A good Pinterest pin does one job: it makes someone stop scrolling and tap through to your post. You don’t need design software or a big budget to do that. You need the right size, a clear title, a strong photo and a layout that’s easy to read on a phone.
This guide walks you through the whole process, from planning your pin to posting it.
Step 1: Start with the post you want to promote
Every pin should link to one specific page: a blog post, a recipe, a product or a guide. Before you design anything, write down two things:
- The main keyword. What would someone type into Pinterest search to find this post? For example, “small kitchen storage ideas”.
- The promise. What will they get if they click? “20 ideas”, “a 10-minute recipe”, “a free checklist”.
Your title, your pin description and your board will all use that keyword, so it’s worth getting right first.
Step 2: Use the right pin size
Make your pins vertical. The standard size is 1000 × 1500 pixels, a 2:3 ratio. It fills the feed nicely on phones without being cut off. Very tall pins can be cropped in the feed, and square or wide images look small next to vertical ones.
If you want the details, read our guide to the best Pinterest pin size.
Step 3: Pick photos that match the promise
Photos do most of the work. A few rules that hold up across niches:
- Show the result. The finished room, the plated dish, the outfit on a person.
- Use bright, clear images. Dark or busy photos get lost in the feed.
- Use more photos for roundups. If your post has “20 ideas”, a collage of 4 or 6 photos shows the variety straight away.
- Use your own photos where you can. They’re unique, and you know you have the right to use them.
Step 4: Write a short, bold title for the image
The text on your pin is not the same as the pin title you type into Pinterest. Image text should be:
- Short. Three or four lines at most. People see your pin at thumbnail size.
- Specific. “20 Small Kitchen Storage Ideas” beats “Kitchen Inspiration”.
- Keyword-led. Put the search phrase in the text, and highlight it in a contrasting color.
- Big and readable. A heavy font with good contrast against the background, or a solid band behind the text.
Numbers work well because they promise a clear amount of value. So do words like “easy”, “quick”, “on a budget” and “for beginners”, when they’re true.
Step 5: Choose a layout that fits the content
Different posts need different layouts:
- Roundups and listicles: a collage with the title in a band across the middle.
- One great photo: text over the photo, or a title band at the top or bottom.
- Makeovers and comparisons: before and after, or two photos side by side.
- Tips and quotes: a bold text-only pin.
For more ideas, see these Pinterest pin design ideas.
Step 6: Add your branding
Put your website name small at the bottom of the pin. It builds recognition, and it makes it clear where the pin leads. Keep it subtle: the title should be the first thing people read.
Using the same fonts and colors on every pin also helps people recognize your content in the feed over time.
Step 7: Keep text out of the button areas
Pinterest shows buttons and labels over parts of a pin, especially around the edges and the bottom. Keep your title and logo away from those areas. In PinMaker HQ, switch on Safe zone above the preview to see them.
Step 8: Download and upload to Pinterest
Download your pin as a PNG (best for text and graphics) or JPG (smaller files for photo-heavy pins). Then create a new pin on Pinterest and add:
- The image you just made.
- A pin title with your main keyword, up to 100 characters.
- A description that explains what’s in the post and uses related keywords naturally.
- The link to the exact page you’re promoting.
- The most relevant board.
Not sure what to write? Read how to write Pinterest pin titles and descriptions.
Step 9: Make more than one pin per post
Don’t stop at one pin. Make two or three different designs for the same post, with different photos, layouts or title angles, and publish them over the following days and weeks. Fresh designs give the same article more chances to be seen. Our guide on how many pins to post per day has a simple schedule.
Make your first pin now
You can do all of this in about a minute with PinMaker HQ. It’s a free Pinterest pin maker: add your photos (or paste your blog link), type your title, pick one of 16 layouts and download a 1000 × 1500 pin. No sign-up, and your photos stay in your browser.