Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Ads on Pinterest (2025)

Creating Pinterest ads can be frustrating. You spend time designing the perfect Pins, selecting your target audience, and setting a budget, but when you hit "launch," the results don't reflect the effort. Your Pins fade into the background of a busy feed, and your budget slips away without an explicit return.

Pinterest is an incredible platform, but for many, it's tough to figure out how to make ads that stand out. If you're not getting the results you expect, it's not about the platform—it's about knowing how to use it effectively. The good news? With the right approach, you can turn your Pinterest ads into a powerhouse for driving traffic, sales, and brand recognition.

In this guide, you'll learn how to create Pinterest ads. Whether you're a small business owner, an influencer, or managing campaigns for others, follow this step-by-step process, and you'll be set to start seeing better engagement and results.

Understanding the Power of Pinterest Ads

Pinterest is unlike other social media platforms. People don't scroll through Pinterest aimlessly; they search for ideas, products, and inspiration with the intent to take action. Whether that action is purchasing a product, booking a service, or planning a future project, Pinterest users are actively looking for what they want.

That's the power of Pinterest ads; they allow you to meet your audience exactly where they're already searching for solutions.

When you create a Pinterest ad, you're not interrupting their social feed like on other platforms. Instead, you're giving them something they want and can use. That's the kind of connection that leads to higher engagement and better conversions. Plus, your ads don't just disappear; they can continue to perform long after you've launched your campaign, generating ongoing results.

Benefits of Pinterest Ads

Pinterest Ads offer a unique way to reach users actively searching for inspiration and ideas. With high purchase intent and visually driven content, Pinterest helps brands drive traffic, conversions, and long-term engagement. Here are some of its benefits:

High Purchase Intent: Users on Pinterest often browse with the intent to buy, making it a powerful platform for product discovery and conversion.

Visual-First Format: Pinterest’s visual format helps brands showcase their products in an engaging and lifestyle-oriented way that stands out.

Evergreen Content: Pins have a longer lifespan than posts on other platforms, continuing to drive traffic and engagement over time.

Niche Targeting Options: Pinterest allows you to target users based on interests, keywords, demographics, and behaviors for more relevant reach.

Strong Mobile Presence: A large percentage of Pinterest users browse via mobile, offering brands a chance to connect during micro-moments of inspiration.

Increased Website Traffic: Pinterest ads can drive qualified traffic to your site, especially when linked to optimized landing pages or product pages.

Support for Every Stage of the Funnel: Whether it’s brand awareness or purchase, Pinterest ad formats support full-funnel marketing goals effectively.

By leveraging Pinterest Ads, you can reach an engaged audience in a non-intrusive way. Now let’s see some different types of ads on Pinterest. 

Different Types of Pinterest Ads 

Pinterest offers a range of ad formats designed to blend seamlessly into users’ feeds while serving specific marketing goals. Each format caters to different content styles and funnel stages, helping brands connect with users more effectively. Here are some different types of ads on Pinterest: 

1. Standard Pins

Standard Pins are the most basic ad format, consisting of a single image or video. They look like regular pins but are promoted to reach a larger audience. Ideal for showcasing products, blog posts, or key visuals, they are great for driving brand awareness and website traffic without disrupting user experience.

Best For: Brand awareness, website traffic, and product promotion.​

Specs:

• File Type: .PNG or .JPEG
• Aspect Ratio: 2:3 (1000 x 1500 pixels)
• Max File Size: 20 MB (desktop), 32 MB (in-app)
• Title: Up to 100 characters (first 40 may display in feeds)
• Description: Up to 500 characters (used for algorithmic relevance)​

Tip: Use high-quality, vertical images with clear branding and a compelling call-to-action to encourage engagement.

2. Video Pins

Video Pins are visually dynamic and help capture user attention more effectively than static images. These ads autoplay as users scroll, making them perfect for storytelling, product demonstrations, or tutorials. Brands can use both short-form and long-form videos to boost engagement and convey more information in a compact format.

