How to Go Viral on Pinterest

What Can You Use Pinterest For?

Pinterest isn’t just for saving pretty pictures or planning your next DIY project. Nope, it’s way more than that! Pinterest is a powerhouse when it comes to content marketing, and it can do wonders for your blog or business.

Here’s a peek at what you can use Pinterest for:

Growing blog traffic: Pinterest has been a game-changer for many bloggers, driving a ton of traffic to their sites.
Building your email list: Believe it or not, Pinterest is a goldmine for growing your email list. Pinners have been using clever strategies to funnel traffic to their email opt-in pages and watch their lists grow!
Promoting products: With Pinterest’s focus on e-commerce, it’s the perfect place to showcase your products or even dabble in affiliate marketing. You can even set up shop right on Pinterest and tag products in your pins for easy shopping. If you want to know How to promote affiliate products on Pinterest you can check our full guide here.
Increasing brand awareness: You don’t need to be a big-shot brand to get noticed on Pinterest. With the right strategy, you can get your brand in front of a whole new audience and boost your visibility.
Becoming an influencer: Yup, you heard that right. You can become a Pinterest influencer, partnering with brands, promoting products, and making some cash along the way. Pretty cool, huh?
Cross-promoting social media: Don’t stop at Pinterest—use it to grow your presence on other platforms too! Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, cross-promoting your content can help you expand your audience across the board.

Understanding Pinterest

If you want to learn how to go viral on Pinterest it’s crucial to understand how the platform operates. Unlike traditional social media networks, Pinterest works as a visual search engine and it prioritizes relevant content to match users’ search queries and intent.

Whether you’re searching for vegetarian dinner ideas or DIY home decor inspiration, Pinterest aims to provide tailored recommendations that resonate with your interests.

If you want to go viral on Pinterest it is important to learn its search algorithm. It is designed to prioritize content that aligns with users’ search intent.

By optimizing your pins with relevant keywords in key areas such as file names, titles, and descriptions, you increase the likelihood of your content appearing in search results and reaching a wider audience.

But Pinterest isn’t just about search; it’s also about discovery. The platform’s home feed, also known as the smart feed, showcases trending and seasonal content tailored to users’ browsing history and preferences.

This presents a golden opportunity for you to go viral and have your content exposed to millions of users.

However, it’s important to recognize that Pinterest is not your typical social media platform—it’s a dynamic search engine with its own set of rules and best practices.

To maximize your Pinterest marketing efforts, focus on optimizing your pins for searchability by strategically incorporating keywords into your pin titles, descriptions, and board titles.

Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of board optimization, as organizing your pins into relevant boards enhances their discoverability and SEO performance.

Pinterest SEO Practices

To go viral on Pinterest it is important to understand the good and bad SEO practices of Pinterest. The good practices will help you go viral while the bad practices which usually sound interesting might get you nowhere.

First things first:

Avoid the outdated SEO practices that might get you into trouble or mark you as spam. One of the quickest paths to failure on Pinterest is engaging in spammy behavior, even if it’s unintentional. Here are some common spam offenses to watch out for:

Uploading pins you don’t own
Creating pins for your homepage
Using hashtags excessively
Bombarding the platform with multiple pins for the same URL
Engaging in keyword stuffing

The right Pinterest SEO:

Looking to create viral Pinterest pins that resonate with users? Dive into these Pinterest tips to uncover the best keywords, boosting your pins’ search rankings and driving traffic to your blog. Plus, learn how to conduct keyword research using the Pinterest search bar.

In this example, we seamlessly integrate keywords into meaningful sentences, optimizing our pins without resorting to spam tactics.

Now, here’s what not to do:

Go viral on Pinterest! Pin image, blog traffic, Pinterest boards, relevant keywords, viral pin, Pinterest search bar, rich pins. Discover more in my Pinterest SEO guide.

It looks awful right? This use of keywords screams spam and could land you in Pinterest’s bad books in just a few days.

Remember, trying to game the system with spammy tactics will only backfire in the long run. While you might see some short-term gains, you risk getting shadow banned or even having your account suspended altogether.

