Are your Pinterest pins getting plenty of impressions but few clicks? You’re not alone. Many content creators struggle with this common frustration: their pins appear in search results and feeds, but users scroll right past without clicking through to their websites.

The truth is that Pinterest success isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you present it visually. At Viral Pins Agency, we’ve discovered that pin design is often the critical difference between pins that generate significant traffic and those that merely collect impressions.

Through extensive testing across hundreds of client accounts, we’ve identified specific design elements that consistently drive higher click-through rates. In fact, our clients typically see 200-300% increases in click-through rates after implementing these design principles.

In this article, I’ll reveal the seven Pinterest design secrets that can transform your pins from overlooked to irresistible. These aren’t just theoretical concepts—they’re proven strategies we use daily with our clients to generate thousands of website visits from Pinterest.

Secret #1: The Attention-Grabbing Color Psychology

The first moment of truth for any pin is whether it can stop a user from scrolling. Color plays a crucial role in this split-second decision.

Color Psychology Principles Specific to Pinterest

Pinterest’s interface is predominantly white and light gray, creating a specific visual environment that influences how colors perform:

High-Contrast Colors: Pins with strong color contrast receive 40% more clicks on average than low-contrast designs.

Bold vs. Muted: Bold, saturated colors typically outperform muted, pastel tones for click-through rates (though this can vary by niche).

Color Blocking: Designs with clear color blocks create visual hierarchy that guides the eye.

Background Differentiation: Pins that visually separate from Pinterest’s light background stand out in feeds.

Through our testing at Viral Pins Agency, we’ve found that certain color combinations consistently outperform others across most niches:

High-Contrast Combinations That Stop the Scroll

These color pairings create strong visual impact:

• Deep navy blue with bright orange
• Dark purple with light yellow
• Forest green with coral pink
• Charcoal gray with vibrant red
• Deep teal with warm peach

Sarah, a food blogger client, saw her click-through rate jump from 1.8% to 5.2% after switching from pastel color schemes to high-contrast combinations. “I was worried the bold colors wouldn’t match my brand aesthetic,” she shared, “but the traffic increase was worth the adjustment, and I’ve actually grown to love the more vibrant look.”

Brand-Aligned Color Strategies

While contrast is important, maintaining brand consistency is equally crucial:

1. Identify Your Primary Brand Color: Use this as your dominant pin color
2. Select Complementary Contrast Colors: Choose 1-2 colors that create contrast with your primary color
3. Develop a Consistent Color System: Create a specific palette for your Pinterest designs
4. Use Color to Signal Content Types: Assign specific colors to different content categories

This systematic approach ensures your pins are both attention-grabbing and brand-building. At Viral Pins Agency, we develop custom Pinterest color palettes for each client based on their brand guidelines and performance testing.

Colors to Avoid and Why

Our testing has identified several color approaches that consistently underperform:

All-Pastel Designs: While aesthetically pleasing, these typically blend into the feed without creating stopping power.

Low-Contrast Text/Background: Creates readability issues, especially on mobile devices.

Overly Busy Color Schemes: Using more than 3-4 colors creates visual confusion.

Trendy Colors Without Testing: Just because a color is trending doesn’t mean it will perform well for your specific content.

One client came to us after struggling with low click-through rates despite high impressions. Our analysis revealed their pins used a trendy but low-contrast color scheme. After implementing our high-contrast approach while maintaining their brand identity, their click-through rate increased by 215% within 30 days.

Secret #2: Typography Hierarchy That Drives Action

After color captures attention, typography guides the user through your message and toward clicking.

Font Pairing Strategies for Pinterest

Effective Pinterest typography typically follows these principles:

Complementary Pairing: Combine a strong display font for headlines with a highly readable font for supporting text.

Limited Font Selection: Use no more than 2-3 fonts per pin design.

Style Contrast: Pair serif and sans-serif fonts for natural visual hierarchy.

Weight Variation: Combine bold and regular weights to create emphasis.

At Viral Pins Agency, we’ve developed a library of high-performing font combinations for different content types. Our data shows that the right font pairing can improve readability by up to 70%, directly impacting click-through rates.

