How do you create video pins for Pinterest? How do you post video pins on Pinterest? These are common questions many beginner bloggers and online marketers have as they start exploring their promotional options with videos on Pinterest.
Video pins have been around for a long time. However, in 2024, video pins folded in “Idea Pins” – static carousel slides and video pins – into their regular pin format. With your phone, you can create “idea pins” as video pins with music, stickers, filters and so much more.
The nature of video pins is such that you can do so much with them as a promotional tool. We’ll explore some of these things in this post, pertaining to blogs, online businesses and e-commerce sites.
Pinterest is one of the top platforms where people go to find interesting solutions and people to follow. Learning how to create informative, inspiring video pins that lead to clicks can work in your favour.
In this post you’ll learn:
- What are video pins on PInterest
- How to create video pins: the different types
- How to add video to Pinterest your desktop
- How to add video to Pinterest using your mobile phone
- Tips on how to use video pins to promote your blog content
- Tips on how to use video pins to promote products
Discover why video pins should be part of your Pinterest marketing activities, whether for your blog or business.
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on a product or service, and decide to purchase it, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All recommended products and services are based on my positive experience with them. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.
Bookmark this post on Pinterest!
What Are Video Pins?
Video pins are short, engaging video clips designed to showcase content in a dynamic, visual format. They allow creators to share more detailed information, stories and tutorials in simple, brief and impactful ways.
Video pins are:
- Either one video or a combination of videos as well as static images
- Usually 6 to 15 seconds long; but can be anywhere between 4 seconds to 15 minutes
- Formatted either as square (1:3) or vertical (2:3, 4:5, or 9:16)
- In mp4, .mov, or .m4v file types.
- Up to 2GB in size
- Saveable to your boards
- You can add a link to your blog or website
- They play automatically as users scroll through their feeds – this captures their interest and boosts engagement.
- When creating them using your phone, you can use many tools like Instagram reels or TikTok posts to customize them – including music, text, stickers and more.
Top 3 Benefits Of Using Video Pins
Why should you include video pins in your pinning strategy?
- They’re an effective tool for promoting products, tips or boosting brand visibility.
- Video pins make it easy to boost your personal brand as a niche expert.
- With the use of stickers (using your phone to create the video pin) you can also make them engaging, prompting people to comment
Video pins, when done well, attract clicks to learn more and build awareness of you as a content creator.
If you’re providing quality value or have information/products that your key target audience is seeking, you’re more likely to build your following.
Take for example this growing, affordable “Old Money” luxury style fashion brand that does a good job showing style tips.
How To Create A Video Pin
There are two ways to create a video pin:
- Within Pinterest itself (best using the mobile app)
- With an external video editor like Canva, CapCut, etc.
I strongly recommend you use the Pinterest mobile app to create your video pin as you get more features. The typical version of creating a video ad using the desktop is extremely limited in what you can do at this time.
You can also create a video in Canva or another video editing program and upload it. This speeds up the process and gives you more control.
A few things to remember about Pinterest videos:
- Visuals matter. Having a strong introductory visual with some text (like with static pins) is important as there’s no sound when a video pin is shown in somebody’s feed.
- Entice viewers to click through. Don’t just share an animated static pin. Provide some interesting facts, play on the pain point/expected outcome “Creating a delicious apple crumble shouldn’t be like rocket science… / Learn how to make one easily as 1 – 2 – 3. ”
- Think like an advertiser: What would make somebody click through to read more?
Finally, make sure you add a strong, click-worthy video pin title, an optimized description and add it to an appropriate, relevant board. The usual pinning best practices apply to video pins too!
Different Purposes For Video Pins On Pinterest
What are some of the reasons you may want to create and add video pins to Pinterest?
Let’s look at their purpose:
- Building your personal brand
- Growing awareness for your business
- Promoting a product/service or your blog content
- Promoting for engagement/conversion
Video pins can be various types of content: from how-to tutorials to brief, animated “ad” type posts like static pins that drive interest to your site.
You can also do a short video of you speaking on a topic or tip. This is a great strategy when focusing on personal branding.
Let’s look next at how to create a video pin using different types of sources.
How To Create A Video Pin: Different Sources
Here are some of the ways you can create different types of video pins.
1. Make Video Pins with Canva
Canva is a versatile tool for creating video pins, and you don’t even need a paid account to get started. Here are a few options:
- Use Canva’s video pin templates and customize them.
- Add video clips to a static Pinterest graphic template.
- Animate your static posts to make them pop.
- Add text to entice viewers to keep watching.
- Add music or a voiceover (just remember it doesn’t work in a person’s Pinterest feed unless clicked).
Upload your video content, use free stock video sites like Pexels, or Canva Pro’s video library to create visually stunning videos.
2. Repurpose Instagram and TikTok Content
Repurposing blog content is my favourite hack, but you can do the same for Pinterest with your Instagram and TikTok content.
Already creating content for Instagram Reels, Stories, or TikTok? Great news—these vertical videos (9:16) are perfect for Pinterest! Simply upload them directly to Pinterest without extra editing.
Focus on tutorial-style or inspirational content, as Pinterest users are there to learn and discover.
Keep personal or overly casual videos for Instagram, and instead share tips, aesthetics, and how-tos on Pinterest.
TIP: You can repurpose Pinterest videos for Instagram/TikTok too, if they’re done right! We’ll learn about downloading video from Pinterest in a moment.
Here’s a great example of recycled content from an Instagram reel from @hammonnest.
3. Create Stop Motion Videos with Stop Motion Studio App
One of my favourite iPhone apps for cool videos is the Stop Motion Studio app. You can create fun stop-motion videos.
