How to create boards that perform: gift guides, mood boards and more

Boards are a key feature of what makes Pinterest unique. They’re a powerful tool for collecting, curating and showcasing ideas. And for creators, boards don’t just inspire: they see higher engagement rates—and can help boost traffic to your website or affiliate sites.¹ When you fill your boards with thoughtful keywords, you can also boost your discoverability and tap into trending moments for even wider reach.

Whether you’re looking to share your best finds, flex your creative muscles or build brand authority, boards make it simple for your audience to find inspiration. When your boards include Pins with product tags and affiliate links, your audience can also shop your picks—all in one curated, searchable and shopping-optimized place. (Better yet, you don’t need to fill them with only freshly created Pins. Just organize and amplify the content you already have.)

How to build an impactful board

1. Start with strategy

Choose a main goal for your board and let it guide every choice: from what Pins you include, to the description, to the overall vibe. Targeted boards stand out and connect with audiences more, so when your board setup matches your goal, it can help to deliver stronger results. For example:

• If your goal is affiliate sales, spotlight shoppable Pins and update them regularly. 

• If your goal is to showcase a portfolio for brands, feature your best original content first. 

2. Make your board discoverable

• Title: Use a clear, trend-driven title that tells people exactly what to expect. Instead of a broader title (like “Gift ideas”) try getting more specific (“Gifts for eco-friendly foodies”). Some title formulas to try:

  • [Benefit] + [Category]

    • Example: “Small‑space storage ideas”

  • [Audience] + [Need]

    • Example: Beginner skincare under $25”

• Description: Write a sentence or two covering who the board content is for and why it's unique, and incorporate 3-5 relevant keywords. A description formula to try: 

  • [Occasion/need] + [result]

    • Example: “Planning [occasion/need]? Explore [product types] I actually use for [result]. Shop my picks, compare options and save your favorites for later.”

• Cover image: Pick a cover image that’s on-brand and quickly conveys your board’s vibe.

3. Curate, save and organize

Assemble ideas and items that topically or aesthetically make sense together—a cohesive, purposeful board tells a clearer story. Mix your own Pins with other inspiring finds to show how you turn inspiration into reality for your audience.

Aim for 20-100 Pins per board or section. Keep it fresh with a variety of formats (collages, lifestyle Pins, product Pins) and content types (essentials, how-tos). Organize sections (for example, by category, price or vibe) and put your most eye-catching Pins up top. Most importantly, use your unique voice to make your board feel personal and authentic. If you’re creating a gift guide or a collection of your favorite product picks, here’s an engaging mix of Pin types and styles you could start with:

• 4 product Pins with price/stock info

• 3 lifestyle Pins showing usage/context

• 2 how‑to/tutorial Pins

• 1 comparison/roundup Pin highlighting choices

4. Optimize for engagement

Make your boards stand out with these essential tips in mind:

• Weave keywords into board titles and descriptions.

• Regularly update your boards with fresh Pins and trends.

• Use search and audience insights to identify content gaps, then create boards to fill gaps.

• Post content ahead of seasonal or cultural moments.

• Choose a board cover image that reflects the board’s theme and top keywords.

• Curate diverse content, representing all sizes and skin tones.

And remember to make sure your Pins are optimized: use high-quality vertical (2:3) images and videos, add keywords to titles and descriptions and tag relevant topics. For gift guides, include affiliate links; for Product Pins, link directly to in-stock, shoppable pages.

Let your board shine

Once you build a board to showcase your curation or (Pin) creations, don’t forget to use Pinterest’s board-sharing feature to reach new audiences across other social platforms, like Instagram, TikTok and more.