How I Dramatically Grew my Pinterest Views and Following
Luck may be what catapults viral sensations into fame, but luck isn’t what I attribute to the growth I experienced nearly “overnight.”
No, I generally didn’t experience overnight success with one viral pin but I DID have quite a few of my implemented Pinterest “hacks” invite the most attention I’ve ever seen at one time.
One day, a day I sadly didn’t document, one of my pins gained a substantial amount of momentum. From 100 views in mere minutes to a refreshed page showing nearly 1000 views by the end of the day—I had never seen ONE POST rack up that many impressions within hours.
This is obviously the most ideal situation for many of us creators, especially those that understand how vital it is to remain present on Pinterest, but this isn’t due to just one significant event.
To me, I feel as though a combination of my favorite Pinterest hacks, ones you’ve probably seen dispersed throughout many (MANY) posts, are to thank.
Here’s my top three, for the sake of keeping things honest and fluff-free…
1. tailwind
I refuse to accept an eye-roll or even the slightest of subtle head shakes. No ma’am, no sir.
Don’t you dare subject yourself to the denial I lived with when first hearing about this online tool.
If you’re unfamiliar with Tailwind, allow me to introduce you to the best-kept secret I’m surprised you haven’t already discovered.
Tailwind is a powerhouse Pinterest (and Instagram) resource that conveniently creates an automated calendar—pinning both your content and your favorite pins at peak hours of the day that match the activity of your audience.
This is, simply put, what I thank for consistently high traffic and random viral pins that surge said “high traffic.”
If you HAVE heard about Tailwind, and haven’t already been convinced, let me explain in three points why I feel my initial disbelief cost me thousands of valuable readers.
Without Tailwind, I was constantly trying to teach myself how to navigate the deep waters of Google Analytics—enough to explain what post was doing well, when, and “why.”
With Tailwind, I was able to see what time slots created the most traffic, for what general topics, and what board was consistently being found by strangers, inevitably boosting my subscriber count.
Without Tailwind, I was attempting to visit Pinterest EVERY SINGLE DAY to make sure I was pinning enough of my favorite content, alongside my own, to keep my subscribers active.
With Tailwind, I choose to fill my calendar at least twice per week, significantly lowering my time spent on this task all while reaping the benefits of an active account that showcases quality posts.
Without Tailwind, I decided to use a service called Board Booster. Not only was this service cheap, at $5 per month, but it seemed to gain momentum in the small blogger-sphere with tons of positive reviews. Sadly, this service became very stressful to use, with an interface that took a while to learn and ended up shutting down after I was a member for six months.
With Tailwind, I’ve noticed a continuous evolution of this tool as they continue to grow and develop more innovative services. I was able to participate in their SmartLoop Beta experience and love every aspect of this popular “looping” feature.
Need I say more? Of course, as someone that can confidently vouch for this online tool, I believe it is worth looking into. Not only that, but every investment I’ve made thus far has always been done after thorough research.
I would only hope you check it out for yourself, and let me know if it serves you as well as it served me. Click here to learn more.
2. multiple (3 or more) "pinnable" images
Next up, the ONE TIP I refused to adopt (for myself) until I was already three years into my blogging journey (big mistake Makayla, big mistake).
As we know, Pinterest is a visible lover. Although the core of what a pretty-looking pin is what truly matters, you only grab a pinner’s attention by your appearance. Let’s just say we have to keep it “right and tight” to stay in the game (totally kidding at this point…)
All jokes aside, Pinterest is not for those that don’t want to think about graphic design. The biggest attraction for this image-based search engine is, you guessed it, the image.
The image you share to promote your content is what peaks interests, pulls people in, and solidifies your overall theme or “vibe.” Many of us intermediate Pinner’s can spot a new trend coming in a heartbeat—whether it’s the ‘modern minimalistic’ or ‘block letter’ styled pin.
So, considering how important appearance is, I would make it a point to create graphics and featured post images that you would consider “pinnable.” If you can’t find your perfect pin style, always scour the world wide web for inspiration (but make sure to add your own twist).
Related Post: How to Create Original and Unique Blog Graphics (for Beginners)
Lastly, never neglect the importance of multiple images. Simply put, it’s boring to see the same pin floating around with the same style and background image. Switch up your font and create a unique layout for multiple "pinnable" images for the best results.
Quick Tip: Many of us have our own preferences for visuals, right? That includes your readers! People searching for content on Pinterest are often times bombarded with the same title and promise from multiple bloggers. The one good thing about a unique featured image is the chance to pull in someone that appreciates your visual more than those with similar titles!
3. group boards
I was never fully invested in the idea of being a contributor to twenty different group boards. I always noticed some of my favorite blogger’s presence on boards I joined, strictly as a consumer, and wondered how they could continuously post in a plethora of locations.
(Side note: I realized later down the line that many of my “all-time-faves” were utilizing Tailwind to post on multiple boards at once. A task I once thought was impossible until I became “that” blogger that is seen just about anywhere).
Group boards are an incredible resource to make connections, find like-minded individuals, and even establish future collaborations.
I was introduced to a variety of writers and designers once joining certain groups, alongside being inspired by those that took their blog to the next level as a full-time hustle.
I never knew I needed to be a part of something so great until I joined a few on my own doing, applied myself to offering consistent quality pins, and was soon invited at least once a week to a new board created by admirers.
This, to keep things short, is a great way to diversify your audience and get your content out to those that may not be in any other small circle you’re involved in. Always remember the power of collaborative efforts. This is how many bloggers get their “start,” and Pinterest is no different or less of an opportunity.
Related Post: 5 Things Your Blog is Missing That Could Be Hurting Your Brand
I hope, even if you’ve seen these tips before, that you could find some truth and inspiration to implement new tactics into your daily life.
It is so important to adopt a “never stop learning” mindset in order to stay ahead of the game. If I figured that I knew enough about Pinterest years ago, I would’ve never found Tailwind and surely wouldn’t have expanded my reach by focusing on graphics and group boards.
If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends. Save it for later on Pinterest, and comment below any tips you think would benefit others.
As always,
Live (and Pin) Intentionally.
