Pinterest Ads 101: Specs, Best Practices, and More
So you’ve decided to dive into Pinterest advertising. Smart move. Pinterest is a major social media platform with over 250 million monthly active users, and ads on Pinterest can drive massive traffic and sales. But before you get started with your first Pinterest ad campaign, you need to understand the basics. What image sizes and formats work best? How much do Pinterest ads cost? What tools are available to help you target the right audiences? This article will walk you through everything you need to know about Pinterest ads so you can hit the ground running and start seeing results right away. Time to pin your way to success!
How To Use Pinterest For Business In 2023
Pinterest Ad Specifications: Sizes, Formats, and More
So you want to advertise on Pinterest? Great choice! Pinterest is a visual platform, so creative, eye-catching pins are key. But before you dive into designing pins, you need to know Pinterest’s ad specs.
Pinterest supports two ad types: promoted pins and carousel pins. Promoted pins are single-image pins, while carousel pins include 2-8 images that users can swipe through.
- Promoted pin size: At least 600 x 900 pixels. Square and vertical pins tend to perform best.
- Carousel pin size: Each image should be at least 600 x 900 pixels. For the best experience, use images of the same size and aspect ratio.
- File types: JPG, PNG, GIF (first frame only). Keep files under 5MB.
- Text: Include a clear call-to-action and up to 500 characters of text. Mention your brand and product name.
- Links: Your pin should link directly to a product page, blog post, or landing page on your website.
- Targeting: Choose interests, keywords, and audiences to reach your target market. Location, demographic, and behavioral targeting are also available.
With Pinterest’s visual ad specs and targeting options, you can create stunning promoted pins and carousel ads tailored to your specific audience. And by using eye-catching and well-optimized images that link directly to relevant content, you’ll drive traffic and conversions from Pinterest in no time. The key is crafting visually stunning pins that capture attention and inspire action.
Best Practices for Pinterest Ads
To get the most out of your Pinterest ads, there are a few best practices you should keep in mind:
- Choose eye-catching visuals. Pinterest is a visual platform, so your ads should feature high-quality, colorful images that capture attention. Showcase product photos or inspirational images that represent your brand.
- Write compelling ad copy. Keep your ad copy short, around 2 to 3 short sentences. Focus on the key benefits and features of what you’re promoting. Use an enthusiastic and friendly tone to match Pinterest’s vibe.
- Target your audience precisely. Take advantage of Pinterest’s robust audience targeting to reach users who are most likely interested in your products or services. You can target by interest, keyword, and more. The more precise your targeting, the better your results will be.
- Choose the right placement. Pinterest offers several ad placements including Promoted Pins, App Install ads, and Carousel ads. Choose the placement that best matches what you’re advertising. Promoted Pins work well for most products and services.
- Set a reasonable budget. Start with a modest daily budget of around $10 to $20 per ad campaign. Closely monitor your performance and make adjustments as needed. Increase your budget over time as you scale your campaigns.
- Track and optimize. Check how your ads are performing regularly. See which ads and targeting choices are generating the most traffic, saves, clicks, and conversions. Make changes to underperforming ads to improve them over time.
With stunning visuals, compelling copy, precise targeting, optimized placement and budgeting, and continuous tracking, your Pinterest ads can achieve great success. Now go forth and get pinning!
Types of Pinterest Ads: Promoted Pins, Video Pins, and App Install Ads
Pinterest offers three main types of ads: Promoted Pins, Video Pins, and App Install Ads. Each ad format has its own specifications and best practices to keep in mind.
Promoted Pins
Promoted Pins are standard image ads that appear in search results and feeds. Some key specs:
- Image size: Minimum 600 x 600 pixels, maximum 2MB
- Ad copy: 125 characters
- Landing page: Must be mobile-optimized
Best practices for Promoted Pins:
- Use eye-catching, high-quality images
- Write compelling ad copy
- Choose broad or specific targeting based on your goals
- Set a reasonable daily budget based on your objectives
Video Pins
Video Pins are short video ads, up to 15 seconds. Specs:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 vertical video
- File size: Minimum 600KB to 10MB
- Ad copy: 125 characters
- Landing page: Must be mobile-optimized
Best practices for Video Pins:
- Capture attention immediately
- Keep videos short and impactful
- Use captions for sound-off viewing
- Include a strong call to action at the end of the video
App Install Ads
App Install Ads help drive installs of your mobile app. Specs:
- Image size: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Ad copy: 125 characters
- Landing page: Your app’s product page in the App Store or Google Play
Best practices for App Install Ads:
- Choose an eye-catching app icon and preview the image
- Focus the ad copy on the key benefits and features of your app
- Set a CPI (cost per install) bid to optimize for install volume
- Target users based on location, interests, and device type
Following Pinterest’s ad specifications and best practices for each format will help ensure your ads are approved and drive the best results. Be sure to monitor performance and make optimizations to improve your ads over time.