As someone who’s been in the Pinterest game since 2018, I’ve seen it all. My advice? Play by the rules, focus on creating quality content, and you’ll be well on your way to Pinterest success.

How to Go Viral on Pinterest?

So now we understand the do’s and don’ts of Pinterest let’s see the strategies that you can use to make your pins go viral.

1. Complete Your Profile Info

According to my own experience accounts that are setup correctly and have provided all the information see more growth compared to those that lack some basic information. The reason? Pinterest trusts those people who provide information about themselves.

Taking steps like claiming your website and adding a cover photo can make a huge difference in the reach of your account.

Here are the important things you can add to your profile:

Your Name (obviously)
A cover photo that highlights what you do
Website claimed
Your Email
Phone Number
Address
Personal Pronouns

2. Get a Pinterest Business Account

To go viral on Pinterest the first thing you should do right away is to convert your personal account into a business account. This gives you more control over Pinterest and allows you to see your analytics and track your performance.

To do this you have to:

Sign in to Pinterest
Open settings by clicking on the dropdown at the right side
Open the account management section
Click “Convert to business account”

That’s it you have just completed one step towards going viral on Pinterest.

how to convert pinterest account into a business account to go viral on pinterest

3. Timing is Important

Timing can play an important role in your success on Pinterest.

Pinterest operates on a “here today, gone tomorrow” principle. Once you hit the pin button, your content lands on your followers’ “New” pages.

Now if your content doesn’t get much attention most probably Pinterest will not show it to new people.

Does this mean all hope is lost if your pin doesn’t get attention right away?

Not exactly. Your pins stay on your boards and if they get some good repins in the future there’s a chance they might come back up!

But to be honest, if your content doesn’t get much attention in the beginning it will not get much traction later on as old content is not favored by the algorithm.

So how do you tackle this?

Maximize your Pinterest primetime by strategically scheduling your pins for when your audience is most active – typically between 6 AM and 6 PM Eastern time. You can check out your analytics to get a better idea of your audience.

4. Follow The Trends

Trends are probably one of the easiest ways to go viral on Pinterest within just a few hours.

Create a Pinterest calendar with important days such as Christmas, Easter, and other event days. This will let you create content ahead of anyone else and schedule it to get on Pinterest at just the right time.

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening in your world. Whether it’s chatting about Taylor Swift’s latest outfits or exploring a new Canva feature, timely content is key.

The ideas are out there – you just need to share them at the right time. So, jump on those trends and watch your pins take off.

5. Create Eye Catching Pins

Creating eye-catching pin images is crucial for success on Pinterest. When pinners scroll through their feed, they don’t stop to read the title or description. They’re drawn in by striking visuals. That’s why it’s essential to make your pins stand out!

While the appearance of your pin is key, don’t forget about the importance of the pin title and description for Pinterest SEO. These elements help determine whether your pin gets discovered when users search on Pinterest.

how to go viral on Pinterest with eye catching pin designs

Here are some do’s for pin design:

Make it visually appealing, whether it’s showcasing dreamy travel destinations, bold business concepts, or vibrant fitness scenes.
Use relevant keywords in your pin image, title, and description to improve search visibility.
Opt for vertical images, as they perform better on Pinterest.
Create multiple pin images for each website URL to increase exposure.
Test your pin designs on mobile devices to ensure they’re easy to read and engage with.

Now, let’s talk about what not to do:

Avoid overusing stock images, as they can make your pins blend in with others.
Don’t use images without any accompanying text. This makes it harder for pinners to understand your pin’s context.
Never ignore context. Make sure your pin design aligns with the content it links to.
Be cautious with script fonts, as they may not always display well on mobile devices.

5. Provide Value

Creating valuable content is essential for success on Pinterest. Although it may seem obvious, it’s easy to fall into the trap of churning out content just for the sake of it.

You Should focus on providing genuinely helpful and meaningful information. Pinterest users are drawn to content that solves their problems and inspires them with creative ideas.

