Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where millions of users come to find inspiration, ideas, and solutions for everything from home decor to recipes and fashion. Unlike traditional social media, Pinterest functions more like a search engine, allowing users to explore and save content that matches their interests and needs. For bloggers leveraging Pinterest, it’s a powerful tool to drive traffic and generate passive income through strategic pinning and content promotion. But to really succeed, avoiding costly passive income mistakes is crucial. In this post, i will share you 12 crucial mistakes you must avoid if you want to make money blogging with Pinterest effectively and sustainably.
Lets get started
1. Ignoring Pinterest SEO
Pinterest is not a visual feed only – it is a search engine. Your pins are indexed and people search almost everything: DIY wedding centerpieces, best keto breakfast recipes, or how to start a side hustle. Without paying attention to Pinterest SEO, your pins will be left hanging in the air, not noticed by the millions of people who could be sending traffic to your blog.
Why It Costs You:
- Less visibility: Pins that are not optimized with relevant keywords will not be seen in search.
- Lost traffic: Fewer impressions translate to fewer clicks to your blog.
- Less authoritative: The algorithm of Pinterest is skewed towards the most relevant and interesting pins. The neglect of SEO decreases the authority score of your pin.
How to Fix It:
Keyword Research: Use the search bar of Pinterest, Tailwind, or Ahrefs to find high-volume, low-competition keywords.
Pin Titles: Make sure to keep your titles short and keyword-rich. For example, “10 DIY Wedding Centerpieces on a Budget” instead of “Centerpieces.”
Description: It is in the full 500-character description that related keywords can be naturally included. Include a call to action (e.g. “Read the full guide on my blog.)
Board Titles & Descriptions: Optimize each board with target keywords. A title board and a description of the content make Pinterest know what the content is about.
Hashtags and Alt Text: Add 3-5 hashtags and alt text to each pin image.
Pro Tip: Think of your Pinterest content as an evergreen blog post. The more you optimize the SEO of your pin, the more it will keep getting organic traffic.
2. Not Making New Pins to Old Posts.
Your blog archive is a treasure trove of traffic potential, yet many bloggers make a pin on a post and never think of it again. Pinterest’s algorithm will promote new and highly repinned content while demoting old stagnant content.
Why It Costs You:
- Reduced Engagement: The older pins are less likely to receive likes, repins, and comments in the long run.
- Reduced Visibility: The Pinterest feed of Best for You is dynamic and new pins are always placed at the top.
- Lost Opportunities: For example, if you have a seasonal pin – unless you update the pin each season, you will miss out on seasonal interest spikes.
How to Fix It:
Pin Refresh Schedule: Refresh your top-performing pins every 1-3 months. The scheduler of Tailwind can automatically reschedule pins at the best time.
Update Pictures: Update the pin image periodically to keep up with the latest trends or seasonal styles.
Change Pin Titles: Change the title of the pin to something else (an angle, variation of a keyword, etc.). Example: 10 Ways to Re-use Old T-shirts > 10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Re-use Old T-shirts
Reduce URLs: Make your own trackable link (e.g., bit.ly) that will lead to your new post.
Pro Tip: Create a board of evergreen content and set it to refresh monthly on those pins. That drip will maintain your blog traffic.
3.Overlooking Pin Design
Pinterest is a social network that is visual. When your pins are dull, pixelated, or crowded, the viewers will scroll right over their heads. Most bloggers work with the same template or do not tailor designs to the aesthetic of each board.
Why It Costs You:
- Low Click-Through Rates (CTR): A design that doesn’t grab attention right away results in fewer clicks.
- Negative Brand Image: Garbage images can give off a bad impression of your brand.
- Low Repin Rates: Pinterest users tend to repin images that are visually appealing and of high quality and match their aesthetic.
How to Fix It:
Use High Resolution Images: Use high resolution images (at least 1000 x 1500 pixels (2:3 aspect ratio). Avoid pixelation.
Branding: Make sure that pins are consistent in terms of fonts, colors, and logo placement. This builds recognition.
Eye-Catching Headline: Incorporate a captivating headline that encapsulates the value proposition. Keep it under 15 words.
Call to Action (CTA) Sticker: CTR can be paired with a soft “Learn More” or “Read the Full Guide” sticker.
A/B Test Designs: Utilize Pinterest analytics or a third-party tool to compare two versions of the same pin. Choose the one that is more interactive.
Canva, Figma, or Adobe Spark are design tools that offer templates that are optimized to be used on Pinterest. Ready-made templates and preset dimensions to get ideas going.
4.Posting Inconsistently
Pinterest rewards activity. When you post once a month and then stop, the Pinterest algorithm will consider you an inactive account and will reduce the visibility of your pins.
Why It Costs You:
Reduced Feed: The For You feed at Pinterest is a high-traffic feed, and unless you are an active user, your pins will be buried early.
Less Engagement: Customers are hungry to see new content; they will not like and pin as often when the content is not posted regularly.
