How to Add a Pinterest "Pin It" Button to Your WordPress Blog (2023 Expert Guide)

Hey there, WordPress user! Are you ready to skyrocket your blog‘s engagement and drive tons of targeted traffic from Pinterest? Look no further! In this ultimate guide, I‘ll walk you through four easy methods to add a Pinterest "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog.

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But first, let‘s talk about why this little button is such a game-changer.

Why You Need a Pinterest "Pin It" Button on Your Blog

Boost Your Traffic: Pinterest is a powerhouse when it comes to referral traffic. According to a study by Shopify, Pinterest drives 33% more referral traffic to shopping sites than Facebook does. Imagine what it could do for your blog!
Increase Visibility for Your Visual Content: People love sharing eye-catching visuals on Pinterest. By adding a "Pin It" button, you make it super easy for readers to save and share your amazing images, infographics, and videos with their followers.
Encourage Social Sharing: Pinterest users are all about sharing content they love. With a prominent "Pin It" button, you‘re basically inviting your readers to spread the word about your blog. It‘s like having a team of enthusiastic brand ambassadors!
Grow Your Pinterest Presence: The more your content gets pinned, the more exposure your Pinterest profile gets. This can lead to a snowball effect of more followers, repins, and clicks back to your blog.

Now that you‘re convinced, let‘s dive into the four methods for adding a Pinterest "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog.

Method 1: Using a WordPress Plugin

If you‘re not a fan of messing with code, using a WordPress plugin is the way to go. There are tons of great options out there, but here are my top three picks:

1. Pinterest Pin It Button for Images

This user-friendly plugin adds a sleek "Pin It" button to all of your blog‘s images. You can customize the button‘s style, size, and position to perfectly match your site‘s look and feel. Plus, you can exclude specific images or pages if needed.

Setup steps:

Install and activate the "Pinterest Pin It Button for Images" plugin
Go to the plugin‘s settings page
Choose your button style, size, and position preferences
Select any pages or post types to exclude
Save your changes and admire your new "Pin It" buttons!

2. Grow by Mediavine

Previously known as Social Pug, Grow is an all-in-one social media sharing plugin that includes a fully customizable "Pin It" button. It also supports other popular networks like Facebook and Twitter. The free version is fantastic, but the pro version unlocks even more amazing features.

Setup steps:

Install and activate the "Grow by Mediavine" plugin
Navigate to the plugin‘s settings page
Customize your "Pin It" button‘s design and placement
Configure settings for other social networks (optional)
Save your changes and watch your social shares soar!

3. Pinterest "Pin It" Button by WPBeginner

Developed by the brilliant minds at WPBeginner, this lightweight plugin adds a simple yet effective "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog. You can choose to display the button on posts, pages, or both, and even target specific post types or categories.

Setup steps:

Install and activate the "Pinterest "Pin It" Button by WPBeginner" plugin
Go to the plugin‘s settings page
Select where you want the button to appear (posts, pages, or both)
Choose any post types or categories to include or exclude
Save your changes and start pinning!

Method 2: Manually Adding Code to Your Theme Files

For those who like to get their hands dirty with code, manually adding a "Pin It" button to your WordPress theme files is an option. This method requires some HTML and PHP knowledge, as well as access to your theme‘s files via FTP or your hosting control panel.

Step-by-step guide:

Open your WordPress theme‘s header.php file

Before the closing </head> tag, paste this code to load the Pinterest JavaScript library:

<script type="text/javascript" async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>

Locate the file where you want to add the "Pin It" button (e.g., single.php for blog posts)
Paste this code where you want the button to appear:
```
<a data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"></a>
```
Customize the button‘s look by adding attributes like data-pin-tall="true" for a taller button or data-pin-round="true" for a circular button.
Save your changes and upload the modified files back to your server

Keep in mind that if you switch WordPress themes, you‘ll need to re-add the code to your new theme‘s files.

Method 3: Using a Custom Shortcode

Want more control over your "Pin It" button‘s placement without editing theme files? Create a custom shortcode! This lets you add the button anywhere in your content using a simple shortcode.

Here‘s how:

Install and activate the "Code Snippets" plugin
Go to "Snippets" in your WordPress dashboard and click "Add New"

Name your snippet (e.g., "Pinterest Pin It Button") and paste this code:

function pinterest_pin_it_button_shortcode() {
   return ‘<a data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"></a>‘;
}
add_shortcode(‘pin_it_button‘, ‘pinterest_pin_it_button_shortcode‘);

Set the "Snippet Type" to "Shortcode" and click "Save Changes and Activate"

Now you can add the [pin_it_button] shortcode wherever you want the "Pin It" button to appear in your content.

Method 4: Adding a Hover "Pin It" Button Over Images

Want to make it even easier for readers to share your images on Pinterest? Add a hover "Pin It" button that appears when they mouse over an image. Here are two fantastic plugins to help you do just that:

1. Image Hover Pin It

This lightweight plugin automatically adds a customizable "Pin It" button that appears on hover over any image on your site. You can tweak the button‘s size, color, and opacity, and even exclude specific images or pages.