By prioritizing the creation of valuable content that addresses the needs and questions of your audience, you can expect to see significant results.

As an expert in your field, offering insights and solutions to common queries will undoubtedly resonate with your audience and lead to increased engagement and success on Pinterest.

6. Be Original

Creating unique pins is essential to captivate Pinterest users and stand out in their feeds. Just like users on other social media platforms, pinners crave fresh and original content. Instead of simply repining tired images from other users, aim to discover and pin new content from the web.

Embrace your originality. Take risks. Be intriguing.

By consistently pinning new and engaging content to Pinterest, you not only attract new followers but also foster the growth of your Pinterest account. A larger Pinterest presence increases the likelihood of users clicking on links to your blog posts or buying your affiliate products.

You can also consider diversifying the types of content you pin. Experiment with a mix of images, videos, infographics, and other visual content formats to keep your audience engaged and interested.

7. Craft Clickable Titles

Crafting clickable titles is crucial to make users click on your pins and engage with your content. Just like the hooks we employ in Instagram captions or TikTok videos, the title of your pin plays a significant role in capturing users’ attention.

However, it’s essential to avoid click-bait tactics or misleading users, as this can lead to being flagged for spam.

Your pin title serves as a brief summary of what the content entails. Keep it concise, compelling, and directly relevant to the content of your pin. A well-crafted title sparks curiosity and encourages users to explore further.

Here are some title formats that have proven effective for me and my clients on Pinterest:

“5 Ways To”
“3 Tips For”
“The Very Best Way To”
“The Ultimate Guide To”
“Want To…?”
“How To Easily”
“The Number One Tips”
“5 Steps To”

This can create curiosity and make people click and explore further.

8. Pin Other People’s Pins

We know that you are eager to go viral on Pinterest. Resisting the urge to exclusively pin your own content is crucial for success on Pinterest.

While it may be tempting to focus solely on promoting your website, blog, or products, doing so can hinder your growth as a pinner and limit your potential for attracting targeted traffic.

Diversifying your pins by including a variety of content from other sources is key to maintaining a balanced and engaging Pinterest presence.

By curating content that aligns with your audience’s interests and needs, you can establish yourself as a valuable resource and attract a more diverse following.

While there are varying opinions on the ideal ratio of pins linking to your own content versus others’, it’s generally recommended to avoid overwhelming your audience with self-promotion.

Some experts suggest limiting pins that lead to your own product pages or blog posts, with once a day being a common guideline.

Pay attention to the engagement and feedback you receive from your audience to gauge what resonates best with them.

9. Create Video Pins

Incorporating video pins into your Pinterest marketing strategy can be a game-changer for boosting your content’s visibility and engagement.

Video pins have emerged as a powerful tool for rapidly increasing impressions and expanding your reach on Pinterest.

The dynamic nature of video content makes it highly engaging and shareable, making it an ideal format for capturing users’ attention as they scroll through their feeds. By leveraging video pins effectively, you can enhance your content’s virality and drive significant traffic to your website or blog.

However, it’s important to note that while video pins can be a valuable asset in your Pinterest marketing arsenal, they’re not the only path to success on the platform.

Even without viral pins, you can still achieve substantial website traffic and cultivate a successful Pinterest profile. Consistency, relevance, and quality content remain key factors in building a strong presence on Pinterest and driving meaningful results for your business or brand.

10. Create What’s Already Working

Aligning your content with what’s already ranking well on Pinterest can significantly boost your visibility and performance on the platform.

When your pins mirror the aesthetics and characteristics of what’s already popular and ranking well on Pinterest, you increase their likelihood of being discovered and engaged with by users.

By studying the content that performs best in your niche and identifying common themes, styles, and design elements, you can tailor your own content to resonate with Pinterest’s algorithm and audience preferences.

This principle of mirroring successful content is akin to strategies employed in traditional search engine optimization (SEO), where aligning with the ranking factors and characteristics of top-performing content can improve your own visibility and relevance.

In contrast to platforms like Google, where textual relevance and authority play a significant role in rankings, Pinterest prioritizes visual appeal and user engagement.

