tried to create one new image, for an old post, everyday. This would take 10-20 minutes each, but it has been such a rewarding way to spend my time, as it has brought more new traffic than I ever imagined!
- Describe Your Pin Well – This is a tip that Becky from Your Modern Family gave me, and it has been so helpful! When you push the button to pin your own post write a stellar description for it! It can feel weird bragging on your own post, but this is the description that will be pinned and re-pinned an indefinite amount of times, so choose your words wisely! Instead of just using the name of the post in your description, expound on it and use eye-catching phrases like “fantastic!” or “must-read” and “so helpful!!!!” Whatever you can honestly say about the post that might catch some one’s attention more than just the title or repeating the words that are already on the image.
- Have Quality Content – This one may be a bit obvious, but it bears repeating. People may re-pin an eye-catching image, but if they go to the site and find poor content, broken links, a site that is hard to navigate or, worst of all, a post that has mis-represented itself on pinterest, they won’t be coming back and they will likely delete the pin. Make sure that you are honest with your descriptions/images and be sure that your site is clean and easy to read once they click over!
*Bonus Tip! – Use pinterest link parties like the one hosted here every saturday, for extra exposure for your best pins!!! The link up starts at midnight friday CST! Come join the fun!!!
These are my top 5 tips for getting noticed on pinterest! Each of these things has been helping me a lot, and has kept pinterest as my top traffic source for months now!
What about you? Do you use pinterest to promote your posts?
You can start a blog here, really easily, if you haven’t started on already:
You can read our book about what we do to make our blogs successful:
If you are trying to grow your blog and feeling stuck, Becky and I offer blog coaching. We will go over your site and social media with you and show you where you are doing great and what you should focus on to grow. It’s one of our favorite ways to help bloggers!
- You can see our income reports here, to get a monthly breakdown of how we are making money each month.
Or you can see how we got our first million readers here:
If you are wanting to get serious about your blog this year and connect with other bloggers join our facebook group. You can ask questions, network and share your goals!
Kelly @ Eyes on the Source says
Great ideas, Paula! I hadn’t thought of making new images for old posts…need to do that!! Thanks!
Ellya Brill says
Thank you so much for these helpful tips. I did not know that I can re pin the older post; and now I am going to do it, definitely. Thank you so much! Have a lovely day.
Ellya
Mareli Lim-Evora Dabi says
Hi Paula,
Reading your post makes me aware about pinterest.You know Ive been blogging on and off. After my hiatus, I came back and here comes pinterest which is so unknown to me.Perhaps I need to go over it, create my account and start to explore it. Thanks a lot for sharing..its very interesting and I am grabbing your post.
Lisa Nelson says
Hey Paula,
Thank you so much for your post. What a great share on the ins and outs of Pinterest.
I am following you from the Nanny to Mommy Blog Hop. I will connect with you on every single social media icon I find here!
Lisa
Amber says
What a great post! I have just started working on using Pinterest for my blog and so these tips come at the perfect time!
Jaimie says
I really need to learn how to use Picmonkey! I find that it’s a HUGE pain to find good images for posts, and it takes SO long, and then yes, I’m sometimes concerned that I’m using them correctly. A small, but steady amount of my blog traffic comes from Pinterest, but I know it would help if I made good images. Thanks for these ideas!
Kelsey Ferguson says
Thank you for this wonderful post. Pinterest has been this elusive marketing site for me for SO long…and then I had one post get some decent traffic, and now it’s my number 2 social media referral! I’m really interested in learning how to make more posts ‘go viral’ so THANK YOU so much for these tips!
Oh…and I think I’m going to go back and create new images for some older posts….and ‘re-pin’! Thanks again!
Rachel says
Great ideas. I am working on going back and creating Pinterest worthy pictures for my old posts.
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real LIfe says
Great information! Pinterest has quickly become my largest traffic source, but still remains a mystery to me. You provided some valuable tips that I will implement right away.
Christina Cook Lee says
Great job on this, Paula! I really enjoy following you. Your stuff really does stand out. I’m surprised how often I am attracted to a pin and see that you were the one who pinned it or posted it. Keep up the great quality that you put into what you are doing. You have a real gift!
Stacey says
Great Tips! New follower here fa show!!
Selene Galindo says
Great tips! I definitely need to start tweeking my pin’s descriptions!!
Selene @ Restoration Beauty
AnnMarie says
Hi Paula! Great Post! I went right over to my blog board on Pinterest and added descriptions to my posts….that was my favorite tip. Visiting from The Pin Junkie and following you via Pinterest!
Nicole says
I find I get lazy when it comes to describing my pins. Thanks for the motivation! I agree with everything you said here-especially the old posts/new photos. I take a new picture every time a make a recipe I know I’ve blogged before, just so I have more to work with. Pic Monkey has been a huge asset!
Jenn says
These are very helpful ideas, Paula! A couple of other things I try to do are pin other people’s posts more than my own and also, if I repin something right from Pinterest, I check the link first to make sure it goes to the original source. So many times I have pinned something only to go back later and realize it just goes to an image on google or something. So when we as bloggers take the time to make sure the pins we share from others are accurate and relevant, it helps our own Pinterest traffic as well as shows we are trustworthy pinners! :)
Aimee @ Captivating Corner Blog says
Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Kathy Penney @SparklesAndAStove says
Pinning this! Pinterest is definitely my biggest traffic source! Thanks again for sharing at All Things Pretty.
emily says
great tips! Thanks for putting these together. Emily @ Nap-Time Creations
Bethany says
Awesome tips! Thanks for sharing :)
Lora @ Craftivity Designs says
Great tips! We’ve just recently started getting some more traffic from Pinterest and more followers. I think it might be a good time for us to re-pin some old posts! :)
Britney Mills says
Awesome tips! I would love for you to share it here http://www.theprincessandhercowboys.com/2013/07/on-display-monday-8.html
Thanks for posting and have a good one!