Weaker Algorithmic Trust: Pinterest relies on consistency as a quality content measure. Posting irregularly renders you less of a priority.
How to Fix It:
Develop a Content Calendar: Pin at least 3-5 times per week It is not perfection that is needed, but consistency.
Schedule with Scheduling Tools: Scheduling tools such as Tailwind, Buffer, or Later can assist you in scheduling your pins to achieve maximum engagement.
Batch Design: Design multiple pins at once to save time.
Automated Repins: Automate a repin so that older pins are always alive.
Monitor Performance: Pinterest analytics can help you optimize your posting times based on the most active periods.
Find your “sweet spot.” Pinterest is best in the early morning (7-9 AM) and the evening (5-7 PM). Post at such times to get the highest number of people.
5. Not Linking to Content Appropriately
When you pin, the link is the lifeline that transforms a scroll into a click. If you keep your pin’s URL directed to a generic landing page, a homepage, or worse, a broken link, you lose the very traffic that could be converted into revenue.
Why it hurts:
Pinterest is a search engine: people come to find a solution, and they’ll click on the most relevant, authoritative source. If your link doesn’t take them directly to the content that answers their query, you’re basically giving them a dead end. That means lower click-through rates (CTRs), a lower “pin click” metric, and a decrease in Pinterest’s trust algorithm – your pins will rank lower, and your passive income stops.
How to fix it:
1. Map pins to specific posts or product pages that provide the exact benefit that is promised in the pin.
2. If you want to track clicks, use link shorteners such as bit.ly ; otherwise, keep the URL clean and readable.
3. Test all pins before scheduling. A quick click on the pin should take you directly to where you wanted to go.
Combine the link with a clear, action-oriented anchor text in your pin description. “Download the free guide” is much more appealing than “click here.”
6. Ignoring Seasonal Trends
Pinterest is a seasonal platform. Think Valentine’s Day, Back-to-school, Black Friday, or the warm spike in falls. If you’re not matching your pins to seasonal appetites, you’re missing out on what people are actively looking for.
Why it hurts:
Seasonal content increases search traffic by up to 300%. If you’re not taking advantage of these peaks, you’re playing a long game while others are sailing through hot niches. Your passive income potential decreases and the competition’s traffic – and revenue – skyrockets.
How to fix it:
1. Use Pinterest’s Trending tool and Google Trends to identify seasonal spikes on the horizon.
2. Make a calendar of important dates and plan pins that relate to those dates.
3. Create evergreen pins for non-seasonal content and use 1-2 season-specific pins each month.
Pro tip: Create a monthly Pinterest Forecast sheet – list upcoming holidays, product launches, and trend alerts – to keep your content pipeline fresh and timely.
7. No Call‑to‑Action (CTA)
A pin is a hook. A CTA is the rope that draws the reader into the next step-whether it’s reading the article, subscribing to a newsletter, or purchasing a product. Omission leaves users in a state of polite curiosity rather than purchase intent.
Why it hurts:
Without a CTA, you’re just showing an aesthetic image. Pinterest users are motivated by outcomes: “I want a recipe,” “I want a DIY tutorial,” or “I want a discount.” If the pin doesn’t tell them what to do next, they’ll just scroll on by, lowering your conversion rate.
How to fix it:
1. Include a short CTA in the pin description (read the full guide -> or get 30% off now)
2. Superimpose a text graphic on the pin image with a clear action cue (“Download Now!”, “Shop the Look”).
3. Use a branded arrow or icon that draws attention to the CTA.
Make your CTA short – no more than 4-6 words. The aim is to spark curiosity, not overwhelm.
8. Not Using Rich Pins
Rich Pins are a Pinterest feature that automatically pulls metadata from your website into your pin – such as product prices, availability and recipe servings – giving users real-time, actionable information. Ignoring Rich Pins is like selling a house without a floor plan.
Why it hurts:
Rich Pins provide credibility and context that plain pins don’t. They make it easier for the user: no need to click to confirm price or check if a product is in stock. Without them, your pins look generic and potential customers may be reluctant to click.
How to fix it:
1. Make your site Rich Pins enabled (Pinterest has a validator for each type).
2. Select the correct type: Article pins for blog posts, Product pins for e-commerce products, Recipe pins for cookbooks, etc.
3. Keep your schema markup up to date so Pinterest can crawl the correct data.
Pro tip: Once enabled, Rich Pins can also help you more accurately measure conversion events, as they sync with your analytics tools.
9. Ignoring Analytics
Pinterest Analytics is not just a pretty dashboard; it’s the lifeline that reveals the secrets of which pins are truly driving traffic, engagement, and ultimately, revenue. If you don’t pay attention to those numbers, you’re basically flying blind.
What Happens When You Do:
Missed Opportunities: You’ll end up recycling the same underperforming content while the pins that really connect fall through the cracks.
Wasted Effort: Hours spent designing new graphics that nobody sees because you aren’t measuring what works.
