Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Jan Barley
Losing Your Pinterest Account Can Feel Awful. Still, You Are Not Alone. It Happens to Many People
Pinterest account suspended?
Picture this: You’re casually browsing Pinterest, minding your own business, when suddenly – BAM! A big red button on your login page says your account is deactivated.
No warning, no explanation. It’s just digital exile.
Has it happened to you? You’re not alone in this Pinterest purgatory. It happened to me, and I didn’t like it one bit.
Pinterest’s overzealous spam detection is snagging innocent accounts left and right. And their customer service? Well, let’s say it’s not winning any awards.
The worst part is that you’re primarily negotiating with bots, which never ends well.
Pinterest account recovery is NOT easy. Even if the algorithm caused an incorrect Pinterest suspension, you might not get your Pinterest account reactivated.
Still, don’t lose hope – I’ve been there and done that and am here to help you navigate this frustrating event.
I admit I didn’t get my account back, but I’ve learned a lot from the experience. Not least of all that: –
- Pinterest doesn’t care about you
- We (actually) MUST read Pinterest’s Community Guidelines
- The algorithm is draconian – think the worst controller in history
- Your appeals go to bots- speaking to a human is challenging, if not impossible
- You might not get your Pinterest account reactivated – cutting your losses and starting again might be the best option
The first step is to clarify if your account is genuinely suspended. We’re talking about complete lockout – no logging in, pinning, or any Pinterest activity.
If I tried to look at my page, I received a warning message, followed by an email stating that someone was trying to log in to my account.
If you can still access your account but reach has plummeted, it might be the Pinterest spam block instead. That’s a different beast, a different battle.
I hope, for your sake, the lockout is not a genuine deactivation.
My Pinterest Account Deactivation Saga
I schedule my pins on a Monday morning. For three months, I had built up the number of daily pins to three, spread from morning to evening, seven days a week.
I had 8.9k monthly views, increased engagement, and traffic flowed nicely to my affiliate offers and niche website.
That Monday morning was as typical as any before.
Tuesday morning, I opened the app to check my stats.
And there it was ….
That horrid BIG red button stated that Pinterest had deactivated my account.
I felt sick…
An email pinged in confirming Pinterest had deactivated my account for spam.
Damn?
Spam?
Like you, I manically searched Google and TikTok for answers.
I wanted my bloody account back!
Here’s the kicker: So much advice “out there” claims that Pinterest will reinstate your account quickly if you’re innocent.
Spoiler alert: That’s complete hogwash.
Pinterest’s system is about as reliable as a chocolate teapot.
So, if you’re staring at a suspended account message, take a deep breath. Maybe pour yourself a stiff drink. Then, let’s get to work.
Pinterest Account Suspended? Your Burning Questions Answered
I searched Google for hours trying to find a solution to my deactivated pinterest account. Here are some of the questions you might be asking.
How Do You Know Your Account Is Suspended?
- Scenario 1: The Real-Time Suspension Shocker
You’re pinning away when suddenly, a message pops up declaring your account suspended—game over. No more Pinterest for you. - Scenario 2: The “Your Account Has Been Suspended” Email
Not online? You’ll get a charming email informing you of your digital downfall. Either way, you’re locked out of your Pinterest account faster than you can say “algorithm error.”
Why Did Pinterest Deactivate My Account?
There are two main reasons for losing your account:
#1: Accidental Spam Shenanigans
Maybe you were a bit overzealous with your pinning strategy. Common slip-ups include:
- Using short links
- Duplicating pins galore
- Pinning the same URL daily
- Unsolicited DM pin-bombing
- Using “cloaking” such as a forwarding URL
- Using outdated tactics like hashtag overload
My mistake was using short links, and I had a forwarding URL on one of my pins. Both of these errors were the first time I had made the mistake.
Pinterest is NOT forgiving of our humanness.
#2: The Dreaded Algorithm Glitch
These glitches are more common than you’d think. Sometimes, it’s a widespread issue affecting thousands.
