Pinterest Long Pins: What are they and how to use them

If you’ve ever scrolled through Pinterest, you’ve probably noticed that some pins stand out more than others. These eye-catching pins often have a longer, more elongated shape, making them hard to miss. Welcome to the world of Pinterest Long Pins. But what exactly are they, and how can you use them to boost your Pinterest game?

What are Pinterest Long Pins?

Pinterest Long Pins are vertical pins with an aspect ratio of 2:3 or longer. Unlike the standard horizontal pins, these vertical pins take up more space on a user’s feed, making them more likely to be seen and engaged with. The most common size for long pins is1000 x 2100 pixels if you want to include more detailed information or images.

Why use Long Pins?

Increased visibility: Long pins naturally take up more space, making them more noticeable as users scroll through their feed. This increased visibility can lead to higher engagement rates.

More information: The extra space allows you to include more information, such as step by step guides, detailed instructions or multiple images in one pin.

Higher engagement: Due to their size and detailed content, long pins often receive more repins, clicks and likes compared to their shorter counterparts.

How to create effective Long Pins

Creating effective long pins involves more than just making them tall. Here are some tips to ensure your long pins are both eye catching  and functional:

Use high quality images: Grainy or low resolution images can put users off. Poor quality images will not do your brand any justice. Make sure your photos are crisp, clear and something that’s going to stop the scroll for your audience.

Add text overlays: Text overlays can help convey the message of your pin at a glance. Use bold, easy to read fonts and keep your text concise. The bonus is that this text is read by the Pinterest algorithm which will make sure your content is categorised properly and shown to the right people.

Incorporate your branding: Consistency is key! Use your brand colours, fonts and logo to create a cohesive look across all your pins and other marketing channels.

Provide value: Whether it’s a recipe, DIY project or a how to guide, ensure your pin offers valuable content that clicks with your audience.

Use vertical layouts: Arrange your content in a vertical layout that flows naturally. For example, a step by step guide might have numbered steps from top to bottom.

Examples of content that lends itself well to Long Pins

Certain types of content are particularly well suited for long pins due to their need for detailed visuals and step by step explanations. Here are some examples:

Recipes: Cooking and baking recipes can benefit from long pins by showcasing step by step instructions, ingredient lists and beautiful images of the finished dish.

DIY projects: Craft projects and home improvement guides are perfect for long pins, allowing you to display each step of the process with accompanying photos.

Fashion lookbooks: Outfit ideas and seasonal fashion trends can be beautifully displayed in a long pin, showing different looks from head to toe.

Workout routines: Use long pins to lay out workout routines with illustrations or photos demonstrating each exercise.

Travel guides: Travel itineraries and destination guides can be broken down into daily activities, must see sights and travel tips within a single long pin.

Beauty tutorials: Makeup tutorials, skincare routines and hair styling guides can make great use of the extra space to show each step in detail.

Infographics: Data and statistics presented visually can be more engaging and easier to understand in a long pin format.

Tools for creating Long Pins

There are several easy to use tools that can help you create stunning long pins, even if you’re not a graphic designer:

Canva: My personal favourite, Canva offers a range of templates specifically for Pinterest pins. It’s user friendly and perfect for beginners. There’s a free option to get your started though I recommend upgrading to unlock all the features.

Adobe Spark: Another excellent tool for creating professional looking pins with various customisation options.

PicMonkey: Great for photo editing and adding text overlays to your images. The app is particularly handy if you’re creating on the go.

Once you’ve created your long pins don’t forget to use keywords in your pin descriptions and pin titles to help your pins show up in searches. Make sure your descriptions are clear, concise and engaging.

So that’s my guide to Pinterest Long Pins! Hope you found it useful. Why not create a few to add into your content mix this month and note how much reach and engagement they get compared to your regular size pins.  

If you have any questions about using Pinterest to market your business or my Pinterest Services, please drop me an email here.

Happy pinning!