Pinned Post
Also known as: Pinned tweet, Pinned content, Featured post
Quick definition
A pinned post is content fixed at the top of a profile's feed regardless of recency, ensuring it's the first thing every visitor sees. Pinned posts override the standard chronological or algorithmic ordering and serve as a permanent showcase for important announcements, best work, or current campaigns.
Contents
What is a pinned post?
A pinned post is a piece of content that stays fixed at the top of an account's profile, regardless of how old it is or what newer content the account has published. Pins override the default feed ordering — typically chronological on most platforms — so the pinned post is always the first content a new profile visitor sees. The mechanic exists across most major platforms: X (3 pinned tweets), Instagram (3 pinned posts), TikTok (3 pinned videos), LinkedIn (1 featured post), Threads (no pin yet but reportedly coming), Pinterest (board cover concept).
Pins serve a specific job: showcase the account's best work or current top priority for first-time visitors. Most prospective followers decide to follow within seconds of landing on a profile; the pinned post often determines that decision.
What to pin
Five high-leverage pin choices. (1) Your best post by engagement — proves the account produces quality content, lets new visitors immediately see what they're following for. (2) Current campaign or launch — drives the visitor to the most-important business action right now. (3) An introduction post — 'Hi, I'm X, I create Y' as a friendly orientation for new arrivals. (4) A specific lead magnet — 'Free guide here' with link, converting visitors to email. (5) A controversial or thought-provoking post — earns immediate engagement and signals the account's voice.
What NOT to pin: low-engagement filler posts, outdated announcements, or content that doesn't represent the account's current focus. Pins should be reviewed and rotated quarterly at minimum.
Per-platform pin limits and behavior
X allows pinning up to 3 tweets simultaneously. Instagram allows 3 pinned posts on the grid. TikTok allows 3 pinned videos on the grid. LinkedIn allows 1 'Featured' post (plus a Featured section with multiple items). YouTube has 'pinned' channel videos that show first on the channel home tab. Pinned posts maintain all their original engagement counts and continue to earn comments/likes — they're not separate posts, just elevated in the feed-position ordering.
Common pitfalls
- ×Pinning the wrong post — your highest-engagement post isn't always the best representative of your work
- ×Forgetting to update pins — outdated 'Just launched!' announcements from 6 months ago hurt credibility
- ×Pinning too many — 3 pins is the platform max; pinning fewer (1-2 carefully chosen) often outperforms 3 overlapping
- ×Pinning purely promotional content — visitors expect pinned posts to provide value, not just sales pitches
Tips
- ✓Pin your single best representative post — what you'd want a stranger to see first
- ✓Rotate pins quarterly — your best work from last quarter may not represent current focus
- ✓Pin a high-engagement post AND a current-campaign post — covers showcase + business goal
- ✓If running a launch, pin the launch post for the launch window, then rotate back to evergreen
Frequently asked questions
How many posts can I pin on Instagram?+
Three. Instagram added the pinning feature in 2022 with a 3-post limit. Most accounts use all three slots — typically a mix of best-engagement posts, intro post, and current campaign.
Do pinned posts get extra reach?+
Pins don't directly affect algorithmic distribution, but they affect profile-conversion rate. Visitors who land on your profile see the pinned content first, which influences whether they follow. So pins lift indirect reach by improving follower acquisition.
Can I pin a post from years ago?+
Yes. Pinned posts can be any age — pinning works equally on a post from yesterday or 3 years ago. The original timestamp is preserved; the post just elevates in profile-feed position.
Can I pin via API?+
Limited. Most scheduling APIs let you publish posts but pin/unpin actions are typically not exposed in the public API. Some platforms (Twitter/X) do support pin via API; others require manual action in the platform UI. Check your specific scheduling tool's docs.
Schedule + pin posts from one dashboard
CodivUpload's profile view shows pinned post status alongside scheduling. Update pins when launching new campaigns; revert when the campaign ends.
Try the dashboard freeRelated glossary terms