If you're a photographer just starting on Pinterest and feeling unsure about how to use it for your business, you're in the right place. These five essential steps will help you build a strong foundation so your Pinterest profile starts working for you—attracting...
This May Be Why Your Pinterest Traffic Dropped & What You Can Do About It
If your Pinterest traffic has suddenly dropped and you’re wondering what happened, you’re not alone. A recent platform update has caused many creators to experience fewer outbound clicks despite having the same impressions and saves.
Thanks to expert insights from Kate Ahl of Simple Pin Media (my mentor and an official Pinterest educator), we now understand exactly what changed and how to fix it. Let’s dig in.
What Changed with the “Visit Site” Button?
In the past, users could click on a pin, view the close-up, and then click again on the image to go directly to your site. Now, the pin image is no longer clickable.
Instead, Pinterest has introduced a small “Visit Site” button located below the pin image. On mobile or desktop, if this button doesn’t appear, users have no way to access your content.
This added friction has led to a decrease in click-through rates (CTR) and outbound traffic for many users.
No, Pinterest Isn’t Removing Links
Some creators feared that Pinterest was removing links altogether. But Malik Ducard, Pinterest’s Chief Content Officer, reassured users in an interview with Kate Ahl that links are “here to stay.”
However, for a small percentage of pins that don’t meet Pinterest’s evolving quality guidelines, the “Visit Site” button might be moved to a dropdown or hidden entirely. That’s the key issue here—and it’s one you can fix.
Why Pinterest Might Be Hiding Your Link
Pinterest stated that when a pin’s landing page is considered “low quality,” the Visit Site button becomes less visible. While the link isn’t removed, it’s no longer front and center, which drastically impacts traffic potential.
So what does Pinterest consider “low quality”? Let’s look at how to keep your pin (and your link) in good standing.
How to Get Your Pinterest Traffic Back
If your clicks are down, these are the actions Pinterest recommends—straight from what Kate Ahl shared in her recent mastermind sessions and podcast interview:
1. Enable Website Scraping
Make sure Pinterest can crawl your content by allowing its bot access via your robots.txt file. Blocking Pinterest’s crawler can prevent it from properly evaluating your site, and that can flag your pins as lower quality.
2. Avoid Broken or Redirected Links
Always double-check your links before publishing. A 404 page or broken redirect is an instant red flag. You should also test existing pins regularly to ensure that the links still work.
3. Match Your Pin Image to the Landing Page
The image(s) on your pin should appear on the page it links to (i.e. the blog). This visual consistency reassures Pinterest (and users) that the content is trustworthy and aligned.
Pro Tip: If you only have one main image on your blog, try using that same image for all your pins. We don’t know if this is exactly what’s intended by what Kate was told, but I’m testing right now to see if this gets better results. if you have multiple images on the page, rotate between them—but try to not use unrelated visuals that may confuse Pinterest’s algorithm, especially AI photos which may not get as much reach.
4. Use Matching Keywords
The keywords used in your pin’s title and description should also appear on the linked page. Pinterest wants alignment between the content you’re promoting and where you’re sending users. If there’s a disconnect, Pinterest might hide your link button.
5. Provide Helpful, Valuable Content
If your blog post or landing page doesn’t deliver on the promise of your pin (e.g., misleading title or weak content), users will bounce—and Pinterest sees that. Bounce-back behavior tells the platform that the pin may not be helpful or trustworthy.
6. Improve Your Site Speed
Aim for a page load time under 4 seconds. This is especially critical on mobile, where slower speeds feel even more frustrating. If your site is sluggish, Pinterest may deprioritize your pins and hide your links.
7. Maintain a Safe, Trustworthy Domain
Follow Pinterest’s Merchant Guidelines, even if you’re not an e-commerce brand. That means:
- No spammy ads
- Clear contact information
- Legitimate, user-friendly design
- No clickbait
A “sketchy” or cluttered design, even unintentionally, could be penalized.
8. Submit a Support Ticket if Needed
If you’ve done everything right and your “Visit Site” button is still hidden, Pinterest’s system may need time to recheck your content. There’s currently no appeal process, but you can submit a support ticket to flag the issue.
A Quick Note on Pinterest Advice
My insights here are based on Kate Ahl’s blog and podcast, which offer some of the most up-to-date guidance available. That said, Pinterest is an ever-evolving platform, and changes can happen quickly—so nothing is ever truly set in stone.
I always hesitate to present things as black and white because Pinterest’s algorithm and business goals are fluid. What works today may shift tomorrow. But this is the most accurate and helpful information we have right now, and I wanted to make sure you had it.
As with all marketing strategies, treat this as a series of micro tests—observe what resonates, adapt to what the platform favors, and refine your approach to get the best results, whether that’s in traffic, engagement, or ROI (including the time you invest). Keep testing, keep adjusting, and keep marketing your business with intention.
Bottom Line
Pinterest’s latest update isn’t about punishing creators—it’s about making the platform better for users. They want people to find helpful, high-quality, and trustworthy content.
If your traffic is down, don’t panic. Review your recent pins and ensure:
- Your links work
- Your landing pages are fast and aligned
- Your pins use accurate images and keywords
- Your domain gives off “good vibes” (trust and quality)
Pinterest and Google both prioritize helpful content. Align your content strategy with what’s valuable to users, and the traffic will follow.
- Kate’s Pinterest Mastermind Agency Masters (for Pinterest Managers with 7+ clients)
- Kate’s Podcast Interview: Youtube Podcast
Don’t Forget To Pin It!
