Pinterest shadow ban is something we all want to avoid but we don’t even know if we have been shadow banned.
Pinterest acts as a gateway for our content to get discovered and if you suddenly start to lose followers, reach, and engagement then you are likely in the invisible section of Pinterest and are shadow-banned.
As I said in my previous blogs Pinterest has features of both social media and search engines. The shadow ban feature is likely taken from social media apps like Instagram.
Pinterest shadow ban can be frustrating and confusing especially when you don’t even know what you did wrong.
But don’t worry
I will tell you everything you need to know about shadow ban on Pinterest so you don’t just disappear from the platform.
What is a Pinterest Shadow Ban?
A shadow ban on Pinterest means that Pinterest will limit your account visibility and growth.
You will be pinning content and saving pins but you will not get many impressions or clicks.
The big thing about shadow ban is that you will not be notified when Pinterest shadow bans you.
It is like having a breakup with your girl but you don’t even know about it.
Pinterest uses shadow banning to manage the content on people’s feeds and give the best user experience.
If they feel like your content is spammy or violates the community guidelines they will give you this subtle shadow ban.
Signs That Your Pinterest Account is Shadow Banned
If you know about the early signs of Pinterest shadow Ban then you will be able to take action before it severely effects your traffic.
Let me tell you about some of those:
1. Reduced Impressions And Engagements
If your pins were getting good impressions and clicks in the past but they suddenly stop performing well then you might be shadow banned on Pinterest.
For example, I was getting 400 Impressions per day and then suddenly I got 17 impressions.
I knew that I have been shadow banned because the decrease was very drastic.
2. Pins Not Showing Up in Search Results or Feeds
If you search for keywords that your pins were ranking on and don’t see your pins there anymore then you are most likely shadow banned by Pinterest.
3. Decline in Follower Growth
You were getting frequent followers but not anymore? Welcome to the shadow ban club then.
4. Low Engagement on New Pins
Shadow ban on Pinterest not only effects your old content but also blocks your new content from being shown in the search results.
If you notice that your new pins are not getting any engagements then it’s because you are shadow banned by Pinterest.
5. Search Your Business Account
If you use a business account on Pinterest then ask someone to search for your brand name on Pinterest. Now if your account doesn’t appear in the search results then you have a big problem.
Common Causes of a Pinterest Shadow Ban
Pinterest has never directly talked about shadow ban so we have been playing the guess game with this always.
However, we identified the following similarities with most accounts that got shadow banned.
1. Violation of Pinterest’s Community Guidelines
Let’s be honest I never read community guidelines and you probably haven’t either.
Most people don’t even know the basic rules related to Pinterest. They just come in start posting and then their accounts are vanished after a few weeks.
Shadow ban on Pinterest is usually the result of community guidelines violation. This can include things like spamming, engaging in inappropriate behavior, using misleading links and spreading misinformation.
If you do any of these things and then wonder why you have been banned then best of luck.
2. Repetitive or Spammy Behavior
I have talked about this quite a lot in the past.
Beginners make the mistake of using the same image or the same URL repeatedly.
This makes Pinterest think that this is not a real user and there is a high chance that you will get shadow banned on Pinterest.
3. Use of Unauthorized Third-Party Tools
Never and I mean NEVER link any unauthorized third-party tools with your Pinterest account.
While these tools might promise account growth and like 20 pins per day if these are detected you will start with a shadow ban and end up with a full ban.
How to Avoid Getting Shadow Banned on Pinterest
If you haven’t been shadow banned on Pinterest yet then I would say presentation is better than cure.
I already told you about the things that can cause shadow ban on Pinterest and if you don’t do those then you will be safe.
So in summary to save yourself from the Pinterest shadow ban you have to:
- Follow Pinterest’s Community Guidelines
- Avoid Spammy Behavior
- Use Authorized Third-Party Tools
- Engage Authentically with Your Audience Don’t fake engagement
How To Recover From Shadow Ban On Pinterest
I just came across this website now I don’t really know if it’s real but it did say that my account was not shadow banned on Pinterest. Try this shadow ban checker for Pinterest and see what it says.
Now if you have confirmed that you are shadow banned what should you do next?
Leave Pinterest forever?
Create a new account?
Break your PC?
You don’t have to do any of those. You can recover from a shadow ban on Pinterest and I will help you get back to normal.
1. Review Your Pins
Go through all the pins in your account and see if there are any pins that are misleading or has broken links or direct affiliate links.
If you have any pins that don’t follow community guidelines remove them ASAP.
2. Reduce Pinning Frequency
If you have been pinning wild like 20 or 10 pins per day then the algorithm might have marked you as spam.
Just reduce your pinning frequency and see if the shadow ban goes away.
3. Contact Pinterest Support
Ok if things are really getting out of hand and your Pinterest shadow ban is not going away then it’s best to contact Pinterest support and tell them your problem.
They might be able to review your account and even remove the shadow ban from your account if it was done by mistake.
4. Engage with Your Audience Authentically
To make yourself seem totally authentic the best thing you can do is engage with other account on Pinterest.
When you do this Pinterest will be like:
Hey! This user is actually genuine we should remove the shadow ban
Make sure to do this for a couple of weeks and you will get rid of your Pinterest shadow ban.
FAQ’s
Can Pinterest shadow ban?
Yes, Pinterest can shadow ban accounts that violate its community guidelines or exhibit spammy behavior, resulting in reduced visibility of your content without a formal notification.
How long does a Pinterest shadow ban last?
A Pinterest shadow ban can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the severity of the issue and how quickly you address the cause of the ban.
How do I remove a Pinterest shadow ban?
To remove a Pinterest shadow ban, review and remove any content that violates guidelines, reduce your pinning frequency, and ensure you’re using authorized tools. If the issue persists, contact Pinterest Support for assistance.
Conclusion
A Pinterest shadow ban can have severe effects on your Pinterest account which can include less views, engagements and sales.
I would always recommend to never violate any Pinterest guidelines especially the one’s that are really obvious.
If you feel like your account has been shadow banned then try to take steps to remove the ban as soon as possible before it has a big effect.