Pinterest isn’t just a place for collecting pretty pictures—it’s one of the most powerful traffic sources for bloggers, content creators, and online businesses. With over 450 million active users searching for inspiration, solutions, and ideas, Pinterest can drive thousands of visits to your website—if you know how to make it work for you.
One of the most important skills you can develop is knowing how to create Pinterest pins that not only look great but also get clicked, saved, and shared. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to create viral Pinterest pins that get more clicks, and give you the Pinterest marketing tips you need to grow your visibility and traffic.
Why Pinterest Is a Traffic Powerhouse
Pinterest is a visual search engine, not just a social media platform. That means people go there to actively look for content—and that gives your pins a longer shelf life than posts on Instagram or Facebook. A pin can continue to bring traffic for months or even years after you publish it.
A “viral” Pinterest pin is one that gets a high volume of saves, clicks, and impressions. It’s the kind of pin that keeps showing up in people’s feeds and search results because Pinterest recognizes it as valuable and engaging.
Understand What Performs on Pinterest
Before you design your first pin, it’s important to understand the type of content that performs well on the platform.
Popular Pinterest Niches
Some of the top-performing niches include:
Recipes and meal planning
DIY and crafts
Home décor and organization
Beauty and fashion
Health and wellness
Personal finance and productivity
Travel guides and tips
If your content falls into one of these categories, you’re already ahead. But even if you’re in a niche that’s less common on Pinterest, you can still succeed with smart design and strategy.
Focus on High-Value, Searchable Content
Pinterest users are looking for solutions. Make sure your content answers a question or solves a problem. A great blog post or product is the foundation of a great pin.
Keep in mind: you’re not just trying to make a beautiful graphic—you’re helping someone find what they’re searching for.
Design Tips for Eye-Catching Pins
When it comes to how to create Pinterest pins that go viral, visual appeal is everything. Here’s how to make pins that grab attention:
Use the Right Size and Orientation
Pinterest recommends a vertical aspect ratio of 2:3, with an ideal pin size of 1000 x 1500 pixels. Tall, vertical pins take up more space in the feed and naturally attract more eyeballs.
Choose Bold, Easy-to-Read Fonts
Your pin should be instantly readable—even on mobile. Use large, legible fonts that pop against the background. Avoid cursive or overly fancy fonts, especially for main text.
Use High-Quality, Relevant Images
Clear, professional images (either your own or from stock sites) make your pin look trustworthy. Make sure the image relates to the topic—users should immediately know what they’ll get by clicking.
Stick to Consistent Branding
Use your brand colors, fonts, or logo subtly on your pins to build recognition. Consistency builds trust, which helps get more clicks on Pinterest over time.
Use Color Psychology and Contrast
Warm, bright colors tend to perform better. Use contrast to make the text stand out—light text on a dark background or vice versa.
Add Text That Creates Curiosity
This is one of the most overlooked Pinterest pin design tips. Your image might be beautiful, but if the text doesn’t make someone curious or interested, they won’t click. Use phrases like:
“5 mistakes you’re making…”
“The ultimate guide to…”
“You won’t believe how easy…”
Write Click-Worthy Titles and Descriptions
A great design gets someone to stop scrolling—but your title and description are what get them to click.
Use Pinterest SEO
Pinterest is a search engine, so keywords matter. Naturally include relevant keywords in your pin title and description. For example, instead of “My Favorite Recipes,” say “10 Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights.”
This is how Pinterest knows what your pin is about and helps surface it in searches for related topics.
Create Emotion and Curiosity
Your pin description should be specific, helpful, and include a call to action. Use phrases that promise a benefit or result:
“Learn how to meal prep like a pro”
“Discover the secret to doubling your blog traffic”
Hashtags can still be useful, but don’t overdo it—stick to 2–5 relevant ones.
Best Practices for Posting and Timing
Even the best-designed pins need the right posting strategy to take off. Here are some key Pinterest marketing tips for scheduling:
Post at the Right Time
Pinterest is active year-round, but certain topics trend at specific times (like Halloween crafts in October or wedding ideas in spring). Use Pinterest Trends to research seasonality.
In general, the best times to pin are evenings and weekends, when users are most active.
Pin Consistently
Instead of pinning 20 pins at once and disappearing for a week, aim to pin 1–5 times per day consistently. Tools like Tailwind allow you to schedule pins in advance and optimize posting times.
Test Multiple Pin Designs
One of the best ways to create viral Pinterest pins is to test different versions of the same content. Change the color, headline, or image and see which version performs best.
Analyze and Optimize for Performance
Creating pins is just the beginning—you need to track what’s working.
Use Pinterest Analytics
Pinterest’s built-in analytics shows you:
Impressions (how many people saw your pin)
Saves (how many saved it to a board)
Outbound clicks (how many visited your site)
Focus on click-through rate (CTR) to see which pins are really driving traffic.
Refresh or Update Underperforming Pins
If a pin isn’t performing, try updating the design or testing a new headline. Even small changes can make a big difference in performance.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to create Pinterest pins that go viral takes practice, but the rewards are worth it. Remember, Pinterest success isn’t just about beautiful graphics—it’s about combining smart design with strong SEO and a little psychology.
