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How to Edit a Pinterest Widget: A Comprehensive Guide for Pinfluencers

So, you’ve embraced the visual power of Pinterest and embedded a widget on your website or blog. Smart move! But now you need to tweak it, refine it, make it yours. The question is: How do you edit a Pinterest widget? The answer, thankfully, is relatively straightforward, though the method depends on the type of widget and how it was initially implemented. You’ll generally need to access the code snippet used to embed the widget and modify the attributes within that code. Let’s dive into the specifics.

Understanding Pinterest Widgets

Before we get our hands dirty with the code, let’s briefly touch upon the different types of Pinterest widgets you might be using. Understanding their function will clarify the editing process. Common types include:

Profile Widget: Displays your profile information, followers, and recent pins.
Board Widget: Showcases the pins from a specific board, ideal for highlighting curated content.
Pin Widget: Embeds a single pin, perfect for drawing attention to a particular product or idea.
Follow Button: A simple button that allows visitors to follow your Pinterest profile directly.

The Editing Process: Step-by-Step

The key to editing any Pinterest widget lies in accessing and modifying the HTML code snippet that you initially used to embed it. Here’s a general process you can follow:

Locate the Widget Code: This is the most crucial step. Where did you place the widget’s code on your website? Typically, it’s within a text widget in your content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. It might also be embedded directly within a specific page’s HTML source code. Use your browser’s “Inspect” tool (right-click on the widget and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”) to help identify the location of the code.
Access the Code Editor: Once you’ve found the code, you need to access your website’s code editor. This varies depending on your platform:
- WordPress: Go to “Appearance” > “Widgets” (if it’s in a widget area) or directly edit the page or post where the code is embedded using the “Text” editor (not the “Visual” editor).
- Squarespace: Navigate to the page containing the widget and enter edit mode. Look for a “Code Block” where you pasted the Pinterest code.
- Wix: Select the page containing the widget. You should see a “HTML iFrame/Embed” element if you used that method. Edit the code within that element.
- Other Platforms: Consult your platform’s documentation on how to edit HTML code within pages or widgets.
Understand the Code: Pinterest’s widget code usually consists of a few key elements:
- A <a> tag that defines the link to your profile, board, or pin. This often includes attributes like href (the URL), data-pin-do (specifying the widget type), data-pin-config (defining the widget’s appearance), and potentially other customization options.
- A <script> tag that loads the Pinterest JavaScript library responsible for rendering the widget. This tag usually looks like <script async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>.
Modify the Attributes: This is where the magic happens. You can change various attributes within the <a> tag to customize the widget:
- href: Change this to point to a different Pinterest profile, board, or pin.
- data-pin-do: This attribute determines the widget type. You can change it to buttonFollow for a follow button, embedPin for a single pin, embedBoard for a board widget, or embedUser for a profile widget.
- data-pin-config: This attribute allows you to control the widget’s appearance. The available configuration options depend on the widget type. For example, you can often adjust the width, height, and color scheme. Refer to the Pinterest developer documentation for specific configuration options for each widget type.
- data-pin-width: Set the desired width of the widget in pixels.
- data-pin-height: Set the desired height of the widget in pixels.
- data-pin-round: Set the value as true to have a round profile picture for the follow button, or false for square.
Save and Preview: After making your changes, save the modified code in your website’s code editor. Then, preview the page or widget area to see the updated widget.
Troubleshooting: If the widget doesn’t display correctly, double-check your code for typos, missing quotes, or incorrect attribute values. Ensure that the <script> tag for loading the Pinterest JavaScript library is present. If you are using plugins to optimize Javascript rendering, ensure that they are not deferring or excluding the Pinterest Javascript.

Example: Editing a Board Widget

Let’s say you have a board widget embedded on your site, and you want to change the board it displays and adjust its width. The original code might look like this:

<a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedBoard" href="https://www.pinterest.com/yourusername/yourboardname/"></a> <script async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>

To change the board to “New Board” and set the width to 600 pixels, you would modify the code like this:

<a data-pin-board-width="600" data-pin-do="embedBoard" href="https://www.pinterest.com/yourusername/newboardname/"></a> <script async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>

Notice that you’ve changed the href attribute to point to the new board and updated the data-pin-board-width attribute.

