So, you’ve created something you’re proud of. You spent hours on a new blog post, perfected a recipe, or launched a new product. You know Pinterest is the place to be, so you create a pin, send it out into the world, and wait for the wave of new visitors. But the wave never comes. It’s just a trickle.
What gives? Often, the issue isn’t the thing you’re promoting, but the visual you’re using to promote it. On a platform as visually driven as Pinterest, your image is your handshake, your elevator pitch, and your storefront all rolled into one. If it doesn’t connect, people just keep scrolling. Many creators find their efforts fall flat because of a few common, and totally fixable, design mistakes. Let’s break down what they are and how you can steer clear of them.
Design Mistake Number 1. The Awkward Shape
Here’s where things often go wrong right from the start: you upload a square image from Instagram or a wide, horizontal one from your blog. On Pinterest, these shapes just don’t work. They look small and get squeezed by the interface, failing to grab the attention they deserve.
The Fix: You have to design for the space you’re in. Pinterest is a vertical platform. Your goal should be to take up as much screen real estate as possible, and the best way to do that is with a 2:3 aspect ratio. Think 1000 pixels wide by 1500 pixels tall. This size looks big, bold, and professional in the feed.
Design Mistake Number 2. The Blurry Photo Problem
A pixelated, out-of-focus, or poorly lit photo is an instant credibility killer. People come to Pinterest for quality and inspiration, and a blurry image communicates the exact opposite. It looks unprofessional and makes users assume the content behind the pin is low-quality, too.
The Fix: This one’s straightforward: use good photos. Your smartphone is probably more than capable of taking sharp, clear pictures. If you’re using stock photos, choose ones that are crisp and high-resolution. Your image is the foundation of your pin, so make sure it’s a solid one.
Design Mistake Number 3. Text That No One Can Read
You might have the most compelling headline in the world, but if you put it in a tiny, overly-fancy script font that blends into the background, it’s useless. Most people are scrolling on their phones, and if they have to squint to read your message, they won’t bother.
The Fix: Readability is king. Pick clean, bold fonts. Create a strong contrast between your text and the background image - a colored overlay or box behind the text works wonders. And don’t be afraid to make your text large. It needs to be instantly readable on a small screen.
Design Mistake Number 4. The Lack of a Cohesive Look
Take a look at your Pinterest board. Do your pins look like they all belong to the same family, or do they look like a random collection of strangers? If you’re using different fonts, colors, and layouts every single time, you’re missing a huge opportunity to build brand recognition.
The Fix: Create a simple visual identity. Pick two or three brand fonts, a set color palette, and a consistent spot for your website URL. Making a few templates you can reuse will make your content instantly recognizable and save you a ton of time. Maintaining that consistency across dozens of pins can be a real grind, and it’s a perfect example of how a Pinterest VA can help your business by managing the creation process for you.
Design Mistake Number 5. The Overstuffed, Chaotic Pin
This pin has it all: three photos, a block of text, some arrows, and a few other graphic elements. The result is visual chaos. When there’s too much going on, the human eye doesn’t know where to look, and the main message gets completely lost.
The Fix: Let your design breathe. Simplicity is your best friend. Stick to one great background image and one clear headline. The empty space in your design, often called negative space, is just as important as the elements themselves because it helps direct focus.
Design Mistake Number 6. Forgetting to Tell People What to Do
Your pin is gorgeous. A user stops scrolling to admire it. And then… they keep scrolling. You missed a crucial step: you didn’t tell them what to do next. You earned their attention but didn’t give them a direction.
The Fix: Add a direct call to action (CTA). This is just a simple phrase that prompts an action. Use a small text overlay or a button-like graphic with words like “Read Now,” “Get the Recipe,” or “Shop the Collection.” It seems small, but this explicit instruction can make a huge difference in your click-through rate.
Design Mistake Number 7. The Giant, In-Your-Face Logo
You want people to know the content is yours, which is smart. But placing a massive logo right in the center of the pin can make it feel like a pushy advertisement. Pinners tend to prefer helpful, organic content, and an aggressive logo can be a total turn-off.
The Fix: Be subtle. Your logo or website URL should act as a quiet signature, not a screaming billboard. Place a small, clean version at the top or bottom of your pin. It’s there for attribution without getting in the way of your message.
Design Mistake Number 8. Clashing or Boring Colors
Your color choices can make or break a design. If they are jarring and clash, they can be visually painful. If they are too muted and drab, your pin will become invisible, blending right into the feed.
The Fix: Find a palette that is both on-brand and eye-catching. Warm colors like reds, pinks, and oranges tend to stand out well in the Pinterest feed. Your goal is to create a color scheme that feels good to look at while also being bold enough to stop the scroll.
Design Mistake Number 9. Sticking Only to Still Images
If your Pinterest board is nothing but static photos, you’re not using the platform to its full potential. Pinterest’s algorithm has been favoring motion for a while now, and if you’re not incorporating it, you’re falling behind.
The Fix: Add some movement. This doesn’t mean you need a film crew. A simple Video Pin could be a short clip of your product, a quick screen recording, or even just a static image with animated text that slides into place. That little bit of motion is incredibly effective at catching the eye.
In Closing
Succeeding on Pinterest doesn’t require you to be a master designer. It just requires a bit of intention. By focusing on creating clear, high-quality, and branded visuals that guide the user, you can make your efforts count. Start thinking of each pin not just as an image, but as a doorway. When you design a better doorway, more people will want to walk through it. Every pin is a chance to learn what your audience loves. Consistently applying these simple principles is how you build a presence that not only looks good but also delivers tangible results.