A Beginner's Guide to How Pinterest Works in 2024

As of early 2024, Pinterest had over 450 million monthly active users globally. The platform’s user base continues to grow, especially among younger demographics seeking visual inspiration. As a social media manager and digital marketer, I tell people that Pinterest is more than a social media platform. It’s where inspiration meets innovation—a robust engine designed to help users uncover and organize their passions and interests. For creators and businesses, Pinterest serves as a virtual assistant, curating and presenting ideas tailored to personal tastes and innovative aspirations. To me, it’s the perfect treasure trove. That’s why I’d love to give you a breakdown of how Pinterest works, its features, and how you can leverage it effectively.

Key Points

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine that allows users to find and share ideas through images, videos, and infographics.
It operates as a search engine where users can search, discover, save, and share content known as “Pins.”
As of early 2024, Pinterest had over 450 million monthly active users globally, mostly young people who seek visual inspiration.
The main purpose of Pinterest is to discover, save, and organize ideas and inspiration.
It’s a powerful tool for planning projects, finding creative recipes, getting fashion advice, and much more.

What is Pinterest?

Unlike traditional social media platforms, Pinterest focuses on discovering new ideas and inspiration rather than social interaction. It’s a powerful tool for planning projects, finding creative recipes, getting fashion advice, and much more.

How Pinterest Works

Pinterest operates as a search engine where users can search, discover, save, and share content known as “Pins.” Each pin is an image or video that links back to its source. This makes Pinterest a powerful tool for driving traffic to websites. Users can organize pins into boards based on themes or interests, making it easy to curate and manage ideas.

Pinterest Home Feed

The home feed is generally personalized content, a mix of pins from people you follow, and recommendations based on your interests and activities. Personalized content means it’s distinct and unique to every account user. Users engage with pins by liking, saving to boards, or commenting. This interaction helps Pinterest refine your feed.

Basic Features or Elements of Pinterest

The following are some of the key elements of Pinterest:

Home Feed: This is a personalized feed where users see pins from the people they follow and recommendations based on their interests.
Search Function: The search function allows users to find specific content by entering keywords or phrases.
Boards: These are organizational tools where users save and categorize their pins.
Pins: Pins are the core content of Pinterest, the visual bookmarks (images or videos) that link back to their sources. You can save these to your boards.
Pinterest Lens: With Pinterest Lens, you can discover ideas based on objects around you. This visual search tool is perfect for finding inspiration on the go.
Shop the Look: This feature allows users to shop directly from pins. It’s a seamless way to purchase items featured in the pins you love.
Pinterest Trends: This feature helps you discover the latest ideas and stay ahead of the curve.

Others Include:

Group Boards for Collaboration
Pinterest Analytics to track performance for business accounts

What Is the Main Purpose of Pinterest?

The main purpose of Pinterest is to discover, save, and organize ideas and inspiration

Why Should I Use Pinterest?

Unlike other social media platforms, Pinterest is geared towards future aspirations rather than present updates. This makes it a unique tool for planning and creativity. Whether you’re a business owner looking to drive traffic to your site, a DIY enthusiast, or someone seeking inspiration, Pinterest offers endless possibilities to curate and explore ideas.

How is Pinterest Different From Other Social Media Platforms?

Pinterest stands out from other social media platforms because it is a discovery and planning tool. While platforms like Facebook and Instagram focus on social interactions and sharing life updates, Pinterest is about finding and organizing ideas for the future. Users save content as “Pins” to “Boards,” which they can revisit anytime. This approach emphasizes long-term value and inspiration, making Pinterest more of a personalized visual search engine than a traditional social network.

How Pinterest Works: Understanding Pins

A pin is an image or video that someone adds to Pinterest. Each pin links back to the original source, making it easy to find more information. You can create pins by uploading images or videos directly from your device or by saving content from the web using the Pinterest browser button. It’s not enough to create pins; you must write compelling descriptions before uploading them. It’s also important to use relevant keywords to make your pins discoverable. Remember, Pinterest is a search engine, so think SEO!

How Pinterest Works: Setting Up Your Pinterest Account

If you’re new to Pinterest, you can sign up using the steps below:

Create an account using your email, Google, or Facebook account.
Choose your interests. Pinterest will prompt you to select a few interests to tailor your feed. Kindly pick categories that genuinely interest you to make your experience enjoyable.
Use boards to organize your ideas.

