Smart Ways to Use Your Pinned First Comment

8 min read

Last updated November 12, 2026

A pinned comment is a comment you post under your own content and fix to the top. Smart creators use it to start a conversation, share a link or add a bonus tip.

Because it sits right below the post, almost everyone who opens the comments sees it first. That makes it one of the most valuable spots on the page.

This guide covers what to write, how to pin it on each app and the timing that helps it work.

Key Takeaways

Post your own comment right after publishing, then pin it.
Give it one job, such as a question, tip or link.
Do not repeat your caption or description.
YouTube shows one pinned comment at a time.
Instagram lets you pin up to three comments.

Contents

Why the first comment matters
Five jobs a pinned comment can do
How to pin on each app
How to write it
When to post it
What to avoid
Write one in seconds
Frequently asked questions

Why the First Comment Matters

Comments are where your audience talks back. The pinned comment sets the tone for everything that follows.

A good question invites replies. Replies make the post feel active, and active posts tend to keep people around longer.

It also gives you extra room. You can add a link, a correction or a bonus tip without crowding your main caption.

Many viewers scroll straight to the comments while a video plays. Your pinned note greets them the moment they arrive.

Five Jobs a Pinned Comment Can Do

Give each pinned comment one clear job. Trying to do everything at once usually means doing nothing well.

1. Ask a question

Ask something easy to answer, such as “Which tip will you try first?” Short questions get the most replies.

2. Share a bonus tip

Add one extra idea that did not fit in the video. It rewards people who open the comments.

3. Point to a link

Share the resource you mentioned, such as a guide or product page. Keep the line short and say what the link is.

4. Run a quick poll

Ask people to choose between two options, like “A or B?” A two-choice question takes one tap to answer.

5. Say thank you

A warm thank you builds a friendly community. It works well on milestone posts or emotional stories.

Good to know. A correction is a sixth job. If you made a mistake in a video, a pinned comment fixes it for everyone.

How to Pin a Comment on Each App

YouTube

YouTube explains pinning on its review and reply to comments page. Open the comments for a single video, tap the comment, tap More and choose Pin.

You can pin only one comment at a time. Pinning a new one unpins the old one automatically.

1Pinning a new YouTube comment unpins the previous one, per the official YouTube comments help page.

Instagram

Instagram lets you pin up to three comments on one post, as Metricool explains. You can now pin your own comment too.

Press and hold the comment in the mobile app, then tap the pin option. Pinning works in the app, not in a desktop browser.

TikTok, Facebook and Threads

These apps also let you pin a comment on your own posts. Press and hold the comment and look for the pin option.

LinkedIn and X

LinkedIn and X do not offer classic pinning for comments. Still, your first reply often sits near the top, so it acts much like a pinned note.

LinkedIn adds one warning. Its own advice says hashtags in comments do not work like hashtags in the post.

So keep any tags in the main text instead.

Do you read the pinned comment on videos?

Always
Sometimes
Never
Not sure

How to Write a Pinned Comment

Keep it short. Two or three lines, under about 300 characters, fits most screens without a “read more” link.

Pick one job for the comment.
Write the first line so it makes sense alone.
Use plain, friendly words, like you are talking to one person.
Add a link or question only if it fits the job.
Read it once more and cut any extra words.

Job	Example comment
Question	Which tip will you try first? I read every reply.
Bonus tip	Bonus tip. Soak the basket in warm soapy water first.
Link	Here is the free checklist from the video. [your link]
Poll	Quick poll. Team crispy or team soft? Reply A or B.
Thank you	Thank you for 10,000 subscribers. You made this possible.

Notice that none of them repeat the caption. The pinned comment adds something new, which gives people a reason to read it.

Quick tip. End a question comment with a small promise, such as “I reply to everyone today”. It shows people a real person is listening.

When to Post Your Pinned Comment

Post it right after you publish. The first hour is when most early viewers open the comments.

Then come back and reply to the first few answers. Quick replies show newcomers that the conversation is alive.

You can swap the pinned comment later. For example, pin a great viewer reply after a day, then return to your own note for evergreen videos.

Scheduling a post for later? Set a phone reminder for the publish time. That way your comment still lands in the first minutes.

Live streams work a little differently. Pin a message near the start with the main link or topic, then update it as the stream moves on.

YouTube also lets you manage who can comment and hold some comments for review. Its comment settings page walks through those options.

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What to Avoid in Pinned Comments

Repeating the caption word for word.
Long paragraphs that need a “read more” tap.
Several links in one comment.
Asking for likes and subscribes in every line.
Bait like “answer in the comments to win” when there is no prize.

Honesty matters here as much as anywhere. The YouTube spam policy covers misleading behavior in comments as well as videos.

Also skip hashtags in comments. They add clutter and, on some apps, do not work at all.

Pin a Viewer Comment Instead

Your own comment is not the only option. Pinning a great viewer reply can work even better.

A pinned viewer comment shows newcomers that real people enjoy your content. It also rewards that viewer, who often gets a notification.

YouTube notes that hearting, pinning or replying to a comment may notify the commenter, depending on their settings.

Choose comments that add something. A smart question, a helpful tip or a kind story makes a strong pick.

Avoid pinning comments that only praise you. They look staged, even when they are real.

Track What Works

Treat pinned comments like small experiments. Try a question on one post, a bonus tip on the next and a poll after that.

Then compare the replies. Count how many people answered and how long the conversation kept going.

After five or six posts, a pattern usually appears. Keep the style that brings the most real conversation and drop the rest.

Pinned Comments for Business Accounts

Brands can use pinned comments for simple customer help. A line with store hours, a size guide link or a support email saves many replies.

Launch posts work well with a pinned comment that answers the most common question. Price, shipping and availability are frequent ones.

Just remember that offers change. Update the pinned comment whenever a price or deal ends.

Looking for your first buyers? Our guide on getting your first customers shares more ideas. Building an email list helps too, as our newsletter guide explains.