If you’re an author looking to promote your novel, Pinterest might not be the first platform that comes to mind. But here’s the secret: Pinterest is not just for recipes and home decor. It’s a powerful visual search engine where content lasts years, not minutes. That means the right pins can continue to drive traffic, build your brand, and sell books long after you’ve posted them.

Whether you’re traditionally published, indie, or somewhere in between, using Pinterest strategically can help your novel get noticed. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about creating pins that actually work — beyond just slapping your book cover onto an image and calling it a day.

If you need any help thinking of an eBook niche, you can check out some ideas here.

Why Pinterest for Book Promotion?

Pinterest users are planners and seekers. They’re looking for their next favorite thing — from home design to new reads. If you position your novel as a must-discover, must-read item, they’ll save it, revisit it, and eventually buy it.

What’s more, Pinterest pins have longevity. Unlike Instagram or Facebook posts that disappear from feeds in hours, pins can resurface and bring traffic for months, even years. This makes Pinterest an evergreen marketing tool.

What Makes a Great Pinterest Pin for a Novel?

Before diving into pin ideas, let’s talk about what makes a pin clickable:

• Vertical orientation (2:3 ratio, like 1000 x 1500 pixels)
• High-quality, eye-catching images
• Text overlays that are clear and easy to read
• Strong call to action or reason to click
• Consistency with your brand (colors, fonts, style)

Ready to design? Here are the top types of pins you should be making to promote your novel…

1. The Book Cover Pin — But Make It Gorgeous

Yes, you should feature your book cover, but not as a boring, static image. Instead:

• Place the cover in a 3D mockup (like a book on a nightstand or a tablet on a cozy blanket).
• Add a short, compelling tagline: “One secret could destroy everything…”
• Include a subtle call to action: “Read it now on Amazon!”
• Use complementary backgrounds that evoke the mood of your book. For thrillers, think dark and moody. For romance, soft pastels or dreamy landscapes.

2. Quote Graphics That Capture Emotion

People love sharing beautiful or impactful quotes. Your novel likely has some standout lines — use them!

• Choose short, powerful quotes.
• Overlay the text on a beautiful background image that matches the tone (dramatic skies, misty forests, elegant cityscapes).
• Add your website or book title subtly at the bottom.

Pro Tip: Use brand colors and fonts so readers start recognizing your style.

3. Character Aesthetic Boards

Pinterest is the queen of mood boards. Why not create one for your main character or the setting of your novel?

• Combine 4–6 images that reflect the vibe: clothing, places, objects, color schemes.
• Add the character’s name and a line like “Meet [Character Name] from [Book Title].”
• Link to your author website or book page.

This appeals to readers who love getting immersed in the atmosphere before they even start reading.

4. “If You Loved This, You’ll Love My Book” Pins

Comparison pins are fantastic discovery tools.

• Choose popular books, TV shows, or movies that are similar to yours.
• Create a simple graphic: “If you loved [Big Popular Book], you’ll devour [Your Book].”
• Bonus: Add your book cover and a short blurb.

These work well because they help potential readers instantly understand what they’re getting.

5. Teaser Excerpt Pins

Short snippets from your book can intrigue readers enough to click.

• Choose a hooky line or the first few sentences of your first chapter.
• Add a call to action: “Read more — download the first chapter free!”
• Use animation tools like Canva’s video features to make text fade in and out for extra engagement.

6. Behind-the-Scenes Story Pins

Pinterest story pins (multi-image pins that users swipe through) are ideal for showing:

• Your writing process
• Location inspiration
• Book cover design stages
• Fun facts about your characters

This makes readers feel connected to you as an author.

7. Book Reviews & Testimonials Pins

User-generated content is gold.

• Take snippets from Goodreads or Amazon reviews.
• Place them in a clean, easy-to-read template.
• Add stars or icons to emphasize ratings.
• Call to action: “See what readers are saying!”

8. Seasonal or Themed Pins

Tie your book to the time of year or major holidays.

• “Cozy fall reads: Snuggle up with [Your Book]!”
• “Summer beach reads you can’t put down!”
• “Perfect holiday gift for book lovers.”

This makes your book feel timely and relevant.

9. Video Pins for Extra Engagement

Video pins grab attention fast. For authors:

• Create a 6–15 second clip.
• Use dramatic music.
• Show short lines of text fading in and out.
• Feature your book cover at the end with a call to action: “Available now!”

You don’t need fancy software — Canva, InVideo, and Adobe Express all make this easy.

10. List Pins (Because Pinterest Loves Lists)

• “5 Reasons You’ll Love [Your Book Title]”
• “Top 10 Books for [Genre] Fans — Featuring [Your Book]!”

List pins are highly clickable and shareable.

Best Practices for Pinterest Success

Creating pins is only half the battle. Here’s how to make them work:

1. Consistent Pinning

Pinterest rewards consistency. Use tools like Tailwind to schedule pins throughout the week. However, Pinterest also allows you to schedule the timing of your pins.

2. Keyword Optimization

Pinterest is a search engine! Use relevant keywords in your:

• Pin titles
• Pin descriptions
• Board titles
• Board descriptions

Examples: “romantic suspense novel,” “best fantasy books for teens,” “dark academia aesthetic.”

3. Link Smart

Every pin should link to somewhere that benefits you:

• Your author website
• Your book’s Amazon page
• A blog post or lead magnet offering a free chapter

4. Join Group Boards

Find group boards for readers, writers, and book lovers. Share your pins there for more visibility.

5. Engage With Your Audience

• Respond to comments.
• Follow other authors and book influencers.
• Repin content that aligns with your brand.

Tools You’ll Want to Use

• Canva Pro: For easy templates and video pins.
• Tailwind: To schedule pins and analyze results (or just use Pinterest to schedule.
• Pinterest Trends Tool: To see what’s popular in your niche.

Don’t Forget: The Call to Action!

Every single pin should tell the viewer what to do next. Some call to actions that work:

• “Read the first chapter for free!”
• “Available now on Amazon.”
• “Pin now, read later!”
• “Meet [Character Name] — start reading today!”

Example Pinterest Strategy for an Indie Author Launching a Romance Novel

• Week 1: 3 pins of the book cover in different mockups, 2 quote graphics, 1 teaser excerpt pin.
• Week 2: 1 aesthetic board, 1 comparison pin (“If you loved Bridgerton…”), 2 review pins, 2 seasonal pins (“Cozy fall reads”).
• Week 3: 3 video pins with short text animations, 2 story pins (behind-the-scenes and writing process), 2 list pins.
• Week 4: Reshare best-performing pins and create updated versions.

By the end of the month, you’ll have 20+ pins working for you — and they’ll continue to drive traffic long after launch.

Conclusion: Pinterest Isn’t Just Another Platform — It’s a Book Promotion Powerhouse

Pinterest offers longevity, discoverability, and a highly engaged audience that loves inspiration and discovery. Whether you’re promoting your debut novel or building a long-term author brand, Pinterest can help readers find you.

Remember: it’s not about dumping content and hoping for the best. It’s about crafting beautiful, strategic visuals that make readers stop scrolling — and start clicking.

Ready to start? Next time you sit down to promote your book, don’t forget Pinterest. You just might find your next biggest fans there.