Always prioritize Fresh PinsA “Fresh Pin” means a new image, even if the link is the same. Avoid using the exact same graphic more than once. Always change photos, colors, headlines, etc.

This rule mostly applies to your own content, but you shouldn't spend much time on repins from third-parties either.

Don’t repin your own contentRepinning your own to multiple boards won’t boost your reach and could work against you if you do it too often. While it's important to "tag" your link with multiple boards, always use a Fresh Pin instead of saving a graphic you've already used.

Skip hashtags (with one exception)Hashtags aren’t necessary on Pinterest anymore and won't affect the growth of your content. The exception is using them when disclosing affiliate links (#ad or #affiliate is still okay), as this is a commonly understood tag across social platforms.

Which also brings me to my next point...

Clearly disclose affiliate linksWhen linking directly to affiliate offers anywhere online, transparency is key. It's also the law to disclose that you're being paid to promote something in many countries.

I already mentioned the hashtags, but a simple disclosure like “This post contains affiliate links” works well, too. Another option is to add a note such as “As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases” if you want to be extra clear.

Again, this is only necessary if your Pin links directly to an affiliate link. If you're linking to blog post or some page that includes the link, then your disclosure needs to be on that page instead.

Avoid linking to the same URL more than once per dayRotate through your content links to avoid being flagged for spam, even if you’re using a different graphic. Newer accounts should be cautious with this, especially if you don't have many links to share.

Try leaving a day or two before you pin the same link again, especially if your account is brand new. Some people will even wait up to a week to be safe.

Stick to recommended pinning frequenciesKeeping your daily Pin count within Pinterest's suggested limits prevents your account from being seen as spammy or overactive.

Note: These guidelines are mostly for your own content. I've never had an issue with saving a lot of content from others in one day. Just don't save like hundreds per day.

• New accounts: Start with 1-3 Pins per day
• Active creators: 3-5 Pins per day
• Large content libraries: Up to 10-15 Pins per day
• More than 25 Pins per day is usually not worth it, showing significant diminishing returns
• Definitely never go over per day 50

Pin seasonal content earlyAs we already know, it takes time for content to rank on Pinterest. It's important to keep this in mind when you create content for certain seasons (holidays, back to school, winter fashion, etc). Searchers also start looking for this content in advance as well.

Notice how it feels like you see Christmas decorations earlier and earlier each year? That's basically the approach you should take with Pinterest (within reason).

Pin at least 4-6 weeks in advance of holidays or seasonal trends. Use Fresh Pins to revive old content year after year.

Always include keyword-rich titles and descriptionsThis is an easy thing for many to skip, especially descriptions, but this is the heart of any Pinterest strategy. Your Pins will struggle if you do not use titles and descriptions and use them properly.

Always use natural phrasing and avoid keyword stuffing (just adding your keywords as a list). Pinterest needs this context to know where and when to place your Pins in search.