A guide to different Pinterest pin types and how to use them

Pinterest isn’t a social media platform — it's a visual search engine that can really boost brand visibility, drive traffic to your website and encourage sales. If you’re new to Pinterest or perhaps haven’t heard about the newer pin options then understanding the various types and their unique benefits is really important. This is so that you know which type is best to use to appeal to your community.

Let's dive into each one and explore the advantages of using these different pin formats.

1. Image Pins: A picture says a thousand words

Benefits:

• Visual appeal: Image pins are the backbone of Pinterest. These static visuals catch the eye, tell a story, and serve as the initial hook for Pinners scrolling through their feeds.

• Versatility: Whether showcasing products, sharing quotes, or highlighting behind the scenes moments, image pins offer endless creative possibilities.

• Linking: Image pins can link directly to your website, blog, email sign up, sales page or product pages making them a powerful tool for driving traffic.

2. Video Pins: Bringing your brand to life

Benefits:

• Engagement: Video pins are dynamic and capture attention as they auto-play in the Pinterest feed. They encourage users to stop scrolling and engage with your content.

• Storytelling: Videos allow for more in depth storytelling. Use them to demonstrate product features, share tutorials or provide a glimpse into your brand's personality.

• Increased Visibility: Pinterest prioritises video content so using video pins can really enhance your visibility on the platform.

3. Rich Pins: Adding layers of information

Benefits:

• Real time updates: Rich pins pull information directly from your website, ensuring that details like product prices, availability, and article information are always up to date.

• Enhanced details: Rich pins provide additional context and details, making them particularly useful for product based businesses.

• SEO boost: Rich pins contribute to improved search engine optimisation (SEO) for your Pinterest content.

4. Product Pins: Showcasing your merchandise 

Benefits:

• Shopping integration: Product pins include real time pricing and availability information, making them perfect for businesses with an e-commerce focus.

• Direct shopping: Users can click on the product pin to make a purchase, streamlining the customer journey from inspiration to action.

• Wider reach: Pinterest's shopping features make product pins visible to users actively seeking to discover and purchase items.

5. Carousel Pins: Crafting a visual storyline

Benefits:

• Multiple images: Carousel pins allow you to feature multiple images within a single pin, creating a mini gallery for users to explore.

• Storytelling: Use carousel pins to tell a story, showcase product variations or guide users through a step by step process or tutorial.

• Increased engagement: The interactive nature of carousel pins encourages users to swipe and engage with your content for longer. The algorithm loves this!

Understanding and using different pin types can boost your small business's presence and impact. The key is to tailor your content strategy by aligning pin types with your business goals and audience preferences. Whether you're aiming to boost engagement, drive sales, or enhance your brand's storytelling, each pin type offers a unique set of benefits.

My advice is to experiment, analyse the performance of your pins and refine your strategy based on what resonates best with your audience. And always remember the Pinterest marketing sweet spot lies in the blend of creativity and strategic intent.

Happy pinning!

Did you enjoy reading this? If you have questions about Pinterest marketing let me know in the comments or drop me an email here.