Doesn’t it seem like Pinterest users have all the luck with their pins? 100 + repins later, they are gaining more followers and you are left in the dust. It’s not that these users have secret Pinterest mojo. No, they just know how to work the platform to its full potential and create a great, pinnable pin.
What exactly makes for a great pin? A pin that becomes so popular that it not only drives traffic but back to your blog but also becomes one of the most popular pins on the platform. Which, in turn, gets you more followers. Sounds like a good situation to find yourself in, right? And to think that it all comes from one, eye-popping pin.
How can you reap these rewards and create a pin that causes a virtual pinning storm? These five tips will help guide you through the pin-process:
1. Be generous with color: It’s not really surprising that color is one of the main reasons why some pins go viral and others don’t. But what is surprising is how little color is used in pins. Seriously guys, make the most of your pins with color! Against the neutral Pinterest dashboard, a photograph with a bright colorful subject will captures a user’s eye and attention. For instance, this pin received over 110 pins and was a favorite among the community. Why? Because that coral skirt was the epitome of summertime chic and stood out among the other pins in the board.
2. Capture a moment of action: An engaging pin is one that is full of life, not one that is standing still. As user is more likely to like or repin an image if it gives the user the illusion that he/she is there, in that frame, living and breathing with the subject. Capture a moveable moment, a segment of time where the subject is moving/dancing/walking/laughing etc, and you will have pin-success.
3. Pay attention to detail. Closeup shots, especially with beauty and accessories, are a user favorite in Pinterest. This pin and this pin give the user a detailed look at the subject, as if she was right in front of you. I highly recommend doing this for a beauty pin or up-close jewelery pin.
4. Go with a full body shot: Users want to see everything. Literally, from head to toe, show it all because a user wants to see that entire look, not just a short crop. This pin was highly successful and was repinned throughout the day because it showed off the bloggers entire body. Hair, shoes, everyone loved it and the full-body fashion look.
5. Pin according to the season: This tip is pretty easy but it is worth repeating. Seasonal pins always work. Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, Halloween. Schedule your pins accordingly and you will succeed. For instance, this pin was all about Fourth of July style (did the red, white and blue give it away?) and it received 108 repins. No one wants to think about winter in summer so avoid pinning those coats or boots during the dog days of summer. Same thing goes for Valentine’s Day gear during Christmas. It just doesn’t make sense.
Good tips! And it’s also important to pin from the original page. E.g. if you’re pinning something from your blog, pin on the blog post’s permalink, not the homepage or archive page.
Sometimes I want to repin something but give up when I can’t find the original page.