Are your Pinterest Pins getting plenty of saves but no clicks? You’re sure you’re in a Pinterest friendly niche, but still aren’t seeing the success other creators have been?
If you’ve been posting on Pinterest for awhile but your traffic still feels stuck, this may be the post that changes everything for you!
Maybe it’s that you’ve been treating Pinterest like Second Instagram, or maybe you just haven’t been able to stick the hooks that get people to make the click. In most cases, you’re not seeing results simply because you’re operating in a way that attracts those who use Pinterest purely for inspiration rather than those who use it for bookmarking off-site information.
This post is the third in my Pinterest Marketing Mistakes series and goes over how you can correct six main mistakes that keep your Pins from standing out in feeds and searches and converting into real traffic (and sales if you’re so inclined). Fixing these mistakes will encourage more engagement so people start to save and click your Pins more often.
Whether you’re a seasoned Pinterest marketer or just starting out, these insights will help you optimize your pins for better conversion rates.
Table of Contents
Proven Tips to Get More Clicks & Sales for Pinterest Content
This is Part 3 of my Pinterest Marketing Mistakes series where we’ll explore common reasons why some Pinterest content struggles to convert to clicks. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or digital marketer, these insights will show you how to optimize your Pin s for better click-through rates and even sales.
- Why lifestyle photos might be hurting your conversion rates and what types of images actually drive clicks
- The optimal Pin sizes and dimensions for maximum visibility and engagement on Pinterest
- How to balance branding with Pinterest’s visual algorithm for better reach and discoverability
- Practical tips for improving Pin design with effective text overlays that encourage clicks
- The most effective type of Pin for attracting clicks to off-site content
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
6 Pinterest Pin Design Mistakes That are Hurting Your Views & Clicks
Today’s post is all about creating Pins on Pinterest that attracts viewers who are the most likely to click your links to visit your site. Here I’m referring to the actual Pin graphics rather than their titles and descriptions (you can find more about those mistakes in Part 4, Pinterest Content Creation Mistakes).
These issues may explain why you’re getting plenty of saves but not seeing the traffic you see everyone else getting. Understanding and fixing these mistakes will transform your Pinterest strategy and boost your conversion rates!
Posting “lifestyle” photos for clicks
Lifestyle photos may seem like a good idea, but they often receive more saves than clicks. While this approach can work on other social media platforms, it’s not the best idea for Pinterest if you want people to visit your links.
By using lifestyle content, you’re targeting the wrong type of Pinterest user. Users who are prepared to visit offsite links are typically looking for more direct, actionable content. This includes tutorials, tips, or product recommendations.
The fix:
Use images that show how a product or idea can be used, or that give a hint at the content waiting on the other side of the Pin (such as steps of a tutorial or product images from a gift guide). Add text overlays to clarify the topic or key takeaway.
It can be okay to post lifestyle photos to build followers if that makes sense for your niche, but always consider WHO you’re trying to attract and how they’re most likely to use Pinterest.
Pro Tip:
Text will go a long way even if you’re using generic or styled stock images. Some topics may be less visual, but the text can do the heavy lifting!
Using Pin images outside the recommended sizes
Pins that don’t follow Pinterest’s recommended dimensions (a 2:3 ratio) can appear cropped, distorted, or less appealing in users’ feeds. The algorithm may choose to show your Pin less if it’s too large or your Pin won’t receive much engagement from other users if it’s so small that it gets lost among other pins.
The fix: Stick to 1000 x 1500px (or 600 x 900px) to ensure your Pins display properly. This is the standard size most recommended and displayed by Pinterest. There are a few other things to keep in mind, though:
- Sometimes you can get away with longer images as well, but Pinterest may crop them in the feed if they’re too long. 9:16 works as well since this is the standard ratio for vertical video.
- Square images are also sometimes okay, but are mostly used by Pinterest when product images are pulled directly from a Shopify or Etsy shop.
- For videos, the standard 9:16 mobile video ratio is perfectly okay as well. You can also get away with some images created in this ratio as well.
Pro Tip: If you’re using Canva, their Pinterest template size is perfect! They usually keep up to date with the best sizes for social media graphics.