These work wonderfully for showcasing products, recipes, or tutorials. They can be real attention-grabbers on Pinterest as so few people use this style.
Here’s a beautiful one – could you have the patience to create something intricate like this?
5. Film Your Own Videos
Sometimes videos on Pinterest don’t have to be fancy with stock video and photography. Simple DIY videos are perfect for Pinterest!
A simple clip showing part of a tutorial or about you speaking briefly about a solution (make sure there’s some text overlay) can entice viewers to click through for more.
Keep your videos clear and engaging to inspire action. Authenticity can be very attractive in a sea of slick video productions.
5. Create Animated Graphics Using Instagram
Want a quick way to make a video pin? Upload a static image to your Instagram Story, add a fun animated GIF, and save it to your phone. Just like that, you’ve got a Pinterest-ready video!
Little tricks like this can make creating and repurposing content for social media and Pinterest a breeze. Create scroll-stopping video pins that drive traffic and engagement.
Start experimenting to see which works best for your content!
6. Create A Video Pin Directly In Pinterest
In the next section, we’ll explore how to create a video pin in Pinterest itself using the mobile app.
As I mentioned before, I find the desktop version of adding video pins woefully disappointing at this time.
Adding your own raw video and then editing it in Pinterest can save you some time and create very simple video pins that do the trick. Think of it like using the Instagram reel tools to create a reel inside the app itself. Same premise!
How To Post Video Pins On Pinterest
As I mentioned, there are two ways to do this: using the desktop version or the mobile version.
Let’s look at the desktop version first.
How To Post Video Pins On Pinterest (Desktop Version)
When you’ve got pre-created video pin content that you’ve made in Canva or another source, it’s easy to upload video and create a simple pin.
It’s much like you would do with a static pin.
Here are the steps:
- In the top left, click on the Pinterest button with the three horizontal bars.
- Click Create Pin (under Organic).
- Upload your video.
- Add in the pin title, description, link board, and tagged topics like you would a regular static pin.
- Print publish.
That’s it! Here’s a brief video that walks you through the process.
How To Post Video Pins On Pinterest Using Your Phone App
Using the Pinterest app opens up many opportunities. You can simply use a video that you’ve created before in Canva or elsewhere. Or you can add just the basic video and make edits within the app.
Here are the in-app video pin editing features:
- Size: Change the size (9:16; 2:3; 3:4; 4:5; 1:1)
- Media: Trim video or reorder
- Text: Add text overlaid on the video
- Music: Add video from a selection
- Draw: Add your drawings and scribbles
- Sticker: Add a mention of somebody’s Pinterest account, a board, or ask a question. Add photos, and other static and gif stickers.
- Audio: Do a voice over.
- Filters: Edit the visuals and colours of the video (e.g. brighten it up)
The process for posting Pinterest videos with the app is this:
- Click the + and click pin.
- Upload your video(s) and images as needed.
- Start editing!
- When you’re done click next.
- Now you add the title, description, link, board, related topics and tag products (if you are featuring them).
- Schedule to post immediately by clicking Create or schedule your post.
- Advanced settings include adding a paid partnerhip label and if you have it enabled, show similar products (shopping).
How To Use Pinterest Video Pins To Promote Your Blog Content
If you’re a blogger, here are a few ways you can use video pins to boost interest in your content:
- Feature a tip out of a list of many tips that help solve a broad problem
- Show a before and after and include a call to action to learn the steps
- Demonstrate a few steps of a tutorial
- Do a simple video of you talking about a problem readers have, and entice them to read the post to find the solution. Add a few visuals.
Make sure you remember to add the link to the post!
| Related: The Best Pinterest Strategies For Consistently Growing Blog Traffic
How To Use Video Pins To Promote Products
If you have a product it makes sense to use a video pin to promote it. People want to see the product in a real life situation.
Here are a few ways to get Pinterest users to click on your product video pin:
- Show the product in use
- Demonstrate how easily the product solves a problem: do a before and after
- Show a series of images along with text outlining benefits
Here’s a great example of a video pin for a nail polish that shows how easy the product is to use.
| Related: How To Create Clickworthy Pinterest Pin Designs
Start Creating Gorgeous, Effective Video On Pinterest
Now that you know how to add videos on Pinterest, start experimenting. Take your top blog posts and products and see how you can design video pins that attract interest.
As always, optimize your content using keywords in Pinterest. Learn how to find popular keywords for Pinterest if you haven’t done so.
Remember, that much of this is trial and error for your niche. See what works with your key audience. Produce a new video pin once a week for a month and see if you notice a bump up in ranking and traffic from it.
Need some Pinterest pin templates? Here is a batch of 10 free ones for you!
Bookmark this blog post on Pinterest!
how to increase outbound clicks on pinterest
Hi Margaret, I loved your tips. Today I have my pinterest that has a lot of pin views, but I can’t convert this into traffic to my website http://www.danidrops.com.br
I’m now testing layouts on the pins to see if it improves, but I still haven’t gotten a good result.
Do you have any tips for generating traffic on pinterest accounts with lots of views but few exit clicks?
Try to put text on it that tells the user what they can expect to see when they click on the link. Give them the benefit – so for example, “Fall Nail Designs – Hot Trends 2022”
I found this really helpful as I am a blogger too. Thanks a lot for sharing this
You’re welcome! I hope it gives you a boost in visibility on Pinterest!
I’m new to Pinterest and they have been really promoting the idea pins. Thank you for this post. I’m working on learning this next week. Bookmarked and saved
Glad to be of help with these tips!