If you are curious about how to improve your Pinterest profile I encourage you to read on.  I have included an easy to follow how to guide within each step to make them super accessible.  Recently I have been showing my Pinterest profile some much needed TLC!  I thought I could share the 5 steps I have taken with you.

Let’s Improve your Pinterest Profile

Pinterest really is the gift that keeps on giving.  It works hard on our behalf, but we must build a solid foundation so that it can perform at a high capacity and yield desired results.  You may or may not know this, but Pinterest is a visual search engine not a social media platform.   This is extremely important.  Think SEO …

If you haven’t already started to optimize your online content.  I have a written a step by step guide.  You can access this by clicking the image below.

You can super charge your Pinterest profile and the content within using the same optimization techniques employed within your personal web space!   Although this post isn’t specifically about optimizing your Pinterest profile per say, this does play into some of the steps I’m about to discuss.

In my blogging journey I have had to be extremely specific on all fronts because I’m balancing A LOT of business projects along side my main job.  My online “mission” consistently revolves around blogging / social media guidance, design and my abstract art creations.   My Pinterest profile also reflects this.

I  have boards for the following:

• Abstract art
• Blogging tips and
• Social media tips
• Branding and design

These boards feed into my over all online mission, but they are not specific to my own content.

Step 1. Create a Pinterest Board for YOUR Content

Believe it or not I have only just had time to complete this task, and oh how I wish I had done this from the start.  Please don’t make the same mistake I did!

*Face palm*

It makes such a difference to the over all layout of your profile.  Most importantly, it means that you can easily direct people to your content, whilst reserving space within other boards for more natural pinning.  Aka Pins that are not your content, but feed into the over all mission of your profile. 

How to Create a Pinterest Board for YOUR Content

Start by heading to your profile overview as per the image below.  Click the “Boards” tab (next to the number 1 in the image below) and then click the plus sign on “Create Board.”

The next step is to name your board appropriately.  By appropriately, I mean clearly, with optimization in mind and with reference to your personal brand.  For example I have created:

• Rachael Hope Blog Tips
• Rachael Hope Art & Design

Blog tips and Art & Design are both popular search terms on Pinterest and both these boards make clear reference to my brand.

After you click the plus sign the screen below will load.  Type your chosen name and click “Create.”

It’s now time to edit your board description.  Once again think SEO.  What is the focus of your content?  Do you have a niche?  What do you think people would type to be matched to the content within your Pinterest profile?  These are the things you should be thinking when writing your board description. 

I will include my description below for context:

“Helpful tips to boost your blog. Including SEO, Social Media tips and further Tech Wizardry!”

I have no doubt that you can do A LOT better than me!

In reference to the above follow the sequence as I have numbered below.

• Name
• Description
• Category
• SAVE

It’s important to pick the correct category from the drop down list.  This will list your pins against the right search category for your content.

After the above steps have been completed then you can begin the process of moving relevant Pins from your blog / website across into your new Pinterest Board!  It isn’t a fun task.  But it is SO worth it.  You can transfer the required Pins across from existing boards.

Please see below examples of the final products for reference.

A brief side note…You can click the icon I have circled below (see arrow) in order to go back and edit your board(s) in the future.

Step 2. Set Appropriate Pinterest Board Cover Graphics

A Pinterest board cover graphic is the stationary image that acts as the “shop face” of a Pinterest board.   By setting an appropriate graphic you can use this space to make a statement about you!  The image can advertise your personal brand, logo, contact details or all of the aforementioned.

How to Set Pinterest Board Cover Graphics

From your Pinterest profile page, select the “Boards” tab.  Then select the pencil icon as indicated below.  A screen will load so that you can “Edit your board.”  Underneath the “Category” tab you will see “Cover.”  Select this option.

Screen number 3 “Change Board Cover” will load.  You can use the arrows as indicated above to move through existing pins within your board.  If you have a pin image that you already feel appropriate then you can select it.  If you need to reposition the image, you can click it and drag it either right/left/up/down.

