How to Brand Your Pins on Pinterest

Pinterest is a very important tool for my business. I am on Pinterest probably once a day (at a minimum). I love the feeling when I am scrolling through the feed and I immediately stop and go back to see a pin that really caught my eye.

Has this happened to you?

It is usually the visual design that makes me stop when I'm scrolling fast through Pinterest.

One thing I have noticed is that well designed pins aren't usually a once and done thing.

If you do a little digging and find the original pinner, you will usually see that all of their pins have the same visual style. All of their pins are branded!

This is an important thing to take note of. Because when you use Pinterest for business correctly (and part of that includes using branded pins), then Pinterest will help:

• Build brand awareness
• Increase the traffic to your website
• And even grow your email list

The 7 Key Elements to Branding Your Pins on Pinterest

1. Business Name/Logo/URL – You do not have to have all three of these things, but you definitely need to have at least one. I tend to lean toward the URL route for my pins but I have seen several others either type out their business name or use their logo (prominently or subtly as a watermark).
2. Consistent Color Palette – Ideally you will be using your brand colors, and there should be around 2-5 colors. You can use them all in one pin or break them out into different color pins like I do. I have a pin style that uses my brand blue and one that uses my brand pink.
3. Consistent Fonts – You will use text to add context to your pins. When you do this, you should be using your brand fonts, usually 1-3 total. The fonts should be easy to read and stand out. Remember, many people use Pinterest on their phone so it needs to be clear on smaller devices. While I don't do this right now for Blog Me Lovely, I do use an accent script font for my lifestyle blog pins. It adds a bit of variety. But the accent font is part of my branding, not something I randomly picked.
4. Consistent Image Style – Images are the cornerstone to any good pin in my opinion, since Pinterest is such a visual platform. That means that before we even talk about style that your images must be clear, crisp and high res! You can also chose to have pins without an image, and this is where the brand colors and fonts really become important as they are the main focus. But if you do choose to use images, make sure they are all the same style. If the are the stand out, typical stock photos, great use one every time. If they are more rustic feeling, that works too just be sure to stick with it. If you are like me and lean toward feminine imagery for your brand, then your pins should be no exception.
5. Consistent Pin Layout – This means if you usually have a an image background, with a text box overlay and a heart on the top, then the title of the blog post, and then a URL bar, that each pin should have that same layout. The consistency acts as a visual cue to viewers and they will start to recognize your pins and associate them with you! I do want to add that it is totally okay to test a few different pin options. In fact, I encourage it. I haven't done this yet but I plan to. I am going to test different pin layouts, with and without images, and more. But my fonts, colors and image style will not change. That way even with a different layout it is still consistent and on brand!
6. Consistent Graphical Elements – Not every pin will have this. My little heart with the bml is my signature graphical element and is on every pin and social media graphic I put out there. I am working on a set of templates now for a client that will be using four different rotating icons all on theme with her brand. I feel graphical elements become more important when you decide not to use photos.
7. Consistent Tone of Voice – I bet you thought this would just be about design, but branding is so much more than just the visuals. That is why the tone of your voice you using in the text on the image as well as in the description is important.

Some of My Favorite Branded Pins

Crown Creatives Virtual – Consistent fonts, pin layout, dual color overlay on image, and same color URL button

Confetti Social – Consistent fonts, colors (she rotates her brand colors based on topic), image style and URL bottom bar

The Confused Millennial  – Consistent pin layout even with the slight variation of color and tilt, consistent fonts and colors, and uses images of herself.

Caitlin Bacher  – Consistent pin layout, fonts and use of brand colors. Great example of graphic element (confetti background) instead of a photo.

XOSarah – Consistent workspace images, fonts and brand colors with URL button on bottom.

Wonderlass – Consistent use of brand colors and fonts plus a graphical element of the dots. She also uses fun language like “spare your sanity” and “like a rock star” which it totally on her brand. Only thing missing is a logo or mention of website.

All of these images stand out in their own way. They are memorable and if I see them in my Pinterest feed I immediately know who they belong to! Now that is how you brand your pins on Pinterest!

How to Create Your Branded Pins

I get so excited at the chance to design Pinterest templates, but not everyone is a designer.

So here are some options for you so you can create your own branded pins.

1. Go totally free and use Canva – I am not a huge fan of Canva but it definitely has it perks. I love that you can access it online and on your phone. It is also very easy to use and free! The Canva for Work does have some extra bells and whistles but usually the free version works just fine. You can create your own templates using Canva.
2. Buy pre-made social media templates on Creative Market  – This is one of my all time favorite resources. They have everything from WordPress themes to clip art to social media templates. You can buy one that suits your branding needs. In fact, you could probably buy an entire branding set! The only downside is that it isn't unique and someone else might purchase it too. But I still consider this a solid option.
3. Learn how to create your own social media templates in Photoshop  – I offer a masterclass that walks you through the Photoshop toolbar and teaches you the skills you need to create your own templates. I prefer Photoshop to Canva because it has way more options and is just a more robust tool. It is my go-to tool for templates. The masterclass is only $47, click here to start learning Photoshop.
4. Hire a graphic designer to design custom ones for you – This is definitely the most expensive option but if design isn't your things and you are ready to invest in your visual identity, it is a worthwhile investment. If you are interested in social media templates, feel free to contact me!

Final Thoughts

Using Pinterest for your blog or business should be a non-negotiable. It is a visual search engine, not a social media platform like many people think. According to Pinterest, there are over 200 million people using the platform with over 100 billion pins. So the opportunity to gain brand recognition or in crease your traffic (or BOTH!) is definitely there.

So whether you are just starting out on Pinterest or are looking to do an overhaul, you are now set to make a statement with your branded pins!