Text Size and Hierarchy Best Practices

Pinterest is primarily a mobile platform, making text size crucial:

Headline Size: Minimum 36pt for primary headlines Subheading Size: 24-30pt for secondary information Body Text: Minimum 18pt for any additional text Hierarchy Ratio: Maintain a 1.5:1 ratio between text levels

This sizing ensures readability even on small mobile screens. As Michael, an online course creator client, discovered: “After increasing my text sizes based on these guidelines, my mobile click-through rate improved by 68% almost immediately.”

Readability Factors on Mobile Devices

Since approximately 85% of Pinterest usage occurs on mobile devices, optimize for small screens:

Letter Spacing: Slightly increased letter spacing improves mobile readability Line Height: 1.2-1.5× font size for optimal readability Text Placement: Keep critical text away from the edges Background Contrast: Ensure text has sufficient contrast with background elements Text Amount: Limit to 10-15 words maximum for optimal impact

These mobile-specific optimizations can significantly impact performance. One Viral Pins Agency client saw their mobile click-through rate double after implementing these readability adjustments.

Font Psychology and Emotional Impact

Different font styles evoke different emotional responses:

Serif Fonts: Convey tradition, reliability, and expertise

• Ideal for: Educational content, professional services, luxury products

Sans-Serif Fonts: Project modernity, clarity, and accessibility

• Ideal for: Tech content, how-to guides, contemporary brands

Script Fonts: Communicate creativity, personality, and uniqueness

• Ideal for: DIY content, creative tutorials, personal brands (use sparingly)

Display Fonts: Create strong visual impact and distinctiveness

• Ideal for: Bold statements, attention-grabbing headlines (use selectively)

At Viral Pins Agency, we match font psychology to content objectives. For example, we helped a financial advisor client switch from script fonts (which undermined credibility) to a professional serif font, resulting in a 45% increase in click-through rate.

Secret #3: The “Curiosity Gap” Image Strategy

The most powerful psychological trigger for clicks is curiosity—the desire to know more.

Creating Visual Curiosity That Demands Clicks

Effective pins create a curiosity gap—showing enough to generate interest but requiring a click to satisfy that curiosity:

Partial Information: Show part of a process or result, requiring a click to see the complete picture Implied Value: Visually suggest valuable information exists beyond the pin Question-Raising Visuals: Images that prompt questions in the viewer’s mind Unexpected Elements: Visual surprises that challenge expectations

This approach transforms pins from self-contained content into gateways to more valuable information.

Partial Reveal Techniques

These specific techniques create effective curiosity gaps:

The Cropped Result: Show only a portion of the final outcome The Step Sequence: Display steps 1 and 2, implying more steps exist on your website The Collection Preview: Show a sample from a larger collection The Before/Middle: Show before and progress images, but not the final result

Jennifer, a home decor blogger client, implemented the partial reveal technique for her room makeover content. Rather than showing the complete “after” photo on her pins, she showed the “before” and a partial “after” glimpse. This simple change increased her click-through rate from 2.3% to 7.1%.

Before/After Transformation Visuals

Transformation content creates natural curiosity:

Partial Transformation: Show the “before” and part of the “after” Process Highlight: Show key moments in a transformation without the final result Results Teasing: Hint at impressive results without full disclosure Transformation Metrics: Display statistics about the transformation without showing it

These approaches leverage the powerful human desire to see complete transformations. At Viral Pins Agency, transformation-focused pins consistently generate 40-60% higher click-through rates than static content pins.

“How-To” Visual Teasers

Tutorial content benefits from strategic visual teasing:

Step Preview: Show the first 1-2 steps of a multi-step process Materials/Ingredients Display: Show what’s needed without showing the process Outcome Glimpse: Show a partial view of the completed project Difficulty Indicators: Visually communicate simplicity to encourage clicks

These techniques transform how-to content from self-contained tutorials into click-worthy teasers. One craft blogger client saw her tutorial click-through rate increase from 3.2% to 8.7% after implementing these visual teasing strategies.

Secret #4: Strategic Text Overlay Placement

Where you place text on your pin images significantly impacts both readability and click-through rates.

