4 Proven Ways to Drive Engagement on Pinterest

September 21, 2017

Pinterest is a powerful social media platform when it comes to marketing your brand. Unlike Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, which focus primarily on socializing, Pinterest focuses on gathering and sharing ideas. Pinterest is therefore not known for high engagement, but when you drive engagement on Pinterest, this platform will reward you with broad reach and a captive audience.

Quick Answer

Pinterest engagement, unlike other social platforms, focuses on gathering and sharing ideas, rewarding brands with broad reach and a captive audience when successfully driven. To boost engagement on Pinterest, brands should optimize pinned images using high-definition visuals around 735 pixels wide and 1100-2400 pixels long, alongside keyword-rich descriptions and well-organized boards. A key strategy is contributing to group boards, which are collaborative spaces run by multiple users that can expose content to tens of thousands of followers and facilitate networking. Technology Aloha advises that adhering to Pinterest's specific rules, such as avoiding hashtags and shortlink URLs in pin descriptions, is also essential to maintain account health and reach.

How to Drive Engagement on Pinterest

Optimize your Pinned Images

Like other social media platforms, Pinterest’s algorithm rewards some posts over others. Always publish high-definition images that are around 735 pixels wide and 1100-2400 pixels long. Adding alt tags and a keyword-rich description will also help the right people find your content easier.

Need help finding photos for your posts?
Check out the tips in our Using Images Online post.

Keep your Boards Organized

On Pinterest, you should avoid using hashtags and shortlink URLs in pin descriptions to prevent being labeled as a spammer. Instead, focus on posting quality, pin-worthy images with keyword-rich descriptions, as Pinterest is not like Twitter in its use of hashtags.

What Rules Should You Follow on Pinterest for Better Engagement?

Pinterest is not like Twitter; hashtags are not used, and shortlink URLs in pin descriptions can get you labeled as a spammer. Instead, focus on posting quality, pin-worthy images with keyword-rich descriptions.

Contribute to Group Boards

One of the best ways to network with like-minded pinners is taking part of a group board. Unlike typical boards, group boards are run by two or more users, instead of just one. Think of them as a big collaboration of images and ideas centered around the board’s theme. Not only does pinning to group boards allow you to work with other pinners, it can also get you noticed by a huge audience – many group boards boast tens of thousands of followers.

To join a group board, follow these steps:

  1. Search through Pinterest to find a group board that fits your niche
  2. Follow the group board, as well as the group board creator (he or she will be the first user listed at the top)
  3. Send a polite request to join the group board, usually through an email provided in the board’s description.
  4. Once you are invited to contribute, be sure to read the group board rules carefully, and always follow them.

 

Pinterest may not be the most “social” social media platform, but its unique layout, algorithm and user behavior means that high engagement can yield very high results for your brand.

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Jessica

SEM Specialist

Jessica is Technology Aloha’s SEM Specialist, with expertise in Google Ads, Google Ad Grant, Meta Ads, campaign optimization, and marketing analytics. A former Technology Aloha Content Director, she also brings a strong background in content strategy, technical communication, and writing — experience that helps her connect campaign performance with clear, effective messaging.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1 How can our nonprofit leverage Pinterest to expand our reach and engage potential supporters?

Pinterest rewards engagement with broad reach and a captive audience. To achieve this, optimize your pinned images with keywords, keep your boards organized, and contribute to relevant group boards to get noticed by a larger audience.

2 What are the best practices for optimizing images and descriptions on Pinterest to ensure our content is easily found?

To optimize your Pinterest content, use high-definition images with specific dimensions (around 735 pixels wide and 1100-2400 pixels long). Always add alt tags and keyword-rich descriptions to your pins to help the right audience discover your content.

3 What Pinterest guidelines should our organization follow to avoid being flagged as spam while promoting our initiatives?

Pinterest has specific rules to avoid spam labeling. Do not use hashtags or shortlink URLs in pin descriptions. Instead, focus on posting high-quality, pin-worthy images with keyword-rich descriptions to naturally attract engagement.

4 How can our nonprofit effectively use Pinterest group boards to collaborate and expand our audience?

Group boards allow you to collaborate with other pinners and expose your content to a much larger audience, often tens of thousands of followers. To join, search for relevant boards, follow the board and its creator, then send a polite request to join.

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