Pinterest Ads: Best Practices to Boost Engagement and Conversions
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Updated March 20, 2025

Did you know that Pinterest users are 2.2 times more likely to say the platform helps them make purchasing decisions compared to other social media platforms? 🤔

This makes Pinterest an exceptional tool for visual advertising.

With over 500 million monthly active users, Pinterest provides a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with a highly engaged audience who are actively looking for inspiration and products... and often looking to buy something!

Pinterest Ads, known as Promoted Pins, seamlessly integrate with the platform, making them less obvious as advertisements, and more appealing to users.

Advertisers on Pinterest often see higher returns compared to ads run on other social platforms.

But to use Pinterest Ads effectively, it's essential to understand the best practices that can:

Boost engagement
Grow conversions
Maximize your ROI!

In this post, we dive into effective strategies for maximizing your Pinterest Ads performance, including:

Creating engaging content
Targeting the right audience
Optimizing for conversions.

Let’s get started by reminding ourselves what Pinterest actually is, and then take a look at the types of ads that are available...

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine for finding ideas, recipes, home and style inspiration, and more. With millions of pins on thousands of topics, Pinterest connects users to a world of inspiration and ideas.

Unlike other social media platforms, Pinterest focuses on personal discovery and planning rather than updates from friends or news.

Pinterest users are 2.2 times more likely to say the platform helps them make purchasing decisions compared to other social media platformsClick To Post On

Understanding Pinterest Ads

Types of Pinterest Ads

Pinterest offers a variety of ad formats, each tailored to help businesses achieve specific marketing goals.

Understanding these formats will help you choose the best one for your campaign:

Promoted Pins

These are standard pins that you can pay to promote.

They appear in users' home feeds, category feeds, and search results, blending seamlessly with organic content.

This format is excellent for driving traffic and increasing brand visibility.

Promoted Pins seamlessly integrate with user experiences, enhancing brand visibility without being intrusiveClick To Post On

Video Pins

Video Pins feature dynamic content that auto-plays in users' feeds.

They are more engaging than static images, making them ideal for product demonstrations, tutorials, and storytelling.

This format helps capture users' attention and encourages them to interact with your brand.

Carousel Ads

Carousel Ads allow you to feature multiple images in a single ad that users can swipe through.

This format is perfect for showcasing different products, highlighting various features of a single product, or telling a detailed brand story.

Carousel Ads are effective in keeping users engaged longer and providing more information in a visually appealing way.

Shopping Ads

These ads link directly to your product pages, streamlining the purchase process.

Shopping Ads typically feature product images, prices, and direct links, making it easy for users to make immediate purchasing decisions.

This format is particularly effective for e-commerce businesses looking to drive sales.

Collection Ads

This format includes a hero image or video followed by smaller secondary images.

When users click on a Collection Ad, they can view a full-screen experience, similar to a catalog.

Collection Ads are great for displaying a range of products and offering an immersive shopping experience.

Advantages of Advertising on Pinterest

Pinterest stands out as a powerful platform for advertisers due to several unique advantages…

Highly Engaged Audience

Pinterest users are typically in a discovery mindset, actively seeking inspiration and ideas for their next purchase.

This high level of engagement means users are more receptive to ads, increasing the likelihood of interaction and conversion.

Visually Driven Content

As a visually-driven platform, Pinterest allows brands to showcase their products through high-quality images and videos.

Source:

Semaine Health

This visual focus helps capture attention and create an emotional connection with users, enhancing the impact of your ads.

Long Lifespan of Pins

Unlike other social media platforms where content quickly becomes outdated, pins on Pinterest can continue to drive traffic and engagement for months or even years.

This long lifespan provides sustained value and a higher return on investment (ROI) for your ads.