Eye-Tracking Studies for Pinterest

Eye-tracking research reveals how users typically scan Pinterest pins:

1. Users first notice the upper portion of the pin
2. They then scan to the center of the image
3. Text at the bottom often receives less attention
4. Users spend 1.5-2 seconds on average per pin

This scanning pattern should inform your text placement strategy. At Viral Pins Agency, we design pins with this natural eye movement in mind, placing the most important information where users naturally look first.

Text Placement Heat Map

Based on extensive testing, we’ve identified these high-performance text placement zones:

Primary Hot Zone: Upper third of the pin

• Best for: Main headlines, primary value propositions

Secondary Hot Zone: Center of the pin

• Best for: Supporting information, subheadings

Action Zone: Lower third of the pin

• Best for: Calls to action, website URLs

Avoid Zone: Extreme edges and corners

• Problem: Often cropped in feed views or overlooked

By placing text strategically within these zones, you align with natural user attention patterns. One lifestyle blogger client reorganized her text placement based on this heat map approach and saw engagement increase by 35% within two weeks.

Negative Space Utilization

Effective text placement requires sufficient negative space:

Text Breathing Room: Maintain space around text elements Background Simplification: Reduce visual noise behind text Contrast Bubbles: Use solid color blocks behind text when necessary Rule of Thirds: Place text at intersection points of the rule of thirds grid

These negative space strategies ensure your text stands out clearly. As David, a business coach client, noted: “Adding more white space around my text seemed counterintuitive—I thought I should maximize every pixel. But the improved readability led to significantly better performance.”

A/B Test Results: Optimal Text Placement Patterns

Our systematic A/B testing has revealed these high-performing text placement patterns:

The Top Banner: Headline across the top third with supporting visuals below

• Performance: 40% higher CTR than bottom text placement

The Central Focus: Main text in the center with supporting visuals above and below

• Performance: 25% higher CTR than scattered text placement

The Z-Pattern: Text following a Z-shaped reading pattern across the pin

• Performance: 35% higher CTR than random text placement

The Overlay Box: Contained text box centered over a relevant image

• Performance: 30% higher CTR than edge-aligned text

At Viral Pins Agency, we test these patterns for each client to identify which works best for their specific content and audience.

Secret #5: The “Click Trigger” Call-to-Action

A strong call-to-action (CTA) is often the difference between a pin that gets saved and one that generates clicks.

Psychology of Effective Pinterest CTAs

Pinterest CTAs work differently than those on other platforms:

Benefit-Focused: Emphasize what users will gain by clicking Curiosity-Driven: Leverage the desire to know more Solution-Oriented: Position your content as solving a specific problem Value-Explicit: Clearly state what awaits after the click

Understanding these psychological triggers helps craft CTAs that drive action. Our client data shows that pins with optimized CTAs receive 50-75% more clicks than those without clear CTAs.

Action-Oriented Phrasing That Works

These CTA phrases consistently outperform others in our testing:

Discovery Phrases:

• “Discover the full tutorial…”
• “See all 10 steps…”
• “Find out how we did it…”

Value Phrases:

• “Get the free template…”
• “Learn the exact method…”
• “Access the complete guide…”

Problem-Solving Phrases:

• “Solve your [problem] with…”
• “Finally fix your [issue]…”
• “Transform your [situation] by…”

Curiosity Phrases:

• “You won’t believe the final result…”
• “The last step is the game-changer…”
• “See what happened when we…”

Amanda, a fitness blogger client, changed her generic “Read more” CTA to “Get the complete 30-day workout plan” and saw her click-through rate increase by 85% overnight.

CTA Placement Strategies

Where you place your CTA significantly impacts its effectiveness:

After the Problem Statement: Present the CTA immediately after identifying a problem Following Partial Information: Place the CTA where users would naturally want more details At the Curiosity Peak: Position the CTA at the height of curiosity Near the Visual Focus: Place the CTA close to the most attention-grabbing visual element

At Viral Pins Agency, we typically place CTAs in the lower third of pins, after establishing value and creating curiosity in the upper portions.

