{"id":2926,"date":"2024-12-17T08:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T14:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twprod.wpengine.com\/how-does-pinterest-work-pinterest-101\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T15:15:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:15:29","slug":"how-does-pinterest-work-pinterest-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tailwindapp.com\/blog\/how-does-pinterest-work-pinterest-101","title":{"rendered":"A Helpful Guide to Pinterest | Everything You Need to Know in 2025 [UPDATED]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What’s Pinterest? How does Pinterest work? So glad you asked! Pinterest is a giant pinboard (think old-timey cork board with push pins) for all the ideas and products people like to save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and it is a LOT of fun. Pinners spend hours looking for ideas! But, they’re not JUST hoarding those ideas. The people who use Pinterest are doers and buyers. They try new recipes, experiment with DIY projects, collect money-saving tips, and plan everything from remodels to purchases to parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn all the basics of how Pinterest works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Author note: This post was originally written by Alisa Meredith. It was updated in 2025 by Susan Moeller.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Does Pinterest Work for Users (Pinners)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like most things in marketing, there is a difference in what Pinterest is<\/a> for its users and for the businesses that publish content there.

People use Pinterest to save ideas, products, to collaborate with friends, and to bookmark things to read later. Pinning is typically a solitary activity where Pinners browse and save ideas and products that will help them improve the quality of their lives, their work, health, and even their wardrobe or hairstyle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s different from truly “social” networks where people share information and images about themselves and their personal or professional lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook and Instagram are about presenting the best version of you to the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinterest is for inspiration to transform yourself into the best version of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Does Pinterest Work for Marketers, Businesses, E-commerce, and Bloggers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People save and click on Pins up to 90 days before they are ready to act<\/a>. What all this early planning means for marketers is that their products and services can become an option for consideration very early on in the buying process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Pinterest, “85% of weekly US Pinners have made a purchase based on Pins from brands.<\/a>” This means that Pinners are very open to branded content as long as it is useful and attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product Pins<\/a> allow Pinners to see your updated product inventory right on Pinterest. Connect a Pinterest catalog<\/a> that pulls from your product feed and apply for Verified Merchant Status<\/a> for even better exposure for your products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you and others share Pins that link to your website content, you’re adding more and more opportunities for people to find you and come to your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no reason to feel like you’re too late to the game, either. While some well-known brands are having great success with their Pinterest marketing<\/a>, 97% of all searches are unbranded<\/a>, meaning even a relative unknown can be discovered by new customers who are ready to buy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip:<\/strong>
Want to save time while pinning? The Tailwind Pinterest Extension<\/a> makes it super easy to schedule Pins as you browse. Just click, schedule, and keep scrolling!
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What is a Pin on Pinterest?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Pin is a visual representation of a product or idea which someone saves for later use on a Pinterest Board. Each Pin is composed of four elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. An image<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A link<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A title<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. A description<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When someone clicks on a Pin, it will enlarge to show the full image and description. If they click again, they will be taken to the link associated with the Pin \u2014 usually a blog post or product page with more information than can be included on the Pin. Your Pins can be saved to other Boards owned by other Pinners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pro Tip:
    Pinterest is a network where images \u2014 not videos \u2014 reign. Images are the top performing format for viral Pins. <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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    What is a Pinterest Board?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A Pinterest Board is a collection of individual Pins. Pinterest Boards give you a way to organize ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, you might create Boards to organize ideas about a bathroom remodeling project, a vacation or trip you are planning, books you want to read, or recipes you want to try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pinterest Boards are always owned by one Pinner, but they can be shared. A shared or \u201cgroup\u201d Board allows other Pinterest users to add Pins to the Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    How do Group Boards work on Pinterest? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Shared boards are commonly called “group” Boards. They’re useful for collaborating and getting feedback from friends, business partners, clients, and family. Not sure which outfit is best for your high school reunion? Your BFF can chime in and even add her own Pins as suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Secret Boards and the Pins on them are visible only to you and anyone with whom you share the Board. They’re perfect for planning surprise parties, sharing research, or for any other “just between us” purpose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A Pinterest Profile can hold up to 2000 Boards<\/a> \u2014 though it’s hard to imagine how anyone would keep track of that many Boards!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What is a Pinterest Profile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Your Pinterest Profile holds all your Boards, your Pins, and all your settings. Some of the information that appears publicly include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n