Last updated in 2021

Creating the first pin on Pinterest is always special. You have done your research, understood the medium, and now is the time to implement the same. Let us understand the Pinterest medium, tips to optimize the image, and simple tips to create your first Pinterest image in this post.

Pinterest is a highly visual medium. This means you need pictures on your post if you wish them to be linked back to your board. However, just because you are dealing with topics or products that are not very visual should not stop you from utilizing Pinterest. Apart from great photos, you can use simple graphic designing tools like Canva to create images that can be pinned.

In the earlier post we saw how to create a Pinterest account. Now let’s proceed to create pinnable images.

What are pinnable images in Pinterest?

These are images that are optimized for Pinning on Pinterest. While you can pin any images on Pinterest, we saw the optimal image size that works are the images that are vertical and a bit long. For, a long time they believed that 736*1104 is the perfect size. Some even suggested having really long pins, however, going by the trend of 2021 that does not seem to be the case.

In the recent updates, Pinterest is also showcasing square images. Overall, maintaining a 2:3 ratio of the images is considered a good practice. Apart from images, you can even add videos and stories on Pinterest. But more about that later.

A Cheat Sheet for various acceptable Pinterest image sizes

Pinterest Image SizesPixel Dimensions
Long pins600 x 1560 pixels
Medium pins600 x 1260
Short pins600 x 900 pixels
Square pins600 x 600 pixels

However, if you check Canva, it still shows Pinterest image size as – 735* 1102 and the Blog Graphic size is 800*1200 It is advisable that you create a custom dimension image and then copy the same sizing when creating Pinterest images.

Tips to Optimize the image for Pinterest and creating your first pin for Pinterest

Name your images

Every image that you create should be named appropriately. Instead of just mentioning IMG_123, or Pic1 name the images the matter that it is trying to convey. As these images will be search engine friendly, this is important in terms of SEO.

Remember, Pinterest is part search engine and part social channel. It is also found on Google and definitely ranked much higher than your actual page/website. Make the most of it by ensuring that your images appear for the right keywords.

Creating your first Pinterest image and Tips to Optimize PinsCreating your first Pinterest image and Tips to Optimize Pins

Add the headlines in your Pins

You have a lot of real-estate in terms of image space. Use it well by adding headlines so that your headline captures your reader’s attention.

When a person searches in Pinterest, she is looking for a pretty picture that applies to her search. For eg: If I am searching for Pinterest for blogging and if I see an image which has a headline “7 ways to drive crazy traffic to your blog with Pinterest” you are bound to check it out.

Optimize Pins in Pinterest

Optimizing images is something that is overlooked in the entire process of blog or website content creation. It is important that the images are optimized, as images are also visible in search. When people are searching for a certain image, they will click on the same and visit your website.

Never upload the image or graphic as it is on the website. Always compress it with good compression tools. There are a lot of plugins available that are useful in image compression. Use these plugins to compress the images on the website.

The most important thing in image optimization is the Alt+ Text. Alt text tells the search engine what this image is about. Ensure that the image Alt text has keyword rich description.

Next is image description. If you are adding a Pinnable image on your website or blog, ensure that it has a keyword rich description. It is important because, when someone pins your image, the pinned image carries the same description into Pinterest.

Created your first Pin? Add the same on a relevant board and share it with me on Pinterest. Connect with Neha Tambe on Pinterest.

57 Replies to “Creating your first Pinterest image and Tips to Optimize Pins”

  1. Good tips, Neha. I am learning Pinterest. So this was really helpful. Although, I’m not sure if Pinterest can help with my fiction blog, as far as getting traffic to my website is concerned.

  2. Hey Neha , Thanks . I am at the right time for right post. Always wanted to know how to optimise Pinterest for blogging . Useful tips on Pinterest. #MyFriendAlexa #SujatawdeReads

  3. I just love reading ur blog.. it’s always very informative and detailed.. learned a lot about seo from ur blog.. These tips for pinterest are amazing. M surely gonna start using my pinterest account fully. Keeping all these in mind.. #MyFriendaAlexa #YJReads

  4. This was really helpful, I have saved it and will check again for reference. Your posts are always so informative and easy to understand. I have pulled up my socks to make my Pinterest game strong and this is going to be a big help in this.

  5. Image optimization is something we all ignore. And this is also a very relevant point. It helps to open up the pin fast and hence overall experience of finding and pinning gets better. All these points are very valid and thanks for making me understand the important of heading & keyword rich description in pins.

  6. Happy to have learnt something new, Neha. I suck at using Pinterest right, and confusing posts going around make it even more difficult for me to understand. Your post has made it seem easy. Shall follow your instructions and give it a go. Thanks for sharing.

  7. I have started taking my Pinterest account seriously since last 2-3 months and am focusing on all the aspects to use it appropriately. I was not aware that images have to be named properly as that also helps in SEO. Very helpful post, Neha!

  8. I have started using Pinterest but not been able to crack it yet. I had no idea that it is half search engine and half social media. Thank you for providing the information and some great tips. Will check out other posts as well on Pinterest.

  9. I didn’t know Pinterest had so much value. Besides, since mine is a personal blog, I thought people won’t search for images like the ones I use. Shouldn’t I have a niche inorder to be visible on Pinterest?

  10. I have only started created pinable images for my posts. And this post was a reality check for what I was doing right or not. And I too thought that there was just one standard size of the pinable image. Thanks for this useful information.

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