Are your Pinterest Pins not getting the views and clicks you want no matter how much you post? Many creators struggle with Pinterest content creation at first, but often the solution is simpler than you think.
You might just not be giving Pinterest enough information to recommend your Pins, or giving it the wrong information entirely.
We’ve already explored the importance of keywords and categorization in Part 2, but in this 4th installment of my Pinterest Marketing Mistakes series, the focus is on individual Pins themselves.
I’ve broken this down into 7 Pinterest content creation mistakes that could be hurting your Pinterest Pin performance and engagement. By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the right strategies, you can dramatically improve your Pin performance and start getting more views and clicks from your Pins.
Table of Contents
Essential Pinterest Content Creation Mistakes to Avoid
This guide is written to teach you how to optimize your pin descriptions, use keywords effectively, and create pins that drive more traffic to your content. We’ll do this by looking at critical beginner mistakes that keep the Pinterest algorithm from recommending Pins in search results and Home Feeds.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Why keyword-rich Pin descriptions and titles are crucial for Pinterest search visibility
- Actionable tips for creating pin descriptions that convert without keyword stuffing
- The truth about hashtags on Pinterest and when to use them strategically
- How to properly disclose affiliate content while maintaining engagement
- How to use effective calls-to-action that increase your click-through rates
The Pinterest Marketing Mistakes 6-Part Series
Hey, there! Welcome to the Pinterest Marketing Mistakes series here on Soft Digital Era!
I don’t know if you can tell, but I can be a bit of a yapper so I’m trying to do my best to keep this informative, but short and sweet. That said, I’ve still had to break this guide down into 6 parts to cover everything without being too overwhelming.
Check out the other posts when you’re ready!
- The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Pinterest Marketing Isn’t Working for You | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 1
- 6 Pinterest Account Strategy Mistakes Killing Your Reach | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 2
- 6 Reasons Why Your Pinterest Pin Designs Don’t Convert to Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 3
- 7 Pinterest Content Creation Mistakes Ruining Your Views & Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 4
- 7 Ways Your Website is Costing You Pinterest Engagement | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 5
- 8 Pinterest Strategy Mistakes That Limit Reach & Cost Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 6
7 Common Mistakes Made When Creating Pinterest Pins
Let’s dive into 7 Pin creation mistakes creators are bound to make when they’re new to Pinterest marketing. Understanding these issues and their solutions will help you create more effective, engaging Pins that drive traffic to your site—whether that’s a blog, newsletter, or store.
Using a generic title and description or skipping them altogether
Once again, Pinterest is a search engine. That means that without a keyword-rich title and description, your Pins aren’t likely to show up in relevant search results. People won’t be able to find your Pins and Pinterest won’t understand when to recommend them through the Home Feed or as related suggestions on other Pins.
The fix:
Write a clear, concise title and a detailed description with relevant keywords. Think about what someone would search for and how your content is a solution for that search.
No storytelling! Do not be vague like you would with a TikTok or Instagram hook. Make it interesting, but get straight to the point. Pinterest does not want “fluffy” descriptions that muddy their SEO value.
Pro Tip:
Add a call-to-action at the end of your descriptions. My typical formula for a Pin description is 2-3 sentences that describes the content through my chosen keywords, then a call-to-action such as “Click to visit websitename.com to learn more” or “Click to download now from websitename.com“.
Not using keywords
If you haven’t noticed by now, keywords are a must if you want your content found on Pinterest. Keywords help Pinterest categorize and display your content to the right audience. It doesn’t matter if you have the most beautiful Pins on Pinterest if the algorithm doesn’t know when to display them!
The fix:
Research relevant keywords in your niche and include them naturally in your title and description. Align these keywords with the content on your linked page for consistency.
Pro Tip:
Create a keyword database to keep track of keywords you use often so you don’t have to go through the entire research process every time you create a new Pin. You can update this every 3-6 months or as needed for new trends.
Keyword stuffing the title or description
“Keyword stuffing” is the term for when you type out a description that ONLY consists of keywords rather than a regular sentence or paragraph. Overusing keywords like this can make your Pin look spammy and unnatural, and it may discourage users from engaging.
The fix:
Focus on a handful of the most relevant keywords. Write your title and description in a natural, conversational tone that still includes important terms. 2 or 3 sentences is usually fine, as Pinterest prefers relevant descriptions instead of long, storytelling posts.
Pro Tip:
Get this done quickly by asking AI to create a description using your chosen keywords (or if you’re like me and you sometimes struggle with coming up with a way to string them all together yourself).
