Anatomy of the Perfect Pin
Pinterest
ARE YOU A BEGINNER ON PINTEREST? Check out my Pinterest Infographic (and the original article at $P\3RUWHU¿HOGFRPE\YLVLWLQJhttp://sociallysorted.com.
au/pinterest-­infographic/ Shared over 11,000 times on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn (5000 of which are re-­pins on Pinterest alone!) the infographic and article are a *5($7SODFHWREHJLQLI\RXDUHMXVWVWDUWLQJRXW
is the fastest growing social media network in the world at the moment. Why? Because it is visual. Because it allows us to share the things we love. Because it is easy to use….and because it is fun! I highly recommend you try it out! Pinterest has been breaking records left, right and centre in the past year. It surpassed 10 million XVHUVIDVWHUWKDQDQ\RWKHUVWDQGDORQHVLWHLQKLVWRU\,WUHFHQWO\RXWVWULSSHGWKHWUDI¿FRI*RRJOH
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that doesn’t get your attention then maybe this will: ,Q6HSWHPEHU7HFK&UXQFKUHSRUWHGWKDW3LQWHUHVWKDGUHDFKHGDSRLQWRIGULYLQJPRUHWUDI¿F
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Got Your Attention Yet? With the rise and rise in the popularity of Pinterest, there are countless EORJSRVWVZHEVLWHVDQGWUDLQLQJSURJUDPVSRSSLQJXSWKDWDUHGHGLFDWHGWRWKHSODWIRUP*HWWLQJ
the basics of pinning is relatively easy to do (see red box above), and Pinterest itself provides some excellent tools for getting started.
“We are in a new era of social media -­ visual social media is the next step in the evolution
of how we share & connect. If you can tell your story with an image, you’re ahead of the game!” Donna Moritz (Visual Marketing & Social Media Strategist)
In this report, I want to share with you something that I have not shared before – my Top 7 Tips for Creating the Perfect Pin. Just like in anatomy class, I have pulled apart the perfect pin so that you can be aware of some of the elements that will make your content: * more noticeable * more shareable
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By using even just one of these elements on Pinterest, and you will be step ahead of most users when using the platform for business. Let’s Get Started!
©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
1.Original
$VWXG\E\%XVLQHVV$QDO\WLFV&RPSDQ\5-0HWULFVUHYHDOHGWKDW80% of pins are repins. This is a much higher rate of “re-­posting” of content than most other social media platforms. What does this mean for you? You have a great opportunity to stand out if you can provide 25,*,1$/FRQWHQWRQ3LQWHUHVW8VHUVORYH
fresh, original content! Original content gets shared more readily on Pinterest because it JHWV127,&('Bottom line: if you want your content to get repinned for more people to potentially click through and visit your website ±JLYHWKHPVRPHWKLQJ1(:«VRPHWKLQJ
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By creating infographics at Socially Sorted, we contribute fresh content to Pinterest. But your content does not need to be fancy or detailed. A quote on a nice background, a screen shot of a video tutorial or image for your blog post LVHQRXJKWRFDWFKWKHH\HRI3LQWHUHVW8VHUV
Lifestyle blog JustB do this well -­ like this original image, clicking through to a blogpost. ©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
2.The Right Size
7KH6L]HRID3LQFDQYDU\JUHDWO\RQ3LQWHUHVW*HW\RXUSLQVWRpop and get repinned more often, by considering these “size does matter” tips: ‡ A tall pin takes up more “real estate” on the Pinterest Feed. That means there is more chance of it getting “noticed” & repinned. But be careful: Just because you can go up to 5000 pixels in height, GRHVQ¶WPHDQ\RXVKRXOG5HDOO\ORQJSLQVVWDUWWRORRNDOLWWOHREQR[LRXVLQWKH3LQWHUHVWIHHG
‡ The maximum width of pins on Pinterest is 600 pixels. Make it any wider and it will be resized (and distored) by Pinterest. Plan to get your dimensions right when pinning original content. ‡ Any smaller than 80 pixels in height and width and Pinterest won’t recognise your image.