I already had an appropriate pin image to select.  But if you don’t, you could create one to the correct dimensions.   I use Canva and PicMonkey to create my graphics.  I find Canva to be the best overall, but PicMonkey is preferable when designing on a mobile device.

Once you have created a design, you can upload it as a new Pin directly to Pinterest.  You can manually upload a new pin directly to Pinterest by clicking the red plus sign button on your profile page.  See below.

Another screen will load.  You can now upload your new board cover image.  You can manually link this pin to your website by adding your website URL into the appropriate box.

As always remember SEO when creating a pin description.  I would suggest writing an overview of what people can expect to find on your website/within the board itself.  Remember this pin will serve as your “shop face.”  Once you have uploaded your new pin you must save it to the relevant Pinterest board.

Step 3. Set Pinterest Featured Boards

Featured boards appear first on your Pinterest profile.  So when a visitor lands on your profile page, your featured boards are those at the top waiting to greet them.  It is recommended that your featured boards should feature YOUR content.

If you are part of any group boards you will know that they can be a double edged sword.  Don’t get me wrong they are super awesome!  But if you don’t arrange your Pinterest boards appropriately you are basically a glorified referral service.

The default setting of Pinterest is that the most recently used board moves to the top of your profile.  Group boards are so frequently used that those bad boys will constantly appear at the top of your profile.

How to Set Pinterest Featured Boards

To set your featured boards go to your Pinterest profile page and select the three dots as highlighted in the image below.  Select “Settings.”

A separate screen will then load with the option to edit your featured boards.

The next screen will provide the option to pick up to 5 Pinterest boards to be featured on your profile page.  These Pinterest boards will automatically scroll through at the top of your profile. 

Each empty slot has a drop down menu so that you can choose from all available boards.  The order in which you place them is the order in which the appear on your profile.

This is an example of my new and improved Pinterest profile page including my featured boards.  There they are right at the top.  Isn’t it beautiful <3

Step 4. Arrange your Pinterest Boards Appropriately

I know, I know!  But we have just set our featured boards?  The order of your featured boards doesn’t apply to your full profile. 

WHY PINTEREST WHY?! 

See below.  This screen was taken after I had set my Pinterest featured boards.  The default setting in the “Boards” section of the Pinterest profile is “Last saved to.”  You guessed it…those awesome group boards are displayed at the top.  We love you group boards but how can we ever compete with your epic pinning power?!

How to Arrange your Pinterest Boards

There is a drop down menu at the end of the tabs after you have landed on your “Boards” section.   Select “Drag and drop” as indicated below.  The give away is in the title.  This means you can swap the order of your boards easily by dragging and dropping them!

VOILA!  The finished product.

*Happy tears*

Step 5.  Selecting Pins for your Pinterest Profile Cover

So we have reached the final step of this epic Pinterest improvement journey.  You have been an amazing travel companion.  I’ll be sad to see you go…But you’re a peacock and I’ve just gotta let you fly!

Your Pinterest profile cover is the visual section at the top of your profile page.  You’ve got to optimize that bad boy!  The images displayed are pins taken from either:

• Latest pins – Recent pins you have saved
• Recent activity – Pins people saved from your claimed website
• A selected board – Pins from one of your boards

The simplest option to maintain over the long haul is picking your newly created board baby!  The one with only your content! 

How to Change your Pinterest Profile Cover

From your Pinterest Profile page click the pencil icon.  The pink arrow is pointing at it below for your convenience.  A screen will then load as indicated below with your potential options.  I have chosen “Rachael Hope Blog Tips.”  I would suggest that you set this to the board that features your own content!

As always I sincerely hope that this has been helpful content.  I really can’t wait to see your results.  Please let me know / leave your Pinterest links below if you have used any of these steps.  If I’ve missed anything let me know in the comments below.  I am more than happy to answer any questions!

If you appreciated this post you might like my previous post regarding SEO.  If you’d like to have a gander, you can access it by clicking the image below.

Until next time…

Rach!

P.s. If you appreciate the content I share here, why not buy me a coffee? 🙂

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