This means that you should be taking time to study your competitors on Pinterest and see what’s working for them. This way you will be able to outperform them by creating much better content than them.

11. Find Keywords With Pinterest Search

You can use Pinterest trends to find relevant keywords for your Pinterest Pins.

Similar to how keywords are crucial for optimizing blog posts for search engines, incorporating appropriate keywords into your pin titles and descriptions is key to ensuring they align with user search queries on Pinterest.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the Pinterest search engine to find the right keywords for your pins:

Navigate to the Pinterest search bar and enter a keyword that you’re considering using for your pin.
As you type, a drop-down box will appear automatically, suggesting related keywords based on what users commonly search for on Pinterest.
Click on a suggested keyword to see how popular it is.

For example, let’s say you’re a travel blogger planning to create a pin about “budget travel tips.” As you type “budget travel” into the Pinterest search bar, you may see suggestions like “budget travel destinations,” “budget travel hacks,” and “budget travel packing list.” Clicking on these suggestions can provide insights into popular search terms related to your pin’s topic and help you refine your keyword strategy accordingly.

How to go viral on Pinterest using Pinterest Trends Tool.

12. Create More Pins

Creating multiple pins for each piece of content is a key strategy for maximizing your reach and engagement on Pinterest.

Similar to the 80/20 rule that applies in various contexts, approximately 80% of your impressions and engagement on Pinterest will likely come from just 20% of your pins.

To capture the largest possible share of that top-performing 20%, it’s essential to produce a substantial amount of content. While not every pin will yield significant results, the cumulative impact of multiple pins can significantly enhance your overall performance on the platform.

Unlike other platforms such as Google, where increasing traffic often requires producing new products or blog posts, Pinterest offers a more streamlined approach.

Instead of creating entirely new content, you can leverage the same piece of content and generate multiple pins to promote it.

This process is facilitated by Pinterest’s user-friendly platform, which allows creators to easily create and distribute numerous pins for the same blog post or product.

By experimenting with different visuals, titles, and descriptions, you can optimize your pins for maximum effectiveness and increase your chances of driving substantial traffic back to your website or affiliate links.

13. USE WARM AND NEUTRAL COLORS

Utilizing warm and neutral colors in your pins can significantly enhance their appeal and attractiveness to viewers. These colors create a sense of warmth and comfort, making them more inviting to the eye compared to cooler tones.

Consider conducting a color test with your own eyes to see the difference in preference. You’ll likely find yourself drawn to images that feature warm and neutral colors, as they tend to evoke a sense of calmness and sophistication. In contrast, overly bright or extremely light colors can sometimes appear overwhelming or harsh to the eye.

14. Get The Word Out

Inviting your network to follow and engage with your Pinterest content can be a valuable strategy for expanding your reach and increasing engagement.

While this alone may not guarantee viral success, leveraging your existing connections can help maximize your potential audience and amplify your content’s impact.

Here’s who you can invite to follow and engage with your Pinterest content:

Friends
Family members
Facebook friends
Followers on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and other social media platforms
Subscribers to your email list
Subscribers to your YouTube channel
Fellow bloggers and content creators

Encourage them not only to follow you but also to actively engage with your content by clicking on your pins, saving them to their boards, and leaving comments.

Directly asking for engagement signals to the algorithm can boost the visibility of your pins and increase the likelihood of going viral on Pinterest.

15. Check Your Pinterest Analytics

Checking your Pinterest analytics is crucial for gaining insights into how your content is performing and informing your future content strategy. By analyzing your stats, you can identify which pins are resonating most with viewers and adjust your approach accordingly.

Pay attention to the following metrics in your Pinterest analytics:

Pin clicks: This metric indicates how many times users have clicked on your pins to view them in full size or to visit the linked content. Pins with higher click-through rates typically indicate strong engagement and interest from your audience.

Outbound clicks: These are the number of clicks that lead users from your pins to external websites or landing pages. Tracking outbound clicks helps you understand how effectively your pins are driving traffic to your website or blog.

