Sarah September 25, 2025

If you’ve been pouring time into Pinterest—designing pins, posting consistently, and creating board after board—but you’re still not seeing the traffic you want, chances are you’re making some of the same Pinterest mistakes I made when I first started.

When I finally dug into what was really holding my account back, I realized I was sabotaging myself without even knowing it. The good news? Once you know what these mistakes are, they’re easy to fix—and when you fix them, your traffic can finally start to take off.

In this post, I’ll walk you through 10 Pinterest mistakes that could be killing your reach and give you the exact steps to fix them.

BTW – I learned all of these tips in Pinterest Rank Boost 2.0. If you find this post helpful, I suggest you check it out as there’s still soooo much more to learn.

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1. Ignoring Pinterest SEO

Pinterest isn’t just a social media platform—it’s a search engine. That means if you’re not optimizing your pins, boards, and profile with the right keywords, your content won’t be discovered.

What I used to do: I created beautiful pins with catchy text, but I never included search-friendly words in my titles or descriptions. My pins looked good but weren’t showing up in search.

Fix:

  • Use the Pinterest search bar to see what keywords people are already typing in.
  • Add those exact words to your pin title, description, and board.
  • Don’t stuff—make it natural.

Example: Instead of titling a pin “Money Tips,” use “How to Save Money Fast on a Tight Budget.”

2. Only Pinning Your Own Content (Or Only Repinning Others)

This is high on the list of Pinterest mistakes you shouldn’t be doing. Pinterest rewards balance. If you only pin your own posts, Pinterest may see you as spammy. But if you only repin others, you’re not building your own traffic.

Fix:

  • Aim for a mix. I personally pin about 80% my own content and 20% other people’s.
  • Focus on quality repins from top accounts, not random images.

3. Not Creating Fresh Pins Regularly

Pinterest wants fresh content. Repinning the same old designs over and over won’t cut it anymore.

Fix:

  • For every new blog post or product, create 5–10 different pin designs.
  • Change the colors, fonts, images, and text overlay.
  • Even if the link is the same, Pinterest sees it as new content.

BTW – I learned all of these tips in Pinterest Rank Boost 2.0. It helped me fix all my Pinterest mistakes and I know it will help you too.

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4. Using the Wrong Pin Sizes

I used to just throw up any image I had, not realizing Pinterest has specific recommended sizes. Square or horizontal pins rarely perform well.

Fix:

  • Use a 2:3 ratio, ideally 1000 x 1500 px.
  • Canva has templates ready to go for Pinterest.
  • Stick with vertical, bold, and easy-to-read pins.

5. Forgetting Strong Calls to Action

Your pin should tell people exactly what to do next. Without a clear call to action, people might scroll right past it. Even simple Pinterest mistakes like not including a call to action can tank your engagement.

Fix:

  • Add phrases like:
    • “Click to Learn More”
    • “Save for Later”
    • “Get the Free Checklist”
  • Make sure your call to action is visible and fits the content.

6. Not Optimizing Board Descriptions

When I started, I thought boards were just for organizing. But they’re actually a big part of Pinterest SEO.

Fix:

  • Add keyword-rich descriptions to every board.
  • Don’t just say “Recipes.” Say “Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights.”
  • Write in natural sentences, not keyword stuffing.

7. Linking Pins to the Wrong Place

One of the fastest ways to lose trust is to link pins to irrelevant or broken pages. Pinterest wants users to have a good experience, so it will downgrade misleading pins.

Fix:

  • Always double-check your links.
  • Make sure the page matches the promise of the pin.
  • If you’re pinning affiliate links, disclose clearly and use relevant, helpful products.

8. Neglecting Seasonal & Trending Content

Pinterest users plan ahead—sometimes months ahead. If you’re posting holiday content in December, you’ve already missed the wave.

Fix:

  • Start pinning seasonal content at least 45–60 days before the event.
  • Example: Halloween pins should start going up in August.
  • Use Pinterest Trends to see what’s hot right now.

9. Inconsistent Pinning

Pinterest loves consistency. If you disappear for weeks at a time and then flood the platform with pins, you’ll confuse the algorithm.

Fix:

  • Aim for at least 5–10 pins per day.
  • Use a scheduling tool like Tailwind (or Canva’s built-in scheduler).
  • Consistency > volume.

10. Treating Pinterest Like Instagram or TikTok

This was my biggest mindset mistake. I thought Pinterest was all about going “viral.” But it’s different. A pin can sit quietly for months before suddenly taking off.

Fix:

  • Treat Pinterest like a long-term investment.
  • Focus on SEO, evergreen content, and steady pinning.
  • Don’t delete pins just because they don’t perform right away—they may blow up later.

BTW – I learned all of these tips in Pinterest Rank Boost 2.0. If you find this post helpful, I suggest you check it out as there’s still soooo much more to learn.

Bonus: Not Tracking Analytics

If you don’t know what’s working, you’ll keep spinning your wheels.

Fix:

  • Check Pinterest Analytics weekly.
  • Look at “Outbound Clicks” (not just impressions).
  • Double down on what’s already working.

How to Fix These Mistakes Once and For All

Here’s the workflow I use now that keeps my Pinterest growing:

  1. Research keywords before I create a post or pin.
  2. Write a blog post with natural SEO built in.
  3. Design 5–10 pins in Canva for each post.
  4. Pin consistently (daily), mixing in seasonal/trending content.
  5. Track results every week and adjust based on what’s working.

Don’t give up!

The truth is, I made every single one of these mistakes at some point. I pinned inconsistently, used the wrong sizes, ignored SEO, and wondered why nothing was happening.

Once I fixed these problems, my traffic grew, and I started seeing real results. The best part? Pinterest traffic snowballs. The work you do today can keep paying off for months—or even years.

If you’re struggling with Pinterest right now, don’t give up. Go through this list, fix one mistake at a time, and you’ll start to see a real difference in your reach.

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