Best For: Storytelling, product demonstrations, and increasing engagement.​

Specs:

• File Type: .MP4, .MOV, or .M4V
• Encoding: H.264 or H.265
• Max File Size: Up to 2GB
• Video Length: 4 seconds to 15 minutes (recommended: 6–15 seconds)
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1, 2:3, 4:5, or 9:16
• Title: Up to 100 characters
• Description: Up to 500 characters​

Tip: Design videos that convey your message without sound, as they autoplay muted in feeds.

3. Carousel Ads

Carousel Ads allow you to include multiple images (up to five) within a single pin. Users can swipe through the cards, making it ideal for showcasing product collections, step-by-step guides, or multiple features of a single product. This format increases interaction and encourages users to spend more time with your content.

Best For: Showcasing product collections, step-by-step guides, or multiple features.​

Specs:

• File Type: .PNG or .JPEG
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1 or 2:3
• Max File Size: 32 MB per image
• Title: Up to 100 characters
• Description: Up to 500 characters

Tip: Ensure each card has a cohesive design and links to relevant landing pages for a seamless user experience.

4. Shopping Ads

Shopping Ads pull directly from your product catalog and feature real-time product details like pricing and availability. These ads make it easy for users to shop directly from Pinterest, streamlining the customer journey from discovery to purchase. They're especially effective for e-commerce businesses looking to scale sales.

Best For: Driving sales and streamlining the customer journey from discovery to purchase.​

Specs:

• File Type: .PNG or .JPEG
• Aspect Ratio: 2:3 (1000 x 1500 pixels)
• Max File Size: 20 MB (desktop), 32 MB (in-app)
• Title: Up to 100 characters
• Description: Up to 500 characters

Tip: Integrate your product catalog with Pinterest and ensure your product data is up-to-date for optimal performance.

5. Collections Ads

Collections Ads combine a large hero image or video with smaller supporting images underneath. When users tap, the ad expands into a full-screen experience. This immersive format is perfect for showcasing a lifestyle scene while highlighting specific products, driving deeper engagement and interest.

Best For: Creating immersive shopping experiences and showcasing lifestyle imagery alongside specific products.​

Specs:

• Hero Creative: 1:1 or 2:3 aspect ratio
• Supporting Images: 1:1 or 2:3 aspect ratio
  File Type: .PNG or .JPEG
• Max File Size: 10 MB per image
• Number of Supporting Images: 3 to 24
• Title: Up to 100 characters
• Description: Up to 500 characters​

Tip: Use high-quality visuals and ensure consistency between the hero and supporting images to maintain a cohesive look.

6. Idea Ads (Previously Story Pins)

Idea Ads are multi-page formats that allow creators and brands to share tutorials, step-by-step guides, or themed collections. They don’t link out but encourage users to engage and follow. These are ideal for building community and brand affinity through inspirational or educational content.

Best For: Building brand affinity and engaging users through inspirational or educational content.​

Specs:

• Supported Formats: Video or image
• File Type:
  
  • Video: .MP4, .MOV, or .M4V (H.264 or H.265), max 100MB per video
  • Image: .BMP, .PNG, .JPG, .TIFF, .WEBP, max 20MB per image
• Duration/Quantity: 3–60 seconds per video clip, up to 20 pins per Idea Ad
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (minimum 1080 x 1920 pixels)
• Title: Up to 100 characters
• Description: Up to 250 characters per frame​

Tip: Focus on storytelling and provide value to your audience with actionable and inspiring content.

Understanding the variety of Pinterest ad formats helps marketers choose the right style for their campaign objectives. Whether you're aiming for brand awareness, engagement, or sales, there's a Pinterest ad type to match your goals.

Another thing to consider while creating the Pinterest ads is their size. Let’s talk about it next! 

Different Sizes of Pinterest Ads 

Pinterest offers a variety of ad formats, each with specific size and format requirements to ensure optimal display and performance. Adhering to these specifications is crucial for creating visually appealing and effective ads.​ Here is a detailed overview: 

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By following these size and format guidelines, you can ensure that your Pinterest ads are displayed correctly and effectively, enhancing user engagement and achieving your marketing objectives.

Estimated Costs of Pinterest Ads

Pinterest ads work on a bidding system, so costs vary depending on your campaign objective, competition, and audience targeting. However, even small budgets can generate meaningful results when optimised effectively.