Visual Emphasis Techniques

Make your CTA stand out with these visual emphasis methods:

Color Contrast: Use a contrasting color for CTA text Button Effect: Create a button-like appearance around the CTA Size Emphasis: Make the CTA slightly larger than surrounding text Directional Cues: Use subtle arrows or design elements pointing to the CTA Isolation: Surround the CTA with negative space

These visual emphasis techniques ensure your CTA doesn’t get lost in the overall design. One e-commerce client increased their product pin click-through rate by 120% after implementing these CTA emphasis techniques.

Secret #6: Mobile-First Composition Framework

With the vast majority of Pinterest usage occurring on mobile devices, optimizing for mobile viewing is essential.

Mobile Viewing Statistics on Pinterest

Understanding Pinterest’s mobile dominance informs better design decisions:

• 85% of Pinterest users access the platform via mobile devices
• Mobile users spend 40% less time viewing each pin than desktop users
• Mobile pins appear approximately 30% smaller than on desktop
• Vertical scrolling is faster on mobile, giving you less time to capture attention

These statistics highlight why mobile optimization isn’t optional—it’s essential for Pinterest success.

Composition Principles for Small Screens

These composition approaches ensure your pins perform well on mobile devices:

Vertical Priority: Design for vertical viewing first, desktop second Single-Column Layout: Avoid complex multi-column layouts that become illegible on mobile Progressive Disclosure: Organize information from most to least important, top to bottom Simplified Backgrounds: Reduce background complexity that may become distracting on small screens Focused Visual Hierarchy: Create clear visual pathways that work at small sizes

At Viral Pins Agency, we design all pins on mobile-sized templates first, then check desktop appearance second—never the reverse.

Tap-Friendly Design Elements

Consider how users physically interact with pins on mobile:

Tap Zone Clarity: Make it visually obvious the entire pin is clickable Button-Like Elements: Create visual elements that appear tappable Finger-Sized Targets: Ensure interactive elements appear large enough to tap easily Reduced Precision Requirements: Don’t rely on precise tapping for understanding the content

These tap-friendly approaches acknowledge the physical reality of how users interact with your pins. One client who redesigned their pins with these mobile interaction principles in mind saw their mobile click-through rate increase by 65%.

Vertical Orientation Optimization

The vertical nature of Pinterest requires specific design approaches:

2:3 Aspect Ratio: The ideal Pinterest ratio (1000 × 1500 pixels) Visual Flow: Create top-to-bottom visual movement Scannable Sections: Divide content into easily scannable segments Prominent Upper Third: Place key information in the upper portion Bottom CTA Placement: Position calls-to-action in the lower third

This vertical-first approach aligns with how users naturally interact with Pinterest. As Emma, a recipe blogger client, discovered: “After redesigning my pins specifically for vertical mobile viewing, my click-through rate improved by 95% within the first month.”

Secret #7: The Multi-Image Sequence Strategy

While standard pins remain important, multi-image formats offer powerful opportunities for increasing engagement and clicks.

Carousel Pin Optimization

Carousel pins allow users to swipe through multiple images:

First Slide Strategy: Make the first slide intriguing enough to encourage swiping Progressive Revelation: Reveal more valuable information with each slide Consistent Branding: Maintain visual consistency across all slides Story Arc: Create a narrative flow from first to last slide Final Slide CTA: Place your strongest call-to-action on the final slide

Our testing shows that carousel pins with 3-5 slides typically generate 65-80% more clicks than standard single-image pins covering the same content.

Story Pin Design Principles

Pinterest’s story pins (Idea Pins) offer unique engagement opportunities:

Cover Slide Optimization: Create a compelling first slide that promises value Page-Turner Design: Make each slide create curiosity about the next Text Progression: Distribute text logically across slides Visual Consistency: Maintain design cohesion throughout the story Strategic Incompleteness: Leave the story somewhat unfinished to encourage website clicks

While story pins don’t allow direct linking, they can significantly increase profile visits and follower growth, indirectly boosting traffic. One lifestyle client saw their follower growth rate triple after implementing a strategic story pin approach.

