Pinterest SEO Guide (2024): 17 Tips to Optimize Your Pins for Traffic
With over 518 million active Pinterest users as of June 2024, Pinterest has transformed from a simple image-sharing platform to a powerful search engine tailored for visual content.
SEO for Pinterest differs fundamentally from traditional search engines like Google (for texts) and YouTube (for videos). Pinterest requires a keen understanding of how visual content is discovered and engaged on the platform.
By masterfully optimizing your Pinterest presence – with SEO – you can tap into a stream of highly targeted, organic traffic that’s both sustainable and conversion-friendly.
- So, what’s the best strategy to optimize your Pinterest for SEO?
- How do you get more organic Pinterest views and, ULTIMATELY, clicks to your website?
This is what this Pinterest SEO guide is all about.
But first things first…
What Is Pinterest SEO?
Pinterest SEO (Search Engine Optimization) refers to optimizing your profile and pins to increase visibility and rank higher in Pinterest’s search results. It involves applying various strategies to ensure your content is easily discoverable by users searching for related topics on Pinterest.
To optimize your Pinterest SEO, you must understand the platform’s algorithm.
Pinterest prioritizes fresh content and relevant keywords. Like Google, Pinterest’s search engine renders a Smart Feed based on these elements. However, Pinterest also assesses the quality of your pins, how often you post, and your audience’s engagement.
Here are the Key Elements of Pinterest SEO:
- Keyword Research: Identifying relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for on Pinterest.
- Optimized Profile: Ensuring your Pinterest profile is fully optimized with a clear description and relevant keywords.
- Board Optimization: Creating and organizing boards with keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
- Pin Optimization: Crafting pins with engaging images, keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and hashtags.
- Consistent Pinning: Regularly adding new content to keep your profile active and engaging.
- Rich Pins: Rich Pins provide more context about an idea because they show extra information directly on the pin.
- Engagement: Encouraging user interaction through comments, saves, and clicks.
How Does Pinterest SEO Algorithm Work?
Using its dynamic algorithm, Pinterest operates as a sophisticated visual search engine, tailoring discovery to user interests. Your ability to harness the algorithm effectively can dramatically enhance how your content ranks within Pinterest’s search results.
Its SEO algorithm analyzes several factors to determine the relevance and quality of pins, boards, and profiles and how they match users’ interests and search queries.
Here’s a breakdown of the key components:
- Keyword Optimization
Pinterest relies heavily on keywords to understand and categorize content. This includes your pin titles and descriptions, board titles and descriptions, and profile information. Incorporating relevant keywords in these areas helps Pinterest understand your content and match it with user searches.
This content topic, “Ankle Flexibility Exercises for Runners” by Runnersblueprint, is a fine example of a keyword-optimized pin:
- Image Quality and Relevance
High-quality, visually appealing images tend to perform better on Pinterest.
The platform favors vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio, such as 1000×1500 pixels, and clear, high-resolution images with minimal text overlay. Your imagery should also be relevant to the content described in the pin.
- Engagement Metrics
Pinterest tracks how users interact with pins to gauge their popularity and relevance. Pins frequently repinned or saved, those with high click-through rates, and those receiving comments and reactions are seen as more valuable and ranked higher.
- Rich Pins
Rich Pins provide more context about an idea by showing extra information directly on the pin.
There are several types, including product pins with real-time pricing and availability, recipe pins with ingredients and cooking times, and article pins with headlines and descriptions. Using Rich Pins helps improve your pin’s visibility and engagement.
- Fresh Content
Pinterest favors new, fresh content. Regularly posting new pins and not just resharing old content can boost visibility. Creating brand-new pins with unique images and descriptions and maintaining a consistent pinning schedule are beneficial practices.
- User Behavior
Pinterest customizes search results based on user behavior, including previous searches and engagements. Pins similar to those users have interacted with previously are more likely to appear in their feeds.
The home feed shows pins that Pinterest thinks will interest users based on past behavior.
