Last Updated on December 6, 2020 by ellduclos
Are you struggling with Pinterest marketing ever since the latest algorithm changes? You aren’t alone. Many bloggers have been feeling the same way. In 2020 Pinterest changed their algorithm which has caused bloggers pin reaches to drop drastically. That’s why I wanted to share 7 unique Pinterest marketing tips for the new Pinterest algorithm.
Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used and you can read my full disclosure here.
Since the latest Pinterest algorithm changes in 2020 I had to tweak my pinning strategies slightly. I have been using these Pinterest marketing strategies for a few months now and I am able to still get 100,000 monthly blog views to my lifestyle blog.
These strategies also help my pins take off in under 24 hours with active users instantly viewing my blog upon upload.
7 Unique Pinterest Tips For The New Algorithm
Think like the average Pinterest user
When it comes to Pinterest marketing and growing your blog traffic using Pinterest you need to think like the average Pinterest user when creating your content and pins. What does the average user come onto Pinterest to search for? Usually it’s recipes, DIY, beauty, fashion, home hacks, and holiday related content.
However, even if the topic you blog about isn’t searched as often on Pinterest that doesn’t mean you can’t get blog traffic using Pinterest. It just means you need to be patient and realistic. A lot of us go into Pinterest thinking that just because we follow Pinterest strategies our blog traffic will take off right away. That’s not always the case. Some niches take longer than others to grow and that’s okay.
If you can create topics that are searched more frequently, then do so. If not…make sure to use good Pinterest SEO so Pinterest can properly distribute your pins to the right audience. PLUS you’ll rank higher in Pinterest search. I love using the Pinterest trends tool to help when creating my content!
Not every impression is going to covert to a link click
This is SO important to remember, however I still see a lot of bloggers complaining about this particular issue. When it comes to Pinterest marketing it’s important to keep in mind that not every impression is going to convert. I haven’t met someone who has been able to prove this wrong.
In the Boss Girl Bloggers facebook group the other day I created a post on this issue sharing 7 reasons why your pin is receiving pin impressions, but very low CTR (click through rate).
Here are some reasons why this happens:
Your pin topic is too specific and the viewer can’t relate
This is usually one of the more common reasons as to why you see high impressions and low link clicks. If your pin topic is too specific the viewers might not be able to relate to the pin which therefore results to a lot of pin impressions but no link clicks.
Example: Let’s say you are a travel blogger and you have a blog post on 10 tips for visiting Charlotte. If I am an average Pinterest user and I come across this pin but have no plans to visit Charlotte anytime soon then I will most likely skip right by this pin and not click to read more.
INSTEAD: Create pins for content that is more broad because more people can probably relate to it which means more link clicks for you! Topics like bucket list ideas, Top 10 cities to visit, How to Pack Like A Pro For Your Next Trip.
This is a tip that works for many niches not just travel. When you notice a pin getting a lot of impressions but no link clicks ask yourself, “Is this topic too specific? Can my audience relate?”
Your pin design lacks
A lot of the times we don’t like to admit that our pin design sucks. I look back at my old pins when I first got started with Pinterest marketing and dang they were bad. Since improving my Pin design my Pinterest link clicks have increased immensely.
So what consists of a high quality pin that has potential to go viral?
- 2:3 ratio 600 x 900 or 1000 x 1500
- colors that stand out in the smart feed and are easy on the eyes
- font that is easy to read
- click worthy titles on your pins
- high quality images that relate to the pin topic
PAUSE & Grab your free Pinterest checklist + list of POWER words to increase your link clicks.
If you aren’t the best at photography I highly recommend investing in stock photos for your pins. High quality photos are going to perform better than low quality photos.
Some of my favorite stock photo websites are:
Another pin creation tip: Don’t under estimate the power of using customizable Pinterest templates. This can help speed up your pin creation process while also helping you create beautiful pins that WILL get you link clicks.
I created 3 Pinterest template packages that have helped bloggers increase their link clicks.
| >> Check Them Out Here << |
The viewer is pinning your pin to read later
It’s not unusual for a Pinterest user to save a pin and read it later. This can also cause more pin impressions and less link clicks. You might notice this with DIY and recipes.
Your pin has no text or CTA
If your pin has no text on it or call to action then the Pinterest user is probably re-pinning your pin as inspiration rather than clicking through to read more. Try to add text overlay to your pin and a call to action such as “click to read more” to entice the viewer to want to click through.
You aren’t pinning enough of your own content
If you pin mostly others’ content and not your own then your Pinterest monthly views and impressions are going to go up and your link clicks aren’t. I personally don’t re-pin others’ content and I focus on pinning only my own content. Pinterest actually recommends this for business users.
