How to Make a Pin Go Viral on Pinterest

There’s no denying the power of Pinterest when it comes to driving traffic and engagement. With over 400 million monthly active users, this visual search engine is a goldmine for businesses and content creators alike.

But with so much competition on the platform, how do you make your pins stand out and go viral?

In this guide, I’m sharing some key strategies to help make your pins go viral on Pinterest.

Get to Know Pinterest

Ever wondered who’s spending their time pinning and planning on Pinterest? It’s a diverse crowd, that’s for sure! From DIY enthusiasts to fashionistas, home chefs to fitness buffs, the platform is bustling with folks looking for inspiration, practical tips, and a whole lot of eye candy.

One of the coolest things about Pinterest is how it serves as a virtual wishlist. People aren’t just browsing; they’re shopping—or at least planning to!

From the latest home decor trends to the must-have gadgets, users are pinning items they dream of purchasing. Imagine the possibilities if they stumble upon your pin while in this shopping mindset.

Now, about those engaging topics. Whether it’s a rustic chic home decor guide, a weeknight dinner recipe that doesn’t take an eternity, or a workout routine that promises results without the need to live at the gym, content that offers value and taps into current trends has the potential to catch fire.

Monitor Pinterest Trends

Start by asking yourself, “What would my ideal viewer type into the search bar?” Use tools like Pinterest’s search bar suggestions and the Pinterest Trends tool to get into the minds of your audience.

Once you’ve gathered your treasure trove of words, sprinkle them naturally into your pin’s description. It’s like leaving breadcrumbs for Pinterest to follow, leading right to your fabulous content.

And hey, don’t just stop at one or two keywords. The more specific and relevant keywords you include, the better Pinterest can categorize your pin.

Don’t forget, being spammy is a no-go. Keep it relevant, keep it natural, and watch as your pins find their way into the hearts and boards of Pinners all over.

Create Catchy Blog Post Titles

Let’s be real, headlines gotta grab attention fast or pinners will swipe away. Take this for instance – If your pin says “7 Ways To Make Money”, chances are most folks won’t give it a tap.

You need to catch the reader’s attention quick, like in 2-3 seconds! A pin that’s titled “7 Unique Ways To Earn $5000 Per Month” sounds more engaging than the old title.

Get creative, try different titles, see which one gets more views. Good titles boost click rates, so don’t slack off when coming up with a catchy headline!

• Transform Your Tiny Balcony Into a Cozy Retreat: 10 Affordable DIY Ideas
• Master the Art of French Cooking at Home: 5 Classic Recipes for Beginners
• 10 Life-Changing Organization Hacks for Your Cluttered Closet
• See the World on a Budget: 7 Secret Destinations That Won’t Break the Bank
• From Novice to Pro: 10 Essential Photography Tips for Captivating Instagram Photos

Each of these titles promises value, sparking curiosity, and offering a clear benefit to the viewer, making them more likely to click through and explore your content.

Share Specifics in Your Pin Descriptions

Ah, now we’re getting to the heart of the Pinterest puzzle – keyword research. Picture this: you’ve created the most beautiful, eye-catching pin, but it’s like having a billboard in a desert if you don’t use the right keywords.

To show it to the right people, Pinterest needs to understand what your pin is about.

Think of Pinterest as your friend who loves organizing. If you hand them a box without a label, they won’t know where to put it. But if you say, “This box is filled with vintage comic book decor,” it’s going straight to the “Cool Retro Vibes” section. That’s what keywords do for your pins.

Place Keywords Everywhere

Alright, buckle up, because we’re about to take a deep-dive into the world of keywords – Pinterest style!

Now, we’ve talked about how vital keywords are, but here’s the twist: you can sprinkle them across your pin graphics, titles, descriptions, and even in your board titles and descriptions. Think of it as seasoning your Pinterest feast with just the right amount of spice.