Video Pins auto-play in feeds, making them ideal for product demonstrations and storytelling to capture user attentionClick To Post On

How Pinterest Fits into Your Marketing Strategy

Integrating Pinterest into your broader digital marketing strategy can amplify your efforts across multiple channels…

Driving Traffic

Pinterest excels at driving referral traffic, sending 33% more referral traffic than Facebook.

Each pin acts as a direct link to your website, increasing the number of visitors and potential customers.

The platform's visual search tool, Pinterest Lens, further enhances this by helping users discover products through images.

Increasing Brand Visibility

Regularly posting and promoting pins keeps your brand visible to potential customers.

Since pins have a longer lifespan, they continue to attract attention and engagement long after being posted.

This consistent visibility helps build brand recognition and trust.

Boosting Conversions

Pinterest simplifies the path from discovery to purchase, especially with Shopping Ads.

Users can see a product and buy it directly from the platform, reducing the steps needed to complete a purchase and increasing your conversion rates.

Complementing Other Marketing Channels

Pinterest can enhance your efforts in social media, SEO, and content marketing.

It supports your backlinks, in turn driving more traffic your way and improving your search engine rankings.

Additionally, the platform's unique user base can help you reach audiences that may not be as active on other social networks.

By understanding the different types of Pinterest Ads and leveraging the platform's unique advantages, you can create a comprehensive marketing strategy that drives engagement, increases brand visibility, and boosts conversions.

Creating Engaging Content for Pinterest Ads

Visual Design Tips

Creating visually appealing content is crucial for catching the eye on Pinterest.

Here are some key tips to ensure your pins stand out:

🖼️ High-quality images—use bright, clear, and high-resolution images. Avoid clutter and focus on a single, compelling subject. The ideal aspect ratio is 2:3 (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels), which fits perfectly in Pinterest’s grid.

🎨 Consistent branding—ensure your pins are instantly recognizable by incorporating your brand’s visual elements, such as logos, colors, and fonts. Consistent branding helps build recognition and trust among your audience.

🔤 Use text overlays—adding text overlays to your images can provide context and make your pins more informative. Use bold, readable fonts and keep the text concise. Highlight key benefits or calls to action to drive engagement.

⬆️ Create vertical pins—vertical pins take up more space in users’ feeds, making them more noticeable. Aim for an aspect ratio of 2:3 or 1:2.1 for optimal display.

Copywriting for Pinterest

Compelling copy is essential to complement your visual content and encourage users to take action.

Here’s how to craft effective descriptions and calls to action:

✍️ Short and sweet—keep your descriptions brief but impactful. Focus on conveying the essential information quickly. Pinterest recommends keeping your descriptions under 100 characters for maximum engagement.

🔑 Incorporate keywords—use relevant keywords naturally within your descriptions to improve the visibility of your pins in search results. Think about the terms your target audience might use when searching for products like yours.

📣 Strong calls to action—encourage users to take the next step with clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs). Phrases like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Get Inspired” can drive clicks and conversions.

Branding Consistency

Maintaining brand consistency across all your Pinterest ads is vital for building recognition and trust.

Source:

Studio Blanche Pin Board

Here’s how to ensure your branding is cohesive:

Develop a style guide—create a comprehensive style guide that outlines your brand’s visual elements, such as color schemes, fonts, and logo usage. This guide will help maintain uniformity across all your pins.
Use templates—design templates for your pins to ensure a consistent look and feel. This can save time and ensure that all your content aligns with your brand’s identity.
Reinforce your brand message—every pin should reflect your brand’s voice and values. Whether through visuals or copy, ensure your brand message is clear and consistent.

By following these best practices for creating engaging content on Pinterest, you can capture your audience’s attention, drive higher engagement, and ultimately boost your conversions.

Use high-quality visuals, compelling copy, and consistent branding to make your Pinterest ads stand out and resonate with your target audience.

Targeting and Reaching the Right Audience

Audience Targeting Options

Pinterest offers robust targeting options to help you reach your ideal audience effectively.

