Pinterest Tips and Tricks

I’m no pinning expert, but I have learned a few useful things in the past few years.  I hope that these simple tips and tricks will help you to have a more positive, successful experience on Pinterest.

• Before pinning, click to make sure that the idea legitimate, or what you hoped it to be.  This is a big one.  It’s so disappointing clicking only to find that the site has been removed or when you expect to see a tutorial and it’s actually just a website trying to sell a product.

• Write a descriptive summary in the pin box.  As opposed to “cool idea”, make sure that the wording describes what product or idea you are about to pin.

• Don’t be stingy about the number of boards you create.  I’m regretting this one.  Instead of creating a general “Recipes” board, try making one each for “Desserts”, “Breads”, “Main Courses”, “Appetizers”, etc.  You will thank yourself later.

• Pin direct links from websites.  I get frustrated when I click on a pin and then have to enter the site and perform an all-out search for what I’m actually looking for.  If something you’re about to pin is not a direct link to what you want, go to the site, find the idea, copy the direct link, and add a pin manually, using that direct link.  You’ll be glad you did.

• Delete “failure” pins.   If you complete a pinned project and it doesn’t work out, just remove the pin from your board so you won’t make the same mistake twice.

• Report inappropriate content.  We get on Pinterest to have a positive experience and find wholesome inspiration.  Let’s try to keep Pinterest free of things that we don’t want to view.

• Give credit where it is due.  In the pin summary box, place the link to the original site or make note of the site name so everyone will know from where the idea comes.

• If you see a pin circulating for a project you’ve done or a recipe you’ve made, be sweet and let the person know.  If it was a success, tell them that it worked out for you.  If it was a dud, kindly tell them that it’s not worth their time.  I promise-they will appreciate it!

• Make your boards work for you!  Edit your board covers to show your favorite item from that board or a project you’re seriously considering taking on.   Then you’ll be reminded of it every time you’re in board layout view.  Make a separate board for “Current Projects” that you’re working on for easy access.  Add a description and select a category for your boards to better specify what they hold.  If you need to search within a board, an easy way to do that is CTR+F.

• Be a “Picky Pinner”!   If the idea looks fishy to you, or if you know you’ll never look at that pin again, hold off pinning it!  Boards get cluttered fast and there are so many great ideas out there, so you can afford to pin only the best and the things that are most worthwhile to you right now.

• Follow people with similar taste to yours.   Of course it’s fun to keep up with what our friends are pinning on Pinterest, and that’s perfectly fine.  Many times our taste is similar to that of our friends anyway.  But consider also following people you don’t know who like some of the same things that you like.  You’ll find more ideas catered to your interests this way.

• If you have an idea that could make Pinterest better for all of us, feel free to submit it to the Pinterest team!  On their “terms of service” page, the Pinterest staff states that they gladly welcome feedback from their users.  Take advantage of this!  Follow this link to submit a request to Pinterest.