Starting with your pin graphics, consider adding text overlay with those crucial keywords. Not only does it make your pin stand out, but it also gives viewers a quick insight into what your content is about. It’s like wearing a name tag at a party; it just makes interactions smoother.

Now, moving on to titles and descriptions, this is where you can really shine. Use keywords that are not just relevant but also enticing.

Make your audience think, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!” It’s about striking that perfect balance between informative and irresistible.

Don’t forget your boards! A well-named board with a keyword-rich description acts like a beacon, guiding those pinner ships to your treasure trove of content. It tells Pinterest, “Hey, everything here belongs in this fabulous category,” which helps get your pins in front of eyes that eagerly want to see them.

If you go into incognito mode on a Chrome browser, you can see how Pinterest has categorized a pin. This pin about restaurants in Savannah, Georgia is pulling up “Bach” and “Girls Trip” so it would be a great idea to target those keywords in a future pin about things to do and places to eat in Savannah!

Use Paid or Original Photos in Your Pins

Pinterest has an “image search” feature which allows you to find more content by searching a section of a pin, or the entire pin. Here is an example below.

The pin on the left is the pin that I performed the image search on. The pins on the right are what Pinterest decided to show me based on the image search.

This content creator probably used a paid stock photo of the toddler wearing curlers. As you can see, this image has never been used before on Pinterest by anyone else, based on the search results on the right.

If you use free images on Unplash or Pexels, chances are that they’ve been published on Pinterest before. And you’ll be sharing duplicate content. Therefore, invest in paid or original photos for your pins to make them stand out and avoid being lost in the crowd.

For affordable images, you can invest in Canva Pro or Deposit Photos. If you have the skills, why not create your own unique images? This will make your pins truly one-of-a-kind and add a personal touch to your brand.

Create a Pin Aesthetic

Pinterest is all about visual appeal, so make sure your pins are visually appealing too. Create a cohesive aesthetic by using similar colors, fonts, and styles in your pins. This will help establish your brand’s identity and make your pins easily recognizable to your audience.

When creating your pin aesthetic, don’t be afraid to inject some personality into your pins. Use humor, fun graphics, or clever designs to catch people’s attention and make them want to save and share your content.

Call to Action

Don’t forget to include a clear call to action in your pin descriptions. Whether it’s asking users to click through to your website or follow your account, having a strong call to action can make all the difference in getting users to engage with your content. So don’t be afraid to tell people what you want them to do!

Here are some call-to-action (CTA) examples you can use for your Pinterest pins to encourage engagement and drive traffic:

“Click to discover more amazing tips!”

“Follow us for daily inspiration!”

“Visit our website to learn more!”

“Grab your free guide now!”

“Sign up today to get exclusive offers!”

“Check out our latest collection!”

“Don’t miss out! Subscribe now.”

“Save this pin for later inspiration!”

“Share this pin with someone who would love it!”

“Join our community for more fantastic ideas!”

Share Your Pin to One Board

Gone are the days that you could share the same pin to 20 different boards on the same day. RIP 2019 algorithm.

Now, it’s best to share your pin to one board, so it remains “fresh”. You can always schedule it to be shared on other boards later, but start with one.

As your pins start to gain traction and get more saves and clicks, Pinterest will start showing your pin to more people. So by sharing it to just one board at a time, you can increase its visibility and reach a wider audience.

Final Thoughts

Pinterest stands out as a top player for boosting traffic and building brand awareness. Getting the hang of its various aspects, like making pins and sharing them smartly, is both an art and a science that can really amp up your online game.

By bringing me on board as your Pinterest manager, you’ll tap into my skills in creating engaging content and applying growth strategies that really work. Together, we’ll unleash Pinterest’s full power to not just hit, but surpass your marketing goals.

Let’s not leave your Pinterest success to luck—team up with someone who’s all about getting you results. Drop me a line today, and let’s start turning your Pinterest account into a key piece of your marketing toolkit.