- Pinning to Relevant Boards
Your pins should be saved to contextually relevant boards. Boards with high engagement and well-organized, relevant content perform better. Creating niche-specific boards rather than generic ones can improve your SEO.
- Hashtags
Including relevant hashtags in your pin descriptions can enhance discoverability, as users can search for and follow hashtags.
Following general SEO best practices, such as using alt text for images and ensuring mobile optimization, can also help improve your Pinterest SEO.
17 Pinterest SEO Tips For Lazy Beginners
1. Optimize Your Pinterest Business Profile
Your initial step is establishing a Business Account to leverage the maximum benefits from Pinterest. Doing so grants access to detailed analytics and the ability to run targeted advertising campaigns.
Exercisewithstyle Pinterest page is an inspiration to model after:
To optimize your public profile, begin by selecting a business-appropriate username.
This should be consistent with your brand and easily searchable. A concise and clear username aids in being found both on Pinterest and via search engines.
Set a Professional Profile Image or logo:
- Business Logo: Use a high-resolution image of your business logo.
- Personal Brand: Opt for a professional headshot for creators or personal brands.
Your display photo is the visual representation of your brand on Pinterest, so choose an image that reflects your brand identity.
Craft Your Bio with Keywords:
- Write a descriptive bio that includes keywords relevant to your brand.
- Keep it concise but informative to let users and search engines understand your offer.
Create an Engaging Banner:
- Design a banner that captures the essence of your brand.
- Incorporate seasonal updates or special promotions related to your business in the banner.
Lastly, capitalize on your profile’s ‘About’ section.
Here, succinctly convey your brand’s story and mission, weaving in relevant keywords that potential customers might use to search for your products or services. Offering a snapshot of your brand’s value proposition here can significantly influence your profile’s discoverability on Pinterest.
2. Claim Your Website
Claiming your website on Pinterest is crucial for enhancing your SEO. This process connects your site to your Pinterest profile, boosting your credibility and increasing your pins’ visibility.
Here’s how you can verify and link your website:
- Go to your Pinterest profile settings.
- Select Claim in the menu.
- Enter your website’s URL and choose a verification method:
- HTML file: Pinterest provides a file to upload to your website’s root directory.
- HTML tag: Add a Pinterest-provided HTML snippet to the
<head>
Section of your website. - DNS TXT record: Add a DNS record to your domain’s DNS configuration.
After adding the necessary verification code to your website, return to Pinterest by pressing Verify to complete the claim process.
Make sure to link your Pinterest account to your other social media profiles. This creates a cohesive online presence and can help with cross-promotion. On platforms like Facebook or Twitter, include a link to your Pinterest profile in the bio section.
3. Conduct Keyword Research
Keyword research is a cornerstone of your Pinterest SEO strategy. Since Pinterest operates as a visual search engine, selecting the right keywords can make your content discoverable to your intended audience.
Start by using the Pinterest search bar to get keyword suggestions.
As you input a term, Pinterest auto-suggests related keywords, revealing how users are searching for content similar to yours. Make a list of these suggestions, focusing on relevancy to your niche.
Find trending topics within your niche using Pinterest’s inbuilt research tool. This gives you insight into current interests and can help you tailor your content to user demand. To complement these findings, use Google Trends to identify broader search patterns and ensure your target keywords show an upward trend or have consistent interest over time.
When choosing which keywords to target, prioritize long-tail keywords—specific phrases often less competitive but highly targeted to user intent. These are valuable because they typically convert better as they address specific user queries.
Here’s how to refine your selection:
- Specificity: Select keywords that relate to your niche.
- Search Volume: Balance between high search volumes and realistic ranking potential.
- Relevance: Choose keywords that accurately reflect the content of your pins.
Example: If you’re in the vegan cooking niche, instead of “recipes,” target “easy vegan gluten-free dinner recipes” to meet a specific need.
Remember, to optimize your content effectively, and keywords should be incorporated naturally into your pin titles, descriptions, and image tags.
4. Create Relevant Boards (Use Sub-topics in Your Niche)
When crafting boards on Pinterest, it’s crucial to focus not only on broad topics but also on sub-topics within your niche. By segmenting your content into more specific boards, you increase your chances of being discovered by users searching for content closely related to your offerings.
