Pinterest is one of the popular social media platforms, with over 518 million active users worldwide.
Yet, it is one of the underrated platforms that most SEOs and website owners ignore. If youโre looking for a powerful platform to grow your presence online, Pinterest is an excellent choice.
Almost 95% of Pinterest users discover new ideas, topics, and blogs through unbranded searches. This means Pinterest users are more open to new keywords than branded keywords.
So you have a better opportunity for a fantastic traffic source if you use Pinterest correctly. In this free guide, youโll discover the following;
- What is Pinterest SEO and its benefits
- Ways to Boost Your Pinterest Reach
Are you ready? Letโs jump into the details.
Table of Contents
- What Is Pinterest SEO? What are its benefits?
- 17 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Reach with Pinterest SEO In 2024
- 1. Optimize Your Profile
- 2. Create Rich Pins
- 3. Use High-Quality Images
- 4. Write keyword-rich titles
- 5. Optimize Pin Descriptions
- 6. Use Hashtags
- 7. Create Boards Strategically
- 8. Engage with the Community
- 9. Consistent Pinning Schedule
- 10. Monitor Analytics
- 11. Link Back to Your Website
- 12. Collaborate with Other Users
- 13. Stay Current with Pinterest Trends
- 14. Use guided search
- 15. User engagement is the key
- 16. Try Semrush For Keyword Research
- 17. Find and pin to other group boards
- Final thoughts on Pinterest search engine
- FAQs on Pinterest SEO for Beginners
What Is Pinterest SEO? What are its benefits?
Pinterest SEO is the process of optimizing your Pinterest account in order to generate more organic traffic from Pinterest.
It involves using relevant keywords to optimize your pins, boards, and profile to attract more views organically.
Here are some of the major benefits of Pinterest SEO;
- Better Pinterest SEO can help you with more user engagement metrics, such as social shares
- Helps you gain more Pinterest followers
- Reach new audience worldwide for your target keywords
- You can drive more traffic and sales to your website, and the list goes on
17 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Reach with Pinterest SEO In 2024
Here are 17 powerful strategies to optimize your pins and expand your reach:
1. Optimize Your Profile
Before you jump into the world of Pinterest search engine optimization, you should know the basics.
Start by creating a Business account. Itโs FREE, and if you already have a personal Pinterest profile, you can convert it to a Business account from here.
Pinterest Business account gives you access to major things like Pinterest Analytics and the Pinterest Ads Manager.
You can quickly figure out your Pins’ performance along with impressions, Pin saves, outbound clicks, etc.
Hereโs what it looks like;
Here are a few more quick things to remember before you start pinning.
- Pick an SEO-friendly username, preferably by keeping relevant keywords or your websiteโs name. Or, simply consider picking a memorable username, making it easier for people to find your profile and save your Pins.
- Use relevant keywords in your profile.
- Make sure to create a compelling โabout youโ section where you can provide solid reasons for what people can expect from your account.
- Start creating at least one board (preferably up to 5) while getting started. Make sure to use relevant keywords while naming those boards. For example: โWebsite Design Hacks,โ โSEO Tools,โ or โDIY SEO.โ This is a good SEO practice as it will help your boards appear in Pinterest search results for those topics.
Did you know? By following these Pinterest SEO strategies we have been capturing 380k plus visitors on Pinterest every month? Follow us on Pinterest now for a daily dose of useful content related to SEO, Blogging, Affiliate Marketing, Make Money Online, and more…
2. Create Rich Pins
Rich Pins are a type of pin that automatically pulls metadata from the website pages they link to.
Simply put, rich pins display additional information about your websiteโs content, such as the price of a product or the recipe rating.
Rich Pins can make your pins more visually appealing and help you improve your Pinterest SEO. The major types of rich Pins include the following;
- Recipe-rich Pins: These are helpful for those who run food blogs. Theyโll show information such as food serving size, cook time, ratings, diet preference, etc.
- Article-rich Pins: These are essential for all website owners as theyโll show the headline, the description, and the article’s author.
- Product-rich Pins: These are useful for affiliate marketers and product creators. These pins include the pricing, availability of the products, and product information.
Rich pins can improve the click-through rate of your Pins as they show additional information about your content (or links).
Also, the best part about using rich pins is that if something changes on your website, the rich Pin automatically updates to display that change. That way, Pinterest users will see the up-to-date version of the pin.
3. Use High-Quality Images
Pinterest is a visual discovery search engine. So, itโs extremely important to create high-resolution, eye-catching images to boost your Pinterest SEO.
Consider adding text as an overlay on your images to share tips or key information.