Saves: The number of times users have saved your pins to their own boards. Pins that are frequently saved demonstrate their value and relevance to users and can potentially lead to increased visibility and engagement over time.

16. Organize Your Pinterest Boards

Keeping your Pinterest boards organized is essential for providing a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Pinterest allows you to categorize and group similar pins together on specific boards. This ensures that users can easily find and explore content that interests them.

Here are some tips for maintaining organized Pinterest boards:

Ensure board relevance: Each board should focus on a specific theme or topic, such as “cakes,” “travel destinations,” or “DIY home decor.” Avoid mixing unrelated content on the same board to prevent confusion and maintain clarity for your audience.
Stick to the theme: When pinning to a particular board, ensure that the content aligns closely with the board’s designated theme.

For example, if you have a board labeled “cakes,” only pin pins related to cakes, such as recipes, decorating ideas, and tutorials.

Create multiple boards: There is no limit to the number of boards you can have on Pinterest, so take advantage of this flexibility to create as many boards as necessary to organize your content effectively. This allows you to cater to different interests and preferences within your audience and ensures that users can easily find the content they’re looking for.

17. Stick to One Niche

Sticking to one niche on Pinterest can help you attract more followers and maintain clarity for your audience. By focusing on a specific niche, you can position yourself as an expert in that area and build a dedicated following of users who are interested in your content.

Here are some reasons why targeting only one niche on Pinterest is beneficial:

Clear messaging: Having a singular focus allows you to communicate your expertise and value proposition clearly to your audience. Users are more likely to follow accounts that offer consistent and relevant content within a specific niche.

Targeted audience: By working in on a niche you can attract followers who share a common interest in that topic.

Increased visibility: Pinterest’s algorithm favors accounts that specialize in a particular niche, as it helps deliver more relevant content to users. This can lead to increased visibility and exposure for your pins within your target audience.

an image of phone with playstore open and pinterest app on the screen

18. Leverage Seasonal Content

Let’s talk about making content that fits the season. People on Pinterest go crazy for seasonal content.

It’s because people on Pinterest love planning. And when they see something related to the current season or a big event like Christmas or Halloween, they can’t help but click and save it for later.

Creating content that matches the season can really boost your chances of going viral on Pinterest. Even if you don’t see a steady stream of traffic from those seasonal pins all year round, you can count on a nice bump in traffic when that season rolls around again.

19. Share Your Pins on Other Platforms

The most easy way to get traffic on your Pinterest pins is to share them to other social media platforms.

Think about sharing your pins to places like:

Dropping a pin in a helpful Reddit thread
Sending it out to your email subscribers
Inserting it into your Instagram stories for your followers to see

But here’s the trick: Instead of just sharing the link to your post directly, share the link to your pin on Pinterest. This way, you’re driving traffic through Pinterest, and you can keep an eye on how well your pin is doing using Pinterest analytics.

20. Create Discussions on Pinterest

To go viral on Pinterest you can start some conversations through your pins.

First off, when someone comments on your pin, make sure you reply back. It shows you’re engaged and interested in what they have to say.

Then, try asking some easy-to-answer questions in your pin descriptions. Some questions that people just cannot go through without answering.

Don’t forget to give them some encouragement or share a heartfelt story. People love feeling connected, and a little pep talk or emotional tale can get the conversation going.

21. Experiment With Different Pin Types

While we mentioned that video pins are popular on Pinterest but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play around with other types of pins. Your account should have a mix of all the types because you never know which one might just skyrocket.

There are different types of pins that you can play around with:

Standard Pins: These are your basic, static images that link to an external URL. Simple and straightforward, these have been around since the beginning of Pinterest.
Video Pins: These are like reels on Instagram that can also link to external URLs. While they might require a couple more clicks from pinners to get to the URL, they often get great engagement and seem to get a favour from the Pinterest algorithm.
Idea Pins: These are the new kind of pins, a multi-page pin format that can include both images and videos. The catch? They can’t link to external URLs.

But hey, you can tag other Pinterest users and products, including affiliate links.