Board Naming: Align your board names with your website’s categories or sub-categories. This connection reinforces the structure of your content and helps users find your boards when they search for those keywords.
Custom Board Images: Create custom images for each board to grab attention. Use images that reflect the board’s content, include a text overlay with the board’s name, and make sure the design resonates with your brand aesthetics.
The more specific and keyword-rich your board names and descriptions are, the better your boards will perform in Pinterest’s search results.
5. Optimize Your Pins and Designs
When crafting pins for Pinterest, engagement is key. Your pins must immediately capture attention.
To achieve this:
Prioritize the First 30 Characters in the Title: Treat them as prime real estate, as Pinterest often only displays this portion in the feed. Make sure these characters are compelling and relevant.
Highlight Uniqueness in the Description: Convey the value and distinctiveness of your content concisely. Unique descriptions encourage clicks, but avoid repeating what’s already in the title.
Use the Right Formats: High-quality, vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio perform best on Pinterest. Stick to this format to ensure your pins look great on all devices.
Keep your design elements symmetrical and consistent for a visually pleasing aesthetic. Here’s a checklist for your pin designs:
6. Repin From Other Accounts To Your Boards
Engaging with other users on Pinterest by repinning their content is a strategic move, especially for a new account.
As you build your presence, you may have a limited number of your own pins to share. Repinning allows you to curate a more extensive collection of relevant content, which can draw more traffic to your boards.
Why repin?
- To increase visibility for your account.
- To build relationships with other pinners.
- To ensure your boards remain active and diverse.
Repinning is not just about filling your boards. It’s about strategically aligning with content creators whose pins resonate with your brand and audience, amplifying your reach and setting a foundation for your account’s growth.
7. Use Canva For Faster Pin Designs
Speed and efficiency are crucial when crafting pins for Pinterest, and Canva offers exactly that.
Recognized as ideal software for rapidly designing pins, Canva’s user-friendly drag-and-drop functionality simplifies the design process, allowing you to create compelling graphics easily.
Wide Range of Templates: Canva boasts a vast collection of Pinterest-specific templates that are eye-catching and tailored to your needs. You can find a template for almost any niche, providing a professional backbone for your design.
High-Quality Assets: With access to an extensive array of high-quality graphics and images, your pins will stand out in the feed. Stock photos on Canva cover every imaginable topic, ensuring you always find the perfect visual for your content.
Customizability: Elevate your brand with customizable elements. Utilize the extensive library of fonts to match your message’s tone or experiment with the comprehensive color palette generator to enhance your pin’s visual coherence.
- Integration Features: You can directly connect Canva to your Pinterest account, streamlining the pin creation to the pinning workflow.
8. Optimize Your Images (very important)
When preparing images for Pinterest, your primary goal is to maximize their SEO potential.
Here’s how you can optimize them effectively:
- Rename Your Pins Before Uploading
Ensure that each image file name reflects its content using descriptive keywords. Avoid using default camera file names like “IMG_1234.jpg”.
- Size Your Images for Pinterest
Design your images to fit the ideal Pinterest dimension, a 2:3 ratio (e.g., 1000 x 1500 pixels). Tall images tend to perform better and garner more attention.
- Give Descriptive Image Names
Use clear, descriptive titles for your images that accurately describe what the viewer sees. This helps Pinterest understand and categorize your content.
- Use Alt Text for Your Images
Always include alt text when you upload images. The alt text should be concise and descriptive, aiding Pinterest’s algorithms and visually impaired users in identifying the content of your pins.
9. Optimize Your Titles
When crafting titles for your pins, including keywords is critical.
For example, Dr. Axe’s Pinterest titles are good titles optimized for clicks.
Here’s one:
These keywords are what users are searching for, and your goal is to ensure that your pins reach your intended audience.
Here’s how you approach this:
- Be Descriptive: Clearly describe what your pin is about. Use specific and targeted keywords without overcrowding your title.