#3: Sensitive Material
- Don’t post nudes or anything that constitutes sexy
- Avoid posting images of children
#4: Copying Someone Else’s Content
- Design pins of your own. Do the pin design course that I did to learn how to create beautiful pins that convert.
Other times, it’s random; Pinterest’s finicky algorithm singles you out.
How to Appeal To Reactive Your Pinterest Account
Go to the Pinterest Appeal page and submit your appeal.
- Step 1: Submit help tickets like you’re trying to cash in a winning lottery ticket.
- Step 2: Copy and paste your appeals to save your sanity.
- Step 3: Thank Pinterest in advance for the help you hope to receive.
- Step 4: Don’t waste time getting angry, whiney or demanding answers. Pinterest isn’t big on explanations.
Pro Tip: Play the advertiser card. Pinterest seems to perk up when there’s potential ad revenue on the table. It didn’t work for me, but it has for some.
Crafting Your Help Ticket
Start with something like this:
“Dear Pinterest team, my account was mistakenly suspended for spam. I assure you I’m a dedicated creator who values the Pinterest community. If any missteps occurred, they were unintentional. Please have a human review my account. Pinterest is crucial to my brand, and I’m eager to continue contributing quality content.”
If that doesn’t work, try the advertiser angle:
“Hello, Pinterest team. I urgently need assistance. My account was incorrectly suspended, halting my plans for an upcoming ad campaign. I’m committed to Pinterest’s creator code and providing value to pinners. Please help reinstate my account so I can rejoin the Pinterest community and explore advertising opportunities.”
The Pinterest Waiting Game
Recovery time varies wildly. It could be hours, or it could be months.
I usually got a rejection email (bot) reply within an hour, but I never got my Pinterest account reactivated.
Harsh reality check: No platform owes us the right to use it. That’s why I wrote about the danger of not owning our content.
When something happens like this, it’s a stark reminder to diversify your traffic sources and build your email list.
Suspension-Proofing Your Pinterest Strategy
- Don’t use link shorteners.
- Don’t use URLs with forwarding.
- Read Pinterest Community Guidelines
- Avoid anything remotely spammy. When in doubt, don’t.
- Consider hiring a Pinterest expert or coach to keep you on track.
- Stay updated on best practices. Join Pinterest marketing groups, read blogs, and listen to podcasts.
What Happened to My Pinterest Account?
I submitted four appeals and received four rejections.
My stress levels were off the roof. I decided it was less stressful to start again.
I opened a new Pinterest account in July 2024 and started scheduling one pin daily.
Even though Pinterest is 100% OK with promoting affiliate links on pins, I no longer do it.
Instead, I write blog posts and link pins to them. My blog is a claimed website on Pinterest.
Whenever I open my Pinterest account, I feel hesitant and anxious about it happening again.
Should You Rely on Pinterest For Traffic?
Categorically, No!
I’m focusing on driving traffic to my blog from writing SEO blog content. Yes, Pinterest is a fantastic search engine once your account builds momentum.
Still, I will NEVER rely on Pinterest again.
I advise you to start a blog and learn to write SEO content.
If you can’t be arsed to learn SEO, try SEOWriting AI or SurferSEO to help you write SEO content without all the keyword research stuff.
Final Thoughts
Fighting an unfair Pinterest suspension is frustrating, but don’t give up.
If you’re innocent, keep pushing. Unfortunately, these algorithmic hiccups are now part of the Pinterest game.
The platform never used to be so draconian, but it is what it is, and we must learn to manage our relationship with Pinterest.
Learn as much as you can about Pinterest. Read my article on free Pinterest courses to help you get started.
Focus on being the best creator you can be. ALWAYS have a backup plan for your traffic. I’ve considerably increased traffic to my site and work hard to maintain consistency.
Work hardest on the things you own.
Remember, you’re not the first to experience a deactivated Pinterest account. When you search for a solution, you will see hundreds or thousands of people who have lost their accounts.
Stay persistent, stay positive, and may the algorithm never judge your pin content as spam.
If not, F*** em and do your own thing.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
