Are you wondering how to create Pinterest images that will drive massive traffic to your blog?

As a blogging coach, I run across blog posts every day that do not include an image worth sharing on Pinterest.  If you’re one of these bloggers, you are missing out on a huge source of traffic to your blog.

Learning to create beautiful pins for each blog post isn’t as complicated as it may seem.  With the right tools, you can create Pinterest images that get shared over and over again.

Why Pinterest?

Pinterest is growing rapidly and most users are looking for new ideas and products to try.  In fact, according to Pinterest For Business, 90% of Pinterest searches are unbranded.

With the right images and keywords, Pinterest can become the main source of your traffic, and even your income.

Getting Started

This post is only going to be helpful if you’ve already created a business account for your blog.

If you haven’t, I suggest checking out my post Pinterest Profile Tips That Will Set Your Blog’s Growth On Fire!.  That post goes over everything you need to know about setting up your blog’s Pinterest account and creating a profile that converts.

 

Validate Rich Pins

If you haven’t done so already, you should validate rich pins on your website.

Validating rich pins makes all images pinned from your website even more valuable to pinners.

Once validated, additional information will be added automatically to your pins, including your url, an image description, author, and article name.

The easiest way to validate your rich pins is through the Yoast SEO plugin on your WordPress dashboard.

1. Go to the Yoast SEO, click on Social.
2. Click on the Facebook Tab.
3. Enable Open Graph Meta Data.

If you don’t have the Yoast plugin or a WordPress website, just go to the Pinterest Rich Pins Validator, and follow the instructions.

Canva

You will need some type of design tool to create Pinterest images that get shared.  Canva is an online design tool that is simple to use and your images will look amazing.

They offer templates for all of your social media and blog post images, including pins. Or if you prefer, upload your own images and create a pin from scratch.

Canva makes designing pins easy, even for those that aren’t tech savvy.  Choose different layouts, fonts, and colors to create Pinterest images that are perfect for your brand.

How To Create Pinterest Images That Go Viral

Once you’ve taken care of the basics above, you can start working on your images.

By following the steps in this post, your pins will be in the running for going viral!  If you get a pin that goes viral, you’ll get tons of traffic back to your blog, which is the whole point of using Pinterest for promoting your content!

Even without viral pins, using these tips will help you create Pinterest images that rank in search results.  For best results, use these tips for every pin you create.

Let’s get to it!

1.  Use High-Quality Images

The first step to create Pinterest images that go viral is to choose a the perfect high-quality photo.

If you’re not a photographer, that’s okay. There are plenty of websites that offer free stock photos.  I’ve compiled a list of websites with free high quality images for bloggers in my post 29 Websites With Free Images For Bloggers.

If you’re a new blogger, you may not know where to find images to use for your posts and on your website.  You have to either take your own photos or find a stock photos that don’t require attribution.

You can also download my free cheat sheet to keep these stock image resources handy.

 

Pro Tip:

Using colors like red and yellow will get you more repins and if you use images with people showing emotion you’ll grab attention, too. Try to include people in your images when possible.

Remember, stand out from the competition and get that click-through!

2. Use Vertical Images Only

Pinterest is a visual search engine that sorts pins into columns so vertical images work best.

Pinterest suggests an aspect ratio of 2:3, and the ideal image size of a pin is 600px X 900px.

You can really only get away with longer images when using infographics.  Just don’t make your pin longer than 1560px or your image will get cut off.

I know many of you create a rectangular feature image for your blog posts, which share easily on Twitter and Facebook.  If that’s the case, you will need to create a separate vertical image for Pinterest for every post.  Add it to the end, or somewhere in the body of the post.

When readers click on your Pinterest share button, your vertical image will pop up for them to pin.  In fact, for a great example why not take a moment to pin this post?  You’ll help me out and your fellow bloggers!  Please and Thank You 😆

Pro Tip:

Make your feature images Pin-sized images.  There are a lot of bloggers starting to do this because of the popularity of Pinterest.

3.  Add A Text Overlay

Once you have chosen your vertical image, you will need to add a text overlay.

The text should include your blog post title or other text that entices pinners to click through to your blog post.

Use large, easy to read fonts to convey your message.

How to posts and using numbers in your text overlay will get you more repins, so try to add them when appropriate.  For example:

• 21 Time-Management Tips For Busy Moms vs. Time Management Tips For Moms
• How I Lost 15lbs. in 30 Days vs. How To Lose Weight
• How To Create Viral Pins In 5 Easy Steps vs. Pinterest Images That Go Viral

Why Is Text Overlay Important?