Pinterest Advertising Tips to Boost Your ROI
Optimize Your Ads for Mobile
Over 70% of Pinterest users access the platform on mobile devices. Make sure your ads are optimized for the small screen. Use an eye-catching image, minimal text, and a clear call to action. Keep your ad copy short and to the point.
Choose Relevant Keywords
Do some research to determine keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for on Pinterest. Then incorporate those keywords into your ad images, headlines, and descriptions. This will help people find your ads and increase click-through rates.
Include Action Buttons
Add prominent call-to-action or action buttons like “Shop Now”, “Learn More” or “Sign Up” to drive people to your website or product pages. The more specific your CTA, the better.
Track Your Results
Use Pinterest’s built-in analytics to see how your ads are performing. Check impression and click-through rates to see which ads resonate most with your audience. Look at website traffic and conversions to determine which ads drive the most sales or lead generation. Then optimize or pause underperforming ads accordingly.
Run A/B Tests
Create multiple versions of the same ad with different images, text, keywords or CTAs and run A/B tests to determine which combination performs the best. Even small changes can lead to big improvements in click-through and conversion rates. Continuously test and tweak your ads for the best results.
Offer Promotions and Coupons
If you’re advertising products, offer special promotions, discounts, or coupons to people who engage with or click on your ads. This added incentive will increase interest in your products and encourage people to make a purchase. Track sales from promo codes to see which ads and offers drivers the most revenue.
Following these tips can significantly boost your Pinterest advertising ROI. With regular testing and optimization, you’ll be well on your way to Pinterest advertising success! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pinterest Ads
How much do Pinterest ads cost?
Pinterest ads are pretty affordable, especially compared to other social media platforms. You can set a daily budget as low as $1 per day. The average CPC (cost per click) is around $0.50. The exact cost will depend on factors like your target audience, bid amount, and ad relevance.
How do I pay for Pinterest ads?
Paying for Pinterest ads is simple. You just need to provide a credit or debit card to set up billing when you create your Pinterest Ads account. Pinterest bills you for your ads at the end of each month. They’ll charge the card on file for the total amount of your ads for that billing cycle.
How long does it take for Pinterest ads to start showing results?
Don’t expect immediate results from your Pinterest ads. It can take some time for your ads to optimize and start performing well. Pinterest’s algorithm needs a few days to a couple of weeks of data to properly analyze how people are engaging with your ads before it can determine who your best audiences are. The key is to be patient and let your ads run for at least 2 to 4 weeks before making significant changes or turning them off.
Can I target specific audiences with Pinterest ads?
Yes, targeting specific audiences is one of the major benefits of Pinterest ads. You can target users based on:
•Location – Country, state, DMA
•Demographics – Age, gender
•Interests – Based on the types of content people pin and follow
•Keywords – Target people interested in certain search terms
•Behavior – Recently purchased from your site, added items to cart, visited product pages, etc.
•Lookalike audiences – Reach new people similar to your existing customers
•Custom audiences – Target your email lists, website visitors, and CRM contacts
•Life events – New homeowners, expectant parents, college grads, etc.
Using detailed targeting options like these helps ensure your Pinterest ads are shown to people most likely to be interested in your products or services. And the more targeted your ads are, the better your results will be.
Conclusion
You now have all the basics to get started with Pinterest ads. Launch a campaign, choose your objectives and target audience, set a budget, upload eye-catching creative, and watch your pins get promoted. As with any new ad channel, start small and learn as you go. See what types of pins and audiences resonate most, then optimize from there. Pinterest ads offer a huge opportunity to reach potential customers actively looking for ideas and inspiration. Take advantage of this platform to boost traffic, build your brand, and drive sales. The more you test and refine, the more powerful your Pinterest advertising can become. Now go forth and promote some pins!