Pinterest Optimization: 5 Ways to Optimize Your Website or Blog for Pinterest
According to Quick Sprout, there are 10.4 million Pinterest users. 10.4 million people that might pin your content and potentially build brand awareness, drive website traffic, and create brand loyalists. In order to take advantage of this opportunity though, you have to have content for people to pin. And since you are a strong brand, you want to do more then that, right? We knew you would be game for squaring up your website for Pinterest optimization, because you're in the digital age and you're ready to master all of your social media channels. The best part is, these aren't difficult, and most can be done relatively quickly and easily. You'll probably be back tomorrow asking, "now what?"
The 5 easy ways for you to optimize your website for Pinterest
If you breeze through this list like a seasoned pro, come back and leave us a comment about what you'd like to learn now that you are a Pinterest Optimization Expert! If you're unsure about any of these, or stuck, leave a comment and we will try to help you as best as we can. We are always open to comments of any kind, so if you disagree with us, we aren't afraid to hear your thoughts at all. We actually enjoy hearing differing opinions because we think it's a good opportunity to learn. And finally, let us know if you have success with this because we love to cheer people on!
1. Include images on every web page
Not only are people more drawn in when there are accompanying visuals, but also if you want a webpage to be “pinnable” (so it can be pinned on Pinterest), it has to have an image. In addition, images must be at least 80 pixels in height and width, otherwise users will receive an error message saying that there are no pinnable images. Other images that are not considered pinnable include background images, images embedded in an iFrame, and images embedded in Adobe Flash.
2. Use captivating images that tell a story or pique interest
When someone chooses to pin content to a board, they decide to save it because it is either visually compelling, or because it leads to good content. Either way, it is important to carefully select images that will be strong enough to stand out amongst the vast array of visuals on Pinterest. If it’s a tutorial blog post, try showing something that gives a clue to what you are teaching. You can also create images with your blog post titled on them, which is another way to make your content more appealing to pinners.
3. Use “Pin It” Buttons
There’s something to be said for simplicity and ease-of-use, and the easier you make it for people to pin your content, the more likely you’ll see some traction on Pinterest. Adding a pin it button next to images or next to other social sharing buttons will just make it that much easier for people to pin your content. It also signals to users that you are active on Pinterest, which may trigger them to realize your content would be good to save on Pinterest. Learn how to add the pin it button to your website.
4. Save images with the title of your blog post and a short description
When someone goes to pin online content, Pinterest pulls up a window with a default description for the pin. The default description comes from the image title or description it was saved under when the blog post or webpage was originally created. You can use this opportunity to choose what message will automatically populate the pin’s description, whether it is including a title and description, keywords, hashtags, or even asking a question. This not only makes it easier for people when they are pinning (it’s far easier than deleting notebookimage2 and re-typing the title of the page), but it will also make your content more searchable on Pinterest. If you include the product name or a brand name, this will be within the description on Pinterest. You could also choose to include an author name. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee the user will choose to stick with the default description, it certainly sets you up for better pin descriptions.
5. Include a Follow Me on Pinterest Button
People love pushing buttons. It’s as easy as a click. If you add a Pinterest follow button, you are increasing the chances that users will decided to follow your account, giving your pins greater reach. It also signals to users that you are on Pinterest, which may again trigger people to think about pinning your content, which may not have been previously top of mind.
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