You aren’t practicing proper Pinterest SEO
If you aren’t practicing proper Pinterest SEO strategies then your pins are most likely not getting shown to your targeted audience. This can lead to lots of Pinterest impressions and no link clicks. This course teaches you the best Pinterest marketing strategies including Pinterest SEO. I highly recommend checking it out. It’s affordable too!
Create fresh pins over re-pinning
The new Pinterest algorithm prioritizes fresh pins over re-pinning others’ pins and your own pins. If you are re-pinning the same pins constantly this is going to hurt your Pinterest growth. The best way to grow your blog traffic using Pinterest is to create fresh new pins. Even 5 new pins a day can make a difference.
You may be thinking, “But doesn’t that defeat the purpose of Pinterest?”
Hear me out, of course the purpose of Pinterest is to save ideas that inspire you, HOWEVER without fresh new content on Pinterest then there would be no ideas for the average user to pin. Pinterest wants to make sure the average user has new content to save which is why they are PUSHING content creators to create new pins and ideas on a regular basis.
Pinterest sent out multiple emails to content creators stating that they are prioritizing FRESH NEW PINS over re-pins. If you are constantly re-pinning others’ content, take this as a sign to make that switch to pinning your own new content.
Keep in mind too that the most important analytic IS NOT monthly Pinterest views. You could have millions of Pinterest views and 10 monthly blog views. The most important analytic is your link clicks. DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
Let this reassure you that it’s more than normal for your Pinterest views to drop and they will drop more than once. Don’t let that defeat you.
Pin 5-10 Times A Day
Gone are the days where pinning 50+ pins helped grow your account. With the new Pinterest algorithm, less is more. Aim to pin at least 5-10 new pins a day. I know creating fresh pins can be a pain but having at least 5 new pins a day can make a difference. Every account is different so play around until you find your sweet spot!
Use Pinterest Trends
One thing I notice that a lot of bloggers fail to do is pin on trend. When you pin content that is trending then you can expect your pins to get more attention. I like to use the Pinterest trends tool. This tool is awesome. You can search keywords and it will show you when that keyword is trending throughout the year as well as recommend related keywords. You can also use this tool to see what is currently trending on Pinterest.
If you see a trending topic that you have content for then create a new pin and pin it! You can also use Pinterest trends to create new content.
Use Google Analytics & Pin When Your Audience Is Active
Another Pinterest marketing tip for the new Pinterest algorithm is to make sure you are manually uploading your new pins during a time when your audience is MOST active. Doing this can get you link clicks RIGHT AWAY.
I created and uploaded 5 new pins and within 5 minutes had 150 active users on my blog
You can find when your audience is most active by signing into your google analytics account and scrolling down to “When do your users visit?”
The darker the rectangle means the more traffic you receive at that time. Use this to make sure you are pinning during peak times throughout the week.
My audience seems to be most active during Sunday and Monday especially late in the evening.
Take A Pinterest Course
If you haven’t invested in a Pinterest marketing course yet then I highly recommend it. The good news is you don’t need a super expensive course to master Pinterest. This course is affordable and teaches you all you need to know about growing your blog traffic using Pinterest marketing for the new Pinterest algorithm. This course also gets updated every time there is a Pinterest algorithm change.
| >> Grab The Course Now! << |
I hope you found these tips helpful! Would love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Great post! Pinterest has been hard to navigate lately, but these are great pointers!
Thank you so much!
Amazing post. I will definitely put these tips into action
So glad you found it helpful! Thank you!
this is the most informative and valuable post ive ever read about pinterest so far! thank you for this!
So happy to hear this! Thank you!
Awesome Post! Thank you for sharing!!!!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this post! I think I am going to be purchasing your pinterest course! I was curious about something though. When you say pin 15-30 times and pin 5 new pins, are you only pinning your content 15-30 times a day? My blog is about pregnancy and motherhood so I have always pinned others content as well as my own. I don’t really have a strategy and I’m trying to work on that. I have 25 blog posts and have made a lot of pins for each. It has been awhile since I have created a new design though because I thought I had enough. Any suggestions?
Thank you so much! My course definitely goes into this in more detail but I aim to make 5-10 new pins a day and repin each pin to 3-5 boards tops.
Thanks for these amazing pinterest tips!
You are very welcome!
Great article, Ell. Pinterest has def been a love hate relationship for me. I really love using it and making pins for it but it drives me insane with all its idiosyncrasies.
I’m confused about #6 about google analytics. According to GA, my users are most active on Sunday mornings but that means active on my blog. So how will pinning at that peak time, bring people to my blog? Am I over thinking it?
Thank you
Thank you so much! I would try pinning at that time and pay attention to your active visitors when you pin a new pin to see how many active visitors come from those published pins at that time 🙂
This post is so helpful. I really am considering taking a course!
xo Erica
Thank you so much Erica! I think it would definitely help 🙂
I loved it .. thanks for sharing!