Pinterest Tips for Bloggers

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If you happen to follow me on Pinterest, you may have noticed that I love pinning!  It’s kind of like shopping without actually buying anything (which isn’t so bad, I promise).  You get to pick out all your favorite things, organize them into categories and share them with a community of like-minded individuals.  I gather sooo much inspiration from Pinterest whether it’s for entertaining ideas, home decor, fashion, beauty, kids, travel…you name it…you can find it on Pinterest!  As a blogger, Pinterest can be a huge source for driving traffic to your site and of course, the more followers you have, the more brands will want to collaborate with you which will consequently lead to more opportunities. So, stepping up your Pinterest game is definitely in your best interest!  While I don’t have an astronomical number of followers, I have steadily gained followers by utilizing certain tips and tricks which I’m more than happy share with you!

  1. Build Boards that Make Sense for Your Blog: While I would personally love to have ten different boards dedicated to motherhood and raising children, that is not the focus of my blog so the boards I have created are predominantly related to fashion, entertaining, home decor, beauty, and travel.  I break up my boards by seasons, colors, holidays, and specific fashion genres (such as denim, stripes, polka dots, gingham, etc).  When I decide to follow someone on Pinterest, I look for well organized boards that have a cohesive aesthetic.  This leads me to my next point which is to carefully choose the photo for your board covers.  It should look like the pages of a magazine.  After all, don’t we head over to Pinterest to escape?  It should be especially pleasing to the eye.
  2. Select High Quality Images: This is the most important thing!!! Be choosy about what you decide to pin.  All your photos need to be in harmony with one another.  A mishmash of everything is confusing and chaotic.  I often review my boards to make sure they look clean and crisp.  Another major point is to only pin vertical photos.  They look the best on your boards so be sure to have a plethora of vertical images on your blog that will have a better chance of being pinned and re-pinned!
  3. Use Eye Catching Titles: This is something I tend to be lazy about but it’s imperative if you want your pins to come up when someone is conducting a search.  This also holds true for the names you choose for your boards.  Think of the things that you tend to search on a regular basis and name your photos and boards accordingly. Keep your descriptions simple and straightforward.
  4. Pin Consistently: I pin everyday even if it’s just for ten or fifteen minutes.  If I’m in the car waiting to pick up my daughter from school, in the Starbucks drive-through line, or waiting at the doctor’s office, chancing are I’m pinning.  You do have to be mindful of the amount you pin (I can go overboard at times).  If you pin too much, it may become annoying to certain followers whereas if you don’t pin enough, you will greatly reduce your opportunity to grow.
  5. Pin at Key Times: I find that I get the most repins when I pin on weeknights between 8 and 11 pm and on the weekends.  Some people swear by Board Booster which strategically drops your pins (for a monthly fee) at certain times but I stopped using it because I didn’t see much of a difference.
  6. Engage: Like any form of social media, engaging with others whether through likes, comments or shares will provide you with the opportunity to get your name out there and ultimately increase your following.  So, don’t forget to engage on Pinterest as well!

In addition to providing you with my advice on how to grow your Pinterest audience, I’d also like to share with you some of my favorite Pinterest accounts where I draw a ton of inspiration!

  1. Fashion: Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Could I Have That, With Love From Kat, Damsel in Dior, Krystel Schlegel, Sincerely Jules, 9 to 5 Chic, ShopStyle
  2. Home Decor: Lark and Linen, Studio McGee, Grey and Scout, Becki Owens, Design Chic, Savor Home
  3. Entertaining: A Fashionable Hostess, A Subtle Revelry, Camille Styles
  4. Lifestyle: Lauren Conrad, Annie Reeves, Perpetually Chic, Dreams in HD, Domino
  5. Glamour: Aerin, Marie Chantal, Lauren Santo Domingo, Town & Country, Habitually Chic
  6. Photography: Just Pure Lovely, Because It’s Awesome, Dust Jacket Attic, Carin Olsson, Mary Summers
  7. Food: Sara Forte, Love and Lemons, Fraiche Nutrition, Deliciously Ella
  8. Travel: Amy Stone, Hemingway and Hepburn, Ariel Phipps Segal

Of course, if I’m forgetting someone, please let me know!  I’m perpetually searching for new Pinterest boards to follow.  Also, if you have any tips or tricks that I left out, please feel free to share!