Have you been puzzled about what’s going on with Pinterest?

Has there been an algorithm update? Why is your traffic declining? Why does nobody see your new pins?

Part of the reason for the recent fluctuation you may have seen is the introduction of a new system called TransActV2, which Pinterest introduced in their latest engineering blog post.

It’s a fancy name for what is essentially a major leap forward in how Pinterest understands what users want.

So, what is the main takeaway from this lengthy technical paper?

Pinterest now looks at up to 16,000 user actions over time (not just the last 100!) to recommend content.

This has significant implications for how we, as creators, need to approach pin design, scheduling, and long-term strategy.

Let’s break it all down in plain English and dive into actionable steps you can start taking today to stay on Pinterest’s good side.

The Big Shift: From Recency to Relevance

Previously, Pinterest’s algorithm mostly looked at your last 100 interactions to decide what content to recommend.

That meant your most recent saves, searches, and clicks had the most weight.

Now?

Pinterest tracks up to 16,000 lifetime actions and uses machine learning to pull in the most relevant ones for any given moment.

This includes not just what you did yesterday, but what you saved a year ago, during last year’s summer vacation or holiday season.

What this means for you:

☑️ Pinterest understands seasonal interests and long-term passions better than ever.
☑️ Content you posted last year can resurface if it matches someone’s historical behavior.
☑️ It rewards creators who publish consistent, valuable, long-tail content.

Actionable Tips for Your Pinterest Strategy

1. Play the Long Game: Design for Seasonal Resurgence

Pinterest remembers what users were into last year – think holiday decor, Halloween party food, or spring cleaning tips.

Action Steps:

☑️ Start republishing or creating fresh pins for old content 60-90 days before seasonal peaks.
☑️ Use templates to easily redesign pins with updated text and visuals.
☑️ Schedule pins to go out gradually over several weeks instead of blasting them all at once.

Example: If you had a successful “Cozy Fall Living Room Ideas” post last year, create 2-3 new pins with fresh headlines like:

☑️ “10 New Ways to Decorate Your Living Room for Fall”
☑️ “Fall Decor Trends That Make Your Home Feel Like a Hug”

2. Vary Your Content: One Idea, Many Angles

Because Pinterest is using embeddings to identify similar content, it’s more likely to show related pins to users who have interacted with your stuff before.

Action Steps:

☑️ For every blog post or product, create 3-5 different pins.
☑️ Change up the imagery, color palette, headlines, and pin format (e.g., video, carousel, idea pins).

Example:
For a blog post titled “Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Plants”:

☑️ Pin 1: “5 Easy Houseplants That Thrive in Low Light”
☑️ Pin 2: “The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Keeping Plants Alive”
☑️ Pin 3: Carousel: “Before & After: My Indoor Jungle Makeover”

3. Think About the Next Save

Pinterest’s new system is trained to predict what people will do next, not just what they’ve done in the past.

This means save-worthy content is more likely to be boosted.

Action Steps:

☑️ Focus on pins that provide immediate value or inspiration. Ask yourself: Would you save this?
☑️ Use benefit-driven headlines like: “7 Hairstyles You Can Actually Do in 5 Minutes” or “Free Printable Checklist for First-Time Moms”
☑️ Add a subtle call-to-save on your pin graphic (e.g., “Save this for later!”)

4. Context is Queen: Use Keywords & Smart Board Structure

Pinterest still relies heavily on metadata to figure out what a pin is about.

That means your title, description, board, and even the text on your image matter.

Action Steps:

☑️ Always include relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions.
☑️ Make sure your boards are tightly themed (not “My Stuff” or “Inspo”).
☑️ Add context in descriptions that match what your audience might search.

Example:
Instead of a board titled “Recipes,” go for:

☑️ “Quick Weeknight Dinners”
☑️ “Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work”
☑️ “Holiday Desserts to Impress”

5. Don’t Repin: Refresh Instead

Pinterest penalizes spammy behavior, and since it now analyzes thousands of past interactions, repetitive pins stand out even more.

Action Steps:

☑️ Avoid pinning the same image or link repeatedly.
☑️ Instead, create new versions of top-performing pins with updated visuals and headlines.

6. Use Data to Guide Your Content Calendar

Pinterest is rewarding saves more than clicks or impressions.

So watch your analytics closely and double down on what people are saving.

Action Steps:

☑️ Regularly check which pins have high save rates.
☑️ Use that insight to create similar pins or expand the topic.

Example:
If your “Easy Halloween Nail Designs” pin took off, consider spin-offs like:

☑️ “Purple Halloween Nails for Witchy Vibes”
☑️ “Spooky Cute Nails You Can DIY”
☑️ “Halloween Nails That’ll Steal the Party”

Final Thoughts: Adopt the Algorithm

This new AI-powered Pinterest isn’t trying to trip us up; it’s trying to serve people better content based on what they’ve been into over time.

So our job as creators?

Stay consistent.

Focus on quality.

Think long-term.

And give Pinterest what it wants: fresh, relevant, save-worthy content that matches real user intent.