If you take a look at your Pinterest feed, you’ll notice most of the images have text overlay with the post name, or some description of what the pin is about.

Users of Pinterest are looking for new ideas.  Without any text, your image is just a pretty picture.  Your pin will just get lost in Pinterestland.

Pro Tip:

If you are offering a cool opt in, mention that on your text overlay.  You could even create a separate pin just for your optin that links directly to the sign up form.  Everyone loves free stuff.

4. Brand Your Image

Every image that will be shared on Pinterest should include your branding.  Pinners want to know the pin is coming from a reliable source before they click.

What Is Branding?

Branding an image is as simple as adding your blog’s url to your image.  If you have a logo, add that as well.

Branding also consists of the colors and fonts that you use on your website.

Why Is Branding Important?

Branding your Pinterest images will help pinners become familiar with your brand.  If pinners recognize your branding as a trusted source of valuable content, they will pin more of your images that show up in their feed.

Also, branding your pins keeps your images safe.  It will be much harder for thieves to take credit for your hard work if your pins are branded.

Pro Tip:

Create a few Pinterest templates that can be edited easily.  Use these templates for all of your pins.  You’ll save time and build a consistent brand.

5. Keyword Rich Description

The fifth, and most important step to creating the perfect Pinterest image is adding a keyword rich description.  Pinterest uses an algorithm to decide which pins will show up in users feeds.  Part of that algorithm has to do with the keywords that you use in your description.

When a pinner taps your image for a closeup, they’ll also see your description.  Long tail keywords and phrases work best.  Just make sure the keywords are relevant to your blog post.

Offer a compelling description that drives the pinner to click through to your content.

I’ve written a very detailed post about using keywords strategically to explode your Pinterest growth.  I highly recommend that you read it now.

Hashtags

Hashtags can help your pins rank high in search results early.

When users search hashtags or click a hashtag, they’re taken to the relevant pins using that keyword.  The most recent pins show first instead of the most popular!

Pinterest does not use hashtags in the same fashion as Twitter and Instagram.  On Pinterest, your hashtags should be keywords – nothing cute or funny.

Also, put your hashtags at the end of your description.  They will only be clickable – and show up in the search results – when first pinned to Pinterest.  You cannot go back and add hashtags to old pins.  Well, you can, but Pinterest will not recognize or rank them.

Pinterest For Business warns that too many hashtags in a description can work against you so don’t use more than 20.

Don’t ignore the power of using hashtags on Pinterest if you want to create viral pins!

Pro Tip:

When you write your blog post, think of every keyword that could be used.  Type the keyword in the Pinterest search bar and see what suggestions pop up.  Use those key phrases in your pin’s description to rank better in your followers feeds.

Create Pinterest Images That Go Viral – Bonus Tips

The tips above will set you up for success on Pinterest.  The following bonus tips will help make your blog post get more traffic with the help of Pinterest.

Pin Often

Pinterest favors pinners that are actually using their platform regularly.

Create a pinning strategy that incorporates both manual pinning and scheduled pins that will drip throughout the day.

I use and recommend Tailwind for pin scheduling.  Using Tailwind helped make Pinterest my #1 source of traffic and grew my exposure by 1000% in less than 60 days!

If you want to try it out, use my affiliate link and you’ll get a $15 credit!  That means you’ll get a month of Tailwind Plus for free.

I’m confident that if you use Tailwind for that 30 days, you will love it and most likely buy the annual plan to get the best bang for your buck.  You can even use the $15 credit towards the annual plan if you want to just go ahead and purchase it.

Create Multiple Pins

Once you’re creating pins using these tips, you’ll start to see what works for getting your content pinned and repinned.  Use that knowledge to create two or three alternate pins for each blog post.

Change up the images, use different titles (still relevant to the content) and you can increase your blog’s exposure even more on Pinterest.

Your Turn

Did you find this post helpful?  What else are you doing to create Pinterest images that stand out? Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite tip from this post is.

If you haven’t already, please pin this post now.

Are you ready to master the power of Pinterest? Why not get a Pinterest Audit from Next Level Blogging?  I’ll provide you with a personalized Pinterest Success Guide that will get you well on your way to using Pinterest for driving massive traffic to your blog.  Learn more here.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by my blog.  My goal is always to provide tips and strategies to help you build your own successful and profitable blog.  You CAN do this!!

Until next time…

Happy Blogging!