Using hashtags
While hashtags technically work on Pinterest, they’re not heavily used by users to view or access content. Using excessive hashtags in Pin descriptions takes up valuable real estate for searchable keywords and can also look cluttered. You also risk a user clicking away from your pin by selecting a hashtag instead.
The fix:
Back when hashtags were more popular on Pinterest, they were often abused by spammers, so the general consensus now is to avoid using them. Skip hashtags entirely and rely on carefully selected keywords to help users find your Pins instead.
There is one exception to this rule, and that’s when you’re pinning directly to an affiliate link. Which brings me to the next mistake…
Not tagging affiliate links
Labeling content as promotional is required when you’ve been paid or will get paid for sharing it (by someone else, not for your own products) in the US and the UK has a similar law as well.
Other countries may have their own guidelines, so be sure to make yourself aware. However, even if you’re not in the US or UK, it’s still helpful to be transparent and upfront with your viewers.
The fix:
For any content you receive compensation for posting, you need to clearly state that within the Pin description. This is only necessary if:
- you’re using your affiliate tracking link and your Pin leads directly to a purchasable product where you will get a cut of the sale, or
- a brand has paid you to create the content.
If the Pin URL leads to a landing page or blog post with affiliate links, you don’t need to state this on the Pin itself (you’ll be doing this on the page with the link already anyway). It’s also not necessary for promoting your own products.
This is the only time when a hashtag is truly useful on Pinterest. Using #ad or #affiliate will allow you to meet advertising guidelines for sharing paid promotional social media posts. This tag has a universally understood meaning across social platforms.
Alternatively, you can a include that a Pin leads to an affiliate link or is sponsored by simply stating as such (ex: “This pin is an affiliate link”) in the description.
Not using a call-to-action
This one is basic psychology; people need to be told what to do. If you’re not telling them to Save your Pin or Click through to your website, then they’re less likely to do it.
The fix:
Considering Pinterest’s search-and-retrieve style platform, this may seem weird. But don’t forget that it’s also possible to simply browse on Pinterest. Calls-to-action will put the idea in a viewer head (remember that movie, Inception?) that there’s more they should do than just see the Pin and move on.
Add a simple CTA in your Pin description or text overlay, such as “Learn more,” “Sign up,” or “Get the full guide.” This encourages users to engage further.
Pro Tip:
A lot of people will do this using a mock button on their Pin graphic. This make it “feel” like users are clicking a button to perform an action. Again, psychology!
Linking to an irrelevant page
Users feel misled when a Pin promises one thing but links to a page about something else. This hurts your credibility and can negatively impact traffic. You also run the risk of Pinterest users flagging your content and being suspended for spamming.
Pinterest has also started removing the links from Pins that don’t lead where the Pin says it should. This is as added protection from those who steal Pin images, but it does mean you need to be careful so your own content doesn’t get hit in the crossfire.
The fix:
Always make sure your Pin’s content and linked page match. If your Pin advertises a specific article or product, link directly to that article or product page.
Do not try to use someone else’s Pin graphics to advertise your own content either. This puts you at risk of DMCA strikes from other creators and could result in your account being suspended by Pinterest.
What to Do Next: Master Your Pinterest Pin Strategy
Now that you understand the common Pin design mistakes to avoid, it’s time to take action and improve your Pinterest marketing strategy.
Here are your next steps:
- Audit your existing Pins: Review your current Pins and identify any areas where you might be making these mistakes.
- Update Pin descriptions: Start with your most popular Pins and optimize their descriptions using the keyword and CTA guidelines discussed above.
- Create new Pin templates: Design fresh Pin templates that incorporate the best practices we’ve covered to maximize engagement and clicks.
- Create a content calendar: Plan your content creation schedule to maintain consistency and ensure you’re regularly creating fresh content for your Pinterest audience.
- Monitor analytics: Regularly review your Pinterest analytics to understand what’s working and adjust your strategy based on performance data.
Want to dive deeper into Pinterest marketing? Check out the other posts in this series to master every aspect of your Pinterest strategy.
The Pinterest Marketing Mistakes 6-Part Series
Check out the rest of the posts in this series for my full mistake-fixing plan and turn your Pinterest account into a traffic driving machine!
- The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Pinterest Marketing Isn’t Working for You | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 1
- 6 Pinterest Account Strategy Mistakes Killing Your Reach | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 2
- 6 Reasons Why Your Pinterest Pin Designs Don’t Convert to Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 3
- 7 Pinterest Content Creation Mistakes Ruining Your Views & Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 4
- 7 Ways Your Website is Costing You Pinterest Engagement | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 5
- 8 Pinterest Strategy Mistakes That Limit Reach & Cost Clicks | Pinterest Marketing Mistakes Part 6