Content that Works Best on Pinterest

The following are the top-performing content on Pinterest:

High-quality images and infographics
DIY and how-to guides that offer practical value
Inspirational quotes and motivational content
Seasonal and trending topics that align with current interests
Recipes, fashion tips, and home décor ideas that cater to popular interests

How Do I Save Pins on Pinterest?

When you come across a Pin you like, click on it, and you’ll see a red “Save” button. Click this button, and you’ll be prompted to choose a board where you want to save the pin. You can create a board with this prompt if you haven’t already created one.

How Do I Use Pinterest for Inspiration and Ideas?

Below is how I use Pinterest for inspiration and ideas:

First, I search for keywords related to my interests or projects in the search bar.
Afterward, I browse the popped-up pins and boards to discover new ideas and trends.
Next, I create boards to collect and categorize my favorite pins.
Lastly, I use Pinterest’s “Explore” feature to find trending topics and popular Pins that might spark new ideas.

How Do I Use Pinterest for Planning Projects or Events?

I use Pinterest for planning projects or events in the following ways:

I create boards specific to each project or event. For example, if you’re planning a wedding, you might have separate boards for decor, dresses, and venues.
I save Pins that align with my vision and ideas for each category.
Lastly, I use the visual content to outline plans and share my boards with the team to keep everyone on the same page.

How Do I Search for Content on Pinterest?

To search for content on Pinterest, use the search bar at the top of the page. Enter keywords or phrases related to what you’re looking for, and Pinterest will display a variety of Pins, boards, and profiles related to your query. You can refine your search by using filters such as pins, boards, or people, and by selecting specific categories to narrow down your results.

Best Practices for Pinterest in 2024

Pinterest users use this platform for many reasons. For instance, I use it for inspiration; others might use it to promote their creativity, businesses, or personal brands. Whatever your reason is, you can get the most from your Pinterest account with the practices below:

#1. Use Rich Pins

Rich Pins provide more context about an idea because they show extra information directly on the Pin itself. There are four types: apps, products, recipes, and article pins. According to the official Pinterest website, Rich Pins automatically syncs information from your website. This means that when something changes on the original site, the rich Pin updates to reflect that change. You can identify rich pins by the extra information above and below the image when you click it.

#2. SEO and Keywords

Pinterest functions as a search engine, so SEO best practices are essential for visibility. Treat Pinterest SEO and keyword practices the same way you will for websites. Use relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and board names.

#3. Optimize for Mobile

Always ensure you optimize your pins for mobile views. This is because most users access Pinterest via mobile devices; I can’t remember the last time I accessed this platform with my laptop. It’s either my phone or tablet. Therefore, ensure your pins are optimized for mobile viewing with high-quality images and vertical formats.

How Pinterest Works for Business

Pinterest isn’t just a platform for personal inspiration; it’s also a powerful tool for businesses. With its highly visual nature, Pinterest helps businesses reach a broader audience and also drives traffic to websites. This is possible with the steps below:

#1. Business Accounts

Sign up for a Pinterest Business account to access advanced features like analytics and advertising. After opening a business account, verify your website to access analytics and improve your profile’s visibility.

#2. Promoted Pins and Pinterest Ads

Organic content is a great way to build visibility, but you can also take advantage of paid ads on Pinterest and promoted pins. Promoted pins are paid ads that appear in users’ feeds, helping businesses reach a larger audience. You can also use Pinterest’s targeting options to reach your desired audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

#3. Analytics and Insights

Always track the performance of your pins and boards with Pinterest Analytics. This tool provides insights into impressions, saves, clicks, and audience demographics. It’s also one of the advantages of a Pinterest business account. You can use these insights to refine your content strategy. It’ll ensure you’re reaching the right audience with the right content.

#4. Rich Pins for Businesses

Always use rich pins for your Pinterest business. Rich Pins provide more context about an idea because they show extra information directly on the Pin itself.

Lamphills’ Pinterest Best Practices Checklist

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What are Pinterest Boards, and How Do I Create One?