22. Don’t Use Outdated Advice

Using outdated advice on Pinterest can land you in hot water—and trust me, you don’t want that kind of trouble! Some old-school Pinterest tips that were once golden are now considered spammy and can actually harm your account.

So, when you’re seeking Pinterest advice, make sure it’s fresh and up-to-date. If you stumble upon a blog post from way back in 2012 that hasn’t been touched since, chances are, it’s packed with tips that just won’t cut it anymore.

One of the best places to find current advice? Pinterest itself! Check out their resources section for the latest and greatest tips straight from the source.

I also like to stay in the loop by joining Facebook groups and subscribing to email lists of trusted Pinterest pros. It’s a great way to stay informed and avoid falling for outdated advice.

Now, conflicting advice is pretty common, and it can be downright confusing. That’s why I always look for evidence or data to back up any claims. That way, I know I’m getting legit info.

A few topics where outdated advice often pops up include hashtags and group boards. But here’s the scoop straight from Pinterest as of March 2022:

Hashtags: Nope, Pinterest isn’t vibing with hashtags anymore. Users don’t use them, and spammers abused them, so Pinterest said “bye-bye” to hashtags.

Group boards: While they used to be all the rage, group boards aren’t as effective as they once were. It’s better to put your energy into optimizing your own boards for Pinterest SEO.

Long story short? Stick to the latest Pinterest advice to keep your account in good standing and get the results you’re after. Keep learning, keep researching, and stay up to date!

23. Have Patience

While we’d all love for our pins to go viral overnight, the truth is, it often takes time.

Pinterest is more of a marathon than a sprint these days. You’ve gotta be in it for a long time.

So, if you’re still waiting for that first viral pin to come along, don’t lose hope! Sometimes, it’s the pins you least expect that end up blowing up.

Keep putting out new content, stay consistent, and give it time. Great results can come when you least expect them.

Now, here’s the kicker: Many seasoned Pinterest marketers say it can take at least 3 months to start seeing results on pins. It might take even longer. That’s why planning your seasonal and holiday content well in advance is key—Pinterest needs time to catch on and start spreading the word.

So hang in there, keep creating, and remember: Patience is your best friend on the road to Pinterest success.

Conclusion

let’s wrap it up! Today, we unpacked some key tips to help you go viral on Pinterest like a pro. Here’s a quick recap of what we covered:

First off, we talked about the power of Pinterest marketing and how it can supercharge your blog or business. From driving traffic to growing your email list and boosting brand awareness, Pinterest is your go-to platform for making waves in the digital world.

Then, we talked about some strategies to up your Pinterest game. We talked about creating killer pins that catch the eye, sharing your content on other platforms to expand your reach, and hosting discussions to go viral.

A word of caution: Don’t fall for outdated advice! Pinterest is always evolving, so make sure you’re staying up-to-date with the latest tips and tricks to keep your account in good standing.

Patience is key, my friends. Viral pins don’t happen overnight, so keep creating awesome content and give it time to work its magic.

So there you have it—your ultimate guide to Pinterest success! Now go ahead, pin like a champ, and watch your blog or business soar to new heights. Happy pinning!

FAQ’s

How do I make my Pinterest post go viral?

To make your Pinterest post go viral, create eye-catching pins, use relevant keywords, engage with your audience, and be consistent with your posting.

How do I get noticed on Pinterest?

Get noticed on Pinterest by optimizing your profile, Collaborating with influencers, and actively engaging with other users’ content.

How do you get high views on Pinterest?

To get high views on Pinterest, focus on creating quality, visually appealing pins, use keywords strategically, pin consistently, and leverage Pinterest analytics to refine your strategy.

How long does it take for a pin to go viral on Pinterest?

The time it takes for a pin to go viral on Pinterest varies, but it can range from a few days to several months. Consistency, quality content, and engagement play key roles in determining virality.

Is it hard to go viral on Pinterest?

Going viral on Pinterest can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. With the right strategy, including creating captivating content, optimizing for search, and engaging with your audience, you can increase your chances of going viral.