Here are some of the key targeting features:

🎯 Interests—you can target users based on their interests, such as fashion, travel, or home decor. This ensures your ads are shown to people who are likely to be interested in your products or services.

👥 Demographics—target users by demographics, including age, gender, location, and language. This allows you to tailor your ads to specific audience segments and improve relevance.

🔍 Behaviors—Pinterest also allows targeting based on user behavior, such as past interactions with your content or similar content. This can help you reach users who have shown a higher intent to purchase.

📂 Customer lists—you can upload your own customer lists to create Custom Audiences. This is particularly useful for retargeting existing customers or reaching people similar to your current audience.

🧩 Actalike audiences—similar to lookalike audiences on other platforms, Actalike Audiences on Pinterest help you find new users who share characteristics with your existing customers, broadening your reach effectively.

Utilizing Keywords

Effective keyword usage is crucial for increasing the visibility and relevance of your Pinterest ads.

Here’s how to make the most of keywords:

Research relevant keywords—start by researching keywords that are relevant to your products or services. Think about the terms your target audience might use when searching for inspiration or products on Pinterest.
Include keywords in descriptions—incorporate these keywords naturally into your pin descriptions and titles. Avoid keyword stuffing; instead, focus on creating clear and compelling descriptions that make sense to the user.
Use hashtags—adding hashtags to your pin descriptions can also help improve visibility in search results. Use relevant and popular hashtags to increase the chances of your pins being discovered.

Retargeting Strategies

Retargeting is a powerful strategy to capture the interest of users who have previously interacted with your content but haven’t converted yet.

Here’s how to implement effective retargeting on Pinterest:

🔁 Create retargeting campaigns—set up campaigns specifically aimed at users who have visited your website or engaged with your pins. Use compelling visuals and messages to remind them of the products they viewed.

🎯 Dynamic retargeting—utilize dynamic retargeting to show users personalized ads based on the products they’ve viewed on your website. This can significantly increase the likelihood of conversion by presenting users with the items they are most interested in.

🧩 Engage with lookalike audiences—besides retargeting existing visitors, create lookalike audiences based on your best customers. This helps you reach new users who are likely to be interested in your products because they share similar characteristics with your existing audience.

By leveraging these targeting options, utilizing relevant keywords, and implementing strategic retargeting, you can effectively reach and engage your ideal audience on Pinterest.

This targeted approach not only enhances the relevance of your ads but also increases the likelihood of driving conversions and achieving your marketing goals.

Optimizing Pinterest Ads for Higher Engagement and Conversions

A/B Testing

A/B testing is a crucial strategy for refining your Pinterest ads to achieve higher engagement and conversions.

By comparing different versions of your ads, you can identify which elements resonate best with your audience.

Here’s how to conduct effective A/B testing:

🎯 Test one variable at a time—focus on one element at a time, such as the image, headline, or call to action. This allows you to pinpoint exactly what’s driving better performance.

📊 Monitor key metrics—track important metrics like click-through rates (CTR), engagement rates, and conversion rates. This data will help you determine which version of your ad is more effective.

🔁 Iterate based on results—use the insights gained from A/B testing to refine your ads. Continuously test and optimize to keep improving your ad performance over time.

Analytics and Performance Metrics

Monitoring and analyzing performance metrics is essential for understanding how your Pinterest ads are performing and where there is room for improvement.

Key metrics to focus on include:

Click-Through Rate (CTR)—this metric indicates how many people clicked on your ad after seeing it. A high CTR suggests that your ad is compelling and relevant to your audience.
Engagement rate—this measures how users interact with your ad, including saves, clicks, and close-ups. High engagement rates indicate that your content is resonating well with your audience.
Conversion rate—this shows the percentage of users who take a desired action after clicking on your ad, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. Tracking conversion rates helps you assess the effectiveness of your ad in driving sales or leads.
Cost Per Click (CPC) and Cost Per Conversion—these metrics help you understand the cost-effectiveness of your ads. By monitoring these, you can ensure that you are getting a good return on investment (ROI).

