How I Plan My Whole Pinterest Strategy Using Apple Notes

There are entire Pinterest courses out there that’ll teach you how to schedule pins, track analytics, build 90-day content calendars, and basically burn yourself out by week two.

Me? I run my whole Pinterest setup out of Apple Notes.

No tools. No spreadsheets. No subscriptions. 

Just my iPhone, a couple of notes, and a flow that actually keeps me posting.

I use Notes to track pin ideas, plan what I’m posting each day, save examples of what’s working, and even organize brand collabs when they come up.

And in this guide, I’m showing you exactly how I do it.

No gatekeeping, no overcomplicated systems.

If you’ve ever felt like Pinterest is too much to manage, this’ll make it feel stupid simple.

Let’s get into it.

1. My “Pin Ideas Dump” Note

One of the most useful notes I keep is just a straight-up brain dump of pin ideas.

No structure. No categories. 

Just whatever comes to mind, I throw it in here.

It’s the same way I plan out my entire day, too.

Sometimes it’s a title I think of while I’m out. 

Sometimes I see someone else’s pin that sparks an angle. 

Sometimes I’m scrolling my own blog and realize, “Wait, I never made a pin for this post.”

It all goes here.

Here’s how my Pin Ideas Dump Note looks:

This note isn’t meant to be clean. 

I don’t overthink it. 

I just keep adding to it whenever an idea hits.

Because when it’s time to actually create, I don’t want to sit there starting from zero.

This one note alone has saved me from the “what should I post today?” spiral more times than I can count.

2. Board Planning Notes

Every Pinterest board I run has its own note.

I don’t use any fancy tool to map it out. 

Just open Apple Notes, type the board name at the top, and drop in whatever I need to keep it focused.

Like my board for “Apple Notes Tips & Hacks” — that note’s where I plan what kind of stuff I wanna post there. 

I’ll write a quick one-liner about what the board’s really about, jot down the keywords I’m trying to hit, and then throw in content ideas as they come to me.

It’s messy. 

It’s not organized by date or anything. 

But it helps me not repeat the same kind of pin over and over. 

I can scroll and instantly see, “Oh yeah, I haven’t posted anything about Smart Folders in a while,” or “I’ve done way too many journal posts — time to switch it up.”

Sometimes I even write little notes like:

• Post more beginner-level stuff next week
• Try a carousel for the next planner pin
• Mention this post in the next “Notes for Creators” pin

This is what my folder actually looks like inside Notes:

I keep all these board notes inside one folder called Pinterest Boards so I can flip through them fast. 

If I’m working on pins and my brain’s blank, I just open one of these and there’s always something to work with.

3. Weekly Pinterest Tracker

This is the note that keeps me from winging it every day.

I’ve got a note called Weekly Pinterest Tracker where I plan out one pin for each day — Monday through Sunday. 

That’s the rhythm I stick to. 

Not batching five on one day, not posting when I feel like it. 

Just one solid pin, every day.

Each week, I make a fresh list like this:

• Monday: How I Use Apple Notes as a Daily Planner → Done
• Tuesday: 3 Smart Folder Setups That Keep Me Organized → Done
• Wednesday: Notes App for Pinterest? Here’s My Setup → Done
• Thursday: This Notes Hack Changed My Morning Routine → Scheduled
• Friday: How I Store Sensitive Info Inside Notes → Scheduled
• Saturday: The Travel Planner You Already Have on Your iPhone → Scheduled
• Sunday: My Meal Plan Lives in Apple Notes (No Joke) → Draft

I just use plain text. 

I don’t need a table or a chart or anything. 

If it’s done, I write “Done.” If I’m still working on it, it’s a “Draft” or “Scheduled.”

That’s it.

But if you’re more visual or want a cleaner view, this is what it can look like in table format, too:

Sometimes I use the table. 

Sometimes I don’t. 

Depends how I’m feeling that week. 

But the goal stays the same — one pin a day, no guessing.

And yeah, if you use the table format, it’s actually a solid way to track where each pin links to, or even which board you’re posting it on. 

Helps if you’ve got multiple boards running at the same time and don’t wanna double up.

Also read: I Used Apple Notes to Plan My Vacation (And It Worked)

4. Repin & Refresh Tracker

Not every pin needs to be brand new.

I’ve got a note called Repin & Refresh where I keep track of older pins that still hit.

Or ones I think deserve a second shot. 

I don’t overthink it. 

I just scroll through my past stuff and drop whatever feels worth reusing into this note.

Sometimes I’ll repin the same thing as-is. 

Other times, I’ll tweak the title or design a new version with a better hook. 

But this note’s where I decide that — not while I’m in Canva, not while I’m panicking to post.

It looks something like this:

Sometimes I’ll even write a little reminder next to it like:

“Don’t post again next week — spread it out.”

I check this note once a week, usually when I’m doing the weekly tracker. 

If I’ve got gaps or don’t feel like making something new, I just grab from here and keep it moving.

If you’re not doing this already, you’re probably leaving a lot of reach on the table. 

Old pins still work. You just gotta keep track of them.

5. Viral Pin Swipe File

I keep a note where I drop pins that make me stop scrolling — not to copy, but to learn from them.

Anytime I see a pin on Pinterest that looks clean, grabs attention, or has a headline that hits, I screenshot it and dump it here with a quick note. 

This note’s called Pin Swipe File, and it’s basically my go-to when I’m outta ideas.