- Relevance Is Key: Choose keywords relevant to the pin’s content. Irrelevant keywords can confuse your audience and harm your pin’s performance.
- Using AI Tools: With technological advancements, writing titles can be more efficient by utilizing AI software, such as ChatGPT. AI can help automate the process.
10. Write Engaging Pin Descriptions That Drives Clicks
Creating captivating pin descriptions on Pinterest is key to driving clicks to your website. You want to craft pin descriptions carefully to make your content discoverable and encourage engagement.
Include Keywords: Strategically insert relevant keywords in your pin descriptions. This will improve discoverability and align with what your audience is searching for.
Spark Curiosity: Next, focus on making your description hooking. Your objective is to pique curiosity so effectively that users feel compelled to click through to your website—the ultimate location for conversions.
Emphasize Uniqueness: Remember to highlight what makes your pin—and, by extension, your product or content—unique. Experiment with bold or italic styles for emphasis.
Organic Traffic: Aim to attract organic visitors with a clear, concise message that communicates the value of what you’re offering and its relevance to the user.
Consider Including | Description Element |
---|---|
Value Provided | “Discover the secret to…” |
Emotion or Humor | “Laugh your way to…” |
Call to Action | “Join us in…” |
11. Create Rich Pins
Rich Pins are a feature on Pinterest that allows you to include extra details on your pins, making them more informative and action-driven. It’s essential for enhancing your content’s reach and engagement.
To get started, add metadata to your website. There are various types of Rich Pins, but the most commonly used are:
- Product Pins: Include pricing, availability, and product information.
- Recipe Pins: Display ingredients, cooking times, and serving info.
- Article Pins: Show the headline, author, and story description.
- App Pins: (if applicable) Enable a direct download link to your app.
Here’s how to create your first Rich Pin:
- Check your website’s markup: Pinterest supports oEmbed, Schema.org, and Open Graph. Validate your site with the Rich Pin Validator.
- Apply to Pinterest: Once your website is ready, apply through the Pinterest Rich Pin Validator to get your pins approved.
- Optimize your content: Ensure your titles and meta descriptions are descriptive and engaging.
12. Experiment With Video Content on Pinterest
With users seeking more dynamic content, incorporating videos into your Pinterest strategy can enhance engagement and increase your reach.
Trizzlemanfitness does pretty amazing with short videos on Pinterest with his fitness and bodybuilding tips.
He’s an inspiration for me when creating stunning video pins.
When creating video pins, consider the following:
Length: Keep your videos concise and impactful. Aim for a length of 15 seconds to 1 minute.
Content: Your videos should be visually appealing and provide value. How-to guides, tutorials, and product demonstrations are effective formats that encourage interaction.
Thumbnail: Choose an engaging thumbnail that accurately represents the video content. This is your first impression, and it can influence whether users decide to watch.
SEO: Optimize your video titles and descriptions with relevant keywords without resorting to keyword stuffing. Include hashtags to improve discoverability.
13. Pin Content Consistently
To leverage Pinterest SEO effectively, you must maintain a regular pinning schedule. The secret is in the numbers—consistency can significantly boost your content’s visibility and engagement.
Commit to a daily routine, and do not skip a day.
Begin by understanding your capacity and content availability. Ideally, start with posting around 10 pins per day. This number is manageable for most users and enough to keep your profile active in the eyes of the Pinterest algorithm.
As your confidence grows and your strategy becomes more efficient, consider gradually increasing your daily pins. It’s common for seasoned pinners to aim for 20-30 pins daily, increasing the likelihood that your content will connect with your audience.
Here’s a simple schedule to follow:
Day of the Week | Number of Pins |
---|---|
Monday | 10 |
Tuesday | 10 |
Wednesday | 10 |
Thursday | 10 |
Friday | 10 |
Saturday | 15 |
Sunday | 15 |
Know your schedule and strive to stick to it. This will help signal to Pinterest’s algorithm that your account is active and thus deserves more visibility.
- Early days: Stick to smaller, manageable numbers.
- Growing confidence: Gradually increase the frequency.