• Cost Per Click (CPC): $0.01 – $0.10 per click. ​
• Cost Per Conversion: $0.01 – $2.00 per conversion. ​
• Cost Per 1,000 Impressions (CPM): $0.01 – $1.50 per 1,000 impressions. ​
• Monthly Ad Spend: Many businesses spend between $0 and $500 per month on Pinterest ads. ​
• Budget Flexibility: Pinterest allows advertisers to set daily or lifetime budget caps, providing control over ad spending. ​
• Bidding System: Pinterest ads operate on a bidding system, where costs can vary based on factors like competition, audience targeting, and campaign objectives. ​

With flexible pricing and detailed targeting, Pinterest ads can be a cost-effective option, especially for brands with visually appealing content and clear conversion goals. 

Now that we have the basic information about Pinterest ads, it's time to learn about the easy steps to make effective conversion ads. Let’s get into it! 

Easy Steps to Create Pinterest Ads

Learn how to launch Pinterest ads effortlessly with simple, step-by-step guidance. Let’s break down the entire process to publishing your first pin ad:

Step 1: Setting Up a Pinterest Business Account

Before running any ads, you need a Pinterest Business Account. This allows you to access advanced features such as analytics, targeting, and the ability to run paid ads.

1. Create or Convert to a Business Account

If you already have a personal account, you can easily convert it to a business account.

Steps:

• Go to Settings → Account Settings and click Convert to Business Account.
• If you don't have an account, create one by going to Pinterest Business and selecting Join as a Business.

2. Verifying Your Website

Verification gives your account more credibility and access to additional features.

Steps:

• Go to Settings → Claim Website.
• Follow the instructions to add a meta tag or upload an HTML file to your website.
• Pinterest will notify you when the website is successfully verified.

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Step 2: Choosing the Right Pinterest Ad Format

Pinterest offers a variety of ad formats tailored to different marketing objectives. Choosing the appropriate format is crucial for achieving your campaign goals:

1. Standard Ads (Image Ads)
2. Video Ads
3. Carousel Ads
4. Shopping Ads
5. Collections Ads
6. Idea Ads (Previously Story Pins)

Each ad format serves a specific purpose and can be aligned with your campaign objectives, such as brand awareness, consideration, conversions, or catalog sales.

Step 3: Designing Your Pinterest Ads

Creating visually appealing and effective ads is essential on Pinterest. Here are key considerations:

• Image Quality: Use high-resolution images that clearly showcase your product or service. Avoid pixelated or blurry visuals.​
• Pin Size: Pinterest recommends a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels) for optimal performance.​
• Consistent Branding: Maintain your brand's visual identity across all ads to build trust and recognition.​
• Video Specifications: For video ads, use .mp4, .mov, or .m4v files with a maximum size of 2GB. Optimal video length is between 6–15 seconds.​
• Captions and Text: Include clear and concise titles (up to 100 characters) and descriptions (up to 500 characters) to provide context and encourage engagement.​

Not a graphic designer? No problem. Tools like PinMaker offer an easy drag-and-drop feature that makes you design beautiful Pins—no experience needed. Simply pick a template, add your images and text, and you're ready.

Step 4: Setting Up Your Campaign in Pinterest Ads Manager

To launch your campaign effectively, follow these steps:

1. Access Ads Manager: Log in to your Pinterest business account and navigate to Ads Manager.​

2. Create a Campaign: Click on "Create campaign" and choose between "Manual Campaign" for full customization or "Quick Promote" for a simplified setup. 

3. Define Your Campaign Objective: Select the goal that aligns with your marketing strategy:​

• Brand Awareness: Optimize for impressions (CPM) to increase visibility.​
• Consideration: Optimize for clicks (CPC) to drive traffic to your website.​
• Conversions: Optimize for specific actions like sign-ups or purchases.​
• Catalog Sales: Promote products from your catalog to drive sales.​

4. Set Your Budget and Schedule: Choose between a daily budget (amount spent per day) or a lifetime budget (total amount for the campaign duration).​

5. Select Your Target Audience: Utilize Pinterest's targeting options to reach your desired audience:​

• Demographics: Target users based on age, gender, location, language, and device.​
• Interests and Keywords: Reach users interested in specific topics or searching for particular keywords.​
• Custom Audiences: Upload customer lists or retarget users who have interacted with your content.​
• Actalike Audiences: Find new users similar to your existing customers.
• Placement: Choose where your ads appear, such as the home feed, search results, or related Pins.​

6. Set Your Bidding Strategy: Decide between manual bidding, where you set your own bids, or Performance+ bidding, which uses AI to optimize bids for better results. 

