TL;DR
After shifting my content strategy toward more accessible and beginner-friendly articles, I realised the Pinterest side of the site also needed to evolve. I started redesigning my pins, hooks, and descriptions to make the content easier to understand at a glance.
Redesigning My Pinterest Strategy for Better Discoverability
Once the direction of the content started changing, it quickly became obvious that the Pinterest strategy needed to change as well.
The older pin designs weren’t necessarily bad.
In fact, many of them matched the reflective and layered atmosphere I originally wanted the site to have.
The problem was that they often required too much interpretation from someone quickly scrolling through Pinterest.
At a glance, it wasn’t always immediately clear:
• where the content was about
• what type of article it was
• why someone should click
And on a fast-moving platform like Pinterest, that clarity matters.
Realising Pinterest Is About Immediate Understanding
One of the biggest shifts in my thinking was realising how quickly people make decisions on visual platforms.
A pin only has a moment to communicate:
• the destination
• the topic
• the benefit or curiosity
Many of my earlier designs leaned too heavily into atmosphere and broad ideas.
I was relying on people to already understand the layered style of the site.
But most users encountering the content for the first time had no reason to immediately make that connection.
Making the Pins Easier to Read
The redesign process focused heavily on clarity and accessibility.
I started creating pins with:
• clearer titles
• stronger hooks
• easier readability
• more obvious destination references
One of the simplest but most important changes was adding more direct visual cues.
This sometimes included:
• destination names
• landmarks
• location overlays
• even simply adding the word “travel” more consistently
These small changes made the purpose of the content much clearer at a glance.
Improving the Master Pin Design
Another important adjustment involved redesigning the main “master pin” style used across the site.
The original designs were more subtle and atmospheric.
The newer versions became slightly more structured and Pinterest-friendly while still trying to preserve the visual identity of The Layered Traveller.
I kept many of the existing design elements consistent, including:
• fonts
• colour palette
• branding style
That way, even as the strategy evolved, the pins still felt like part of the same overall project.
Updating Hooks and Descriptions
The visual changes also influenced how I started writing hooks and descriptions across Pinterest and social media more broadly.
Instead of relying on abstract or reflective wording, I started focusing more on:
• curiosity
• clarity
• practical value
• immediate understanding
This didn’t mean abandoning the deeper identity of the site.
It simply meant making the entry point easier to understand.
The Early Signs Felt Positive
After introducing the new pin styles and article angles, Pinterest impressions started gradually climbing.
It’s still early, and there’s no guarantee that every change will work long-term.
But the early signals reinforced something important:
Good design matters.
But clear communication matters even more.
What Comes Next
As the Pinterest strategy evolved, I also had to decide what to do with the large amount of older content and pins that had already been created.
Rather than deleting everything and starting over, I chose a more gradual approach that allowed the old and new styles to coexist.
Next article:
→ Evolving My Pinterest Style Without Starting Over