You have found this page because you would like to get started making your own Pinterest pins in a fast and easy way. You are definitely in the right place. I myself got into Pinterest as I began to transition my business as a freelance EFL teacher in Poland into more graphic design and content creation. I have been preparing English video courses and I intend to use Pinterest to help market my content. Therefore, I endeavored to learn all about Pinterest, how to market my content on Pinterest once it was ready, and also how to make pins.
Like most people, when I set about learning something I turned to YouTube first. Then I graduated to Skillshare where I have taken several popular classes by Pinterest marketing experts. These courses dropped a lot of knowledge on me in regard to what Pinterest actually is – a visual search engine where people go looking for ideas and inspiration. Those courses also spoke at length about what makes a good Pinterest Pin which I will cover shortly. Yet, the one thing most courses do not cover a whole lot is how to actually make enough of your own pins to employ the strategies they teach you. If you are looking for an education into Pinterest marketing, I recommend you to give Skillshare a try.
If you are not really into graphic design, it can be a daunting prospect to get started making your pins. With this post, I will give you a basic formula to get started making your own pins that will catch the eye of Pinterest viewers without the need to buy any expensive graphic design software, nor spending lots of your valuable time in creating your pins.
Software
Doing a quick Google search for the top Pinterest pin-making software applications and the unanimous champ is Canva. There are several other names on the list however one name in particular seems to be missing and it is a program application you probably already have access to if your are a Microsoft Office user – PowerPoint. As I began my journey into graphic design, I wanted to make video lectures that I could ultimately put up on YouTube so I began looking for the right kind of program to suit my needs. I saw a course on Skillshare on how to make explainer videos on PowerPoint and instantly the light bulb switched on in my brain – I already have the full version of PowerPoint as I am a Microsoft Office 365 subscriber.
I watched that course, and then began my journey into graphic design using PowerPoint. My skills have definitely grown since then and now I am using PowerPoint to regularly create course video lectures, and graphic design images for my blog posts and Pinterest account.
Even if you aren’t an Office 365 subscriber, you might still consider PowerPoint. You can sign up for a Microsoft OneDrive account and get access to Microsoft Office Applications online working on your browser for free. Additionally, if you have used other Microsoft Office applications you will be familiar with the layout of the user interface, thereby cutting down on your learning curve. Having something familiar as your starting point can somehow make the prospect of learning a new skill look a lot less like a huge mountain to climb.
Size Matters
All jokes aside, when it comes to Pinterest Pins, size really does matter. It comes down to one of the four P’s of Marketing – Placement. Pinterest was designed for mobile users to search in Portrait mode and Pinterest wants to squeeze four pins on your screen at the same time – two on the top half of your phone’s screen, and two on the bottom half. Pins should be a 2 (w) by 3 (h) ratio to achieve this. I have read a lot into this and the actual dimensions seem to be changing all the time, but the general consensus in this moment is that pins should be 600 pixels wide by 900 pixels high. For extra long pins the dimensions could be 1000 pixels by 1500 pixels. Therefore, if you want to get pinning and have Pinterest place your pins optimally in the feed, the pins need to fit the dimensions Pinterest likes. Otherwise, they will stick your pin way down in the feed and additionally it will be all but invisible amongst the other longer pins. Take this metaphor as an example, the shortest tree in the forest cannot survive.
In PowerPoint, the default layout is either 4 by 3 or 16 by 9 widescreen. However, changing the layout to portrait is quite simple. From the main toolbar, go to the Design tab -> Slide Size drop down button -> Custom Slide Size. Type in “600 px” in the width box and PowerPoint will convert it into inches (or centimetres), then type in “900 px” in the height box and hit enter -> The last step is to choose Ensure Fit, and PowerPoint will convert your canvas area into the desired Pinterest size for pins.
The Formula
I am an analytical thinker by nature so I have observed on Pinterest a basic formula for what makes a good pin that has a high chance of catching the eye. There are 3 layers of visual hierarchy.
Layer 1 – The Background image
The background image you can find on a free stock photo site such as Pixabay or Pexels. Simply search for an image that represents metaphorically what your pin is about or has the elements within the photo that your pin should contain. The problem here is that most stock photos worth using do not come in portrait layout. So how do I get the photo to fill up the screen without out stretching it to fit – ugly.
The answer is to crop the photo to the dimensions of 2 by 3. In order to do this, click on the image and then go to the Picture Format Tab. Click on the Crop drop down button, and select Aspect Ratio, then choose 2 by 3 Aspect Ratio.
Layer 2 – The Overlay
With layer one set, you now need layer 2 – an overlay. An overlay is a shape, usually a rectangle, that sits over the top of the image with some transparency settings applied so you can see through the box to the image behind. This overlay should create a contrast to the background image. This can be done in several ways. The overlay can act as a banner of text with the rest of the background photo standing out. The overlay box(es) can act as a frame for some elements of the background photo. Or you can create a blend between the two – like a thought or speech bubble hovering over a person in the image.
Layer 3 – The Text
The text should succinctly capture the essence of your pin. If you’ve selected the right background photo, it should do most of the ‘talking’ for your pin. The text then, conveys in as few words as possible what the person will find on the other side of your pin. In other words, if you click on this pin, you will find:
- What you will learn from the blog post you land on.
- What products I am selling.
Your text should promise an answer to a question, a how-to, a list of ideas, etc.
Visually, your text should also contrast against the overlay box. When it comes to colors, white and yellow typically work against dark backgrounds, and black works against light backgrounds.
The result is you get 3 clear layers each one contrasting and complementing the other.
I promised you that you would be able to make your Pinterest pins without needing any design skills and here is how. I have created a collection of templates in PowerPoint that you can get here. The canvas area is already formatted to Pinterest’s preferred size, and you have 59 overlay shapes with a degree of transparency already added. All you have to do is add your image, crop it as stated above and fit to the canvas area, then send it to back (to sit behind the overlay). Then resize and/or reposition the overlay to your desired appearance and add your text. Your purchase comes with instructions on how to perform the necessary actions to get the desired look for your pin.
These templates will definitely supercharge your pin-making abilities by giving you the tools you need to get the job done fast and easy.
I have also put up a video course on Skillshare which you can view at no additional cost if you are already a member. If you are not a member on Skillshare, you can still watch the course by joining with a free 2-month trial membership. As a disclaimer, by clicking on the link and joining Skillshare on your trial membership, I would make a commission.