Hereโs how we do that on our pins;
As you can see, when you use text as an overlay, you make your pins more informative. Also, make sure to create vertical images with a 2:3 ratio, as they tend to perform best on Pinterest.
One of the best tools you can use for creating appealing images on Pinterest is Canva. It has over 250,000 free templates that you can use to create any design.
Give it a try: use Canva for FREE
4. Write keyword-rich titles
If you want your pins to appear in search results, you need properly optimized titles.
It’s essential to use relevant keywords in your pin titles to get more views.
Hereโs the important thing to remember: Pinterest’s title character limit is 100 characters.
So donโt use LENGTHY titles, as theyโll get truncated.
Here are a few quick tips for writing magnetic titles for your Pins.
Use power words: Power words are persuasive words that compel people to take action. If you want to create click-worthy titles for your Pins, you must use power words. They can help you QUICKLY grab attention, build interest, and increase clicks.
Here are a few power words you can include while creating titles for your Pinterest content.
- Free
- New
- Easy
- Quick
- Guaranteed
- Incredible
- Results
- Secrets
- Surprise
- Amazing
Use a headline generator tool: Many headline generators can generate tons of headlines for you based on a keyword. Just give a topic or keyword, and theyโll give you headlines.
Here are a few free headline generators;
- CoSchedule Headline Analyzer
- Portent Headline Analyzer
- Headline Studio by CoSchedule
Use ChatGPT: You can also use AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper AI, or Bard AI to come up with unique titles for your Pins quickly. You can give simple prompts like โGive me enticing titles for my pins on the [topic].โ
5. Optimize Pin Descriptions
Using relevant keywords strategically in your pins including board descriptions, pin descriptions, etc can help your content appear in Pinterest search results when users search for these terms.
Here are some quick tips to optimize your pin descriptions;
- Use relevant keywords that best suit your pin’s content. For example, instead of “SEO tools,” use “SEO tools for small businesses.”
- Make sure to write descriptions for your pins that are engaging and click-worthy.
- Always include a call to action in your pin descriptions. They can entice people to take immediate action. For example, you could use CTAs like “Learn more!”, โVisit the siteโ or “Check out this tutorial!”
First things first: hashtags are like keywords. They can help your Pinterest content to be easily discovered by more people.
Here are some of the most popular hashtags on Pinterest in 2024:
- #diy
- #lifestyle
- #love
- #photography
- #art
- #fashion
- #travel
Although hashtags can help you reach more audiences, NEVER use too many hashtags.
Why? It can make your pins look spammy. There’s no need to use every hashtag that’s under the sun. A good rule of thumb is to use 5-10 hashtags per Pin.
You can use Pinterest’s search bar to search for relevant keywords related to your Pins. You can also check out Pinterest’s “Trending” section to see what hashtags are currently trending.
7. Create Boards Strategically
On Pinterest, you can create boards exclusively for different topics or categories that are related to your website or business.
These boards can help new people find the content they’re interested in.
For example, if you’re an SEO blogger, you might create boards like “SEO Tips and Tricks,” “Keyword Research Strategies,” and “On-Page Optimization Techniques.”
Hereโs how the boards on Pinterest look like;
While creating these boards, make sure to include relevant keywords like “SEO,” “keywords,” “on-page SEO,” “backlinks,” etc in descriptions. That way, you can attract followers who are interested in SEO and it also makes it easier for them to go through your profile.
8. Engage with the Community
Sharing content on Pinterest is not enough. You should also focus on building an audience from day one. Only then will your content reach more people and help you with better SEO.
Some of the best ways to engage with others to build a following on Pinterest include;
- Repin content from other Pinterest users
- Respond to all the comments that you receive on your own pins
- Leave thoughtful comments on othersโ pins and
- Participate in discussions from other boards
9. Consistent Pinning Schedule
Pinterest users like FRESH content and new ideas. To keep your content fresh in your followers’ feeds, it’s important to maintain a consistent pinning schedule.
For example, if you have a blog about fashion or lifestyle, you might try posting 2-3 pins per day. This will help your followers see your content regularly without getting too much at once.
Make sure to follow and analyze other successful competitorsโ Pinterest profiles to see how often theyโre posting. It will give you an idea of the optimal posting frequency for your niche.
You can use Pinterestโs scheduling feature to post pins at the best time plan your pins in advance and automate their posting for optimal times.
Also
10. Monitor Analytics
Pinterest offers Analytics that helps you easily identify how your content is performing, so youโll know what’s working and what’s not.
Using it, you can easily analyze various important metrics such as views, clicks, and saves.
To get started, go to Pinterest Analytics and monitor your Pin performance.
