What I Learned (So Far) from Testing a New Pinterest Pin Style

Week 9 Wrap Up

Earlier this week, I shared that I was testing a new style for my Pinterest pins. I’ve gone with bolder colors, cleaner fonts, and a more consistent brand look. I wanted to know if these new designs would perform better than my old style, which leaned toward softer, more whimsical designs and, frankly, has been a bit inconsistent.

It’s only been a few days, but I have some preliminary takeaways.

First, a Quick Recap:

• New Style: Bold colors, clear text, a polished brand feel.

  

  

• Old Style: Softer colors, mixed fonts, a more whimsical look.

  

Here’s What I Noticed:

➤Visibility:
The new pin style has caught more eyes. Almost immediately, I’ve seen an increase in impressions. Those bold colors and clean text are doing exactly what I hoped they would—they’re standing out to readers.

A 24-hour snapshot of my pins

➤Click-Through Rate:
I was surprised to see that a few of the new pins have slightly higher click-through rates (CTR) and a few more saves. I’m seeing this mostly on pins with my book covers, so those bold design colors are enhancing the covers and drawing people in.

The first 24-hour stats for this book cover pin.

➤Saves:
This was where the old style is currently holding strong. The softer, whimsical designs have been more likely to get saves, especially on pins featuring magical or cozy themes. But it’s still early days and this chart reflects only a few days with the new style. We’ll see what happens next week.

So far, the pins with the old style are still getting more saves, but there is an upward trend.

➤Brand Recognition:
I feel like the new style is already making my pins feel more recognizable. The clean, bold look and color scheme mean readers can quickly tell it’s my content.

What I’m Doing Next:

1. Doubling Down on the Bold Style:
   For most of my blog posts, courses, and marketing tips, I’ll stick with the new style. It’s clear, professional, and eye-catching.

2. Keeping the Whimsical Style for Book-Related Pins:
   The magical, cozy designs still have a place, especially for my Book Magic Mysteries and other magical fiction. They capture the vibe of those stories perfectly and attract a specific audience. BUT I’m still going to focus on keeping the color palette consistent.

3. Experimenting with Headlines:
   I know it’s not just about design. Clear, compelling headlines matter, so I’m going to start adding even more CTAs to my pins, and I’ll be testing more headline variations, even with the same pin design.

My Biggest Takeaways:

✨ Bolder Isn’t Always Better—But It Is More Visible. If you’re feeling like your pins are invisible, try clearer text, contrasting colors, and a cleaner layout.

✨ One Size Doesn’t Fit All. Different designs work better for different content. My magical, whimsical style works for quotes and for my magical-themed posts and content. The bold style works for books, other blog posts, and recipes/bonus content.

✨ Headline Matters! The right words are a VERY strong tool. Make sure your headline is clear, benefit-focused, and designed to make people curious so they’ll click.

If You Want to Try Your Own Pin Style Experiment, Start Here:

1. Choose two different styles—one that’s new and one that’s your usual look.

2. Create 3-5 pins in each style for the same piece of content. Fresh pins!

3. Track your analytics. Look at impressions, clicks, and saves. If you don’t do this, you won’t know what’s working and what’s not.

4. Adjust and refine: Use what you learn to keep improving!

Have you tried switching up your Pinterest style, or are you more of a “stick with what works” person?

~Melissa

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