Creating infographics for Pinterest requires a strategic approach that combines effective design principles with a deep understanding of Pinterest’s platform and audience. Pinterest is a visually-driven social media platform where users come to discover new ideas, trends, and inspiration, often through highly engaging, shareable, and informative graphics. Infographics, when done correctly, can drive engagement, increase shares, and direct traffic to your website or blog. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to design effective infographics for Pinterest, focusing on design, content strategy, and best practices.
1. Understanding the Role of Infographics on Pinterest
Pinterest is a visual search engine where users create and share “pins” that link back to content (e.g., blog posts, websites, or products). Infographics on Pinterest serve multiple purposes:
- Educational Content: Infographics provide an excellent way to educate your audience on a particular topic, whether it’s how to make a recipe, tips for improving productivity, or data visualizations for a market trend.
- Problem-Solving: Infographics often help users solve specific problems in an easy-to-understand format. For instance, a step-by-step guide on fixing a common issue or a checklist for a successful project can attract significant attention.
- Inspiration: Infographics can be visually inspiring by showcasing creative projects, DIY ideas, home decor styles, or fashion inspiration, making them ideal for Pinterest’s audience, which is largely interested in design and creativity.
To succeed on Pinterest, the infographic must be visually appealing and shareable, presenting valuable information that aligns with the interests of Pinterest users.
2. Defining the Goal of the Infographic
Before diving into the design process, it’s essential to understand what you want the infographic to achieve. Are you trying to drive traffic to a blog post, educate your audience on a topic, or increase brand awareness? The goal will shape the content and design choices.
- Driving Traffic: If your primary goal is to drive traffic, you’ll want to make sure your infographic includes a compelling call to action (CTA) and a clear visual connection to your website or blog post.
- Educating or Informing: If the goal is educational, ensure that the infographic is structured in a way that makes the information digestible and easy to follow.
- Promoting a Product or Service: For infographics focused on promoting products, design elements should feature the product clearly, with details and benefits that are easy for users to understand at a glance.
3. Pinterest-Specific Design Considerations
Pinterest’s unique format requires certain design considerations to ensure your infographic stands out. Here are some factors you need to think about:
i. Vertical Orientation
Pinterest is optimized for vertical images, which are known to perform better than horizontal images. The ideal aspect ratio for a Pinterest infographic is 2:3, or around 1000 x 1500 pixels. This size works well on Pinterest’s feed and ensures that your infographic will be viewed without needing to be cropped.
ii. Readable Text
Pinterest is a quick-swipe platform. People scroll rapidly through their feeds, so it’s crucial that your infographic is easily scannable. Keep text to a minimum, use clear, large fonts, and highlight key points that will grab the viewer’s attention. Avoid dense paragraphs—focus on concise, impactful statements that communicate value.
iii. Bright, Eye-catching Colors
Pinterest users are drawn to bright, vibrant colors. Select a color palette that is not only visually appealing but also aligns with the message and tone of your infographic. Use contrasting colors to highlight important elements and ensure that text remains legible. However, avoid overwhelming the viewer with too many colors; stick to 3-5 complementary colors.
iv. Branding
While Pinterest is a visual platform, it is also one where brand recognition plays a significant role. Include your logo or website URL subtly within the infographic so that users can easily identify the source. However, don’t overbrand—let the content and design take center stage. Branding should be unobtrusive but present enough for recognition.
v. Compelling Headlines
Your headline is the first thing people will see, so make sure it’s compelling. Use a bold font for the title and consider using numbers or questions, as they tend to attract more attention. For example, “10 Easy Ways to Organize Your Closet” or “How to Boost Productivity in 5 Simple Steps.” This type of headline immediately tells users what they will gain from viewing the infographic.
vi. Readable Fonts
Choose fonts that are easy to read, especially given that Pinterest is mostly used on mobile devices. Avoid using overly decorative fonts that can be hard to read in smaller sizes. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Montserrat are ideal for readability. Use bold fonts for headings and simpler fonts for body text.