Stunted Growth: You’ll stop growing your audience, your click-through rates, and your conversion rates because you’re not iterating on what matters.
How to Fix It :
Get Pinterest Analytics Set Up Early
Connect your Pinterest account to a Google Analytics account or use Pinterest’s native analytics From the account settings, turn on Pinterest Analytics if it is not turned on.
Track Key Metrics Consistently
- Impressions & Reach: Gain visibility into how many people are seeing your pins.
- Engagement (Clicks, Saves, Comments): measures the amount of engagement an ad has received.
- Traffic Source: See where you are getting your clicks from (Pinterest search, home feed, etc.).
- Conversion Tracking: Conversion tracking helps you to measure the actual lift in revenue on affiliate links or product pages on your blog.
Create a Weekly Review Plan:
Take 30 minutes every Sunday to go through the best pins.
Look for trends: Do seasonal pins do better? Are there board titles that get more clicks than others?
A/B Test Your Pins:
A/B Testing: Experiment with different headlines, image designs, or colors to see which combination yields the highest click-through rate. Keep a simple spreadsheet to record tests and results
Use Data to Refine Your Feed:
Re-pin the high performers: Keep your best content in front of your audience. Remove or re-engineer underperformers – Remove or re-engineer pins that are persistently under-performing.
Optimize Board Titles and Descriptions: Optimize your board titles and descriptions with keywords discovered in your analytics data.
Analytics should be a compass – check it often, and course correct as needed.
10.Not Joining Group Boards
Group boards are Pinterest’s take on a high-traffic community. They are curated spaces where a group of users can pin to a board, often with thousands of followers. Failure to get on these boards means missing out on a massive influx of potential traffic and authority.
What Happens When You Do:
Limited Exposure: Your pins only appear on your boards, so your reach is significantly smaller than it would be if your content were accessible through a search engine.
Increased Credibility: Being featured alongside established creators can add credibility to your brand.
Decreased traffic to your blog: Without the traffic that group boards can bring in, your affiliate commissions or ad revenue will stall.
How to Fix It :
How to Select the Right Group Boards:
Using Pinterest’s search bar, search for boards in your niche by adding “group board” to your search.
Board activity: Check for recent pinning and a healthy following.
Check board quality: Read the description, check other members and see if the board’s theme is in line with your brand.
Utilize or Engage in a Strategic Manner:
- Public Boards: Usually anyone can join by clicking Join and waiting to be accepted.
- Invite Only Boards: Send a nice message to the board owner
Example: Hi [Owner’s Name], my name is [Your Name] and I am a blogger at [Your Blog] and I love your board about [Board Topic]. If you would like, I would love to put a pin up on [suggested topic].
Create Your Own Group Board:
- If you can’t find a good fit, you can start your own.
- Work with influencers and other bloggers in your niche.
- Content curation – Keep board content fresh and interesting by regularly curating it.
Publish High Quality, Relevant Content:
- Customize your pins to the board theme: tone, images, keywords.
- Ensure a consistent brand across group boards with a consistent style guide.
Engage Beyond Pinning:
– Comment on other members’ pins to create relationships.
– Re-pin high quality content from others to add value to the board
– Use social media or newsletters to spread the word about the board and create more exposure.
12. Not Repurposing Content
Your blog posts are gold mines. If you simply pin the original blog post image, you’re not getting the most out of it. Content repurposing is a one-time effort that becomes multiple streams of monetization.
What Happens When You Do:
- Under-Used Assets: Only one pin per article means that you miss out on more traffic and SEO opportunities.
- Siloed Content: Message is shown in only one way across all channels, so audience only sees one message, and no cross-channel engagement
- Stale Pinterest Feed: Pinterest’s algorithm tends to favor fresh content, so it’s essential to avoid content gaps by reusing content.
To fix it, create multiple pin images per blog post. One way is to make an infographic version highlighting important statistics. You can also create quote cards by adding style to powerful quotes in graphic format. Step-by-step tutorials can be converted into a slideshow of images for easier consumption.
Leverage Pinterest’s native features such as Pinterest Lens to trendspot and optimize your visuals. Use a template gallery to save brand templates and maintain consistency across posts.
Additionally, turn text into video by making short videos (15-30 seconds) to summarize the post. Use tools like Canva or InVideo to add captions and branding. Pin the video as a Video Pin to increase exposure.
Targeted Publishing Across Multiple Boards:
- Topic Boards: Pin the same image to a board about the topic of the article.
- Seasonal Boards: If the content is seasonal, pin it to a board that is dedicated to a holiday or event.
- Evergreen Boards: Boards should be evergreen, meaning they should be usable year over year.
Leverage Story Pins:
- Turn a blog post into a multi-page Story Pin with interactive features such as polls or CTA buttons.
- Story Pins are favored by Pinterest’s algorithm and can get more engagement.
- Add Rich Pins and Alt Text
- Enable Rich Pins for product, recipe, or article pins to have Pinterest automatically pull in metadata.
- Alt text for images makes it easier for search engines to find them.