Fresh Pins (Explained)

There is a lot of conflicting advice on how to grow/run a successful marketing campaign on Pinterest. I have been investigating these tips and all the guru advice being taught that will hopefully reflect in this continued series on Pinterest. The one thing that seems consistent from blog to blog is that Pinterest wants fresh pins.

So this lead to…

What Exactly Is A “Fresh” Pin?

Define “Fresh” for me would ya guys?

A Fresh Pin is defined by Pinterest as an image or video that hasn’t been seen (viewed) before (on your account). Fresh Pins come from creating new images for each and every pin. Be forewarned: This can be a bit misleading because the image can be pinned to another account as a fresh pin, as long as it new to that account, and is a fresh load of the image.

A Fresh Pin is not to be confused with fresh content. Fresh content means a new post, video, podcast on your own website.

So, to be clear, YOU MUST CHANGE THE IMAGE for it to be considered a fresh pin. Changing the heading and description only does not count as a new pin.

Small improvements and slight changes to images are not enough. That is considered trying to “trick” the system and if caught could lead to account suspension.

Pinterest Wants Fresh Pins! Show Me The Proof

Everything I picked up along the way about Pinterest, mentions fresh pins, but few can show proof of these claims. One article I read did have copies of emails from Pinterest but made their own conclusion. I wanted proof and to decide for myself, so I endeavored to find this information online. It was surprisingly difficult to find beyond the blogsphere.

I did manage to find an old video from 2020and then there is this article by tailwind from 2020.

How To Use Tailwind for Pinterest Marketing in 2020

If you do find more documentation please send me the link(s)!

Why Are Fresh Pins Important?

First and foremost, fresh pins are what Pinterest and its algorithm (From 2020 to now) prioritize.

You want to work with Pinterest, not against it, and right now that means new pins.

Pinterest has said it is trying to improve the user experience and fresh pins are what use users tend to engage with the most. Working with the algorithm is probably the most important reason but it is by no means the last.

Do I Only Pin Fresh Pins? What About Repins and Duplicate pins?

While you should spend the majority of your efforts on creating new pins, repinning is helpful to some extent.

Try to avoid duplicate pins (Pinning the same image twice). There are natural times to repin a previously created pin but you should make sure not to spam your account.

Third party pins count as repins. Repins are important for showing relevancy between pins and the board, and starting a new board. Repins should not be the focal point of your business account. (For personal accounts this is totally fine.)

The Following Would NOT Be Considered “Fresh” Pin(s)

• Changing the Pin title, Pin description, or alt text while pinning the same image.
• Implementing minor and barely noticeable adjustments to an already-pinned image. These adjustments could involve shifting the background image by a few pixels or making slight movements to the logo, in an attempt to deceive Pinterest into perceiving it as a Fresh Pin. It’s important to note that merely relocating, enlarging, or flipping the image does not constitute a fresh pin. Altering the caption alone will not yield the desired result either.
• Duplicate Pins. A few can be considered normal but too many can lead to suspension because it starts to look like spam.

So What Can I Do?

You can create several different images that link to the same blog post, page, or product listing, and each of those would be fresh when saved to Pinterest for the first time.

Instead of always repinning, you can use the mobile app or the save browser extension to save pins directly from their source. This creates a fresh pin as well.

Save Time, Create Pins In Batches

Canva is my favorite place to create batches of pins. I create 5 per post and then schedule the pins out over a couple of months using Pinterest’s own internal scheduler. There are programs like Tailwind that also help with this process. I highly recommend both programs if you intend to really get in to marketing on Pinterest.

Summary

• Fresh pins are considered new when there is a fresh load of an image to your Pinterest account.
• Proof is hard to come by but it is out there if you look.
• Fresh Pins are important for many reasons including increased visibility and engagement. Consistently pining fresh pins is the only way to do this.
• Best practice is to NOT make or pin duplicates.
• Repins are important for establishing relevancy between pins on a board and to boost initial board engagement otherwise focus on creating new pins.

Where did you get your information?

All documentation or data was shown or linked in the article.

Where does the advice come from?

If it does not come from data or documentation it comes from personal use of Pinterest as a user and creator. Follow me on Pinterest!