2. WP Pinterest Hover Pin It Buttons

Similar to Image Hover Pin It, this plugin adds a sleek hoverable "Pin It" button to your images. It offers plenty of customization options and lets you exclude images based on their URL or CSS class.

To set up either plugin, follow the installation and activation steps from Method 1, then head to the plugin‘s settings page to configure it to your liking.

Best Practices and Tips for Optimizing Your "Pin It" Buttons

Now that you know how to add a "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog, let‘s talk about optimizing them for maximum engagement and Pinterest referral traffic.

Placement: Put your "Pin It" buttons in prominent, easy-to-spot locations like above or below your post content, or floating on the side of the screen. Don‘t make readers hunt for them!
Size and Style: Choose a button size that‘s noticeable but not obnoxious. Pick a style that complements your blog‘s design and color scheme for a cohesive look.
Mobile-Friendliness: Make sure your "Pin It" buttons are mobile-responsive and easy to tap on smaller screens. Test them on various devices to ensure a smooth user experience.
Image Optimization: Pinterest is all about stunning visuals, so make sure your blog post images are high-quality, visually appealing, and optimized for Pinterest. Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio for the best performance.
Pinterest-Specific Descriptions: When adding images to your blog posts, include Pinterest-specific descriptions in the alt text field. This text will be the default description when someone pins your image, so make it snappy and keyword-rich.
Tracking and Analytics: Use UTM parameters or Pinterest‘s built-in analytics to track your "Pin It" button clicks and see which content resonates with your audience. Use this data to refine your Pinterest strategy and create more of what your followers love.

"Pin It" Button Mistakes to Avoid

Steer clear of these common "Pin It" button blunders:

Hiding Your Buttons: Don‘t make readers play hide-and-seek with your "Pin It" buttons. Place them in plain sight to encourage sharing.
Clashing With Your Blog‘s Design: Choose "Pin It" button styles that harmonize with your blog‘s overall look. Clashing colors or styles can be off-putting and discourage engagement.
Neglecting Mobile Optimization: With most Pinterest users browsing on mobile devices, ensure your "Pin It" buttons are mobile-friendly and easy to use on smaller screens.
Not Tracking Performance: Without tracking your "Pin It" button clicks and Pinterest referral traffic, you won‘t know what content resonates with your audience. Set up tracking and regularly review your analytics to inform your Pinterest strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I customize my "Pin It" buttons?
Absolutely! Most "Pin It" button plugins and methods offer customization options for size, style, and color. Pick options that match your blog‘s branding.
How do I track my "Pin It" button performance?
Use UTM parameters in your "Pin It" button URLs to track clicks and referral traffic in Google Analytics, or leverage Pinterest‘s built-in analytics to see which pins originate from your blog and how they perform.
Can I add a "Pin It" button to specific images only?
You bet! Many "Pin It" button plugins let you exclude specific images or pages. You can also manually add the button code to individual images if you prefer.
Will a "Pin It" button slow down my blog?
When implemented correctly, a "Pin It" button shouldn‘t significantly impact your blog‘s speed. Choose lightweight, well-coded plugins and avoid overloading your pages with too many sharing buttons.
Do I need a Pinterest business account to add a "Pin It" button?
Nope! You can add a "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog regardless of your Pinterest account type. However, creating a Pinterest business account is recommended for access to advanced analytics and marketing features.

Real-World Success Stories

Need some inspiration? Check out these blogs that have mastered the art of the "Pin It" button:

Pinch of Yum: This popular food blog uses a combination of hover "Pin It" buttons and inline sharing buttons to encourage readers to save and share their mouth-watering recipes and stunning food photography on Pinterest. As a result, Pinterest is their top source of social media referral traffic.
A Beautiful Mess: This lifestyle blog utilizes a floating sidebar "Pin It" button that remains visible as readers scroll through their posts. They also create Pinterest-optimized images for each blog post, making it easy for readers to pin and share their creative DIY projects, fashion tips, and home decor ideas.
The Blonde Abroad: Travel blogger Kiki uses a custom-styled inline "Pin It" button that blends seamlessly with her blog‘s aesthetic. She also includes hidden Pinterest-optimized images in her posts, allowing her to control which images get pinned most often. Her strategic use of "Pin It" buttons has helped her grow a massive Pinterest following and drive significant traffic to her blog.

Conclusion

Adding a Pinterest "Pin It" button to your WordPress blog is a smart move for bloggers looking to increase their visibility, engagement, and referral traffic from the platform. By following the methods outlined in this guide and implementing best practices for optimization, you can harness the power of Pinterest to grow your blog and reach new audiences.

Remember, the key to success with "Pin It" buttons is making them visible, easy to use, and visually appealing. Continuously track your performance and adjust your strategy based on what resonates with your unique audience.

Now it‘s time to put this knowledge into action! Choose the "Pin It" button method that works best for your WordPress blog and start leveraging the incredible potential of Pinterest. Happy pinning!