7. Launch Your Campaign: Review all settings and click "Publish" to activate your campaign. Monitor its performance through the Ads Manager dashboard and make adjustments as needed.​

Step 5: Writing Captivating Descriptions and CTAs

While the visuals matter most on Pinterest, the descriptions and Calls-to-Action (CTAs) still play a crucial role in driving engagement. Here's how to craft descriptions that get clicks:

1. Write Clear, Actionable Descriptions

Your Pin description should tell people exactly what they'll get by clicking. Be clear, concise, and focus on the value. Use relevant keywords to help your Pin appear in search results, but ensure the description reads naturally.

2. Create Compelling CTAs

A strong call to action is essential. Phrases like "Shop Now," "Learn More," or "Get Started" encourage users to take the next step. Don't leave it to guesswork—tell them what you want them to do.

Step 6: Monitor, Optimize, and Scale

Once your campaign is live, the work doesn't stop there. You need to monitor how your ads are performing and adjust as needed. Pinterest provides a detailed analytics dashboard where you can track metrics like:

• Click-through rate (CTR)

• Engagement rate

• Conversions

If your Pins aren't performing as expected, don't be afraid to make changes. Test different images, update your targeting, or tweak your descriptions. A/B testing is a great way to refine your strategy and optimize for better results.

Ready to Create Stunning Pinterest Ads?

Pinterest offers incredible potential for marketers, if you know how to unlock it. With the right strategy and patience, you'll quickly see results from your Pinterest ads. 

Want to streamline the ad creation process? PinMaker makes it easy to design and manage your Pins. Get started today and watch your Pinterest ads take off!

Key Features of PinMaker:

• AI-Powered Pin Descriptions – Generate compelling, high-converting pin descriptions effortlessly, saving you time and ensuring your copy is optimized for engagement.
• Customizable Templates – Choose from a wide range of professionally designed templates to create stunning, branded pins in minutes.
• Easy Drag-and-Drop Editor – Modify text, fonts, colours, and layouts seamlessly to match your brand's aesthetic.
• Headline & CTA Suggestions – Get instant suggestions for catchy headlines and strong calls to action that drive clicks and conversions.
• Optimized for Engagement – Every element, from visuals to text, is designed to help your pins rank higher and perform better on Pinterest.
• Time-Saving & User-Friendly – No design or writing skills needed—GetPinMaker simplifies the entire content creation process so you can focus on growing your audience.

With PinMaker, you have all the tools to create professional, engaging pins that captivate your audience and boost your Pinterest performance.

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FAQs: Your Top Questions About Pinterest Ads

1. How much do Pinterest ads cost?

For Pinterest ads, you can start with as little as $1 per day. The cost depends on your targeting, bidding strategy, and ad format. The key is to start small and scale as you see results.

2. How do I know if my Pinterest ad is performing well?

Use Pinterest's analytics to track your ad's performance. Metrics like CTR, engagement, and conversions will show whether your ads work. If performance is low, consider adjusting your targeting or ad design.

3. Can I use Pinterest ads for e-commerce?

Absolutely. Pinterest's Shopping Ads are explicitly designed for e-commerce businesses, allowing you to showcase products and drive direct sales from the platform.

4. What's the best ad format for beginners?

Promoted Pins are a great starting point. They're simple to create and perform well for most marketing objectives, such as driving traffic or increasing brand awareness.

5. How often should I update my Pinterest ads?

To keep your campaign fresh, you should regularly test different images, descriptions, and targeting. Run A/B tests to see what resonates most with your audience.

6. What can I do if my Pinterest ads aren't getting enough engagement?

First, evaluate your design—ensure your Pins are high-quality and engaging. If engagement is still low, review your targeting. Pinterest's analytics will help you identify areas for improvement.