As the number of creators and publishers on Pinterest increases, the harder it gets to create content that stands out. That’s why we’ve created this guide on some of the best practices for Pinterest graphics! By following our tips, you’ll be much more likely to stand out amongst the crowd. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a Photoshop wizard to create beautiful pins for your blog. All you need is access to a design tool (we’re looking at you Canva and PicMonkey ?), keeping our best practices in mind, and you’ll be on your merry way in no time!
1. Use the correct sizing
First things first, make sure you are creating the right size of images. Pinterest no longer favors extra long pins. In fact, if you try to share a pin that is too long (nicknamed “giraffe pins” ?) your pin will be truncated (AKA, cut them down so they fit Pinterest’s preferred ratio.) The last thing you want is for your perfect pin, featuring your favorite chicken taco recipe, to be cut off! This is why we always recommend sticking with the Pinterest recommended 2:3 aspect ratio (ex: 1000 x 1500 pixels.)
2. Always share vertical pins
Fact: Vertical images on Pinterest perform much better than horizontal or square images. Why? Because all images are formatted to have the same exact width on Pinterest, though height can vary. In turn, taller images (still keeping in mind the 2:3 ratio) have the advantage of taking up more space on Pinterest. Users will automatically be drawn to these larger images.
Side Note: If – in the early days of your blog – you only posted horizontal (or square) images, never fear! These photos can easily be combined into collages or cropped to a vertical format.
See how all of the pins that show up in our feed are vertical? There’s a reason for that.
3. Include text
Including text on every Pin you create may not be necessary. But if it’s not super obvious what your pin is about from the get-go, it doesn’t hurt to add a few descriptive words. Pinterest is a highly visual platform that encourages scrolling, this means you have very little time to make an impression. If a user can’t tell what your Pin is about at first glance, they may just continue scrolling by. Text can help people to decide whether your Pin is worth clicking on (or pinning) to find out more.
4. Use appealing images
You don’t have to take magazine-worthy images, but you do need to have images that are clear, well-lit (light and bright images actually tend to do better than dark and dramatic), and styled well. And when it comes to styling, consider your audience. If you want it to appeal to a busy mom, keep the styling simple so she feels like she could make the recipe on a busy weeknight. If you want it to appeal to someone who is planning a fancy dinner party, take extra care to add garnishes and nice props. Whatever the case, make sure the food is the star of the show! ?
5. Pick your fonts wisely
It may be tempting to use a variety of fun and exciting fonts, but resist the temptation! This is one instance where you want to keep it simple. Use fonts that are easy for people to read as they are quickly scrolling through their feed.
The top font is an example of a cute, but hard-to-read font. Whereas the middle font (a script font) and bottom font (a block font) are both examples of easy-to-read fonts.
Remember, if it takes more than a couple of seconds to read, no one is going to read it, let alone Pin it!
6. Maintain consistency
Design your pins with a consistent, cohesive look that follows your blog’s brand identity. If you have a set style guide with specific fonts and colors for your blog, use those same elements in your Pins. If you don’t have a style guide, consider choosing two or three fonts and a nice color palette that resonates with you. Maintaining this consistency between Pinterest and your blog will make your brand more easily recognizable when people find you on other parts of the web.
Tip: We don’t recommend including your logo on your pins (this can take up too much valuable real estate), but it doesn’t hurt to add your website URL if you prefer.
Below, you'll find some great examples of Pins that follow a consistent branding style. Between all 3 of these Pins, they use 3 different, easy-to-read fonts with colors that maintain a similar vibrancy and tone to help create a consistent look.
Now it’s time to put your newfound Pinterest knowledge to the test! Whip out your favorite design tool: Photoshop, Canva, PicMonkey, and start designing! Just remember to follow our best practices with whichever tool you decide to use. ?
What are your favorite tips when it comes to designing Pinterest pins? Let us know in the comments below!
Interested in Tasty Pins?
Now that you’ve finished setting up your business account, it’s time to keep pinning! Tasty Pins makes it easy to optimize your images for Pinterest so you can pin your recipes with ease. We’re always looking for new ways to improve Tasty Pins, and you can be confident that we’ll keep supporting you on your blogging journey.
Take a look at all Tasty Pins has to offer. Also, don’t forget about our money-back guarantee! Trying Tasty Pins is risk-free, and we think you’ll really like it!