How to make Pinterest Idea Pins

Pinterest has been rolling out changes to its algorithm recently and you may have noticed a drop in traffic. One of the ways to help get your traffic back up is to create and publish Idea Pins, formerly known as Story Pins.

What are Idea Pins on Pinterest?

Story pins are multi-page pins which tell a ‘story’ and engage followers. They are a different direction for Pinterest and a step towards more user engagement, instead of just being a search engine for content. Like them or hate them, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM. (Idea Pins are not available to everyone. Get more information on how they work here.) The good news is, that they are easy and fun with our guide for how to use Idea Pins.

Why use Idea Pins?

Pinterest is giving lots of love to Creators who make Idea Pins / Story Pins. Research from Tailwind shows that new Idea Pins gets 41% more Saves compared to static pins. That reason alone is huge and why you should try them. The research also found Idea Pins really took off for Creators with more than 10k followers. Plus they are served at the top of users’ feeds and appear in search in the Today tab — all great reasons to get started with Idea Pins.

1. Use video in your first panel

When creating your Story pin, the first panel is the most important. You can optimise views by using video in your first panel. While video is really good for story pins, not every panel needs to be video. Video just gets more engagement — not just on Pinterest, but on any social platform. Here’s an example of how to use simple video from an iPhone combined with static images: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/821977369482917154/

2. Make your Idea Pin at least 5 panels

For bloggers, use the Idea Pin to tell a story. You can have several takes on your blog post (think of the ways different audiences can use the information in your blog post).

Here’s a great article from Pinterest that has best practices with links to story pins that they consider high quality: Get the most from Idea Pins.

3. Don’t be tempted to insert a link to your website

Pinterest has created Idea Pins to keep users on the platform, so don’t be tempted to have a link on your story pin to your site. We know: It’s hard to resist. But what’s in it for you is followers. Instead of a link, have a strong call to action, such as a big ‘Follow me’ button. Plus, because Pinterest itself is growing in reach and engagement, you will see benefits as your presence on the platform grows as well.

More expert tips on using Pinterest

About Susanna Scott

Susanna Scott founded the BritMums social network in 2008 after a career in marketing. She wanted to create a space for parent bloggers to network, and share ideas and opportunities. She is often quoted as a pioneer in the UK Mum Blogging space, and has been named a top female entrepreneur. She has been featured in The Times, The FT, The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun, Technorati, She, Primo Baby and Red magazine, amongst others. She speaks frequently about blogging, social networking and the BritMums community at industry events. Her blog A Modern Mother ranks in the UK’s top 10 Family Tarvel Blogs. Follow her on @amodernmother.