Are Pinterest Group Boards Still Worth It? A Step-by-Step Guide
Pinterest group boards have long been a strategy for content creators, bloggers, and businesses to increase their reach and drive traffic. However, with Pinterest’s algorithm changes over the years, many people wonder if they are still effective. The short answer? It depends.
Some group boards still provide value, while others have become outdated, spammy, or ineffective. This step-by-step guide will help you analyze whether Pinterest group boards are still worth your time and what strategies might work better.
Step 1: Check Your Pinterest Analytics
If you’ve been using group boards, the first step is to check whether they are actually helping your account. To do this:
- Go to Pinterest Analytics (available for business accounts).
- Look at the Top Boards section under Audience Insights or Overview.
- Identify which boards are getting the most engagement (clicks, saves, and impressions).
If your group boards are among your top-performing boards, they might still be useful. However, if they rank low or bring little engagement, they may not be worth the effort.
Key Takeaway:
If your group boards don’t appear in your analytics as top performers, it may be time to rethink your strategy.
Step 2: Evaluate the Quality of Your Group Boards
Not all Pinterest group boards are equal. Some are highly engaged, well-moderated, and relevant to their niche. Others are filled with spam and low-quality content.
Here’s how to assess the quality of your group boards:
1. Look for Spam and Irrelevant Content
Check the board to see what kind of content is being posted. If you notice a lot of off-topic, low-quality, or overly promotional pins, it’s a sign that the board may not be effective anymore.
2. Consider the Contributor Activity
- Are contributors still actively pinning?
- Do the pins get engagement (saves, clicks, and comments)?
- Does the board have a clear theme that is followed?
If the board has too many inactive members or posts that don’t align with the theme, its effectiveness might be low.
3. Check for Overcrowding
Some group boards have thousands of contributors, meaning hundreds of new pins are added daily. If the board is too crowded, your pins may get buried quickly, reducing their impact.
Key Takeaway:
If a group board is filled with spam, inactive members, or overwhelming amounts of pins, it’s probably not worth your time.
Step 3: Test the Group Boards You Are Part Of
If you’re already a member of group boards but haven’t been active, start testing them. Here’s how:
- Pick a few group boards that seem relevant to your niche.
- Start pinning consistently (2-5 pins per week).
- Monitor their performance over 2-3 months in your Pinterest Analytics.
- Compare engagement levels between your group boards and personal boards.
If your group boards aren’t showing positive results within a few months, it’s best to focus on your personal boards instead.
Key Takeaway:
Testing is the best way to see if group boards work for your account. But if they don’t perform well after a few months, shift your focus elsewhere.
Step 4: Focus on Your Personal Boards First
One of the biggest Pinterest mistakes is relying too much on group boards while ignoring personal boards. Unlike group boards, you have full control over your personal boards, which makes them more reliable for long-term growth.
How to Optimize Your Personal Boards for More Engagement:
✅ Use Pinterest SEO—Include relevant keywords in your board names and descriptions.
✅ Create fresh pins regularly—Pinterest favors new, high-quality content.
✅ Pin to your own boards before group boards to boost their engagement.
✅ Organize your boards with a clear theme—Niche-specific boards perform better.
Many successful Pinterest users see better results by focusing on their own boards rather than group boards.
Key Takeaway:
Instead of relying on group boards, prioritize your personal boards by optimizing them for SEO and engagement.
Step 5: Should You Join New Group Boards?
If you’re not already in group boards, should you join them? The answer depends on your niche.
🔹 Check if competitors use them: If your competitors aren’t using group boards, it may be a sign that they are no longer effective.
🔹 Try searching for active group boards: Use Pinterest’s search bar to look for your niche + “group board” to see if any relevant boards exist.
🔹 Look for well-moderated boards: Boards with clear guidelines and active contributors tend to be more valuable.
If you struggle to find good group boards or see that top Pinterest accounts aren’t using them, it may be better to focus on other strategies.
Key Takeaway:
Joining new group boards isn’t necessary. Instead, prioritize growing your own audience through SEO, fresh content, and consistent pinning.
Final Verdict: Are Pinterest Group Boards Worth It?
The effectiveness of group boards has declined over the years, and they no longer guarantee increased reach or traffic.
Here’s when group boards may still be useful:
✅ If they are high-quality, niche-specific, and well-moderated
✅ If they appear in your Pinterest Analytics as a top-performing board
✅ If they have active contributors and engaged followers
When group boards are NOT worth it:
❌ If they are spam-filled, inactive, or overcrowded
❌ If your personal boards perform better in analytics
❌ If your competitors aren’t using them, signaling they aren’t effective in your niche
What Should You Do Instead?
If you decide that group boards aren’t worth it, focus on these Pinterest strategies instead:
✅ Optimize Pinterest SEO: Use relevant keywords in your board descriptions, pin titles, and captions.
✅ Pin Fresh Content Consistently: Pinterest favors new content over repins, so create and upload new pins frequently.
✅ Create Idea Pins: These get priority in the Pinterest algorithm and boost engagement.
✅ Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, follow accounts in your niche, and encourage interaction.
By shifting your focus to your own boards and fresh content, you can grow your reach organically without relying on group boards.
Final Thoughts
While Pinterest group boards can still work for certain niches, they aren’t as effective as they once were. If you already have group boards that drive traffic, keep using them. But if you’re struggling to see results, shift your focus to personal boards, Pinterest SEO, and fresh content.
What’s been your experience with Pinterest group boards? Let me know in the comments!
