When you think of search engine optimization, your mind may well turn to the leading internet search engines like Google and Bing. And while Google SEO is undoubtedly vital for bringing organic traffic to your website, it’s not the only form of optimizing for user search. If you sell home décor, kitchenware, or clothing, you may want to build a Pinterest SEO strategy to ensure your target audience sees your brand when browsing for inspiration.
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What is Pinterest SEO?
Pinterest SEO is the practice of optimizing pins, boards, and profiles on Pinterest to improve their visibility and ranking in Pinterest search results. Pinterest search optimization involves using relevant keywords, engaging visuals, descriptive titles, and hashtags to align with what users are searching for. In this sense, a Pinterest SEO strategy is quite similar to the strategy you’d use to win eyeballs on your content in any other search engine.
Pinterest SEO is important because optimizing content increases the chances of reaching a larger audience, driving more organic traffic to your website, and increasing brand visibility and engagement with your target audience. Since users often use Pinterest to find products, ranking well can significantly drive traffic to your ecommerce store, and this can lead to conversions.
Tips for optimizing your Pinterest SEO
- Use the Pinterest search bar as a keyword research tool
- Optimize each pin title and description
- Use high-quality vertical images
- Optimize your Pinterest profile URL
- Set up a free Pinterest business account
- Optimize metadata for rich pins
- Make video pins
- Explore Pinterest Trends
- Schedule pins consistently
- Organize content into relevant boards
- Use Pinterest Analytics for insights
Like any search engine, Pinterest attempts to connect its users to relevant content that aligns with their search intent. Let’s say that someone typed “vegan chocolate cake recipe” into the Pinterest search bar. Pinterest’s search engine would then get to work presenting Pinterest content that—based on images, titles, and descriptions—seemed to show those exact types of recipes. With this in mind, here are some Pinterest SEO tips to help you win as much Pinterest traffic as possible:
Use the Pinterest search bar as a keyword research tool
Use Pinterest’s search bar to find relevant Pinterest keywords. You can discover long-tail keywords by typing a few words into the Pinterest search engine and seeing what related keywords appear as predicted text in the search bar.
For instance, you could type “Christmas” and the phrase “Christmas in Hawaii” might appear in the search bar. The search engine has just revealed specific keywords users search for.
Optimize each pin title and description
Pinterest search results grant importance to pin titles and descriptions. Craft descriptive, keyword-rich titles and descriptions for each pin to help Pinterest’s algorithm understand the content and match it with relevant search terms.
Keep in mind that pin titles can have a maximum of 100 characters and descriptions can have a maximum of 500 characters.
Use high-quality vertical images
Pinterest favors vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio, so use high-quality, engaging visuals that attract users and keep them on your pins longer. High-quality images also convey a degree of professionalism so use high-resolution photography when capturing product imagery.
Optimize your Pinterest profile URL
Ensure your Pinterest profile URL contains relevant keywords, as this helps the Pinterest algorithm categorize your content, increasing domain quality in search results. Your profile URL is the same as your username and can be a maximum of 30 characters long. To change your username:
1. Log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Click the down arrow icon in the top-right corner of your screen and select Settings.
3. Select Edit profile on the left of the screen.
4. Navigate to Username and enter your new username, then click Save.
Set up a free Pinterest business account
A Pinterest business account grants you access to Pinterest Analytics and Pinterest ads, which are essential for understanding your target audience, tracking performance, and optimizing Pinterest content. By leveraging these free tools, you’ll be better equipped to create boards and pins that boost your search visibility.
Optimize metadata for rich pins
Rich pins are pins that display metadata, such as ingredients for recipe rich pins and prices for product rich pins. Rich pins are automatically generated when a Pinterest user pins a product, article, or recipe from your site, so long as your site includes rich meta tags.
Adding these tags and ensuring they contain as much relevant detail as possible is well worth your time. Pinterest uses metadata to recommend rich pins, allowing you to add important keywords that will help users find your pins.
Make video pins
Video pins have three times the click-through rate compared to static pins. Use these short videos to capture attention quickly and increase your Pinterest traffic and shareability across social media platforms.
Explore Pinterest Trends
Pinterest Trends is a great resource for brainstorming keyword ideas. Like Google Trends, Pinterest Trends allows you to compare different keywords and see how search volume has changed over time. Pinterest Trends also shows predictions for future search volume, related keywords, searcher demographics, and popular pins based on each keyword.
Schedule pins consistently
Consistent activity signals that your Pinterest account is active. The Pinterest algorithm is trained to prioritize active accounts, so creating pins on a regular basis may help your Pinterest search visibility.
Organize content into relevant boards
Create boards with specific themes and use relevant keywords in board titles and descriptions to help Pinterest understand your content better and show it to the right audience. If your boards are focused and structured with high-quality pins, the algorithm will be more likely to showcase them in search results.
Use Pinterest Analytics for insights
Regularly review Pinterest Analytics to track which keywords, pins, and boards are performing best, adjusting your strategy based on data to refine your SEO efforts. Pinterest Analytics is free to anyone with a Pinterest business account (which itself is free).
Pinterest SEO FAQ
Does Pinterest have SEO?
Yes, Pinterest has its own form of SEO, allowing users to optimize pins, boards, and profiles with keywords and other strategies to improve visibility and rank higher in Pinterest's search results.
How does Pinterest SEO actually work?
Yes, Pinterest SEO works by using relevant keywords, high-quality images, optimized titles, descriptions, and metadata to align content with what users search for, while the Pinterest algorithm prioritizes fresh, engaging pins that match trending topics and high-interest categories.
How do you get 10,000 followers on Pinterest?
To build up your follower base on Pinterest, start by leveraging the free tools found in a Pinterest business account (which exceed the tools you’d find in a personal account). Promote your Pinterest page on your social media accounts and link to it. Last, but certainly not least, pay attention to trending keywords and seasonal themes to win a share of the most popular Pinterest searches.
