Simple Pin Podcast: Using Collages on Pinterest – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Kate Ahl | Release Date: July 30, 2025

In the episode titled "Using Collages on Pinterest," Kate Ahl delves into the innovative feature of Pinterest collages, exploring their functionality, benefits, and practical applications for business owners aiming to enhance their Pinterest marketing strategies. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the discussion, offering valuable insights for both seasoned Pinterest users and newcomers.

1. Introduction to Pinterest Collages

Kate Ahl opens the episode by introducing the concept of Pinterest collages, highlighting the platform's collaboration with Kate as one of the six educators on Pinterest's Educator team. She emphasizes the evolution of collages from being accessible only through Pinterest’s sister app, Shuffles, to now being directly available within the Pinterest app itself.

Kate Ahl [00:01]: "Today we're going to be talking about using collages on Pinterest... you can create them in the app."

She sets the stage for the episode by addressing the audience's potential questions about the relevance and workflow of collages, aiming to help listeners decide if this feature aligns with their Pinterest strategy.

2. Understanding Pinterest Collages

Kate provides a dual perspective on collages by first presenting Pinterest’s official definition and then offering her personal interpretation:

• Pinterest's Definition:

  • Collages are described as an "immersive, interactive format composed of cutouts that users can tap on and engage with," akin to "expressive and customizable miniature boards." They allow users to combine visual elements to create a cohesive and imaginative collection of ideas.

• Kate's Take:

  • She views collages as "visual collections" that amalgamate multiple images, graphics, text, and design elements into a single piece optimized for Pinterest. They function similarly to digital mood boards, showcasing related ideas or products in an aesthetically pleasing manner, thereby offering more value and engagement than individual pins.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "They're essentially like digital mood boards or compilations that bring together related ideas, products or concepts in this really aesthetically pleasing format."

3. Types of Collages

Kate outlines various common types of collages, each tailored to specific niches and purposes:

• Fashion Collages: Showcasing complete outfits or seasonal trends.
• Home Decor Collages: Featuring room inspirations or color schemes.
• Food Collages: Displaying recipe collections or meal prep ideas.
• Lifestyle Collages: Combining quotes, images, and products around a particular theme.

She underscores the versatility of collages in presenting multiple related items simultaneously, enhancing user engagement by providing a more comprehensive view.

4. Why Use Collages?

Kate explores the strategic advantages of incorporating collages into Pinterest marketing:

• Showcasing Product Ranges:

  • For e-commerce brands, collages allow the display of entire collections in a single pin, offering a broader view of available products and increasing the likelihood of user interest.

• Storytelling and Lifestyle Marketing:

  • Brands can demonstrate how their products integrate into customers' lives, presenting a complete lifestyle rather than isolated items. For instance, a fitness brand might combine workout gear, healthy meals, and motivational quotes in a single collage.

• Seasonality and Trending Content:

  • Collages provide a low-cost method to build seasonal or trending content strategies without the need for new photos, saving time and resources.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "The collage tool format is also a great way to visualize ideas like bringing things to life like outfits, outfit inspiration or fashion."

5. Creating Pinterest Collages

Kate offers a step-by-step guide on how to create collages within the Pinterest app, emphasizing that this feature is currently available only on iOS and Android, not on desktop:

1. Accessing the Collage Composer:

   • Tap the plus button in the navigation bar and select "Pin Collage Board."

2. Adding Cutouts:

   • While browsing, tap the scissor icon on a pin to create a cutout and add it to your collage. This process involves selecting specific parts of a pin, such as isolating a lamp in a living room scene.

3. Customizing the Collage:

   • Users can add text, drawings, and background colors to personalize their collages further.

4. Publishing:

   • After customizing, publish the collage as a pin, ensuring all details like title and description are filled out.

Kate acknowledges the learning curve associated with this new tool but encourages experimentation to master the process.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "It does have a learning curve, so you're going to have to play around with it a little bit to see how you like it."

6. Enhancing Collages with Features

Beyond the basic creation process, Pinterest collages offer several advanced features:

• Remix:

  • Allows users to use your collage as a template, fostering engagement and increasing reach. Each remix is attributed to the original creator.

• Sharing Options:

  • Collages can be downloaded in various formats, including animated versions or static images, and shared across different platforms with the creator’s Pinterest username attached.

Kate shares her enthusiasm for these features, suggesting creative ways to leverage them for audience interaction.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "Remix is a way to like engage your audience... We want to see if this is a way to elevate our content and our products to get in front of more people on Pinterest."

7. User Feedback and Real-World Applications

To validate the effectiveness of collages, Kate shares feedback from her team, daughter, and community members:

• Team Feedback:

  • While initially struggling with the cutout tool, the team recognized the value in reusable cutouts for showcasing multiple products across different verticals.

• Daughter’s Perspective:

  • Her 19-year-old daughter, an avid Pinterest user, found collages less intuitive compared to traditional boards, suggesting that collages may cater to specific use cases like bedroom inspiration.

• Community Insights:

  • Kate discovered that 23% of her Instagram community already utilizes collages, possibly transitioning from the Shuffles app. Other users appreciated the integrated collage tool, finding it more convenient than external programs.

Kate underscores the ongoing testing and iterative improvement of the collage feature, encouraging listeners to provide their feedback.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "I'm still testing it. I'm still asking people in the real world if they're on Pinterest, if they use them to get me their feedback."

8. Evaluating the Suitability of Collages for Your Strategy

Kate addresses the crucial question of whether Pinterest collages are a fit for individual businesses:

• Benefits Outweigh the Challenges:

  • Despite requiring more effort than standard pins, collages are gaining traction, especially among Gen Z users who make up nearly 70% of collage creators.

• Data-Driven Insights:

  • Referencing a TechCrunch article, Kate notes that users are three times more likely to save collage pins compared to other types, with a significant portion being shoppable.

• Platform Analytics:

  • Pinterest provides detailed analytics tools to help businesses measure engagement, saves, and click-through rates, allowing them to assess performance based on their specific audience and industry.

Kate encourages businesses to experiment with collages, monitor their analytics, and adapt based on the results.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "Do your own research. Go into this, play around... is this a way to elevate our content and our products to get in front of more people on Pinterest?"

9. Conclusion and Call to Action

Kate wraps up the episode by prompting listeners to consider testing out collages on Pinterest. She invites them to share their experiences, thoughts, and feedback via email, emphasizing the value of real-world use cases in refining the feature.

Kate Ahl [Transcript Excerpt]: "If you have any questions, thoughts, feedback or want to share your experience, simply email us. We read all of those emails and we really, really would love to hear your use cases."

Final Thoughts

This episode of the Simple Pin Podcast provides an in-depth exploration of Pinterest collages, offering practical guidance and strategic insights for business owners. By understanding the nuances of collages and leveraging their features effectively, businesses can enhance their Pinterest presence, engage more deeply with their audience, and drive greater sales and lead generation.

For more detailed instructions and examples, listeners are encouraged to visit simplepinmedia.com and explore the additional resources provided in the episode description.