How to Use Pinterest for Beginners? (2021)

Always wanted to start a Pinterest account but it seems too complicated? Don’t worry I gotcha! Here’s a simple guide on how to use Pinterest for beginners in 2021 (for personal and business account).

As you know, Pinterest may not be as big as other social media apps like Facebook or Instagram, however, their recent audience report reveals that it had increased 100 million users over the past year, with a total of 450 million users.

An app that was invented originally as a visual discovery tool in March 2010 where people can create and share ideas is now utilized as a search engine for shoppers (take note of this business owners!). 

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The Basics of Pinterest. Setting up an account.

Let’s get started with your account! 

• First, go to pinterest.com
• Select sign up, I prefer using email, in my case Gmail, for easy access. Or you can type in your email and set a new password. Choose whatever you prefer.
• A pop-up will appear for you to pick at least four topics you like.
• Most importantly, check your email. Make sure to confirm.

That’s it. You can now start browsing.

For a business account

• Go to pinterest.com/business
• Like what I had mentioned above, sign up using email or the other option.

Important note: You can also create a business account under your existing personal account.

• Go to settings and look for create a linked business account or convert it into a business account

Tips for business accounts

• Use an appropriate username to your business
• Link your website so followers can easily visit.
• Use appropriate keywords for your name (remember: Pinterest is a search engine)
• Also, add important keywords and an introduction to your bio.
• Use your header as an ad. You can advertise your new products or product vouchers on your header.

What is a “board”?

Boards are where you save your pins. It can be organized into several categories. 

Most personal account users use the boards as a mood-board. These are notably used for inspiration, which helps users with their creative projects. It can easily motivate you in creating. From furniture to fashion this app provides all the important and trendiest things for you. It will easily tailor what you were looking for. 

So for example, if you’re a graphic designer looking for new fonts to use or a creative writer wanting to see the best practices in publishing online, you can definitely create a board to take note of this and use it as inspiration.

Create your board by:

• Clicking the + sign 
• Choose board
• Fill up the Title

Note: You can set boards as “secret”.

• After adding your pins you can customize by adding information to the description.
• You can also organize and add notes.

Tips for business accounts

In order to get your business out there, try joining board groups.

This is how you will get more followers and audiences to view pins created. 

• Look for boards on pingroupie.com
• Type the keywords that fit your business and it will generate all the group boards under the keywords. 
• Click the board you like.
• Once you’re redirected to the boards make sure to read the description.
• Then you can request to join 

• Or send the creator of the board a message that you’re interested to join. Make sure to read their guidelines first!

What are Pins?

Pins make up the majority of the content of Pinterest. These can be easily classified into Fresh Pins or Regular Pins, Idea Pins, and Video Pins.

Fresh Pins are images or videos that haven’t been used on Pinterest before. These pins can easily rank up on the search engine. You can create several different-looking pins with the same outbound link.

photo credit: www.pinningpro.com

Idea pins were once known as Story pins, which in this case is somewhat identical to how Instagram stories work. But with notes on the side that you can use to create a list and any valuable information. For example, if you want to share valuable writing techniques, you can type down important steps and details to take. 

Video pins are pins that usually capture the attention of the viewers it can be a video with a length of 4 seconds to 15minutes. 

Regular and video pins: 1000 x 1500 pixels
Idea Pins: 1080 x 1920 pixels

If you’re a blogger, I recently wrote about posting your blog on Pinterest! Be sure to check that out for a more in-depth dive about sharing your blogs on Pinterest

Now you know these terms let’s start with creating your very first pin!

• Click the “+” sign
• Choose Pin
• Upload images or videos from your computer
• Add destination link, this could be your personal social site or website.
• Add Title
• Add appropriate description

Important note: Don’t forget to add alt text, in here you can describe what the pin is all about. 

• Choose board
• Post now or schedule later.

For creating beautiful and clickable pins, you can easily create one on Canva or buy premade templates that suit your brand. 

Now that you know how to use Pinterest, start creating your account and pining what you love! Pinterest has hundreds of guides and resources to help you get started. 

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