Staying too loyal to your branding
This might be a little controversial, as anyone who has created consistent branding will want to stick with it everywhere, as you should in most cases. Branding exists for a reason!
But in some niches, sticking to a narrow palette of brand colors may actually cause your Pins to be less noticeable in the feed if it’s surrounded by others that use bold, bright colors. Relying too heavily on brand-specific images or fonts could make you miss out on additional chances to be recommended by the Pinterest algorithm.
The fix:
For click-worthy Pins, you don’t need to stay strictly on-brand. Unless you’re a major recognized brand, feel free to experiment with colors and layouts that make your Pins pop. Add bright colors or adjust fonts to match your Pin’s topic, while keeping subtle brand elements like your logo. This helps your Pins stay fresh and reach more Pinterest users.
Pro Tip:
Remember that Pinterest recommends content visually as well. Creating Pins that look similar to other high ranking content for your keywords is a good strategy, even if that look isn’t 100% cohesive with your branding. You’re going to need to create a LOT of graphics for Pinterest, so this also gives you additional ways to create Fresh Pins.
Not using text overlays
Since Pinterest is highly visual and often used for inspiration, a lot of people think including text is unnecessary or distracting. However, text overlays help users quickly understand that your Pin is more than just a pretty picture. Without them, you run the risk of having a high number of Saves, but no clicks to your content or product!
The fix:
While Pinterest is driven by visual content, text still plays a big part! It’s vital in order to increase the discoverability of your Pins as the algorithm uses it to help categorize your Pin.
Include short, descriptive text on your Pin graphics that communicate the main ideas or benefits. Make sure the font and colors are easy to read on both desktop and mobile devices. As always, don’t forget to incorporate the appropriate keywords.
Using hard to read overlays
If people can’t read your text, they’re less likely to engage with your Pin in the way that you want. This includes mistakes such as having a cluttered design, poor color contrast, or fonts that are difficult to read at a glance can significantly reduce click-through rates.
I see this a lot with faceless digital marketing brands that utilize fancy, almost illegible cursive font styles.
The fix:
Use clean, legible fonts and high-contrast color combinations. Ensure your text has enough space to stand out from the background image. Pinterest can also scan the text on your Pin images, so including keywords and a clean, sans-serif font will help the algorithm understand your content better as well.
Pro Tip:
When designing your Pin, zoom out the canvas so you can test how the graphic would look while viewing from a mobile device. If you’re struggling to read the main hook of your Pin because of a certain font or color, make the appropriate adjustments.
Using video too much (or at all)
While Pinterest does support video Pins, they require more effort to produce and often don’t drive as much direct traffic or conversions compared to static Pins. Videos tend to keep people engaged on the Pinterest platform rather than clicking through to your site.
The fix:
Use video Pins strategically. Make sure your video content is valuable, concise, and encourages a visit to your link. If it’s not adding meaningful engagement, stick to static Pins. A lot of Pinterest experts advise against using video in post-2024 strategies as sometimes videos are pushed harder by the Pinterest algorithm. This can cause your static image Pins to perform worse over all.
Pro Tip:
If you try video Pins but find engagement dropping with your static content, you can delete your videos or move them to a Secret Board so they’ll be hidden from viewing through your account.
Transform Your Pinterest Marketing Strategy & Boost Conversions
Now that you understand why your Pinterest content might not be converting, it’s time to check how these line up with the content you’ve already put out. Here’s what you can do next:
- Audit your current Pins. Review your existing content and identify which Pins need optimization based on the issues we’ve discussed above.
- Check your video Pins if you have them. If you find they get the most engagement and aren’t converting to clicks, move them to a secret board or delete them from your account.
- Update your Pin designs. Start creating Pins that follow the recommended 2:3 ratio and incorporate clear, readable text overlays. Turn off Instagram posting if you have it on.
- Test different approaches. Experiment with various colors, layouts, and content types while maintaining subtle brand elements.
- Track your results with Pinterest Analytics. Monitor your Pinterest analytics to see which new strategies are driving the most clicks and conversions. Take your most popular designs and apply them to other links.
Remember, improving your Pinterest conversion rate is an ongoing process! Take advantage of Pinterest’s love for Fresh Pins as an opportunity to test lots of different Pin designs. Keep testing and refining your approach based on what works best for your audience.
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