Considerations

Responsiveness: When setting widget widths, consider how they will display on different screen sizes (desktops, tablets, and smartphones). You might need to use CSS or responsive design techniques to ensure the widget adapts gracefully.
Pinterest API Changes: Pinterest occasionally updates its API, which might affect how widgets are rendered. Stay informed about these changes and update your code accordingly if necessary.
CSS Styling: You can further customize the appearance of your widgets using CSS. Target the widget elements using CSS selectors and apply styles as needed.
Plugin Conflicts: If you’re using WordPress or other CMS, certain plugins might interfere with the rendering of Pinterest widgets. Try temporarily disabling plugins to see if that resolves the issue.

By following these steps and understanding the underlying code, you can effectively edit your Pinterest widgets and tailor them to perfectly match your website’s design and content strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further assist you in editing your Pinterest widgets:

1. Where can I find the official Pinterest documentation for widgets?

The official Pinterest Developer Documentation is the best resource. Search for “Pinterest Developer Documentation Widgets” to find the most up-to-date information on widget types, attributes, and configuration options.

2. My Pinterest widget isn’t displaying at all. What could be the problem?

Several factors could be at play. Ensure the Pinterest JavaScript library (<script async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>) is included on the page. Check for typos in the widget code, and make sure your website isn’t blocking external scripts. Caching plugins can sometimes interfere, so try clearing your website’s cache.

3. Can I change the color of the “Follow” button on a Pinterest widget?

Yes, you can. While direct color customization via HTML attributes is limited, you can often use CSS to override the default styles. Use your browser’s “Inspect” tool to identify the CSS classes applied to the button and then add your own CSS rules to your website’s stylesheet.

4. How do I make my Pinterest widgets responsive?

Use CSS media queries to adjust the width of the widget based on the screen size. You can also use the data-pin-board-width attribute with a percentage value (e.g., data-pin-board-width="100%") to make the widget fill the available space.

5. What does the `data-pin-do` attribute do?

The data-pin-do attribute specifies the type of Pinterest widget you want to embed. Common values include buttonFollow (for a follow button), embedPin (for a single pin), embedBoard (for a board widget), and embedUser (for a profile widget).

6. I accidentally deleted the Pinterest widget code. How do I get it back?

You’ll need to regenerate the code from your Pinterest account. Go to the Pinterest Widget Builder (search “Pinterest Widget Builder”), select the widget type you want to create, configure it, and copy the generated code snippet.

7. Can I use multiple Pinterest widgets on the same page?

Yes, you can. Just make sure each widget has a unique identifier (e.g., by using different href values) and that the Pinterest JavaScript library is included only once on the page.

8. How do I ensure my Pinterest widgets are accessible to users with disabilities?

Use appropriate ARIA attributes and ensure that the widget’s content is properly labeled. Provide alternative text descriptions for images and ensure sufficient color contrast. Refer to web accessibility guidelines (WCAG) for detailed recommendations.

9. My website is using HTTPS, but the Pinterest widget code uses HTTP. Is this a problem?

Yes, this can cause mixed content warnings in some browsers. Always use HTTPS for all resources on your website, including the Pinterest JavaScript library. Change src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" to src="https://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js".

10. What is the data-pin-build attribute and what is its relevance?

The data-pin-build attribute appears to have been deprecated and is no longer used by Pinterest to configure widgets. You should focus on using the data-pin-do and data-pin-config or the specific data-pin-* attributes for customization.

11. I am using a caching plugin. How should I configure it to properly display my Pinterest widgets?

Make sure your caching plugin does not exclude or defer loading the Pinterest Javascript (pinit.js). You may need to add an exception in your caching plugin settings for this file to ensure it’s loaded correctly. Also, clear your cache after making changes to your widget code.

12. If I am embedding a Pin Widget to show a specific Pin, how can I ensure that the Pin is updated on my website if I update it on Pinterest?

The Pin Widget will automatically reflect any changes made to the original Pin on Pinterest. So, if you change the description, image, or linked website on Pinterest, the embedded Pin Widget on your website will also be updated automatically.