Progressive Revelation Technique

This powerful psychological technique works across all pin formats:

Information Layering: Reveal information in strategic layers Value Escalation: Increase the perceived value with each new element Question-Answer Sequence: Raise questions then partially answer them Incomplete Processes: Show parts of a process, requiring a click for completion

This technique transforms pins from static images into interactive experiences that drive clicks. At Viral Pins Agency, pins designed with progressive revelation consistently outperform standard informational pins by 70-120%.

Narrative Visual Structure

Creating a visual narrative increases engagement:

Beginning-Middle Structure: Show the start and middle of a process, but not the end Problem-Partial Solution: Present a problem and hint at the solution Before-During Sequence: Show before and during, but not after Question-Partial Answer: Raise a question and begin answering it

This narrative approach creates natural information gaps that drive clicks. One DIY blogger client implemented this approach and saw engagement increase by 215% compared to their previous complete-information pins.

Implementation Guide

Now that you understand the seven design secrets, here’s how to implement them effectively.

Tools for Creating High-CTR Pinterest Designs

These tools make implementation straightforward:

Canva Pro: Offers Pinterest templates and easy design capabilities Adobe Express: Provides professional design features with Pinterest-specific options Over: Excellent for mobile-based Pinterest design Tailwind Create: Automatically generates Pinterest designs based on your content Viral Pins Template System: Our custom template system (available in our free book)

You don’t need advanced design skills to implement these principles—the right tools make it accessible for anyone.

Templates and Resources

Start with proven templates rather than designing from scratch:

Base Templates: Begin with 3-5 core design templates Variation System: Create systematic variations of your base templates Testing Framework: Develop a simple system for testing design performance Design Library: Build a collection of high-performing elements to reuse

At Viral Pins Agency, we provide clients with custom template systems based on their specific content types and brand guidelines.

Implementation Priority Recommendations

If you’re just getting started, implement these design secrets in this order:

1. Mobile-First Composition: Start with the correct foundation
2. Color Psychology: Implement attention-grabbing color strategies
3. Curiosity Gap Techniques: Add visual curiosity elements
4. Typography Hierarchy: Optimize your text presentation
5. Strategic Text Placement: Position text for maximum impact
6. Click Trigger CTAs: Add compelling calls-to-action
7. Multi-Image Strategies: Experiment with advanced formats

This prioritization focuses on the highest-impact elements first. As Rebecca, a small business owner, shared: “By implementing just the first three secrets, my Pinterest click-through rate doubled before I even got to the other techniques.”

Testing Framework for Your Designs

Implement this simple testing approach:

1. Create Variations: Develop 2-3 design variations for the same content
2. Publish Strategically: Release pins at similar times to similar boards
3. Track Performance: Monitor click-through rates for each variation
4. Analyze Patterns: Identify which design elements perform best
5. Iterate and Improve: Apply learnings to future designs

This systematic testing approach accelerates your results by quickly identifying what works for your specific audience and content.

Conclusion

The visual nature of Pinterest makes design one of the most powerful levers for increasing traffic from the platform. By implementing these seven design secrets, you can transform your pins from merely visible to highly clickable.

To recap the key design principles:

1. Use attention-grabbing color psychology to stop the scroll
2. Implement typography hierarchy that guides users through your message
3. Create curiosity gaps that require clicks to resolve
4. Place text strategically based on eye-tracking patterns
5. Add compelling “click trigger” calls-to-action
6. Design with a mobile-first composition framework
7. Leverage multi-image sequences for enhanced engagement

Remember that Pinterest design isn’t about creating the prettiest pins—it’s about creating pins that generate clicks and traffic. Sometimes the most effective designs aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but they’re the ones that drive results.

Want our complete Pinterest design system? Download our free book “How To Get More Pinterest Traffic” to access our pin design templates, examples, and step-by-step creation process. This comprehensive guide expands on everything covered in this article with detailed tutorials and design frameworks.

Not sure if your Pinterest designs are optimized for maximum clicks? Download our free book to access the 12-point pin design audit checklist we use with all Viral Pins Agency clients. This detailed assessment will help you identify and fix the design issues that might be limiting your Pinterest performance.

---

Pin Design Audit: Not sure if your Pinterest designs are optimized for maximum clicks? Download our free book to access the 12-point pin design audit checklist we use with all Viral Pins Agency clients.