Hereโs what it looks like;
If you scroll down a bit, youโll find the top pins where you can find overall clicks, impressions, saves, etc.
These analytics can help you understand your audience’s preferences and interests.
For example, if you notice that your pins featuring DIY home decor projects consistently generate more views and saves, you can conclude that this type of content works well in your niche. You can use the Analytics data from Pinterest to refine your SEO strategy.
11. Link Back to Your Website
No matter what niche youโre in, you must link your pins back to relevant pages on your website. Thatโs how you generate traffic from Pinterest to your site.
If you’re running an SEO blog, you could create a pin featuring an SEO checklist. Link the pin to your blog post where users can find the full checklist, SEO strategies, and step-by-step instructions to grow search traffic.
The key here is to link to only relevant and highly informative posts.
Hereโs an example of how we use links within pins;
As you can see above, weโre not only sharing useful pins with tips but also linking back to the original post where people can find more details.
12. Collaborate with Other Users
One of the best ways to grow your profile visibility and reach more people on Pinterest is by collaborating with other users.
There are a ton of Pinterest Group boards that you can join for free and share your pins. These groups allow you to connect with hundreds of people whoโve similar interests as yours.
For example, if you’re passionate about travel photography, you could join a group board focused on “Travel Inspiration.” By pinning your best travel photos to this board, you’ll be collaborating with people who are travel freaks.
13. Stay Current with Pinterest Trends
Pinterest is constantly evolving. The best way to grow your following and improve your Pinterest SEO to reach more people is to keep up with what’s popular.
You can use Pinterest Trends to find out what’s trending.
Once youโve identified a popular trend in your niche, create posts about these trending topics to connect with your audience.
For instance, if the topic โminimalismโ is trending in your niche, you can create a board titled “Minimalist Living: How to Declutter”. Then, you can create and pin images of minimalist homes, decluttering tips, and minimalist fashion ideas. Thatโs how you stay up-to-date with new Pinterest trends.
14. Use guided search
Pinterest offers โguided search,โ which helps users quickly find new ideas on a topic. It can also help discover what’s popular and trending.
In simple terms, Pinterest automatically suggests semantically related keyword phrases in the guided search.
If you want to improve Pinterest SEO, you MUST use guided search to understand what users want to see.
To get started with the guided search on Pinterest, simply enter search terms related to your niche into the search bar.
For example, for people searching for โDIY home decor,โ the guide searches on Pinterest will show you things like relevant users who cover DIY, keywords like DIY hacks, DIY projects, etc.
Have a look;
Similarly, if someoneโs looking for cooking recipes, some popular guided searches in this category include “easy weeknight dinners,” “healthy desserts,” and “vegetarian recipes.”
Using the Pinterest search bar, you can quickly discover what โPinterest usersโ are looking for (around your target keywords).
Once you find those broad keywords, you should dig deeper and find more related phrases. You can use all those phrases while creating your Pins in essential places like description, title, etc.
15. User engagement is the key
Almost every social media network (including Pinterest) takes user engagement into consideration.
User engagement metrics include;
- Pin clicks
- Pin saves
- Outbound clicks
- Carousel card swipes
- Pin save rate (The total saves of your Pins divided by the total number of times your Pins were on screen)
- 10-second plays and more
If the Pinterest algorithm sees better user engagement on your Pinterest profile for pins, they often show up higher in search results for specific keywords.
You can easily find out the user engagement of your Pinterest account by using Pinterest analytics.
Here’s what it looks like;
As you can see, you can see the overall engagement of your Pins over time and find out the Pins that are getting the MAXIMUM engagement. That way you can create similar content to get more out of Pinterest search engine optimization.
Here are some tips on how to increase user engagement on Pinterest.
- Create boards that are relevant to your target audience. You must know your target audience. Find out what exactly they want, so you can create specific content that appeals to their needs. When people visit your Pinterest profile, they should be able to find the types of pins they’re interested in quickly.
- Pin regularly. The more pins you have, the more likely people are to find your content.
- Respond to each and every comment you get on your Pins. Most Pinterest users donโt leave comments regularly. So when they comment, reply so theyโll be encouraged to leave more comments on other Pins.
- Use a consistent branding style while posting your Pins. Use the same font color and size that matches your websiteโs brand (or business). This will help people recognize your pins and remember your brand.
- Lastly, make sure to tag other Pinterest users or brands in certain pins. You can also use relevant keywords in your pin titles and descriptions so that people can find your content easily.
16. Try Semrush For Keyword Research
Semrush is an all-in-one SEO toolkit that gives you access to over 50 tools under one platform. Itโs also the #1 SEO tool used by over 10 million people worldwide.