‡ Try to hit the “sweet spot” for pin size on Pinterest. In the example below, notice how the 30 Dr
Seuss Quotes stand out. And notice also how it is just double the height of a normal pin. You don’t need a massive infographic to make an impact. TIP: Sometimes just a little extra height will get more Pop for your Pin. But remember that you want the pin to stand out without the person having to scroll down forever to see all of it! ©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
3.Optimized
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Pinterest Pins get searched on. Let’s get something straight though. Pinterest links are for the most SDUWQRIROORZZKLFKPHDQVWKDWWKH\GRQRWDWWUDFWD³OLQN´IRU6(2SXUSRVHVLQ*RRJOH¶VH\HVEXW
WKH\'2DWWUDFWWUDI¿F,IVRPHRQHOLNHV\RXUoriginal pin and they click through on it, and the source of the pin is your website (did I mention that it is a great idea to pin original content from your web-­
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content to keep them there (but that’s for another day). Ensure your Pins are Optimized wherever possible. This means: ‡ Including Your Source URL -­ 0DNHVXUH\RXWKHVRXUFH85/LQWZRLPSRUWDQWSODFHV
Link: This is the section where you can edit your pin and add the hyperlink. Always click on ³(GLW´\RXUSLQEHIRUH¿QDOLVLQJDQGFKHFNWKDWWKHSDJH\RXZDQWWRK\SHUOLQNLVWKHUH
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Description: 'LG\RXNQRZWKDWE\DGGLQJWKHIXOO85/LQ\RXUGHVFULSWLRQRUFDSWLRQLWEH comes clickable? Possibly not a huge issue if you already have the image linked correctly in the hyperlink section, but the more “ownership” you have of your original pins, the better. ‡ Using Keywords -­ 8VHUVVHDUFK boards and pins for keywords. Make sure you include Keywords in your Board Title, Your Board Description and Your Pin Description. Calling your Boards by FXWHV\WLWOHVPD\EHIXQEXWWKH\PLJKWQRWJHWJUHDWVHDUFKUHVXOWV8VH.H\ZRUGV
‡ Adding a watermark to your pin -­ this is an added extra (especially if you have optimised your pins on Pinterest) but if you are pinning original content, a simple watermark containing your FRPSDQ\QDPHRUZHEVLWH85/FDQEHYHU\SRZHUIXOEUDQGLQJDQGZLOOHQVXUHWKDW\RXUFRQWHQW
always belongs to you. ‡ Add Price Labels -­ If the pin is about a product or products, add the relevant dollar sign and the price in your description and a banner with the price will automatically appear over your pin (try it -­ it works!). This makes your pin stand out. ie add $47 in the description and a banner for $47 will appear across your image. And did you know that if you add a price banner, your pin will also show up on Search under Gifts on Pinterest? (categorized under price range). Love it! ©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
4.Purposeful
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two main categories on Pinterest . ‡ it helps with a problem (or teaches/gives
information)
‡ it inspires or makes you happy
Most Pins fall into the “how to” or “emotion” categories. :HOLNHWR¿QGRXWKRZWRGRVWXIIDQGZHOLNHWREH
moved and inspired -­ to feel emotion. If your pin (especially your RULJLQDOSLQ) can do either of these two
things, you are off to a winning start...be it an inspirational quote or tutorial on anything from creating a PDF to writing a book to braiding hair. What can your business inspire or teach on Pinterest? Michelle Bridges inspires her 12 Week Body Transformation Clients with Side Planking. Or do you want to take Beautiful Photos with KevinandAmanda.com?
©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
5.Obvious
When Pinning Original Content on Pinterest, think about 1st Impressions. If someone looks at your pin, will they know exactly what is behind it (especially if being directed back to your website!) as soon as they lay their eyes on it? Your pins should be: ‡ Clear and Obvious: don’t leave the message behind the pin open to interpretation. When the 8VHUJODQFHVDW\RXUSLQPDNHVXUHWKDWWKHFRQWHQWRQWKHDFWXDOSLQZKHWKHUYLVXDORUZULWWHQ
compels them to click through for more (or repin it for later reference). +HUHLVDQH[DPSOHRIKRZ\RXFDQHQVXUHWKDW\RXUPHVVDJHLVREYLRXVIURP¿UVWJODQFH
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a girl reading a book could link through to anything -­ it might be an article about reading, a website about clothing/make up or a post about taking time out for yourself. Add a caption and immediately the “pin” makes sense. By including more detail on the pin itself you are more likely to get re-­pins and click through. In the example to the right, the content of the pin (or the blogpost behind the pin or image, is immediately obvious. Sometimes a mix of images and words can be more powerful (and more clear) than an image on its own. ©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
6.MultiModal
We have talked about the importance of visuals, but let’s take a look at popular pins for a moment. Many of them include a “mix” of images and words. Don’t discard words in your images -­ the powerful and instantly recognizable pins are those that contain some words in the image. Some examples of how you could use words with your images are: ‡ title of the pin: make the content of the pin obvious to your readers. ‡ choose clear, obvious pictures that don’t leave much to interpretation
‡ think about each pin in terms of: would the person viewing this pin have to think about what it is. Can I make it clearer with a mix of words and pictures? ‡ Remember that less is sometimes more: A simple picture rather than making it complicated can be more noticeable on the Pinterest Feed. A single word or two might have more impact than a full sentence. Play around with it. Visual Social Media
We have come a long way with social media. What began with websites became dynamic web-­
sites or “blogs” where interacton occurred. Posts became shorter and we embraced Facebook and WKHQWKHFKDUDFWHUVRI7ZLWWHU1RZZHKDYHHYROYHGWRYLVXDOSODWIRUPVOLNH3LQWHUHVW,QVWD-­
gram and other social networks like Facebook are embracing visuals. It is a well documented fact that pictures are shared more readily across all social media plat-­
forms. Did you know that Pictures are processed more than 60,000 faster than words? We respond to images quicker and we connect with them. If you can use visuals in any way in your social media....do it. This is where Pinterest really stands out above other social media plaforms. It showcases the power of images so well. Embrace Pinterest. It is the perfect platform for Visual Social Media.
©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
The Perfect Pin
7.Valuable
As with all content, the more valuable you can make it for the reader, user, client or follower, the better. Ask yourself:
‡ Who is my ideal client and how can I help them?
‡ What are the problems that keep them up at night?
‡ What inspires them?
‡ What do they need help with?
Then provide content, in the form of pins, that help them with it: ©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au
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Happy Pinning
©Donna Moritz
www.sociallysorted.com.au