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Pinterest Competition Tactics: Win Through Creative Pinning

MJ
Matt John
18 December 2024
10 min read
Pinterest boards with pin-to-win competition entries and creative curation
Key Takeaways
  • Pinterest competitions often have lower entry numbers than mainstream social platforms
  • Board creation and pin curation competitions reward creativity and visual skills
  • Follow home decor, fashion, craft, and food brands for regular Pinterest competitions
  • Create cohesive, visually appealing boards with clear themes for judged competitions
  • Build general Pinterest skills through regular use to improve competition entries

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Pinterest Competition Tactics: Win Through Creative Pinning

Pinterest offers a unique competition experience focused on creativity and visual curation. With fewer compers actively using the platform, Pinterest competitions can offer excellent odds for those who understand how to participate effectively.

Understanding Pinterest Competitions

Why Pinterest Works for Competitions

Platform Advantages:

  • Lower competition than mainstream social media
  • Rewards creativity and curation
  • Visual-focused entries stand out
  • Longer content lifespan than other platforms
  • Niche appeal reduces entry numbers

Types of Prizes:

  • Home and decor products
  • Fashion and beauty items
  • Craft and DIY supplies
  • Food and recipe products
  • Travel experiences
  • Lifestyle products

Who Runs Pinterest Competitions

Common Hosts:

  • Home decor brands
  • Fashion retailers
  • Food and recipe brands
  • Craft supply companies
  • Wedding industry businesses
  • Travel companies
  • Lifestyle magazines

Types of Pinterest Competitions

Pin-to-Win Contests

How They Work:

  • Repin a specific image to enter
  • May require following the brand
  • Sometimes needs specific board
  • Random draw from valid entries

Entry Process:

  1. Follow the brand (if required)
  2. Find the competition pin
  3. Repin to your boards
  4. Use required hashtags if specified

Board Creation Contests

How They Work:

  • Create themed board around topic
  • Curate pins matching criteria
  • Include required brand pins
  • Often judged on creativity

Winning Elements:

  • Cohesive visual aesthetic
  • Creative interpretation of theme
  • Quality pin selection
  • Proper hashtag usage
  • Following all guidelines

Pin Creation Contests

How They Work:

  • Create original pin content
  • Upload your own image/design
  • Follow specific themes or prompts
  • May involve product showcase

Requirements Often Include:

  • Original photography
  • Featuring specific products
  • Using brand templates
  • Meeting technical specifications

Engagement Competitions

How They Work:

  • Like, comment, or repin content
  • Follow brand accounts
  • Multiple engagement actions
  • Random selection from participants

Setting Up for Pinterest Competitions

Profile Optimization

Account Setup:

  • Clear, appropriate profile photo
  • Descriptive bio
  • Public account settings
  • Organized, quality boards

Why Profile Matters:

  • Brands verify winners
  • Professional appearance helps
  • Shows you're genuine user
  • Reflects well for creative competitions

Board Organization

Create Dedicated Boards:

  • Competition entries board
  • Themed boards for common competition topics
  • Branded boards if frequently entering same brands

Board Quality:

  • Attractive cover images
  • Clear, descriptive titles
  • Organized pin arrangement
  • Mix of content sources

Finding Pinterest Competitions

Search Strategies

Pinterest Search:

  • "pin to win"
  • "giveaway"
  • "competition" + [interest area]
  • "contest" + [brand name]
  • "sweepstakes"

Limitations:

  • Pinterest search less refined than other platforms
  • Results mixed with non-competition content
  • Date filtering limited

Brand Following

High-Competition Brands:

  • Home decor (IKEA, Wayfair, Dunelm)
  • Fashion (ASOS, Topshop, H&M)
  • Craft supplies (Hobbycraft, Create and Craft)
  • Food brands (especially recipe-focused)
  • Wedding industry brands

Enable Notifications:

  • Follow favorite brands
  • Turn on pin notifications if possible
  • Check brand pins regularly

External Discovery

Other Sources:

  • Competition aggregator websites
  • Brand social media announcements
  • Brand newsletters
  • Comping community shares

Entering Pinterest Competitions

Pin-to-Win Entry

Step-by-Step:

  1. Read all competition rules
  2. Follow the brand account
  3. Find the specific competition pin
  4. Click "Save" to repin
  5. Choose appropriate board
  6. Add required hashtags if specified
  7. Don't delete until winner announced

Tips:

  • Pin to relevant, public board
  • Use exact hashtags required
  • Save to board that makes sense
  • Keep pin until after results

Board Competition Entry

Creating Winning Boards:

  1. Study the brief thoroughly
  2. Plan your board concept
  3. Gather pins that fit theme
  4. Arrange for visual appeal
  5. Include all required elements
  6. Check against judging criteria
  7. Submit by deadline

Creative Tips:

  • Tell a visual story
  • Create cohesive color scheme
  • Balance brand pins with others
  • Show personality in curation
  • Don't overcrowd the board

Original Pin Entry

Creating Quality Pins:

  • Follow image size guidelines
  • Use high-quality images
  • Clear, on-theme content
  • Include required elements
  • Attractive, pin-worthy design

Photography Tips:

  • Good lighting essential
  • Clean, uncluttered backgrounds
  • Showcase products naturally
  • On-brand aesthetic
  • Mobile-optimized vertical images

Strategy for Pinterest Competitions

Lower Competition Advantage

Why Odds Are Better:

  • Fewer active compers on Pinterest
  • Requires more effort than quick-entry platforms
  • Niche audience reduces entries
  • Creative competitions self-select

Maximizing Advantage:

  • Put genuine effort into entries
  • Target creative competitions
  • Build quality Pinterest presence
  • Engage beyond just competitions

Creative Competition Focus

Investment Approach:

  • Fewer entries, higher quality
  • Focus on creative challenges
  • Develop Pinterest skills
  • Build portfolio of quality boards

Developing Style:

  • Study winning pins
  • Understand Pinterest aesthetics
  • Practice curation skills
  • Find your visual voice

Building Pinterest Skills

Curation Skills

What Makes Good Curation:

  • Visual cohesion
  • Thoughtful selection
  • Balanced variety
  • Storytelling through images
  • Understanding trends

Practice:

  • Create non-competition boards
  • Follow Pinterest trends
  • Study successful pinners
  • Refine your aesthetic

Photography Skills

For Original Pin Competitions:

  • Learn basic composition
  • Understand lighting
  • Practice product photography
  • Edit appropriately

Pinterest Best Practices

Algorithm Understanding:

  • Quality pins perform better
  • Engagement signals matter
  • Consistent activity helps
  • Hashtags aid discovery

Managing Pinterest Competitions

Tracking Entries

What to Record:

  • Competition name/brand
  • Entry date
  • Entry method used
  • Board pin is saved to
  • Closing date
  • Result

Time Investment

Efficient Approach:

  • Weekly Pinterest competition search
  • Quick-entry pin-to-wins in batches
  • Dedicated time for creative entries
  • Don't over-invest in low-value prizes

Claiming Pinterest Wins

Winner Notification

How You'll Know:

  • Comment on winning pin
  • Direct message
  • Email if provided in entry
  • Social media announcement

Claiming Process

  • Respond to notification promptly
  • Provide requested details
  • Follow claim instructions
  • Keep verification pins visible

Conclusion

Pinterest competitions offer a refreshing change from quick-entry social media giveaways. The visual, creative nature of the platform rewards those willing to invest effort in quality entries.

Focus on developing your curation and creative skills, build an attractive Pinterest presence, and target competitions that match your aesthetic strengths. The lower competition and creative requirements mean your efforts are more likely to pay off.

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