Tammy says
Helpful tips-thanks for sharing!
Gwyn says
Thanks for the information! I will try some of these ideas. Gwyn
Cassi says
Thanks for the information. I know I don’t write much for descriptions and am not always sure what to add that I haven’t already said.
Betsi Goutal says
Great tips! I like the repin suggestion – I’d seen similar suggestions several months back but was wary of seeming spammy. But now that my boards have a bunch more pins under their belts I might just have to do that.
My suggestion for going viral on Pinterest would be to get yourself invited to relevant group boards, and then pin useful on-topic content from not just your own blog but anywhere else you think the group should check out.
Jann Olson says
I haven’t even thought about growing my pinterest. At first I resisted from joining because I didn’t want more time spent on the computer. I joined just to collect things that I love or want to try. Never thought about using it for any other purpose. I rarely just go to Pinterest. Just pin as I am visiting. Love having the things I love all together. Thanks for sharing this interesting info with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Julia@Happy House and Home says
Thank you for the tips! This is truly helpful to me!
Longhairstyles101 says
Great ideas!
I found you through Adventures of a DIY Mom and I’m your newest follower :)
T'onna says
Great tips! I’ve been working on creating new pics for some of my older posts, and I occasionally repin items, too. Thanks for sharing at Submarine Sunday!
Mothering From Scratch says
{Melinda} Number 3 is a biggie. I’ve done this repeatedly. A couple of weeks ago, I made a new image for an old post that originally got about 20 repins. To date, after posting the new image, that post has received more than 9,000 repins!
Great post!
Lauren Mills / MERCY iNK says
Great tips, Paula. Totally agree with them… I’m always excited when a pin from my site get re-pinned a whole bunch and brings new eyes to the site.
Thanks for linking up with MERCY iNK :)
Bethany the ngnrdgrl says
Great tips! I’ve pinned it! I’ve been meaning to go back and redo some of my old images.
Aanie says
Thanks for the wonderful advice! Pinning is something I need to work harder at! :) Found your post through Krista’s Bloghop! Following you via Bloglovin and very excited to read more!
Aanie from http://www.theactivemum.com x
Melanie says
Thanks for the great post!! I actually wrote a similar one on Pinterest not too long ago, since I’ve been researching Pinterest. I’ve been wanting to utilize it more. I had no idea you hosted this party either. Glad I came across!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Great tips! Thanks for sharing & linking up @ DearCreatives.com & Happy 4th! I’ll definately have to give your post a shout out!
BeBetsy says
Great information about Pinterest and thanks for putting together such a great ‘tip’ post!
Thanks for sharing on the BeBetsy BRAG ABOUT IT. We’d love it if you link back to BeBetsy. ♡ ♡
Sharon and Denise
Fashion | Food | Beauty | Out & About | Morning Coffee
Follow us:
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Pinterest
Shawna says
Great tips, I am so glad you shared them with us on our BBQ Block Party
Krista Low says
Fabulous post darlin’! I need to work on number 3! When I first started my pictures were downright scarry! I need to take the time to spruce them all up. Great article! Just pinned it :) Krista @ A Handful of Everything
Rosilind @ A Little R & R says
Great advice here. I need to go back and repin some of my pins. Thank you!
Norine of Science of Parenthood says
Very helpful, especially about creating new images for older posts and writing descriptions! Fantastic info. Thanks!
Samantha says
#2 has been the most helpful for me. thanks!
Laura says
Pinterest and Facebook (I read your post on that as well) have been my two focuses lately and you have made some fabulous points. I definitely need to start repinning some of my older stuff. I guess I’ve been a little shy about it. Thanks so much for sharing your secrets :)
Found you through SITS now following you through bloglovin and twitter.
Sadie says
These are great tips! I LOVE Pinterest. Thank you for sharing. <3
buttercream bakehouse says
what is the secret to creating larger images on pinterest? Sometimes I see very large pins and mine seem to always come out tiny.
deonna says
Thank you for the tips…I always think of whether an image is eye catching enough and try to use great titles for my blog pins… I like to do the rectangle images or collages so that my pin is larger than all of the other pins
Margo says
I never thought of re-doing photos for old posts! That makes a lot of sense. There are a lot of projects I’ve done that I thought would do great on Pinterest but only got a few re-pins. I never thought that the solution might be simply a better or more eye catching image. Thanks for these great tips!
Jamie says
I love these ideas. I really need to go through a lot of my old posts and update my pictures. Some just have terrible pictures and some of the pictures are just too small since I switched from Blogger to WordPress. Thanks for the great posts!
Meg says
Thanks for the advice! It’s so hard to know what will get noticed on pinterest!
Taylor Brione says
GREAT information! Pinterest is one platform I really want to focus on this year! Thank you!
Kerry S says
I have a personal Pinterest account with almost 300 followers. I just started a business account on Pinterest for my blog. Do you recommend keeping them separate? I hesitate to start over, but I want my blog to have a page. For now, I’ve been pinning to both. Any recommendations?
Paula says
It’s really up to you… Personally, I find it easier to keep up with just one account, so I just use my personal one for my blog as well. I just added my blog name after my name and use that one you can see here:
http://www.pinterest.com/PaulaRollo/
I don’t think there is a “wrong” way to do it, it’s just whatever is easiest for you.
Emma lee says
I definitely need to start repinning some of my older stuff. I guess I’ve been a little shy about it. Thanks so much for sharing your secrets
Nikki Minors says
Thanks, Paula. This was a helpful list of tips. I noticed some of my old pins from my earlier years of pinning weren’t that captivating. I’m definitely going to refresh my older pins with new photos.