How To Get More Followers on Pinterest: Busting The Myths

Are you wondering how to get more followers on Pinterest?

You first need to know that follower count is not something you need to obsess about.

While Instagram influencers flaunt follower counts in the millions and Twitter users chase the validation of a growing audience, Pinterest operates by a different set of rules.

Which is great news!

Pinterest’s unique content discovery system has created an environment where the traditional social media currency—followers—holds significantly less value than many wrongly assume.

In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about growing your audience on Pinterest, and what are the important metrics to follow.

Followers on Pinterest: Beginners Mistakes

If you’re coming to Pinterest with strategies from Instagram or Facebook, you might be focused on building a substantial follower base.

After all, on most platforms, more followers equal more views, more engagement, and ultimately, more success.

However, Pinterest’s algorithm doesn’t prioritize content based primarily on who follows whom.

Unlike chronological feeds where content from accounts you follow appears in sequence, Pinterest’s discovery system is heavily driven by interests, search behaviors, and engagement patterns.

When users search for “healthy dinner recipes” or “minimalist living room designs,” Pinterest serves content based on relevance, quality, and performance—not on whether these people follow your account or not.

This fundamental difference means that a Pinterest account with just 100 followers can routinely outperform accounts with 10,000+ followers if their content better matches what users are searching for and engaging with.

And you can see evidence for this everywhere – just review any accounts with less than a thousand followers, and you will see that they all get millions of views each month.

Here is one example which is my own account, with only 168 followers, I’m getting monthly views of 657k, which in reality translates to approximately 673,000 impressions in the last 30 days.

Why Pinterest Is Different: The Search Engine Factor

To understand why followers matter less on Pinterest, we need to recognize what Pinterest truly is: a visual search engine with social elements, not a traditional social network with search capabilities.

When users come to Pinterest, they’re typically looking for ideas, inspiration, or solutions—they’re in a discovery mindset rather than a social connection mindset.

This behavior pattern has shaped how Pinterest’s algorithm works, prioritizing content discovery over social connections.

Consider these statistics:

Over 85% of Pinterest traffic comes from search
Less than 10% of content views come directly from followers
High-performing pins often reach 95% non-follower audiences

This means that while your followers might give your new pins an initial boost, the vast majority of your potential reach comes from Pinterest’s search and discovery systems connecting your content with interested non-followers.

If Followers Don’t Matter, What Does?

Since followers aren’t the primary driver of success on Pinterest, what metrics should you focus on instead?

1. Pin Quality and Relevance

High-quality, visually appealing pins that clearly communicate their value proposition perform best.

Pinterest’s algorithm promotes content that users engage with through saves, clicks, and close-ups.

This means creating pins that are both visually striking and immediately useful.

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2. Keyword Strategy

Since Pinterest functions primarily as a search engine, strategic keyword use is crucial.

Your pin titles, descriptions, and even the text on your pin images should include relevant keywords that match what your target audience is searching for.

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3. Consistency and Freshness

Pinterest favors accounts that regularly create new content.

A consistent pinning schedule signals to the algorithm that you’re an active, reliable content source.

However, quality always trumps quantity—10 excellent pins will outperform 100 mediocre ones.

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So Why Do Followers Matter At All?

Despite not being the primary driver of success, followers do still provide some tangible benefits on Pinterest:

1. Initial Momentum

When you publish a new pin, it’s first shown to your followers first.

If they engage positively, Pinterest’s algorithm takes note and begins distributing it more broadly. A responsive follower base can help your pins gain that crucial early traction.

2. Brand Credibility

A reasonable follower count (though not necessarily massive) can signal to potential collaborators, brands, or even Pinterest itself that you’re an established creator worth paying attention to.

3. Repeat Engagement

Followers who consistently engage with your content help build a pattern that reinforces to Pinterest’s algorithm that your content is valuable, potentially boosting all your pins’ performance.

Strategic Tips for Growing Your Pinterest Following

While followers shouldn’t be your primary focus, building a quality follower base can support your broader Pinterest strategy.

Here are some effective approaches that align with how Pinterest actually works:

1. Create Consistently Valuable Content

The most reliable way to attract followers is to consistently create content that solves problems or inspires action.

When users repeatedly encounter your helpful pins, they’re more likely to follow you for future inspiration.

2. Optimize Your Profile

Your Pinterest profile should clearly communicate your niche and value proposition.

Use a professional profile image, create a compelling bio with relevant keywords, and organize your boards in a user-friendly manner.

3. Engage Authentically

Respond to comments on your pins, follow accounts relevant to your niche, and engage with others’ content meaningfully.

While mass-following strategies might temporarily inflate your numbers, they won’t create the engaged community that actually benefits your Pinterest performance.

4. Cross-Promote Your Pinterest Account

Leverage your presence on other platforms to direct interested followers to your Pinterest account.

This works especially well if you create different but complementary content across platforms—for example, sharing the detailed tutorial on Pinterest while posting the quick result on Instagram.

5. Collaborate With Other Creators

Collaborative boards can introduce your profile to new audiences who already have an interest in your content area.

Focus on genuine collaborations rather than impersonal group boards that have become less effective in recent years.

Conclusion: Redefining Success on Pinterest

As Pinterest continues to evolve, the platform increasingly rewards content quality, relevance, and utility over pure follower counts.

For creators and businesses looking to make an impact on Pinterest in 2025, this requires a fundamental shift in thinking.

Success on Pinterest isn’t measured by how many people follow you but by how effectively your content reaches and resonates with the right audience—whether they follow you or not.

By focusing on creating valuable, discoverable content that serves a clear purpose for your target audience, you’ll build not just a follower count but something far more valuable: an authentic connection with users who genuinely benefit from what you share.

Want to Learn More?

This PDF guide will give you a crash course in Pinterest Marketing – plus I included access to my free AI tool for creating SEO optimized titles & descriptions.

Love it? Save it for Later!

Save these for later so you can find this article when you need to refer back to it. You will also find lots of practical tips and guides on my Pinterest profile, so don’t forget to stalk me there.