5 Graphic Designer Tips for Click-Worthy Pins to Drive Brand Discovery & Traffic

We look to Pinterest as a resource for all things pretty and aspirational…but what about as a tool for brand discovery and lead-generation? In addition to its ability to save content for future reference, Pinterest has proven itself as a powerful search engine and a space for brands, businesses and agencies to play.

Ready to step up your Pinterest content strategy? It all comes down to creating graphics on Pinterest that grab attention and curiosity to land those clicks to your intended destination.

Here are five design tips to consider before going on your next pinning spree.

1. Pinterest Works Best with Vertical Images

When it comes to designing engaging and eye-catching content for Pinterest, thinking tall and vertically is key. If you log onto the platform today, it’s easy to get lost in an endless scroll of little squares and tiny images that may be pretty, but don’t scream, “Hey, pin me!”

With this in mind, make a point to stand out from other content living in Pinterest’s feed by designing bold, tall pins that are at least 1200 pixels in height. This could look like vertically cropping images to get them primed to pin, stacking multiple square images to create tall pins or focusing on re-pinning vertical images only to create a cohesive presence in your own brand’s Pinterest profile.

2. Keep it branded (subtle, but still branded)

No one is going to pin an image with a huge watermark and yet you know that keeping it branded is key to drive awareness and demand! Keep the content front and center but still incorporate branded elements by adding in the following elements. 

• Branded colors: these could be introduced through colored typography, overlay or footer.
• Brand fonts: keep your branded typography prominent on any header, footer or body content.
• Brand photography: if you’re an agency, consider included images of your office or your team in Pinterest graphics; if you’re a product, including product photography in content is an absolute must.

3. Include a clear header and call-to-action

Sure, pretty images can take you far on Pinterest, but if you’re pinning on behalf of your business, agency or client your Pinterest graphics will often need a clear header or strong call-to-action to keep those re-pins and clicks coming.

For example, are you an agency that’s pinning content that will link back to your services page? Consider including an enticing header like, “The 3 PR Services Every Business Needs” on your pin. Pinning on behalf of an ecommerce client who has just unveiled their spring line of clothing? A call-to-action included within the graphic like, “Spring’s Must-Haves Have Arrived: Shop Them Here First!” is a great way to create a sense of urgency and make it clear as to what the pin is promoting.

4. Add value and generate leads through educational content

Not only is Pinterest a strong tool for generating web traffic and sales, but it’s also a viable lead-generation tool for businesses and agencies. Add credibility and position your business as a thought leader by regularly publishing pins that link back to case studies, client press results and informational blog content on a regular basis.

Worried that linking back to client results and case studies will seem too salesy? Position your Pinterest graphic messaging as an enticing, clickable story rather than a sales pitch, such as, “Fashion Brand XYZ Grew Their Sales by 50% Thanks To THIS Marketing Trick.”

5. Create pins for all blog content and major website landing pages.

Pro tip: have you checked your Pinterest metrics and noticed that a pin linking back to a particular blog post has gained traction with re-pins and clicks? Capitalize on this by designing three additional, different graphics linking back to the same blog post to extend the life and reach of this engaging content.

It may sound redundant, but it can’t be stressed enough: in order to begin ramping up your Pinterest presence and driving traffic (and potential leads!) from the platform back to your site, creating unique, on-brand graphics for each major landing page on your website and all blog content published is key.

With more than 2 million people pinning shopping content specifically, it’s worth picking your eyes up off that Instagram feed and making sure your pins are helping with brand promotion.

For more graphic design tips + tricks click here

 About Lindsay

Lindsay Scholz is a brand designer and social media strategist at Lindsay Scholz LLC, where she helps creatives and small businesses establish a purposeful digital presence. Prior to venturing into small business ownership, Lindsay held various roles in PR, advertising and social media with notable companies like national footwear corporation Caleres, Inc. and J. Walter Thompson Atlanta, where her expertise and work in digital marketing was featured by the likes of USA Today, Fast Company and Huffington Post Live. Lindsay currently resides in St. Louis, MO with her husband and two dogs, Brooke and River.