- Schedule ahead: Utilize scheduling tools to maintain consistency even on busy days.
It’s not just about the quantity; the quality of your pins is also crucial. Balance is key—ensure each pin provides value and is relevant to your audience.
14. Do Not Sleep on Pinterest Tags
Pinterest tags, or hashtags, are crucial for boosting your content’s visibility and tapping into relevant searches. Thorough research is imperative when selecting tags for each of your pins to align with current trends and user search behaviors.
- First, identify keywords closely tied to your pin’s content and underlying theme.
- Utilize Pinterest’s search bar for suggestions that show popularity and relevance.
- Consider long-tail keywords, which often entail less competition and cater to more specific searches.
Best Practices for Pinterest Tags:
- Use Relevant Hashtags: Focus on tags that accurately reflect the subject matter of your pins.
- Avoid Overstuffing: Although Pinterest permits up to 20 hashtags, using fewer can prevent your pins from appearing spammy and positively affect your rankings.
- Incorporate a Mix of Broad and Niche Tags: Broad hashtags expand reach while niche tags connect with a targeted audience.
15. Leverage The Robust Pinterest Analytics
Understanding and utilizing Pinterest Analytics is critical for your success on the platform. With a Pinterest Business Account, you gain access to a suite of analytics that provides insights into the performance of your content.
When you analyze your data, focus on the following key metrics:
- Impressions: The number of times your pins appear on users’ screens.
- Engagements: This includes all interactions with your pins, such as saves, clicks, and comments.
- Audience insights: Know your audience’s demographics, interests, and behaviors.
To dive deeper into your analytics:
Monitor your Overall Performance to see which content resonates best with your audience. Look for patterns in high-performing pins and replicate those characteristics in new content.
Track the performance of individual pins over time to understand the lifespan of your content on Pinterest.
Use the data to refine your Pinterest SEO strategy. Pay attention to:
- Keywords that drive traffic to your pins.
- The descriptions that lead to higher engagement.
- The best times to post based on when your audience is most active.
16. Keep Track of Your Results
Monitoring your Pinterest SEO efforts is pivotal to understanding what strategies enhance your online visibility and which aren’t. In this analytics-driven age, keeping a close eye on certain metrics can tell you if you’re on the right track.
Evaluate Pin Performance: Look at the engagement rates of your pins. High engagement may indicate resonant content with your audience.
- Impressions: The number of times your pins have been displayed.
- Clicks: How often have your pins led to website visits?
- Saves: The frequency with which users save your pins to their boards.
Review Board Success: Your boards are as important as your pins. A board with many followers or engagement suggests a well-curated topic.
Assess Profile Metrics: Your account’s overall metrics give a helicopter view of your brand’s Pinterest influence.
- Followers: A general indicator of brand popularity.
- Engagement Rate: The percentage of users who interact with your content.
Utilize Pinterest’s Analytics Tool for a comprehensive overview. This tool can provide insights into various metrics, including audience demographics and behavior.
Site Traffic and Conversions: Use external tools like Google Analytics to see if Pinterest users are not just visiting but taking action on your site.
- Bounce Rate: The rate at which visitors leave your site after viewing only one page.
- Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who take a desired action.
17. Pinterest Ads Works For Better Exposure
When diving into Pinterest for your brand, utilizing Pinterest ads can significantly boost your visibility and engagement.
Well-targeted ads can reach a broader audience for your content, from product images to blog posts. It’s a clear strategy: by promoting your pins, you position your offerings in front of users who show interest in your category.
18. Encourage Content Sharing
Encourage visitors to share your content by adding “Save to Pinterest” buttons on your website and product pages. These buttons make it easy for users to pin your website content/posts to their Pinterest boards.
What’s The Difference Between Pinterest SEO and Google SEO?
When crafting your SEO strategy, understanding the unique aspects of Pinterest and Google is crucial.
Here, I explain how search engines prioritize content and how specific strategies apply to each platform.