Utilizing Pinterest's analytics allows for data-driven adjustments, enhancing your ad campaign's effectiveness over timeClick To Post On

Optimization Techniques

Using the data gathered from your analytics, you can employ several techniques to optimize your Pinterest ads for higher engagement and conversions:

🎯 Refine targeting—adjust your targeting options based on the performance data. For instance, if you find that certain demographics or interest groups are more responsive, focus more of your budget on these segments.

🖼️ Improve visuals and copy—based on the feedback from A/B testing and performance metrics, enhance your visuals and copy to better capture attention and convey your message. High-quality images and compelling descriptions are key to engaging your audience.

🔑 Optimize keywords—ensure your keywords are relevant and specific to your target audience. This helps improve the visibility of your ads in search results, making them more likely to be seen by potential customers.

📌 Utilize Rich Pins—Rich Pins provide more context about an idea because they show extra information directly on the pin. There are different types of Rich Pins (product, recipe, article, etc.) that you can use to make your pins more useful and actionable.

By consistently monitoring your ad performance and making data-driven optimizations, you can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your Pinterest ads.

This will lead to higher engagement, increased conversions, and ultimately, a better return on investment for your marketing efforts.

Best Practices for Pinterest Ads

Seasonal and Thematic Content

Aligning your ads with seasonal events or current trends can significantly enhance their relevance and engagement.

Here’s how to effectively incorporate seasonal and thematic content into your Pinterest ads:

🗓️ Plan ahead—create a content calendar that includes major holidays, seasons, and relevant events for your industry. This allows you to prepare and schedule your ads in advance.

📈 Tap into trends—keep an eye on trending topics and incorporate them into your ad content. For example, if eco-friendly products are trending, highlight the sustainability aspect of your products in your pins.

🎨 Tailor your visuals—use seasonal colors, imagery, and themes to make your ads more appealing. For instance, use warm colors and cozy images for fall or festive decorations for the holiday season.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

Incorporating user-generated content (UGC) into your Pinterest ads can enhance authenticity and engagement.

Source:

Madison Leigh

Here’s how to leverage UGC effectively:

Encourage customer participation—invite your customers to share photos of themselves using your products. You can run contests or campaigns that encourage them to tag your brand or use a specific hashtag.
Feature real experiences—showcase real customer reviews, testimonials, and images in your ads. This not only builds trust but also makes your ads more relatable and credible.
Reward participation—offer incentives such as discounts or special offers to customers who share their content. This can boost participation and provide you with more UGC to use in your ads.

Compliance and Guidelines

Adhering to Pinterest’s advertising policies is crucial to ensure your ads are approved and perform well. Here are some key compliance tips:

Understand Pinterest’s ad policies—familiarize yourself with Pinterest’s advertising guidelines to ensure your ads comply with their standards. This includes restrictions on content related to certain products, services, and claims.
Avoid misleading information—ensure that your ads are truthful and do not make exaggerated claims. Misleading information can result in your ads being disapproved or penalized.
Follow creative best practices—use high-quality images and videos, maintain a professional tone, and ensure your content is visually appealing. Pinterest favors ads that provide a good user experience.

By following these best practices, you can create Pinterest ads that are not only compliant but also highly effective in engaging your audience and driving conversions.

Embrace seasonal and thematic content to stay relevant, leverage user-generated content to build trust, and always adhere to Pinterest’s guidelines to ensure your ads perform at their best.

To Conclude

Creating effective Pinterest Ads involves high-quality visuals, strategic targeting, and continuous optimization.

By understanding different ad formats, crafting engaging content, and utilizing targeting options, you can significantly enhance engagement and conversions.

Experiment with various strategies to find what works best for your brand. Start planning your Pinterest ad campaign today and leverage these best practices to boost your marketing efforts.