Pinterest has long been the secret weapon of bloggers from all over the world and spanning every niche imaginable. But if you’re unfamiliar with the platform, figuring out what content will boost or hurt your stats can feel like a bit of a minefield!
To get you off to a good start, here are 8 things you should always avoid repinning for maximum Pinterest success!
Square Pins.
This is Pinterest rule #1, and you’ve probably heard it a million times already. Pinterest even admits that the ideal aspect ratio of a pinned image is 2:3 and that these posts do tend to perform better. And it makes sense; small or square pins take up less space on your audience’s feed and (rightly or wrongly) get overshadowed by larger, bolder pin images. Be sure to repin content with the optimal aspect ratio as much as possible.
False health claims or hyperbolic titles promoting misleading information.
Pinterest’s terms of service state that the platform does not condone the spread of untrue information or false claims – which isn’t a bad thing! Nevertheless, sometimes misinformation isn’t immediately obvious, so it’s important to double-check that nothing you repin is promoting incorrect ideas or wildly exaggerated claims.
Off-niche pins.
When browsing Pinterest, it’s all too easy to fall down the rabbit hole of repinning content without thinking. If you have a Pinterest business account that’s connected to your blog, it’s important to make sure you’re not doing this. You want your Pinterest boards to be a microcosm of your blog – sticking completely on-topic. After all, the goal is to attract an audience on Pinterest who will click through and explore your blog or website. If you’re pinning tonnes of ‘fashion’ content, for example, but your blog’s niche is fitness, you run the risk of attracting an audience that won’t be converted to blog readers. Stick on-topic and only repin what your blog’s target audience will be interested in!
Promotion of harmful behaviors.
This is another big no-no mentioned in Pinterest’s own terms of service. “Harmful behavior” includes things like stores or products that promote dangerous behavior and quotes that encourage suicidal thinking or negative thoughts. For the sake of not only the algorithm but your audience’s mental wellbeing, it’s wise to stay away from this kind of content at all times.
Pins with an incorrect permalink.
There’s nothing more annoying than finding an article or website you’re excited to read on Pinterest and being directed to a completely different site, right? It goes without saying that leaving your audience frustrated isn’t going to help your engagement, so make sure you check over all your repins for broken or misleading links.
Dishonest affiliate links.
Even if you’re always on the ball with disclosing your own affiliate links, not everyone is, and it’s important to avoid repinning dishonest content where possible. Of course, you’re not a magician and it won’t always be obvious that someone is promoting an affiliate link on the sly, but make sure to keep it in mind and check things over if anything seems off.
Old content (even if it’s your own)!
Pinterest’s algorithm loves fresh pins, so stop recycling your old ones. Make sure you’re consistently creating new and varied pins to promote your content, rather than pinning the same thing over and over.
Pins containing influential political statements.
It’s ok to engage in politics, but there’s a fine line between discussion and propaganda. Generally speaking, it’s best to stay away from repinning products or accounts that are actively trying to steer voters one way or another in a political campaign or issue.
This may seem like a lot to remember but honestly, the majority is just common sense. All you really need to do is stay aware of the kind of content you are repinning and before you post be sure to ask yourself “what effect is this going to have on my audience/blog?”
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Here are more helpful blog posts to help up your Pinterest growth:
Do you have any tips on repinning the right content? Let me know in the comments!
