It seems like every social media channel has its own version of stories, even LinkedIn, so it was only a matter of time before Pinterest joined the fray.
With the launch of Story Pins, Pinterest has joined the other social networks in pushing a new visual way for creators to share ideas with their followers. As Pinterest continues to roll out Story Pins to more brands, now is the perfect time to learn more about this new feature. Here’s everything you need to know about Story Pins and how to add them to your Pinterest marketing strategy without feeling overwhelmed.
What are Pinterest Story Pins?
Story Pins are Pinterest’s latest feature that allows creators and brands to share ideas with a dynamic video, text overlays, and voiceovers. Unlike regular pins that feature a single image or video, Story Pins can include up to 20 images, videos, text, and voice.
Since Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social network, it’s important to note that Pinterest Story Pins should not be treated like the Stories features on Instagram or Facebook. Pinterest Story pins are not created in real-time so you can’t use these to have a conversation with your audience and they won’t expire after 24-hours.
Story Pins are still in beta-testing with a select number of creators in the US and will be gradually rolling out over the next few months. If you don’t have access to Story Pins yet, you can request access.
What type of content works best for Story Pins?
Here are some content topics that have been working well in the new Story Pins format:
- Step-by-step guides
- Collection of products
- List posts
- Recipes with step-by-step instructions
- DIY inspiration
- Travel, food, clothing tips
- Business tips and tricks
How can home builders use Story Pins?
Story pins are great options if you have an idea that isn’t weighty enough for a blog post. In fact, this is a great opportunity to repurpose some blog posts and turn them into consumable Story pins. If you have blog posts about how-to guides, recipes, or DIYs, then you can convert them into a Story pin. Have a series on the homebuying process? Create a First-Time Homebuying Guide story pin linking to each blog post. Another option is creating a Story pin showcasing your model homes.
Need more ideas? Here are some examples of Story Pins to get the ball rolling.
How to create engaging Story Pins
Creating a Story Pin that engages your audience takes a little bit of effort. Remember, you’re telling a story through your pins so by combining a few different elements will create a well-rounded story your followers will resonate with. Here are a few tips to help increase your chances of your Story Pins being seen:
- Use between 5 and 20 pages. Story Pins can be between 1 and 20 pages (one image or video per page) and the early data has shown that the best performing Story Pins have had a minimum of 5 pages.
- Use a mix of high-quality visuals. Story Pins are immersive (meaning the Pins open into a full-screen experience) so portrait images with a 9:16 aspect ratio work best
- Add text overlays. Most users watch videos without sound so include text to highlight the important details. Most users will be on mobile so make sure your text is clear and easy to read.
- Inspire action. When picking topics, chose ones that will inspire users to some kind of action. Be sure to include call-to-actions to let users know what you’d like them to do next.
A step-by-step guide to creating a Story Pin
Once you get access to Story Pins, here’s how to start creating your own:
Step 1: Log into your Pinterest business account
Step 2: Click Create in the top menu then Create Story Pin
Step 3: Click the downwards arrow and choose up to 20 images or videos from your computer (you can also drag and drop to add them)
Step 4: Use the tools on the right side of the screen to design your pages
- Layout: Click Layout to choose a layout for your page and Select or change the background color
- Adjust: Click Image or Video to adjust and resize your image or video
- Text: Click Text to add text and select your font, font size, alignment, color, or highlight
Step 5: Click the plus icon on the top-left side to add more images or videos. If you want to change your font, layout or background on multiple pages, hold down shift on your keyboard and select the pages you want to edit
Step 6: Click next and select a details theme from the dropdown menu and add details to your Pin
Step 7: Click next and fill out the information about your Pin
- Story Pin title: Add a title for your Pin
- Board selector: Choose a public board to save your Story Pin to from the drop-down menu
- Tags: Search and add up to 10 tag topics to add to your Story Pin to reach people searching for similar ideas
Step 8: Click publish and you’re done!
It’s still too early to know whether Story Pins will be here for the long run, but understanding how you can potentially use this new feature to supercharge your Pinterest marketing is a smart move. Platforms usually give more exposure to people who use new features to promote them in the early months so you can take advantage of that exposure bump if you start planning now.
We’re excited to see how Story Pins work and if they’ll take off. From what we’ve learned, there’s great potential to drive traffic to your website or blog and offer a unique way to connect with and inspire your followers.
Need help creating a Pinterest content strategy or management? Get in touch!