What are Pinterest Idea Pins and how do they work?

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – Last year, Pinterest launched ‘Idea Pins’, a new take on Story Pins that it had been testing for a year. Idea Pins are very similar to the story options you’ll find in other apps. Now, Pinterest makes it easy to share idea pins on your Instagram and Facebook stories. Here’s everything you need to know about how the feature works.

What are Pinterest Idea Pins?

Idea Pins are story-like sequences of short video clips – up to 60 seconds long – that people can browse to watch. You can add up to 20 frames to each Idea Series. Pinterest also offers creative tools like stickers, voiceover, and music. There’s even a “ghost mode” tool that lets you overlay the previous frame to help guide video transitions. Idea Pins also come with “detail pages” on Pinterest, where you can add contextual information. You can also add topics and tag other Pinterest creators via their Pinterest handle in Idea Pins.

Here’s how Pinterest describes Idea Pins:

“Idea Pins are an evolution of Story Pins, with a new name to better match the uniqueness of a product that allows creators to share lasting ideas, not fleeting stories. Creators will have a suite of new publishing tools, including: video-focused features, new editing tools, and updates to make creating Idea Pins easier and more creative.”

How to Find and Use Pinterest Idea Pins

Idea Pins are accessible via profile bubbles at the top of user feeds. This is where Pinterest highlights Idea Pins from users you follow and those Pinterest thinks you might like. Unlike most stories found on other social networks, Idea Pins also stay on user profiles, instead of disappearing after 24 hours. You cannot save individual pages from an Idea Pin to your board. However, Pinterest said you can save an entire Idea Pin to your boards. You can also add comments and reactions to an Ideas Pin.

1. Open the Pinterest app on your device and log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Go to an Idea Pin at the top of your feed.
   • If there are multiple pages, tap a page to move to the next page.
   • To view the previous page, tap on the left side of the page.
3. The Idea Pin will loop and start at the beginning once you finish watching it.
4. After viewing an Ideas Pin, you can:
   • Tap the bookmark icon to save it to a board
   • Tap the heart icon to react to it.
   • Click the dialog icon to add a comment to the Idea Pin.

How to Create Pinterest Idea Pins

The instructions below are for iOS users of the Pinterest mobile app, although the process is relatively the same on Android.

1. Open the Pinterest app on your device and log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Tap the plus icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap Idea Pin.
4. Press the record button to record up to 60 seconds of video
   • Or select 1 or more photos or videos from your device
   • You can tap Speed ​​to speed up or slow down your video clip.
5. Tap Next and tap a page to start designing, adding text, or adding other effects.
6. Tap Done.
7. Tap the plus icon to add up to 20 images or videos.
8. You can tap Preview to see what your Idea Pin will look like before publishing.
9. Press Next.
10. Enter your Pin information:
    • Title: Add a title to your Pin.
    • Cover: Tap Edit cover to choose a thumbnail for your Idea Pin cover.
    • List: Add context for your pin.
    • Board: Optionally choose a board or create a new one to save your Ideas Pin to.
    • Tags: Find and add up to 10 related tag topics.
    • Settings: Tap Advanced settings to allow comments.
    • Draft: Tap the folder icon to save your Idea Pin as a draft.
    • Export: Tap the download icon to download your entire Idea Pin to your device.
11. Tap Publish.

How to Share Pinterest Idea Pins

You can export Idea Pins, which can then be shared on other platforms, with Pinterest branding.

Again, the instructions below are for iOS users of the Pinterest mobile app, although the process is relatively the same on Android.

1. Open the Pinterest app on your device and log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Go to an Idea Pin at the top of your feed.
3. Tap the share icon on the right side of the pin.
4. You can tap on Facebook Stories to share the idea pin in your Facebook stories.
   • The Idea Pin will be downloaded to your device and Pinterest will ask you to open Facebook.
5. Or you can tap on Instagram Stories to share the idea pin in your Instagram stories.
   • The Idea Pin will be downloaded to your device and Pinterest will ask you to open Instagram.
6. The Ideas Pin will open in your Instagram or Facebook stories.
7. Tap the arrow icon to add the idea pin to your story.

How to Download Pinterest Idea Pins

You can also download Pinterest Idea Pins to your device. Here’s how on iOS:

1. Open the Pinterest app on your device and log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Go to an Idea Pin at the top of your feed.
3. Tap into an idea pin.
4. Tap the share icon on the right side of the pin.
5. Tap the download icon to download the Idea Pin to your device.
6. You can now share the idea pin anywhere video uploads are allowed.

Where are Pinterest Idea Pins available?

Idea Pins are now available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Want to know more?

Learn how to create Idea Pins from the Pinterest support page.

Written by Maggie Tillman.