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Mastering the Art of Following on Pinterest: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re ready to dive deeper into the vibrant world of Pinterest and connect with creators and curators whose aesthetic sensibilities resonate with your own? Excellent choice! Following individuals on Pinterest is the key to curating a personalized feed brimming with inspiration and tailored content. Here’s the straightforward answer to the question: How do you follow people on Pinterest?

It’s remarkably simple. There are primarily three ways to do it:

From Their Profile: Navigate to the user’s profile page. Locate the prominent “Follow” button (usually a red button with a white plus sign or the word “Follow”). Click it. Congratulations, you’re now following them!
From a Pin: If you see a Pin that catches your eye and want to follow the person who saved it, click on the Pin to enlarge it. Under the Pin’s image, you’ll often find the profile image of the person who saved it. Hover your mouse over their profile image, and a pop-up will appear with a “Follow” button. Click that button.
From Your Home Feed Recommendations: Pinterest’s algorithm, in its relentless pursuit of personalization, often suggests users you might enjoy following. These suggestions appear sporadically within your home feed. Look for the “Follow” button next to their profile information in the suggestion.

That’s the core process. But, like any seemingly simple task, there are nuances and deeper layers to understanding how following works on Pinterest. Let’s delve into some frequently asked questions to illuminate these aspects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Following on Pinterest

1. How can I find people to follow on Pinterest?

Pinterest offers several avenues for discovering users who align with your interests. Beyond the algorithm’s suggestions in your home feed, explore these methods:

Search Function: Use the search bar to look for specific topics, keywords, or even usernames. When you find a Pin or a board related to your interest, click on the user’s name to visit their profile.
Explore Tab: The Explore tab (often represented by a compass icon) showcases trending topics, popular creators, and curated collections. It’s a goldmine for discovering new accounts.
Friends on Pinterest: If you connect your Pinterest account to your Facebook or Gmail account, Pinterest can suggest people you already know in real life who are also on the platform. Look for this option in your settings.
Influencers and Brands: Identify brands or influencers within your niche. Often, they will mention or collaborate with other Pinterest users, providing you with a direct pathway to new accounts.
Group Boards: Explore group boards focused on topics you enjoy. Group boards usually have multiple contributors. By following the board, you are more likely to discover and follow new users.

2. What happens when I follow someone on Pinterest?

When you follow a user, their Pins and boards will start appearing in your home feed. This means you’ll see their content alongside Pins from other accounts you follow, as well as Pins Pinterest thinks you’ll like based on your activity. The more strategically you follow, the more relevant and engaging your feed becomes.

3. Can I control what types of content I see from someone I follow?

Unfortunately, Pinterest doesn’t offer granular control over the types of content you see from a specific user after you follow them. However, you can influence the algorithm by:

Interacting with their Pins: If you consistently save, comment on, or react to certain types of Pins from a user, Pinterest will show you more of that type of content. Conversely, if you ignore certain types of Pins, Pinterest will show them less often.
Refining Your Home Feed: Pinterest allows you to tell it what you’re not interested in. If you see a Pin in your feed that you dislike, click the ellipsis (three dots) on the Pin and select “Hide Pin.” You can then provide feedback on why you don’t like the Pin, helping Pinterest refine your recommendations.

4. How do I unfollow someone on Pinterest?

Unfollowing someone is as easy as following them. Simply navigate to their profile page and click the “Following” button. The button will change back to “Follow,” and you will no longer see their Pins in your home feed. You can also unfollow directly from your “Following” list, which can be accessed from your profile settings.

5. Is there a limit to how many people I can follow on Pinterest?

While Pinterest doesn’t publicly advertise a hard limit, following an excessive number of users can negatively impact the quality of your home feed. An overloaded feed becomes diluted and less relevant. It’s better to prioritize quality over quantity and follow accounts that genuinely resonate with your interests.

6. Can I see who is following me on Pinterest?

Yes, you can see a list of your followers. Go to your profile page. The number of followers is displayed prominently. Click on that number, and you’ll be taken to a list of all the users who follow you.

7. Can I block someone on Pinterest?

Yes, you can block users on Pinterest. Blocking someone prevents them from following you, sending you messages, or seeing your Pins (unless the Pins are on a public group board). To block someone, navigate to their profile page, click the ellipsis (three dots) icon, and select “Block.”

8. What’s the difference between following someone and following a board?

Following someone means you’ll see all of their public Pins and boards in your home feed. Following a board means you’ll only see Pins saved to that specific board in your feed. Following individual boards is a great way to curate your feed more precisely, especially if you’re only interested in certain aspects of a user’s content.

9. How do I follow a specific board on Pinterest?

To follow a specific board, navigate to the board’s page on Pinterest. You’ll find a “Follow” button prominently displayed on the board page. Click it to start following that particular board.

10. Can people see if I follow them on Pinterest?

Yes, users receive a notification when someone starts following them. They can also see your profile in their list of followers. However, Pinterest doesn’t notify users when someone unfollows them.

11. How does Pinterest’s algorithm influence who I see in my feed?

Pinterest’s algorithm is a complex beast, constantly learning from your activity to personalize your experience. It considers factors like:

Who you follow: Pins from the accounts you follow are prioritized in your feed.
Your search history: Your searches provide Pinterest with valuable insights into your interests.
The Pins you save: Saving Pins signals to Pinterest that you like similar content.
The boards you create: Your boards reveal your organization and categorization preferences.
Your interactions: Comments, reactions, and clicks all contribute to the algorithm’s understanding of your preferences.

12. Can I make my Pinterest account private?

Yes, you can make your Pinterest account private. A private account is only visible to users you approve as followers. To make your account private, go to your settings and toggle the “Make my profile private” option. Remember, if your account is private, only your approved followers will be able to see your Pins and boards.

By understanding these nuances and leveraging the tips outlined above, you can transform your Pinterest experience from passive browsing to active curation, creating a personalized feed that sparks inspiration and fuels your creativity. Happy pinning!