I'm sure it's no surprise that Pinterest is the leading driver of views to blogs for most people these days - far outweighing Google, Facebook and any other means.
So I wanted to increase my Pinterest followers to get more exposure for the pins from my blog (hoping this would convert into more repins) and also for stats for my media kit.
My followers were at 299 as of March 1st and by March 31st my followers were at 736 and continuing to grow. For some larger blogs these numbers may seem slightly pitiful but hopefully smaller blogs and people just starting out can relate, and find this information useful.
*update my followers are now more than 16 thousand as of Jan. 21, 2021. Scroll to the end of the post for more info, and my latest post!
So how did I accomplish this?
Follow Other Pinners
A couple of ways but the main way was to follow other Pinterest users who have a high follow back rate - and then following their followers.
How can you tell if someone on Pinterest is likely to follow you back? By looking at their following vs. follower stats. I mentioned a similar method for Twitter which was also successful for me.
If someone's following rate is higher than their followers rate they are much more likely to follow you. Also I check out the followers of recent people I have added - it means these people are active on Pinterest and also are likely to follow you back.
I also add people who have repined my pins from my own blog because they have similar interests and also like the content of my pins so if they become my followers they may repin more in the future.
Adding Sidebar Widgets
Another way I have gained followers is by adding a widget of all my pins to my blog sidebar that looks like this...
Incorporating Related Boards in your Posts
I have also added widgets of related boards into my blog posts for instance I wrote a blog post about How to make a Pinterest Worthy Image for Free - and included a widget of one of my boards with a collection of free backgrounds and fonts and that board received a ton of followers and some people followed all my boards. I also added a St. Patrick's Day or Easter board to a post I wrote about kids crafts for the holidays.
Create your Own Group Boards
And the last method is to create a group Pinterest board as people have to follow your boards in order to join and be able to pin to your board.
I have gained a few followers from my group boards as well as they have liked most of my content.
You can join my Favourite Blogging Tips here:
You can also add your own Pinterest Group Boards to the Pinterest Group Board Directory, so people are more likely to find them.
Did you have any free ways to gain Pinterest followers I would love to hear them. Also if you follow me on Pinterest and leave a link to your Pinterest account in the comments I will follow you back. =)
A lot of the above methods still ring true 5 years later! - group boards, Pinterest social media icons and Pinterest widgets are great for getting followers, and are all free. And check out my latest post on how I gained now over 6 million views:
These are great tips! I have recently requested to join some collaborative boards and therefore have followed the the administrators of the boards. Many of them have followed me back. I have not incorporated related boards in my post, but will try that soon. I have a couple of ideas for group boards that I hope to start soon. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked my tips, and don't forget to add your group boards to my Pinterest directory once you've created them. I have had several request for joining them lately so hopefully you can gain some new pinners as well.
DeleteI'm planning to use Pinterest more, and it's encouraging to hear that Kristen's tips worked for you.
DeleteThank you. Just learning to pin, may never master it but you've given me some good suggestions to try.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I found it very helpful because I'm new to blogging and only created a Pinterest page about 2 month ago. This is something I definitely need to spend more time working on and I'm going to follow your lead!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found this post helpful! And I have followed you on Pinterest - I know Pinterest has been my #1 key for gaining readers to my blog and good luck to you.
DeleteI need to work on my Pinterest for sure! Thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Kristen! I haven't linked to my boards in my posts a lot, so that's definitely something I can do more of.
ReplyDeleteAwesome tips! Still trying to incorporate my Pinterest boards to generate traffic and this post will definitely help me. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove you tips! Thank you for sharing. For the longest time I used Pinterest for personal searching, and it wasn't until recently that I started using it for my blog. I'm going to try to add a widget to my sidebar! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found this helpful and if you needed any help adding widgets just leave a comment and I can try to explain it.
DeleteThese are excellent suggestions.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips! I will try to follow them starting today :-)
ReplyDeleteHi there! Visiting from Whimsy Wednesday. Great tips! I recently started using a pin scheduler (Tailwindapp) and I've been gaining some followers. I have been trying to find craft and blog group boards to join, but haven't found too many active ones. I did find one that had followers who re-pinned by pins (Share Your Craft). I just sent you an email to request an invite to your board. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining my group board! If you are having trouble finding craft group boards you should create your own - maybe other people are looking for some too. And you can add it to my group board directory to get more exposure. I want to get a pin scheduler but just can't justify paying for one yet. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteThanks for sharing your link at Mom Blogs Party Week 7. I am always looking for ways to up my followers. Thanks for your tips.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about incorporating related boards in my posts before. That's a great idea! #growingcircleshop
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the great tips! Pinterest is one social media that is SO helpful to bloggers! I'm now you're newest follower!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the tips! And thanks for the follow - I followed you back =)
DeleteGreat Tips! Thanks! I found you on Frugal Friday:)
ReplyDeleteFantastic tips! Thank you for sharing. I'm visiting you via Frugal Friday, so...Hi! ::)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing these tips, Kristen! I haven't even been blogging for a year yet, so those numbers seem impressive to me. I'm still trying to figure out the best ways to manage my social media, so I appreciate all of the help I can get.
