Group boards are directly responsible for my success in converting pins to real blog traffic. If you are just starting your Pinterest account or have been pinning for a while and not seeing any refers, you need to get on group boards on Pinterest. Group boards are key to expanding your reach on Pinterest but they must be used correctly to ensure the proper results.
Group boards are created by an individual pinner. They then invite other pinners to become collaborators. All collaborators may pin to that board. The board may be for a very specific topic or be open to all types of posts.
The group board owner sets the rules for their board, They may limit the number of pins per day, repetitiveness of pins or enforce engagement of collaborators.
I get asked all the time “how do I find group boards?’ There are three ways to find group boards:
- through blogging friends
- looking at other pinners’ profiles
- Pin Groupie (update: this site was shut down December 1/15. I am leaving link here in case it comes back up)
***You can check out my Pinterest Group Board Directory here.
It is easy to see at a glimpse at someone’s boards which are group boards. Group boards have multiple faces on the top line. The owner of the board is the first pic you see. Usually to be added, you send the board owner a private message, email or leave a comment on the board owner’s latest pin. The board description will tell you how to be added as a collaborator.
Once you have been invited and accept a group board invitation, that board will appear on your profile as one of your boards. You may now pin to it. When you pin to the group board, not only do your followers have the potential to see your pin but all the followers of that group board will also have it appear in their thread. This is how you can quickly expand your reach. Some group boards are well established and have thousands of followers. You have the potential to tap that market that someone else has grown.
But hold on before you go running off, joining a ton of group boards and pinning away. You, as a board owner, should you decide to create your own group board, and as a collaborator are responsible for the success or failure of group boards.
How to host successful group boards on Pinterest
The key to the success of your group board does not lie in the number of collaborators but in the amount of engagement on the board itself.
I get invites to a lot of group boards and I do accept and join quite a few. However, one of my biggest pet peeves is joining a board and seeing that I am the only active pinner. If the board owner is not taking an active role in filling their own group board, why should I grow their followers and engagement for them. I will more than likely leave that board.
As the board owner, it is your duty to pin to your own group board EVERY DAY! Yes, every day! If you do not have enough of your own posts to pin there, find someone else’s posts to pin. When the collaborators see you are pinning to the board, they will be encouraged to do the same.
Pinterest has an algorithm for group boards. Oh, it’s that nasty word again! If you want the pins on your group board to be pushed out to the followers, there must be engagement. Sometimes collaborators do not engage first so it is up to you to get the ball rolling. Re-pin, like and comment on the pins left on your board.
Remember, you, as the owner of a group board, can have great impact on how well that board is received and engaged.
How to help make group boards successful as a collaborator
When you have been invited to a board, you are a collaborator. What that means is that you are going to curate great pins to that board. You are helping the board owner fill that particular board with relevant pins. In return, they are giving you access to all of their board followers.
Your responsibility in this arrangement is to consistently pin appropriate content to that board. If you do not do that, you are just a follower and have wasted your invite that was extended to you in good faith. You should be able to easily pin at least once a day to each group board you belong to.
If you want your pins on that board to be pushed out to all of the board followers, you can not drop pins and run. You can also help boost the board’s visibility by engaging. Re-pin, like and comment on other pins on that board.
Group boards on Pinterest can be a win win situation for both the board owner and the collaborator. When used correctly, everyone will benefit with an increase in followers and page views.
42 comments
What a fantastic image you’ve chosen.
You answered a lot of questions I had.Thanks!
You are very welcome Cassie.
Thanks for the great information. I have no idea what I’m doing on Pinterest — apart from the fact I like the pictures.
Very cool about Pin Groupie – I’ll be checking that out! Good advice about engagement too. I’m learning that more and more.
I’m glad to hear that Katy! Keep adding those group boards!
Elena, you always have the most helpful advice! Thanks for sharing! ~Paula R #BlogShareLearn
Elena, you always have the most helpful advice!
I have seen quite a few of your Pinterest posts and I have to say they are very information. I am a very bad Pinterest poster ad I think you have peeked my interest to sit down and read through all your tips to make my boards MUCH better! Thanks for the insight!
I think I have seen you around over there so you must be doing something right! I hope you can use my information and get the results you are looking for.
Fantastic information Elena!
Thanks for elaborating on the proper etiquette for group boards. As I learn the ropes, that was next on my list of things to learn. Now I better understand their value too.
Maybe the topic of your next post too? lol
Good timing with this, working to figure out everything Pinterest this month!
Piece of cake! Take your time through each stuff and you will get there.
Awesome tips! I love Pinterest and can’t wait to organize my posts.
Pinterest is like a messy closet. You need to go through it once in a while.
I spent some time on pinterest this morning after reading this, and I know you are onto something. I really need to get more involved in it. Doing too much with social media can be a time waster, so you’ve help me realign priorities to make the most of that time. Thank you Elena!
Social media used to suck so much of my time and with it my love for writing. How silly is that? It was like putting the wagon before the horse. Schedule your time, and know when to walk away for the day.
Great tips – always appreciated! ??
As always, you give great advice, Elena! Pinterest seems overwhelming at first, but you make it seem doable. Now to find the time…:-)
There never seems to be enough time!
Great tips. I went back to my group boards this morning for another look.
I hope you are adding some new ones!
Another great post with excellent tips my dear! You’re the P-Bomb!
Kimberly XO
Hi Elena. Great information and definitely a challenge for me to keep up. Thanks to you I’ve been getting more and more into Pinterest and now I see how I need to ramp it up even more. ~Kathy
I hope you are starting to see some results Kathy. It takes very little time to upkeep once you have everything set up properly.
Great tips! You know I love this post because I’ve been having group board issues lately. Perfect timing! Thanks! Stacie xo
Another person had trouble with them too today. You have to keep an eye on the boards you own. It is frustrating that not everyone plays nice. Thank you so much for reading and participating!
Ah! Now I know why I’m not having much success on Pinterest. Bookmarking your post, Elena as I just did with Katie’s. Thank you.
Group boards are the way to get your pins way out there Corinne. I hope my post helps.
Great info! Mrs. Pinterest Guru. BTW, I stumbled this post and liked it onto my list of “Blogs I Like.
Thank you so much Terri but I am afraid if one more person calls me Guru, I will be obliged to start wearing a sheet for clothing.
I’ve found these posts really helpful Elena, thank you. Especially as I’m just getting to grips with Pinterest. It’s annoying that quite a few group boards I’ve come across don’t give guidance on how to join, now I know.
I have found many boards that do not leave instruction as well. Sometimes they are just not accepting any more collaborators.
Excellent tips as always my guru.
Stop using that word!