For Bloggers, Creators & Midlife Side Hustlers Who Want Smart, Sustainable Growth
When I first started using Pinterest, I made the mistake most beginners make—creating just one type of Pin for each blog post. Big mistake.
Different Pin types serve different purposes and appeal to different users. And once I started mixing things up, I saw more traffic, more saves, and more signups—without working harder.
🧍♀️ Solo Tip: You don’t need to use all 17 types. Start with 2–3 that match your content style and goals, then build from there.
Let’s dive into the most effective Pin types for growing a blog, promoting a freebie, selling digital products, or building authority as a midlife content creator.
Note from 💚 Kari: I am not a professional pin-maker. Below are my versions of each type of pin. I started in Canva, set my brand colors, chose a Canva template and updated them all to be my own pins to show examples here. I find it fun to play around in Canva, so that’s what I do.
If you don’t want to spend the time doing this, there are many options of template packs to choose. In my research, I found a beautiful set at Happily Dwell, but I didn’t buy it yet. There are also plenty of pinners that offer free sets to get subscribers; so that’s an option too. There are so many talented women out there.
I also put together my own little ‘Pinterest Beginner Guide.’ If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find My Personal Pinterest Guide on this blog. Tilly has all this information too, so if you have a question or need help with a plan – just ask her!
✍️ Blog Content & Educational Pins
1. Blog Post Teasers
Pins that highlight a sneak peek or main takeaway from a blog post.
Why it works: Curiosity + value = clicks.
Best for: Driving blog traffic
Try it with: A few bold points from your post + a “Read More” CTA
💡 Example: “5 Midlife Money Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)”
2. List Pins (“5 Ways…”)
Pins that showcase a numbered list of tips, tools, or strategies.
Why it works: Easy to scan + visually organized.
Best for: Tips, tutorials, resource roundups
Solo Tip: Odd numbers (5, 7, 9) get more engagement!
💡 Example: “7 Excel Shortcuts Every Woman Over 45 Should Know”
3. Checklist Pins
Pins with a quick checklist someone can screenshot or save.
Why it works: Actionable, practical, and saveable.
Best for: Challenges, guides, transitions (like moving, decluttering, budgeting)
Try it with: 5–10 quick, punchy bullets
💡 Example: “Empty Nest Transition Checklist: 8 Things to Reclaim Your Identity”
4. How-To or Tutorial Pins
Step-by-step Pins that walk users through a process.
Why it works: Teaches + teases content in 5 seconds or less.
Best for: DIY, tech tips, mindset shifts
Solo Tip: Use arrows or numbers to guide the eye.
💡 Example: “How to Create a Digital Budget Tracker in 5 Steps”
5. Infographic Pins
Long, vertical Pins with stats or frameworks.
Why it works: Turns info into something visual + saveable.
Best for: Stages, timelines, statistics, visual concepts
💡 Example: “The 5 Financial Stages of Midlife: Where Are You?”
🎁 Freebie, Quiz & Offer Pins
6. Freebie or Quiz Promo Pins
Pins that promote an opt-in like a checklist, guide, or quiz.
Why it works: People love free tools they can download.
Best for: Growing your email list
Pro Tip: Include the word “Free” in big, bold text
💡 Example: “Take the Digital Declutter Quiz: What’s Your Organization Style?”
7. Product Highlight Pins
Pins that showcase your digital product or service.
Why it works: Great for getting your offer seen by the right people.
Best for: Budget planners, templates, mini-courses
Try it with: Outcome-focused headlines
💡 Example: “Midlife Budget Toolkit: Organize Your Finances in 15 Minutes a Day”
8. Challenge Pins
Pins that invite someone to join a time-bound event.
Why it works: Creates momentum + accountability.
Best for: Email challenges, opt-ins, courses
💡 Example: “Join the 5-Day Digital Declutter Challenge!”
🎥 Video & Visual Engagement Pins
9. YouTube / Video Promo Pins
Pins with a video thumbnail + title to promote content elsewhere.
Why it works: Doubles your visibility across platforms.
Best for: Tutorials, vlogs, walkthroughs
💡 Example: “Watch: 3-Minute Digital Decluttering Routine”
10. Story or Idea Pins
Multi-slide Pins that walk through a process or story.
Why it works: Encourages deeper engagement + saves.
Best for: Behind the scenes, tutorials, routines
💡 Example: “How I Built My Blog at 45 (Even With Zero Tech Skills)”
11. Quote Pins
Motivational or reflective quotes.
Why it works: High shareability + emotional connection.
Best for: Inspiration, self-growth, storytelling
💡 Example: “It’s never too late to become who you might have been.”
12. Testimonial Pins
Showcase kind words from readers or customers.
Why it works: Social proof builds trust.
Best for: Products, coaching, services
💡 Example: “How Sarah Used My Budget Template to Save $4,300 in 6 Months”
🔁 Comparison & Transformation Pins
13. Before & After Pins
Show a transformation or result visually.
Why it works: Nothing beats proof.
Best for: Organization, home, finance, wellness
💡 Example: “Inbox: 857 Emails ➝ Zero Inbox in One Weekend”
14. Comparison Pins
Compare two strategies, tools, or methods.
Why it works: Helps readers make a decision fast.
Best for: Product vs. product, method vs. method
💡 Example: “Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: Which Works Faster?”
15. Question Pins
Pose a question your audience needs the answer to.
Why it works: Curiosity = clicks.
Best for: Blogs, quizzes, thought leadership
💡 Example: “Is Your Retirement Plan Missing These 3 Elements?”
16. Behind-the-Scenes Pins
Show your workspace, process, or creative routine.
Why it works: Builds connection and trust.
Best for: Branding, personality, soft selling
💡 Example: “A Day in the Life of a Budget Blogger (With a 9-to-5 Job)”
17. Personal Story Pins
Pins that tease a personal story or transformation.
Why it works: Relatable and click-worthy.
Best for: Solo business owners, life transitions, comeback stories
💡 Example: “How I Paid Off $45,000 in Debt After Divorce”
🧠 Final Thoughts: Choose a Few & Keep It Fresh
You don’t need to master every Pin type. You just need a few that work for your content, your voice, and your audience.
Start with these steps:
- Pick 3–5 Pin types to test
- Create templates in Canva so you can reuse them
- Link each Pin back to this post for visibility
- Schedule 1–2 fresh Pins per day
PIM Community Question:
Which Pin types are you most excited to try?
Leave a comment or Ask Tilly if you want help picking the right one for your next post!