To upload the screenshots, I just tap the paperclip icon inside the note and hit “Choose Photo or Video.” 

That’s it. Takes two seconds.

Here’s what it looks like inside:

That’s the whole point of this note — not to steal, but to spot patterns. 

I use this when I’m stuck, when I wanna test something new, or just need inspo that’s proven to work.

Sometimes I even add a few title formats I wanna try next, based on what I saw:

• X Things I Do With Notes Every Morning
• You’re Not Using Notes Right — Fix That
• What’s Inside My Notes App (Right Now)

This note has saved me so many hours. 

It’s way better than staring at a blank Canva file.

6. Templates & Checklist Notes

I’ve got two notes that keep things moving when I’m planning content.

One’s a pin template I use every time I’m creating something new.

And the other is just a weekly checklist so I don’t forget the basics.

Let’s start with the pin template.

This is what I use when I’m writing up a new idea. 

It’s not complicated, just a quick structure that helps me figure out what the pin’s about, what it looks like, and where it links.

Wanna steal it? Here’s the exact format I use inside Apple Notes:

Title Idea:
e.g., “How I Use Apple Notes as a Content Planner”

Image Style:
Static | Carousel | Screenshot-based | Before/After | Real-life pic?

Linked Post:
Add blog URL or article name

Main Keywords:
iPhone notes productivity, Apple Notes content planner, etc

Call to Action:
Tap to read | Save this for later | Read full post

Upload Date:
Write down when you plan to post it

Status:
Draft | Scheduled | Done

I just duplicate this note when I’m batching pins, way easier than starting from scratch every time.

Now the second note is my Weekly Pinterest Checklist.

This one’s more about staying consistent and not letting stuff fall through the cracks.

It’s short, messy, and super low-maintenance. 

Here’s how mine looks right now inside Notes:

I don’t even use reminders for this, I just open the checklist and go. 

Some weeks, I follow it closely. 

Some weeks, I just skim it. 

But having it there? Keeps me from flying blind.

7. Analytics Snapshot Note

I don’t go deep into Pinterest analytics. 

I’m not trying to decode charts or export spreadsheets. 

But I do have one note where I drop quick observations… just the stuff that actually helps me figure out what’s working and what’s not.

I call it my Pinterest Analytics Snapshot, and I update it once or twice a month. 

That’s it.

No stats overload. Just quick notes like:

• Which pins got saves or clicks
• What formats or headlines seem to be working
• What flopped
• And what I should test next

This isn’t about perfection.

It’s about catching patterns before I waste time on stuff that doesn’t land.

Here’s how mine looks right now:

It’s not synced with any app or tool. 

I literally open Pinterest, check my analytics, and write down what I see.

I don’t do this daily. 

Usually end of the month, or when something blows up and I wanna figure out why.

And if nothing’s working? I say that too. 

Because then I know it’s time to switch something up instead of just blindly making more pins.

This note’s not for numbers. It’s for patterns.

8. Notes for Collabs or Brand Pins

Not everything I post is just for me.

Every once in a while, I get a DM or email from a brand that wants a Pinterest shoutout or a collab. 

And yeah, sometimes I say yes, but only if I can keep it organized.

So I’ve got a note called Pinterest Collabs & Brand Pins, that’s where I dump everything when that kind of stuff shows up.

I’ll write:

• Who it’s from
• What they’re asking for
• Deadlines, if there’s one
• What kind of pin do they want (educational, product-y, soft mention…)
• And most importantly — my idea of how I wanna do it, so it still feels like me

Here’s what that note looks like in real life.

This one’s from a soft collab I ran with an app that found me through my blog:

Sometimes it’s just someone asking to feature their app in a roundup. 

Sometimes it’s a full-on sponsored pin. 

Either way, this note helps me not lose track of it when I’m in the middle of posting my regular stuff.

I also keep rough drafts here — like the caption I’ll use, or a couple of title options. 

And if I’m working with a friend or someone else, I’ll add notes from our chat too. 

That way, I’m not digging through emails or DMs later trying to remember what we agreed on.

Nothing crazy. 

But when things start to pick up, this note saves me.

Sometimes I reuse the same ideas from my Pinterest strategy for Reels or carousels on IG too.

I’ve got a full Notes setup for Instagram as well if you wanna see how I handle that.

My Final Take

Look, I’m not saying this is the BEST system out there.

There are a million Pinterest tools, schedulers, and fancy dashboards.

But honestly? Most of them just slow me down.

Apple Notes works because I actually use it. 

It’s always open on my phone. 

It’s fast. It’s simple. 

And it doesn’t turn Pinterest into a job.

I’m not trying to go viral every week. 

I’m trying to stay consistent. Show up. Test ideas. See what works. 

And this setup helps me do exactly that, without overthinking it.

So yeah, if you’ve been feeling stuck or scattered with Pinterest… maybe give Notes a shot.

Build your own flow. Make it messy. Keep it real. 

That’s what makes it work.

And, if you end up trying this, or you’ve already got your own Notes setup for Pinterest, I’d honestly love to see it. 

DM me, email me, tag me, whatever. 

I’m always down to see how other creators do it.

And yeah, I don’t just use Notes for Pinterest.

I actually run my whole YouTube channel out of it too — script ideas, hooks, feedback, the whole thing.

Thanks for reading. Let’s keep posting.

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