In the ever-growing world of social media, Pinterest stands out as one of the most unique platforms. Unlike other social networks, Pinterest acts more like a search engine, offering users the ability to discover and curate visual content. If you're looking to grow your brand or simply spread your ideas, Pinterest can be a powerful tool. However, to make the most out of Pinterest, you need an engaged audience—followers play a key role in increasing your visibility on the platform. So, how can you gain more followers on Pinterest? This blog post delves into strategies to help you grow your following, whether you're an individual, a small business, or a brand.
1. Optimize Your Pinterest Profile
The first step to growing your Pinterest following lies in the basics: your profile. Your profile is often the first impression people get of you or your brand, so it's crucial to make it as appealing as possible.
Here are five easy ways to optimize your profile:
- Choose a professional username: Make your Pinterest username consistent with your brand or other social profiles. This will enhance brand recognition and make it easier for your existing audience to find you.
- Use a clear profile picture: Profile pictures could be a logo for a brand or a high-quality headshot for individuals. Make sure it’s easy to recognize even at smaller sizes.
- Optimize your profile description: Use relevant keywords in your bio to make your profile discoverable via search results.
- Link your other social networks and website: By linking to Instagram, Facebook, or your website, you create a more cohesive digital presence and encourage cross-following.
- Claim your website and verify it: Claiming and verifying your website allows you to track your website’s Pinterest activity through Pinterest analytics. It also helps by adding your profile picture to every pin that comes from your site—further reinforcing your brand identity.
2. Create High-Quality and Consistent Pins
Content is king, no matter the platform, and Pinterest is no different. To attract followers, you need to consistently post high-quality, engaging pins that align with your niche.
Here’s what that entails:
- Vertical Images Work Best: Pinterest’s format is built for vertical images, so make sure each pin is at least 600 pixels wide and has a 2:3 aspect ratio (such as 1000px x 1500px) to take advantage of maximum visibility.
- Use Eye-Catching Colors: Bright, contrasting colors typically perform better. Make sure to use appealing colors that resonate with your brand, but avoid clashing designs.
- Overlay Text Strategically: Adding text overlay not only makes the pin look more professional but can also increase the likelihood of engagement by explaining the pin's value at a glance (e.g., "5 Decorating Tips").
- Make Use of Alt Text: Pinterest uses the text in the "alt" attribute from the images to serve them as search results. Optimizing this for every pin using specific keywords can help increase your discoverability on the platform.
3. Use Keywords to Make Your Pins Searchable
It’s essential to treat Pinterest like a search engine, meaning your content needs to be discoverable. Keywords help significantly with this aspect. Just as you would optimize content for Google or YouTube, keywords are crucial for Pinterest success.
Here are a few places you should include keywords:
- Pin descriptions: Use relevant keywords in pin descriptions that users might search for when looking for content in your niche.
- Board titles: Board names should match commonly searched queries. Think about "Gardening Tips" versus "My Lovely Garden"—the former is more SEO-friendly for Pinterest.
- Pin Titles: Utilized when creating your pin title, since pins with captions and clear titles that reflect the user intent tend to perform better.
For inspiration on what keywords to use, consider taking advantage of Pinterest's search bar itself. Start typing a word relevant to your niche and see what auto-suggestions come up—these are popular search terms that you could integrate into your content.
4. Join and Create Group Boards
Group boards on Pinterest are a powerful way to network with other pinners and expand your reach. They allow multiple pinners to contribute to a board, meaning your pins can be seen by more eyes.
Here's how you can benefit from group boards:
- Join existing group boards: Search for and join group boards that are related to your niche. To do this, you can use tools like PinGroupie, which lets you search for group boards by category, allowing you to find ones with an active and engaged audience.
- Create your own group boards: If you've already built a small audience, consider creating your group board and inviting other content creators to contribute. This can be a fantastic way to leverage others' followers and enhance collaboration in your niche.
However, ensure that you’re contributing high-quality, relevant pins instead of flooding the board with self-promotional posts. The aim is to add value to the group board, benefiting both you and others involved.
5. Engage With Your Followers and Other Pinners
Pinterest is a social network, so engagement is key to building followers. Interact with other users' content and build meaningful relationships in your niche. This can mean repinning others' content, commenting on pins, and even sending direct messages in cases where collaboration might be possible.
Additionally, be active in engaging with your own followers by answering questions or commenting. When you engage with others, they're more likely to follow you back and share your pins with their audience.
6. Post Regularly and Optimize Timing
Consistency is critical for social platforms, and Pinterest is no exception. To keep your followers engaged and attract new ones, aim to consistently publish content at optimal times.
A good rule of thumb is to post at least 5–10 pins per day, including both your original pins and repins from other users who are popular in your niche. To help with consistency, consider using a scheduling tool like Tailwind. Tailwind enables you to schedule posts in bulk and analyze the best times for posting based on when your audience is most active.
Research has shown that most users engage with Pinterest on evening and weekends. Here's an easy breakdown of some of the best times to post:
| Day | Optimal Time to Post (EST) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Saturday | Morning, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Sunday | Evening, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
7. Cross-Promote Your Pinterest on Other Platforms
Whether you already have a following on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok, cross-promotion can be hugely advantageous. Encourage your audience to follow you on Pinterest by sharing your boards or highlighting some of your most popular Pins.
In addition to social platforms, consider using your email list to showcase your Pinterest profile by embedding relevant pins in your newsletters or email campaigns. If you have a blog, allow readers to pin images directly from your posts using social share buttons like those provided by AddThis.
8. Run Pinterest Ads
While organic growth remains essential, paid Pinterest ads can be an effective way to accelerate your growth on the platform. Pinterest Ads allow you to promote specific pins or overall profiles to a targeted audience.
With ads, you can fine-tune audience segmentation based on demographics, location, and user interests. Since Pinterest is heavily used for product discovery and planning, promoted pins often have high conversion rates, making it a worthy consideration for boosting your follower count.
Conclusion
Building a following on Pinterest doesn’t happen overnight, but by employing these strategies consistently, you can steadily grow your audience and amplify your reach. The keys lie in creating high-quality, keyword-optimized pins, frequent posting, leveraging group boards, and engaging with other users.
Whether you are an aspiring blogger or business owner, understanding the unique features of Pinterest and making the most of its algorithm can help you tap into a highly engaged audience, allowing for sustained growth over time. Happy pinning!
