6 tips for making your first Idea Pin

The best stories don’t just tell you something. They show it. That’s why Idea Pins put you—and your passions—front and center. 

Idea Pins take people all the way from inspiration to realization, with everything they need to act on something new within the Pin itself. There are so many ways to use Idea Pins, and you’ll find your personal style over time. We know it can be hard to overcome creator's block—and making an Idea Pin might feel daunting if you've never done it before. Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips to get your creativity flowing and help you create your first Idea Pin. 

Pick your topic 

The foundation of a great Idea Pin is a great idea. Plan around your passions, picking topics and ideas you genuinely care about. It’s easier to make great content when you’re excited about it, and your authenticity will come through in your final content. 

You can use Idea Pins for all kinds of content, from tutorials to personal stories. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies for your first Idea Pin:

1. Instructional

Instructional Pins teach new skills, provide tutorials or recommend specific products. You can film yourself doing the idea, or use videos, images and text to walk people through the steps. Creator Wendy—or TheKWendyHome—used this strategy for her DIY Idea Pin on how to build a floating centerpiece. Wendy walks you through the process step-by-step with visuals and text, and even includes some decoration inspiration. 

2. Quick tip

I make a lot of “how to” Pins, and this No-Stick Fish Grilling Trick Pin is one of my favorites I’ve made so far. It’s a simple tip to keep your fish intact—and my Pinterest audience has been eating it up. This format is great if you’ve got an idea that won’t take much time to explain. You don’t even have to add text to the Pin’s images or videos: just add it to the description instead. 

3. Comparison

Show people multiple ways to use the same ingredient, product or object. For example, creator Shiquita Hyman (Unconventional Southern Belle) used a comparison Idea Pin to share three ways to style the same vintage two-piece set. You could also apply this format to show recipe hacks, how to incorporate new home decor for different rooms in your house, etc.  

4. Storyteller

Tell an inspiring story from your own life, like an anecdote that shaped your personal growth. Creator Nancy Chen used this approach to share her pottery practice. She organized images of her pottery in chronological order to demonstrate how her skills have improved after a few weeks of training. 

5. Conversation

Bring other experts or members of your audience into the Pin. Ask people to submit questions ahead of time, reply to people’s comments with a new Idea Pin or invite someone else “on air” to chat with you. Cooking creator J. Kenji Lopez-Alt often collects questions from his followers, then uses those questions as the foundation for his next Idea Pin.

6. Showcase

Take the Pinner along while you create something. Just press record, start creating and let them watch. You don’t need to add complicated voiceover or type up instructions: just show off your skills and let other people enjoy the process from afar. Health and fitness-focused creator Wendy Traylor adopted this approach to demonstrate her favorite core strengthening exercises. She doesn’t add much text to the videos and, instead, adds any necessary context to the Pin’s caption. 

Add fun flourishes 

Use Pinterest’s editing tools to give your Idea Pins a personal touch. Things like stickers and music help draw in your audience, and help you add a personal flair. You can also encourage the people who view your Idea Pins to add their own “take”, sharing their personal spin on your idea.  

But above all else, have fun with it! Idea Pins are all about you, and what you love to do. 

Now, what will you inspire people to try next?