4. Content Structure for Pinterest Infographics
The success of an infographic on Pinterest depends largely on how well the information is presented. Here are the best practices for structuring the content of your infographic:
i. Clear Hierarchy
Infographics should be structured in a way that visually guides users through the content. Use clear hierarchy by making the title large and bold, followed by the main points or sections of your infographic. Group related information together using sections or boxes, and use arrows or lines to guide the viewer’s eye through the information.
ii. Step-by-Step or List-Based Design
Infographics that break down processes or provide lists are especially popular on Pinterest. For example, a recipe infographic might include ingredients at the top, followed by a step-by-step cooking process. Alternatively, a how-to guide might list tips, with each one presented with an icon or illustration. People love easily digestible, actionable content, and this format works well for Pinterest’s audience.
iii. Visual Elements and Icons
Infographics are about visual communication. Use icons, illustrations, or images that relate to the content. For example, a financial infographic might use dollar signs or pie charts, while a gardening infographic might use plant icons or tools. Visual elements help users quickly grasp information and make your infographic more engaging.
iv. Data Visualization
If your infographic contains data, make sure it is presented in a way that is easy to understand. Use bar graphs, pie charts, or tables to present statistical information. Keep data visualizations simple and avoid clutter. Use colors and labels effectively to make the data as digestible as possible.
v. CTA (Call to Action)
Including a call to action (CTA) in your infographic can significantly boost user engagement. Your CTA could prompt users to visit your website, download a resource, or try a service. For example, “Click to read the full guide” or “Learn more at [Your Website].” Place the CTA at the bottom of the infographic or in a noticeable section where users are likely to see it after absorbing the main content.
5. Tools for Designing Infographics for Pinterest
Several online tools and software make it easy to design infographics tailored for Pinterest. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, there’s a tool that can meet your needs.
i. Canva
Canva is one of the most popular and accessible tools for designing infographics. It offers a variety of templates specifically designed for Pinterest’s vertical format. Canva allows you to drag and drop elements, change fonts, adjust colors, and even add icons and illustrations. Many features are free, although a Pro version offers even more advanced options.
ii. Piktochart
Piktochart is another powerful tool that allows you to create data-driven infographics. It has a wide range of templates and is perfect for creating more complex infographics that focus on statistics, trends, or charts. Piktochart also includes easy-to-use tools for sharing and embedding infographics.
iii. Venngage
Venngage offers a large variety of templates for infographics, including those designed for social media platforms like Pinterest. It provides simple drag-and-drop tools and pre-designed layouts, allowing you to create professional infographics quickly.
iv. Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is another excellent tool for designing infographics. It has customizable templates, and the design process is simple, making it ideal for those who may not have graphic design experience. Adobe Spark also integrates with other Adobe products, allowing for a more streamlined creative process if you use tools like Photoshop or Illustrator.
v. Visme
Visme is an advanced tool for creating infographics, presentations, and other visual content. It has a range of templates, a library of icons, and the ability to embed videos or animations. This platform is great for users looking to create infographics with more dynamic content.
6. Best Practices for Posting Infographics on Pinterest
Once your infographic is ready, it’s time to share it on Pinterest. Here are some best practices to maximize the effectiveness of your infographic pins:
i. Use an Attention-Grabbing Title
When uploading your infographic, write a compelling and descriptive title. Use keywords that your audience is searching for to increase discoverability. For example, if your infographic is about “meal prepping,” include relevant keywords in the title and description.
ii. Optimize the Pin Description
The description is another key place where you can include relevant keywords for SEO purposes. While Pinterest is a visual platform, the description text helps categorize and rank your pin. Write a brief, clear description of what users can expect from your infographic and what value it provides.
iii. Link Back to Your Website
Infographics are most effective when they drive traffic to a website, blog post, or product page. Ensure that your infographic includes a clickable link to a relevant resource, and double-check that the URL is correct before publishing the pin.
iv. Leverage Pinterest’s Hashtags
Use relevant hashtags in your pin description to increase discoverability. Pinterest now supports hashtags, and using 3-5 relevant hashtags can help your infographic appear in search results for those specific topics.
v. Monitor Engagement and Adjust
After posting your infographic, monitor how it’s performing. Look at metrics like click-through rate, repins, and comments. If a particular type of infographic performs better than others, use that data to adjust future designs.
Conclusion
Designing infographics for Pinterest involves much more than simply making a pretty graphic. To be successful, your infographic must be visually appealing, easy to understand, and optimized for Pinterest’s format. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can create infographics that not only capture attention but also provide value to Pinterest’s audience, driving engagement and traffic to your website. Whether you’re educating, inspiring, or promoting, well-designed infographics can be a powerful tool in your Pinterest marketing strategy.