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I adore Pinterest. I don’t get to spend as much time on it as I’d like to but when I do, I’m there forever. Pack me a lunch because I’m going to be there awhile.
But as much as I like Pinterest, I hate the pinning/re-pinning process. It’s cumbersome because you never know if the image or video that you’re “pinning” is set up properly for Pinterest. Much of that burden is on the content creator’s or content editor’s shoulders and many people still don’t know how to make the sharing process seamless.
Like every other content creator on Pinterest, I see the value in using it to promote your work. I have a couple of posts from my lifestyle blog that do very well on Pinterest. Those posts alone bring in a couple hundred views a week.
Could they bring in more? Probably but I didn’t create them solely for Pinterest. I’m happy for the traffic nonetheless.
As someone who creates content for other brands and companies and helps others set up and use WordPress for their own businesses, I often assist in making sure they are setting their posts and products up for others to pin easily. The first thing that we cover is Photos for Pinterest. Here’s what I teach and what I’ll cover for you today:
- How upload the media for your post.
- How to change the change the attachment details
- How to “Pin” your post to test everything you’ve done
Choosing Your Image(s)
Depending on the kind of site you have, the images may be very easy to choose. If you’re a DIY blogger, an eCommerce site, or Food blogger you can often use your own product images or step by step pictures. For other websites, you may have to track down your images. You can choose to pay for your photos by purchasing them through stock image sites, take your own pictures whenever possible, or use free photos from creative commons and photo sharing sites. Any of these options will work.
Fact: Articles with pictures are three times more likely to be read and shared.
Uploading your Images to your Post
From your post or product page (we’re working in WordPress for this), click at the top of the text box on “Add Media”. A box will pop up over your text box.
Click on “Upload Files”
Now find the picture that you downloaded, uploaded, etc. Click on the photo and then click on “Open file”.
We’re running through these steps quickly and without pictures because I’m going to assume that many of you know how to these steps already. If you need steps with instructions, let me know and I’ll be happy to send you the pdf file that I give to my clients.
Changing the Attachment Details for your image
This is where everything matters. Once you have your picture uploaded you’re going to change some things.
In the title box, give your photo a new name. If it’s a stop sign name it “stop sign”. If it’s a crying baby, name it “unhappy baby”. The point is to give it a name that’s more Google friendly. People won’t search for “Image33462.jpg” but they might search for a picture of a stop sign or a picture of an unhappy baby.
Now that you have a Google friendly name for your picture, add the title of your post and maybe a short description into the “Alt text” box. Copy and paste all of that into the description box too. This is important because this is what Pinterest will pick up and use in the description of your post when people pin it to their boards. The fastest way to have people not share or pin your content is to make them come up with their own description.
Change the size and alignment of your picture and click “insert into post”.
Testing Your Pinterest friendly picture
After you’ve written your post and published it, pin it to your Pinterest boards. I have several boards set up where I can pin my content but you could have a board specifically to showcase content you’ve written. Go ahead and make that board now. Think of it as your portfolio on Pinterest.
If you’ve done everything right, your title and the mini description that you placed in the “alt text” box should show up in the description box for Pinterest.
If not, consider going back into your media file in WordPress and update the information so that it does. I actually suggest going back through all your media and doing this (something I’m working on myself). As people come across some of your older content, they may find it worth pinning and it’s always easier to pin content that’s set up for Pinterest.
And while you’re at it, test the pictures and pin your newly renovated Pinterest ready posts.
