Group Pins by goal, compare outbound clicks and saves as a rate of impressions (not raw counts), and repeat the underlying topic-and-creative pattern of your best performer — not an exact duplicate image, which Pinterest’s algorithm treats as stale content.
The most common beginner mistake is ranking Pins by total clicks, which just rewards whichever Pin has been live the longest and reached the most people — not the one that actually converts attention into action.
A Worked Example: Traffic vs. Conversion Rate
| Pin | Impressions | Outbound clicks | Click rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12,000 | 90 | 0.75% |
| B | 4,500 | 55 | 1.22% |
| C | 1,800 | 20 | 1.11% |
Pin A reached the most people, but Pin B has the strongest click rate by a clear margin. The next test should keep Pin B’s core promise and clarity while varying its image, headline wording, or destination — not scrap it in favor of Pin A just because A has more raw traffic.
Run a Pin Review in Six Steps
- Choose one goal for the review period. Website traffic, saves, and outbound clicks reward different Pin styles, so pick one before comparing anything.
- Export or record Pin-level performance for matching dates. Comparing a Pin’s first week against another Pin’s sixth month isn’t a fair test — align the windows.
- Calculate outbound-click rate and save rate for each Pin. Rates control for reach differences that raw counts hide.
- Separate mature Pins from newly published ones. A brand-new Pin hasn’t had time to reach its eventual audience yet.
- Identify the repeated pattern in topic, promise, format, and destination. Look for what the top 2-3 Pins share, not just what the single best Pin looks like.
- Create one controlled variation and track the downstream website result. Change one element at a time so you know what actually moved the number.
Reading the Graphic
Use the graphic as a monthly checklist rather than a one-time exercise — Pinterest content has a long tail, so a Pin’s ranking against this sequence can change months after it was first published.
Where to Find These Numbers in Pinterest’s Own Dashboard
Inside Pinterest Analytics, the Overview tab shows impressions and outbound clicks by date range; switch to the Top Pins view and sort by outbound clicks to see individual Pin performance rather than account-wide totals. Set a custom date range that matches the window you’re comparing, and use the "Pin click rate" column directly instead of dividing manually — it’s the same calculation, already filtered to the Pins you’re viewing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating impressions as a business result. A Pin can rack up huge impressions and still send almost no one to your website.
- Comparing a six-month-old Pin with a six-day-old one. Match the time window before drawing any conclusion about which performed better.
- Repeating the exact creative instead of the winning idea. An identical re-upload often underperforms a fresh variation of the same successful concept.
- Ignoring whether outbound traffic actually signs up or buys. A high click rate that never converts on your site isn’t the metric to optimize for alone.
The Pinterest Strategy & Pin Planner pairs each Pin with its target keyword and tracks which ones actually drive traffic, so the comparison above takes minutes instead of a spreadsheet you rebuild every month.
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Pinterest Strategy & Pin Planner
Pairs each Pin with its target keyword and tracks which ones actually drive traffic, so the comparison above takes minutes instead of a spreadsheet you rebuild every month.
FAQ
Are saves or clicks more important?
It depends on the goal. Saves can signal future usefulness; outbound clicks matter more when the goal is website action.
How long should a Pin be tested?
There is no universal period; use enough time and impressions for a fair comparison and document the window.
Should weak Pins be deleted?
Usually diagnose topic, promise, design, and destination first; historical content may still be discovered later.
Educational content only. Figures above are illustrative examples — your own results will vary with your specific situation.
Sources: Pinterest Analytics and measurement and Pinterest small-business resources.
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