Pinterest SEO
Pinterest SEO is the process of improving your profile, boards, and pins so Pinterest can find and rank them in search results.
Key facts
- Pinterest SEO focuses on optimizing profiles, pins, and boards for search discoverability.
- Pinterest keyword research often starts with the search bar autocomplete, which reflects popular searches.
- Pinterest Trends is used to compare rising and declining topics and can help identify seasonal opportunities before peak demand.
- Keyword placement matters in pin titles, descriptions, board names, profile bios, and sometimes image text overlay.
- Fresh Pins and regularly updated creative are repeatedly recommended as part of current Pinterest SEO strategy.
Also called
Pinterest optimization, Pinterest search engine optimization
Use it for
Driving long-lived referral traffic from Pinterest search and recommendations.
Applies to
How Pinterest Search Differs from Google
Pinterest is a visual discovery engine, not a web search engine. It ranks pins based on image quality, board relevance, pin freshness, and user engagement. Unlike Google, which prioritises text and backlinks, Pinterest focuses on visual content.
This means Pinterest SEO requires different tactics. For example, how youtube seo works also relies on metadata and engagement, but Pinterest’s algorithm is more visual and freshness-driven. So when you search for SEO on Pinterest, you are optimising for a platform that values images over links.
- Pinterest ranks pins (images) rather than webpages.
- Engagement signals like saves, close-ups, and clicks are key ranking factors.
- Fresh pins get a temporary boost in search results.
- Keyword placement in pin titles and descriptions is more important than backlinks.
Finding Keywords on Pinterest
Start with Pinterest’s search bar autocomplete. It shows popular queries. Use Pinterest Trends to compare rising topics. This is a form of Keyword Research tailored to visual search.
Consider keyword intent – users on Pinterest often seek inspiration or ideas. Also check keyword msv to estimate search volume, though Pinterest does not provide exact numbers. Use these insights to choose keywords for pins and boards.
For example, typing 'interior design' in the search bar reveals long-tail suggestions like 'interior design living room' or 'interior design bedroom'. Pinterest Trends shows rising topics such as 'Japandi' or 'mid-century modern'. Use these to inform your keyword strategy.
Optimising Your Profile and Boards
Claim your website and set up a Business account. This enables Rich Pins and analytics. Use a clear profile name and bio with relevant keywords.
Organise boards by specific, searchable topics. Avoid generic names. Board descriptions should include key terms. Key elements include:
Unlike Tiktok SEO, where hashtags are crucial, Pinterest relies more on board structure and descriptions.
Also consider board order and category coverage. Group similar boards together and cover a few core topics well to avoid diluting your profile's theme.
- Claim your website
- Use a keyword-rich profile name
- Write descriptive board names and descriptions
- Choose a relevant profile photo
Creating Pins That Rank
Use high-quality vertical images (2:3 ratio, e.g., 1000x1500 pixels). Write pin titles and descriptions with natural keywords. Avoid keyword stuffing.
Create fresh pins regularly. Update old pins by changing the image or description. This signals freshness. For Evergreen Content, refresh pins periodically to maintain visibility.
Enable Rich Pins for products, recipes, or articles. This pulls metadata from your site, similar to how amazon seo works uses product data.
Tracking and Iterating
Use Pinterest Analytics to see which pins, boards, and topics drive traffic and engagement. Look at saves, clicks, and impressions.
Adjust your strategy based on data. Experiment with different keywords, images, and board topics. Engagement metrics like saves are important, similar to Reddit SEO where upvotes matter.
For example, compare save rates for different pin images targeting the same keyword. Identify which board topics drive the most traffic and focus on those. Regularly review analytics to spot trends.
Common mistakes
- Using generic board names that do not match real search queries. Reduces discoverability and ranking potential.
- Stuffing keywords unnaturally into titles or descriptions. May hurt user experience and could be penalised by Pinterest.
- Relying on old pins only and not publishing fresh creative. Limits visibility as Pinterest prioritises fresh content.
Questions
Is Pinterest Academy free?
Yes, Pinterest Academy is free. It offers courses on advertising, content strategy, and analytics. You can access it through your Pinterest Business account.
What is the best Pinterest keyword tool?
There is no single best tool. Pinterest's own search bar autocomplete and Pinterest Trends are free and reliable. Third-party tools like Tailwind or SEMrush can provide additional data, but their accuracy varies.
How to do Pinterest SEO?
Start by claiming your website and setting up a Business account. Research keywords using the search bar autocomplete. Optimise your boards and pins with those keywords. Create fresh, high-quality pins regularly. Analyse performance with Pinterest Analytics and iterate.
See also
- Image SEOImage SEO means optimising images so search engines can find, understand, and display them, whi…
- KeywordA keyword in SEO is a word or phrase that people type into search engines, and that a page targ…
- SEO Keyword ToolAn SEO keyword tool is software that helps you find and evaluate search terms people use, so yo…
- Intent SEOSearch intent is the goal a person has when typing a query, such as to learn, compare, visit, o…
- Content OptimizationContent optimization is the process of improving a web page so it better matches search intent,…
- Keyword DifficultyKeyword difficulty is a metric that estimates how hard it is to rank for a search query, typica…
Sources
- Pinterest Help Center help.pinterest.com
- Pinterest Trends trends.pinterest.com
- Sprout Social sproutsocial.com
Outbound links are unpaid and nofollow. If one has gone stale, tell me.