What is pinned video?
Pinned video: A pinned video is a post you fix to the top row of your profile grid so it shows first regardless of when you published it. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts let you pin up to three, making them the default introduction every profile visitor sees before your newer uploads.
Why pinning shapes first impressions
When a video sends viewers to your profile, the pins decide what they meet first. A new follower's decision to stay is made in seconds on your top row, not your latest post. Pinning lets you control that moment: put your best-performing or most representative videos up front so the strongest work introduces you, not whatever you happened to upload today.
How to use your pins
- Pin your highest-retention video — the one that already proved it converts scrollers into followers.
- Use the three slots as a mini pitch: who you are, what you make, and your single best hook.
- Pin a video that answers your most-asked question so profile visitors get value before your feed does.
- Swap pins when a post overperforms; treat the top row as a living highlight reel, not a set-and-forget.
- Point new-follower traffic there deliberately — a bio line or comment can send people to a pin.
Revisit your pins monthly. As your best work changes, the video that converted visitors six months ago is rarely still your strongest.
Common misconception: pinning boosts a video's reach in the feed. It doesn't — pins only reorder your profile grid. Their job is conversion on the profile, not distribution on the For You feed, so pin for the visitor who's already deciding whether to follow.
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Related terms
Browse the full creator glossary, read the growth guides, or try the free virality score checker.