Devastating Pinterest Mistakes Bloggers Make That Are Killing Their Traffic

“Just use Pinterest,” they said. “The traffic will come pouring in,” they promised.

But your analytics are telling a very different story. 

You’ve tried every trick in the book from pinning at “peak times,” joining group boards, and creating what should be irresistible pins. 

So why isn’t your blog seeing the visitor explosion you were promised?

Chances are, you’re making some common Pinterest mistakes bloggers make that are quietly killing your traffic potential.

I’ve been there myself, and know how important it is to have a proven Pinterest marketing strategy that actually drives results. 

Here, you won’t find the typical Pinterest tips, but rather the hidden traps that are keeping money out of your pocket right now.

Common Pinterest Mistakes Bloggers Make

Over the last decade of using Pinterest for business, I’ve come across some common Pinterest mistakes bloggers make.

Here are the most damaging ones that could be holding you back.

Using Unauthorized AI Tools

AI is becoming a big part of Pinterest for business marketing.

It’s a great thing, but only if you are using tools that are officially approved by Pinterest. 

Otherwise, you could risk your account getting shadowbanned or worse, permanently suspended without warning.

Here’s exactly what Pinterest says about using AI tools for Pinterest automation under their Spam Community Guidelines.

I’ve seen some big Pinterest accounts with millions of impressions get banned from using unapproved tools to automate their pinning. 

One particular account was using AI tools to pin 300+ pins a day!

It’s excessive and it’s seen as “SPAM” in the eyes of Pinterest.

Many of these tools are also unreliable and often generate pins with missing titles or poorly written descriptions.

So be wary of the YouTube gurus pushing their latest Pinterest tools to cash in on the AI automation trend. 

While it is a time-saver to use tools to automate your Pinterest pinning, make sure to use approved tools like Tailwind to stay compliant, protect your account, and keep your reach growing steadily.

Putting Too Much Focus on Pinterest Group Boards

Pinterest group boards just are not what they used to be when it comes to getting traffic. 

This has been the case for a while now, but a lot of bloggers still lean on them hoping to grow their audience. 

The truth is, many of the good group boards have gotten cluttered with random or low quality content. 

Most of the time, people are just re-pinning the same old stuff over and over again, and some of it is seriously outdated. 

They are not really being used to share fresh content anymore, and Pinterest knows that. 

And with the way the new Pinterest algorithm works, it’s clear that Pinterest favors personal boards with original content and fresh new pins. 

I ended up archiving and deleting a bunch of group boards that were no longer relevant, and had no drop in my Pinterest traffic.

As for the ones I kept, I hardly ever pin to them anymore.

So if you want to see real growth, it might be time to switch things up.

Leaving the Pinterest Description Box Half Empty

Most pinners know that it’s important to write keyword-rich Pinterest descriptions. But few people actually use all the space Pinterest gives them! 

That empty description box is prime real estate just sitting there unused. 

When you fill it up with natural, flowing text that includes rich keywords, Pinterest’s algorithm gets a much better idea of what your pin is all about. 

This gives your content a much better chance of showing up in searches for topics like yours. 

That can make a big difference when it comes to making money on Pinterest.

Once I started fully using the description box, I saw a clear jump in impressions. Now I never take that space for granted.

Failing to Publish New Blog Content Consistently

It’s easy to put Pinterest on cruise control by scheduling pins for content you’ve already created.

AI tools make that even easier to do.

But the truth is, Pinterest favors creators who consistently share fresh content with new URLs.

This aligns with the latest updates to the Pinterest algorithm.

So instead of recycling the same URLs, focus on publishing new blog posts that Pinterest can share with its audience.

This signals to Pinterest that you’re staying active on the platform and creating relevant content it wants to promote. 

I typically create 2 new blog posts per week, but you can create as much as you have time for and can keep up with consistently.

Inconsistent Pinning Schedule (pinning too much at once, then disappearing)

Many bloggers ruin their Pinterest strategy by pinning like crazy one week, then completely disappearing the next.

On the flip side, pinning too little and suddenly flooding the platform with a bunch of pins can also backfire.

This kind of inconsistency can trigger Pinterest’s spam filters and even lead to a Pinterest shadowban.

It can also backfire when Pinterest rolls out algorithm changes that temporarily tank your traffic.

I’ve watched countless bloggers quit during these dips, not realizing the updates are just filtering out spam.

Good accounts sometimes get caught in the crossfire. It’s happened to me many times over the course of 15 years on Pinterest!

It’s frustrating but normal.

Pinterest rewards consistency above everything else.

When the dust settles after updates, accounts that kept pinning often bounce back stronger.

Remember that success on Pinterest requires showing up through all the ups and downs of these algorithm changes.

The Worst Pinterest Mistake Bloggers Make

Starting a blog that is not Pinterest-friendly is the worst Pinterest mistake bloggers make.

I hate to break it to you, but not all Pinterest blog niches perform well on the platform, no matter how great your content is.

Pinterest works best for visually appealing niches like food, home decor, and travel. 

Niches that are visually driven topics that inspire, teach, or solve problems, do well. If your niche does not align with what people come to Pinterest for, it will be an uphill battle to get consistent traffic.

The Bottom Line on Making Pinterest Work for You

The key to Pinterest success is consistency, fresh content, and understanding how the platform works today, not how it worked five years ago. 

Focus on creating high-quality pins linked to valuable blog posts in Pinterest-friendly niches like food, home decor, or travel. 

Avoid outdated tactics like overusing group boards or recycling the same URLs over and over. 

Instead, use approved tools, stay active, and give Pinterest what it wants: fresh, helpful content. 

When you align your strategy with the current algorithm, Pinterest can become one of your most powerful traffic sources.

Next, you may be interested in reading about the Best Types of Content to Post on Pinterest for Consistent Affiliate Sales.