The Best Types of Pinterest Pins for Traffic, Saves, and Clicks

Not all Pinterest pins serve the same purpose.

Some pins are designed to drive clicks. Others encourage saves, build visibility, or support long-term brand awareness. Understanding the strengths of different pin types can help businesses create a more balanced Pinterest strategy instead of relying on one format for everything.

Pinterest gives businesses several ways to present content, and each format can support different marketing goals.

The key is choosing the right type of pin for the content you're sharing and the audience you want to reach.

Standard Pins

Standard pins are the most common Pinterest format and one of the strongest options for driving website traffic.

These pins usually include:

• a vertical image

• a headline

• branded visuals

• a direct link to a website or blog post

Standard pins work well for:

• blog posts

• service pages

• product pages

• educational content

• tutorials

• lead magnets

Because they link directly to your website, standard pins are often a core part of long-term Pinterest traffic strategies.

Well-designed standard pins can continue generating clicks long after they're published.

Idea Pins

Idea pins are designed more for engagement and visibility inside Pinterest itself.

Unlike standard pins, idea pins typically focus on:

• quick tutorials

• step-by-step tips

• inspiration

• storytelling

• educational sequences

Idea pins can help businesses:

• increase visibility

• build audience familiarity

• encourage saves and follows

• support brand awareness

However, they're usually less direct for website traffic compared to standard pins.

That doesn't make them ineffective. They simply serve a different role within a Pinterest strategy.

Carousel Pins

Carousel pins allow multiple images within a single pin.

These work especially well for:

• step-by-step processes

• before-and-after examples

• tutorials

• product collections

• educational tips

• visual comparisons

Carousel pins encourage users to interact longer with your content because they can swipe through several slides.

This format can also help businesses communicate more information without overwhelming a single graphic.

Video Pins

Video pins can stand out in busy Pinterest feeds because movement naturally attracts attention.

Short videos often perform well for:

• demonstrations

• recipes

• tutorials

• transformations

• behind-the-scenes content

• product showcases

The goal of a Pinterest video pin is usually not polished entertainment. Simple, clear, visually useful content often works best.

Even short clips with text overlays can help increase engagement.

Pins Designed for Clicks vs Pins Designed for Saves

One important thing to understand is that not every successful pin creates the same outcome.

Some pins encourage users to:

• click immediately

• save for later

• follow an account

• explore related content

For example:

• strong curiosity headlines may increase clicks

• educational graphics often generate saves

• inspirational content may improve visibility

• tutorials can support both clicks and engagement

A balanced Pinterest strategy usually includes several types of content instead of optimizing for only one metric.

Different Audiences Respond to Different Formats

Pinterest users don't all interact with content the same way.

Some users prefer:

• quick educational tips

• clean minimalist graphics

• bold headlines

• tutorials

• videos

• list-style content

• inspirational visuals

Testing different pin formats helps businesses understand what their audience responds to most.

This is one reason why creating multiple pins for the same content is so valuable. Different designs and formats can attract different users while supporting the same overall strategy.

Strong Pinterest Strategies Use Variety

Many businesses accidentally limit their Pinterest growth by using only one style of content repeatedly.

A stronger approach is using a mix of:

• standard pins

• educational graphics

• carousel pins

• seasonal pins

• video pins

• branded service pins

• idea pins

This creates a more dynamic account while giving Pinterest more opportunities to distribute your content across different searches and audiences.

Variety also helps prevent creative burnout because you aren't trying to make every pin look exactly the same.

Final Takeaway

The best Pinterest strategy isn't about choosing one “perfect” pin format. It's about understanding how different types of pins support different goals.

Some pins help drive clicks. Others build engagement, saves, visibility, or trust over time. Using a variety of pin formats can help businesses create a stronger, more balanced Pinterest presence that supports long-term growth.

If you want help building a Pinterest strategy designed around visibility, traffic, and consistent content performance, Crafted Interest offers Pinterest management tailored to long-term business growth.

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