Why do you need Semrush for Pinterest SEO?
The biggest reason is it offers a keyword tool called โKeyword Magic,โ which gives you access to over 26.1 BILLION keywords. Yes, you heard it right.
Most Pinterest power users often use Semrush to find relevant keywords to use within their Pin titles and descriptions. They also use it for finding exciting ideas for their Pins.
Semrush keyword tool offers a TON of keyword data, including monthly search volume, 12-month search trend, keyword difficulty, keyword intent, number of organic results, and much more.
Letโs say you want to find relevant keyword terms for the topic โDIY home decorโ.
Hereโs what the keyword research tool looks like;
As you can see above, for the keyword term โDIY home decor,โ the Semrush keyword tool suggests over 1800 keywords, including specific hidden keywords highlighted above.
Usually, you wonโt find such keyword ideas from most tools. So if youโre looking to find hidden keyword ideas to rank your Pins in the Pinterest search, Semrush is a must-try.
Butโฆ how much does Semrush cost?
Semrush is NOT a free trial and offers three pricing options.
- Pro plan costs $129.95 per month, where you can add up to 5 projects, 500 keywords to track, and 10,000 results per report.
- Guru plan costs $249.95 per month, where you can add up to 15 projects, 1500 keywords to track, and 30,000 results per report.
- Business plan costs $499.95 per month, where you can add up to 40 projects, 5000 keywords to track, and 50,000 results per report.
If you want to try it out for free, you can grab its free trial using the following link.
Activate 14 Days Free Trial of Semrush
17. Find and pin to other group boards
There are a ton of Pinterest boards that are run by others. Theyโre similar to what you can find on Facebook Groups. You can promote your Pins, engage with their members, and build your following.
The Boards are owned by one Pinterest user who usually gives access to other Pinterest users to add Pins.
You can quickly search for boards from Pinterest search with relevant keywords.
Here’s an example;
There are multiple ways to find and pin to Pinterest boards, including;
- You can quickly conduct a Pinterest Board search by entering relevant keywords to your niche (from the Pinterest search bar).
- You can identify your competitors and see if theyโve joined any boards. Go to their Pinterest page and click โSavedโ to see their Boards.
- You can check out Facebook groups for Pinterest Board Owners. Simply search for โPinterest group boardsโ on Facebook to find them.
- You can use platforms like Pingroupie.com to easily find popular group boards.
Once you’ve identified similar Pinterest groups, here are a few things you can do.
- Follow active people who’re contributing to those boards. Repin their stuff. Comment on their pins.
- Get to their know websites. Find out how they’re using Pinterest boards to promote their blog or website. You can also reach out to them for help.
- Make a list of ALL the popular Pins on each board you join. You can create similar Pins to promote to reach a wider audience. It also helps you grow your following, which ultimately helps with better Pinterest profile visibility.
Related Posts:
Final thoughts on Pinterest search engine
Increasing your Pinterest following is one of the best ways to build your brand and grow your website traffic.
Creating appealing pins, pinning regularly, and using relevant keywords within your Pins are the best practices to improve your Pinterest SEO.
Did you find this guide helpful? Are you going to implement the tips mentioned here? Have any questions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
FAQs on Pinterest SEO for Beginners
Here are some FAQs people often ask about Pinterest search engine optimization.
Pinterest SEO is all about optimizing your Pinterest profile to improve its organic traffic from Pinterest. It involves using tactics like relevant keywords in the bio, title, descriptions, etc.
Yes, There are free sites like Pinterest are available in 2024
Yes, Pinterest is good for backlinks, While they are no-follow links, they provide valuable social signals and significantly boost your website traffic and exposure.
Post appealing and quality pins regularly. Use relevant hashtags. Run contests and giveaways to grow your following quickly.
The best way to maximize Pinterest SEO is to create and pin high-quality and engaging content that your target audience loves. Also, write keyword-rich descriptions for pins and boards.
Yes, Pinterest is basically a search engine. Pinterest SEO involves optimizing your Pinterest profile to generate more organic traffic to your website or business using images called โpinsโ.
Everyone knows that Pinterest is a good platform but what you have explained in your article is very fantastic.Thank you Anil for sharing this informative article
Hi Anil, I’ve been a long-time user of Pinterest and when I create pins I see to do best but you got me thinking about those rich pins from the blog. I will have to experiment with those. That network does draw some traffic when the pins are created in pleasing ways or as carousels or videos. There are so many ways to create them now.
I have SEMrush and didn’t think to use it for Pinterest, so thank you for these fabulous tips Anil.