Aspect | Google SEO | Pinterest SEO |
---|---|---|
Search Engine | Indexes text, images, audio, and video. | Primarily indexes visually focused content like images and videos. |
Content Focus | Analyzes text for keywords and user intent. | Emphasizes visually appealing content; keywords in pins crucial. |
Audience | Broad audience; diverse queries catered to. | Targeted towards inspiration, ideas, and products. |
SEO Strategy | Uses tools for keyword research and content depth. | Relies on Pinterest search for trending topics and visual optimization. |
Boards | Not relevant; content indexed individually. | Organizes pins; first board choice impacts visibility. |
Hashtags/Terms | Hashtags limited; clear terms in content essential. | Essential for discoverability; hashtags and clear terms in titles boost visibility. |
My Final Thoughts on Pinterest SEO Marketing Efforts
As you advance your Pinterest marketing journey, it’s vital to maintain a robust SEO strategy for your business account.
Your Pinterest profile is the gateway to your brand, thus ensuring it includes relevant keywords is the first step toward discoverability. Remember, a searchable display name intertwines directly with user queries.
Again, here’s a quick Pinterest SEO checklist to better your marketing efforts:
- Pick a username that reflects your brand and include keywords.
- Name your boards with relevant keywords.
- Include keywords in your pin descriptions naturally.
- Regularly pin content to keep your boards active.
- Comment and repin others’ content to boost engagement.
- Use high-resolution and eye-catching images.
- Create pins with a 2:3 aspect ratio for optimal display.
- Write captions that are clear, concise, and keyword-rich.
- Convert to a business account for more features.
- They’re still useful on Pinterest for discoverability.
- Use rich pins for extra detail and better visibility.
- Fill it with keywords and compelling information about your brand.
- Provide descriptive alt text with keywords for your images.
- Videos can capture attention and increase engagement.
- Review your analytics to see what works and tweak your strategy.
- Stay up-to-date with popular content and participate.
- Pin too much in a short amount of time, and your pins will appear spammy. Space out your pins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now you know how to get your pins to show up on Pinterest. However, there are still a few questions that are commonly asked about Pinterest, especially when it comes to SEO.
How do I optimize my Pinterest profile for better SEO?
To optimize your Pinterest profile, choose a username that reflects your brand and includes your main keywords. Ensure your bio succinctly describes your business and incorporates relevant terms. Link to your website and ensure all information is current to establish credibility with users and Pinterest’s algorithm.
What are the best practices for using keywords on Pinterest?
Utilize keywords strategically in your pin titles, descriptions, and image alt text. Research trending and niche-specific keywords. Place them naturally within the content to align with search intents. Keywords should also be included in board titles and descriptions to increase their discoverability.
How can I increase the visibility of my pins?
To boost pin visibility, craft high-quality images and videos that align with the interests of your target audience. Use descriptive, keyword-rich titles and descriptions for each pin. Engage with the community by re-pinning relevant content and encourage user interaction through comments and saves.
How many pins per day is recommended on Pinterest?
It’s advisable to pin around 15-25 times per day, spread throughout the day, to maximize engagement without overwhelming your audience. Regular pinning contributes to an active profile, which the algorithm favors, but quality should not be sacrificed for quantity.
How do you ensure your optimized descriptions are used when people pin your blog posts?
If you run your blog on WordPress, you can use a WordPress plugin like Social Warfare to add the description and image you want people to use when pining your blog post from your website.
Should you use hashtags on Pinterest in 2024?
Yes, using hashtags on Pinterest in 2024 can be beneficial for increasing the visibility of your pins and improving SEO on the platform. It can also help users discover your content more easily.
How many pins a day on Pinterest?
The optimal number of pins per day on Pinterest can vary. Still, it is generally recommended to pin 15 to 25 times a day to maintain an active presence and maximize engagement.
Should I use hashtags on Pinterest?
Yes, you should use hashtags on Pinterest as they can help your pins get discovered by a broader audience. It is advised to use a mix of broad and specific hashtags, up to a maximum of 20 per pin.
Should you delete underperforming pins?
No, Pinterest confirmed in a recent interview that you should not delete pins. A dud pin will not bring down your account’s results and may even resurgence later.
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