ReplyDeleteI'm following you on Pinterest. Here's mine - https://www.pinterest.com/myovrflowingcup/ - thanks!
Hi Heather, thanks for your kind words and I have followed you back.
DeleteGreat tips Kristen! Love these informative posts of yours!
ReplyDeleteThis is so helpful! So much I didn't know. Thank you so much! Visiting from "Espressos of Faith!"
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I need to work on some of these. I love Pinterest so I have no problem spending more time there! Stopping by from Pintastic Pinteresting Party.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips! I followed you :) I personally have trouble thinking of Pinterest in a business/blogging sense because I love to spend time there just looking at everything. I tend to follow people back but then I read somewhere that it's bad to follow more people than are following you? Do you think that is true?
ReplyDeleteGreat question. Personally I think it looks bad when you follow 20,000 ppl and you only have 4,000 followers. But if your numbers are relatively close I think mine are 20 or 30 difference it doesn't look bad. But will let you know if I find anything else to the contrary.
ReplyDeleteHi! Visiting from the Mom Resource Party. I never knew that there was a whole formula to Pinterest! I've had a blog for years but haven't been serious about blogging and social media until now (funny enough, I ran other companies media but never applied it to my own lol). Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDelete-Melissa
littlemissorangeblossom.blogspot.com
I like the Pinterest group directory.
ReplyDeleteWow awesome tips here! I never thought of trying the twitter follow method on Pinterest!! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I'm focusing on Pinterest now - I'd really like to get my followers up. My username is HARKK. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just started a blog in February, and it's so great to find helpful ideas for making it better. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, i will try an implement this! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for these excellent tips! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Pinterest. Here's mine - https://www.pinterest.com/myovrflowingcup/ (Thanks, in advance, for the follow!)
Interesting, I hadn't thought of some of these.
ReplyDeleteI have a link party going on this weekend, I'd love to have you join:
http://www.bobijensen.com/2015/05/come-join-party.html
Thanks, Bobi
Great tips! Always looking to build more followers on social media! Thank you for sharing on #ShareTheWealthSunday link up!
ReplyDeleteSuper tips! I love to see posts like this. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKristen, another great tip! Thanks for sharing at #AnythingGoes.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to grow my Pinterest following, so I appreciate these tips! I'm going to try adding a widget to my sidebar. Thanks for sharing this post with Hump Day Happenings!
ReplyDeleteFantastic tips! Most of my traffic comes from Pinterest so I'm always interested in growing my following. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the informative post! I am choosing you as my featured link for last week's OMHG Wordless Wednesday Linkup!
ReplyDeleteShellie
www.thefabjourney.com
Awesome tips! I have been neglecting Pinterest lately, but yes it is my number one referral source, so I really need to do better with it. Thanks for linking up with the Best of the Blogosphere link party.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I have been so busy that I've been forgetting about Pinterest. I need to get on there much more often.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tips! I'm so overwhelmed in learning all this stuff! I'm counting on the brillance of wonderful women like you to keep me afloat! ;-) https://www.pinterest.com/lschumaker/
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I'll be working on these tips for increasing my pinterest following. Follow me at https://www.pinterest.com/theconsmommy/
ReplyDeleteGood tips... I have been doing some of this... by trial and error... and found it to work. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen, thank you so much for your tips. They are really helpful for a total beginner like me. I am still learning my rope about pinterest, and I have to admit even though it was stated as the most effective in bringing in traffic at the moment, it is also the most confusing, may be because it involves me learning to use boardbooster and managing my schedule. So once again thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I am a small blog so over 700 followers seems like a lot to me! I have learned so much from fellow bloggers like you who have been so generous in sharing what they have learned! I am definitely going to implement these tips! Linking up with you at mom rescource party:)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being featured on the Mom Blogs Party!
ReplyDeleteSo excited to try your tips! Eager to get our Pinterest board find a groove ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for following us there, too! https://www.pinterest.com/momsamcoffee/
Great advice! I followed you on Pinterest, and I'm going to pin this post.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pinterest.com/belle_brita/
Thanks for stopping by to share your tips on Pinterest, we can all use a few more followers, Im following you now.
ReplyDeleteOh My Heartsie Pinterest
Thanks for visiting Friday Features this week!
Congrats on increasing your follower numbers so well!! I have neglected Pinterest so far & I know it's a huge website driver so I need to get busy & start using your tips. #alittlebitofeverything x
ReplyDeleteThank you for these my pinterest account is very unloved -must make more of an effort - going to set myself a goal! Thank you for the motivation #alittlebitofeverything
ReplyDeleteAwesome tips! I am not on Pinterest yet but I will use these tips if I ever get over there. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #Alittlebitofeverything! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteIncredibly useful post, thank you. I'm only just now starting to investigate Pinterest, so this is all new to me and looks like it will be very useful. Thank you, #Alittlebitofeverything
ReplyDeleteOnce again, fabulous tips, I am pinning, thanks so much for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, fabulous tips, I am pinning, thanks so much for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteSo helpful! Thank you so much for sharing these awesome tips!!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.pinterest.com/MeganRetherford/
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ReplyDeleteSorry I'm a little terrible with keeping up with my comments but thank you all for your kind words and sharing the love! And I followed all your links on Pinterest...
ReplyDelete