Pinterest boards are digital collections where you can organize your pins (images and videos) around specific themes or topics. Think of them as virtual pinboards where you group pins related to a particular interest, project, or event. To create a board, log in to your Pinterest account, click on your profile picture, select “Boards,” and then click “Create a board.” Give it a name, add a description, and set it to public or private. Once created, you can pin to your board by saving content from Pinterest or uploading your own.

What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid on Pinterest?

The following are the major mistakes I avoid at all costs on Pinterest:

Using low-quality images that do not stand out.
Overloading descriptions with keywords (keyword stuffing).
Making Pins with no call-to-action or link in my Pins.
Inconsistency in posting
Ignoring Pinterest analytics.

How Can I Collaborate With Others on Pinterest?

Pinterest collaboration can enhance your project or event planning. You can collaborate in the following ways:

Create a collaborative board by selecting the “Collaborators” option when setting up a board.
Invite others by entering their email addresses or Pinterest usernames.
Share ideas and contribute Pins collectively.
Communicate within the board’s comments to discuss and organize.

How Can I Use Pinterest for Marketing My Business?

If you intend to promote a product or service on Pinterest, the following will be of help:

Create business boards that showcase your products, services, and industry expertise.
Pin high-quality images and engaging content related to your business.
Use rich Pins to provide more information directly on the Pin.
Promote your Pins to reach a larger audience.
Analyze your performance using Pinterest Analytics to refine your strategy.

How Do I Create Promoted Pins?

Promoted Pins are a form of paid advertising on Pinterest. You can promote Pinterest pins with the steps below:

Log in to the Pinterest Ads Manager.
Select “Create Ad” and choose your campaign objective.
Pick your pin from existing ones or create a new one.
Set your targeting options to reach your desired audience.
Set your budget and bid amount.
Launch your campaign and monitor its performance.

How Can I Drive Traffic to My Website Using Pinterest?

To drive traffic to your website, check out the steps below:

Create engaging Pins that include clear calls-to-action and link back to your website.
Use rich Pins to provide more context directly on Pinterest.
Optimize your Pin descriptions with relevant keywords.
Pin regularly to keep your content fresh and engaging.
Engage with your audience to build a community around your content.

How Do I Optimize My Pins for Search?

You can optimize your Pins with the following steps:

Use relevant keywords in your pin descriptions.
Create high-quality, eye-catching images that stand out.
Add detailed descriptions and alt text to improve searchability.
Use hashtags and categories effectively.
Linking back to relevant content on your website.

What Are Pinterest Keywords, and How Do I Use Them?

Pinterest keywords are specific words or phrases that help users find content. Effective keyword use improves your Pins’ discoverability. This makes it easier for users to find and engage with your content. The following are steps on how to use them:

Research popular keywords related to your content using Pinterest’s search bar and trends.
Incorporate these keywords into your pin titles, descriptions, and board names.
Use keywords strategically to improve searchability without keyword stuffing.
Monitor performance and adjust your keywords based on engagement and analytics.

How Pinterest Works: Increasing Pinterest Engagement

To boost engagement on Pinterest, check out the steps below:

Create visually appealing Pins that attract attention.
Post consistently to keep your audience engaged.
Engage with other users’ content by repinning and commenting.
Use Pinterest analytics to understand what works and refine your strategy.
Run contests or promotions to encourage interaction.

How Pinterest Works: Gaining More Followers on Pinterest

Gaining followers involves the following steps:

Posting high-quality, relevant content consistently.
Optimizing your profile with a clear description and attractive visuals.
Engaging with the Pinterest community by following others and interacting with their content.
Use SEO strategies to improve your visibility in search results.
Promoting your Pinterest profile on other social media platforms.

What Is the Best Time to Post on Pinterest?

The best time to post on Pinterest can vary based on your audience and content, but general trends suggest evenings, weekends, and peak times.

How Can I Make Money From Pinterest?

Monetizing Pinterest involves leveraging its platform to generate income through various methods like affiliate marketing, promoting Pins, selling products or services, sponsored content, and so on.

Conclusion

One of the things I love about Pinterest is its dynamic and user-friendly interface. I also love the platform’s unique focus on future trends, which makes it ideal for content creators and businesses. You’ll have to understand how Pinterest works to make the most of this versatile platform. So, dive in, explore, and let Pinterest be your guide to endless inspiration and creativity.

Uchenna Nwokolo

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