A lot of people underestimate the power of Pinterest when it comes to increasing the traffic to your site and your engagement. Pinterest is more than just a type of social media; it has become a powerful search engine in its own right. When you optimise your content with the right SEO strategies, Pinterest can help your business whilst building traffic to your site through blogs, boosting your online presence.
That is why Colewood Digital has created the perfect ‘How To’ guide so you can learn how to optimise your Pinterest profile, boards and pins with SEO. We can help you with your digital PR and Outreach, technical SEO and more, helping you build a loyal audience!
Why Does Pinterest SEO Matter?
Pinterest has an impressively 450 million active users monthly, searching for ideas, products and inspirations. It is the only platform that allows you to save an ad or product to a board, so you can buy it for later.
Yet, unlike any of social media platforms like meta and X, Pinterest acts as a search engine where users look for visual content to fulfil their specific needs. By optimising for Pinterest SEO, you can make it easier for users to find your content, repin it, and eventually visit your website to find out more.
Here’s how to make Pinterest work for you!
Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Business Account
Before you start your optimisation, you need to make sure your account is a Pinterest Business account rather than a personal one. Not only does this type of account give you access to Pinterest analytics (crucial for tracking your SEO efforts!) but it also enables features like rich pins that no improve the searchability of your pins.
Here is how to do it:
- Go to your Pinterest account settings and click on “Convert to a Business Account.”
- Fill out all your business details to create a complete, professional profile.
- Verify your website to enhance trust and visibility on the platform.
Step 2: Conduct Keyword Research for Your Pinterest
Pinterest SEO starts with knowing the keywords people are searching for. Pinterest has its own search trends and popular terms, so be sure to do research specifically tailored to the platform. But where do you even start?
How to Conduct Keyword Research on Pinterest:
- Pinterest Search Bar: Start typing a relevant keyword in the Pinterest search bar. Pinterest will show you suggested terms based on popular searches.
- Pinterest Trends Tool: Use Pinterest Trends to discover what’s currently trending and the seasonal popularity of specific keywords.
- Competitor Analysis: Look at top-performing profiles in your niche to see what keywords they are using in their pins and boards.
Step 3: Now You Can Start to Optimise Your Profile
Your profile is the foundation of your Pinterest SEO strategy, so it is essential to make it keyword-rich and user-friendly with SEO content.
Your profile name should include relevant keywords that reflect your niche. For example, “Healthy Recipes | Meal Prep Ideas” or “DIY Crafts | Home Décor”.
Then, in your about section you should use a concise, keyword optimised bio that describes what users can expect from your pins. Make it engaging yet specific to your niche or brand.
You must also make sure your profile picture is high quality and resonates with your brand. For businesses, a good rule of thumb is to use a clear logo that is also consistent across all social media platforms.
Colewood Digital’s Pro Tip: Mention keywords naturally in your bio to help Pinterest understand what your profile is about. That way you wont be penalised for keywords stuffing whilst also relating to your audience.
Step 4: Create Some Keyword-Optimised Boards
Your Pinterest boards can play a significant role in your SEO strategy, as they’re searchable and help Pinterest categorise your content. Here are some top tips from Colewood Digital on how to optimise your Pinterest boards!
- Use clear, specific keywords in your board titles. For instance, instead of “Home” try “Victorian Style House Decor Inspiration”
- Don’t forget to optimise your board descriptions! Include a well-written, keyword-rich description that explains what users can expect. You should aim to write around 2–3 sentences with 2–3 keywords in each board description.
- Choose your board pin covers with visually appealing images that match your brand style. (Whilst this doesn’t directly affect SEO, it improves the overall appeal of your profile!)
Step 5: Design SEO-Friendly Pins
We want to create a pin that catches your eye but also appears in the search results! So, when designing your pin use a high quality image with a title that includes a primary keyword. Preferably something that is between 40 and 100 characters. Make it relevant yet relevant to the search term!
It is also important to know that Pinterest favours images with a recommended 2:3 aspect ratio (like 1000 x 1500 pixels).
You can also write a detailed description (150–300 characters) that includes your main keywords. This is where you can be more descriptive and explain the value of your pin. And, whilst it is not as crucial as on other platforms, including 2–5 relevant hashtags can help users discover your content in search results.
Colewood Digital’s Pro Tip: Use a consistent colour scheme and branding elements in your pins for recognition and cohesiveness.
Step 6: Utilise Rich Pins for Enhanced SEO
But, what is a Rich Pin on Pinterest?
Rich Pins provide additional details about your pins, such as product information, recipe ingredients, or article titles. These extra details make your pins more informative and more likely to engage viewers.
How to Set Up Rich Pins:
- Add appropriate metadata to your website for your preferred type of Rich Pins (product, article, or recipe).
- Use Pinterest’s Rich Pin Validator to enable Rich Pins for your account.
- Once validated, Pinterest will automatically pull this metadata whenever you pin something from your site.
Rich Pins add credibility and increase click-through rates as they appear more professional.
Step 7: Consistency is key to Pinterest success.
Aim to pin at least 5–10 times per day. Mix in a combination of your own pins and curated pins from others.
You can use tools like Tailwind to schedule pins for optimal times based on your audience’s activity. This helps keep your account active and visible.
Step 8: Monitor Your Performance with Pinterest Analytics
By using Pinterest Analytics to monitor your performance you can see which pins are generating the most views and engagement. You can also track where your Pinterest traffic is coming from and which boards and pins are the most effective. If you analyse your audience’s demographics and interests you can tailor your content that better meets their needs.
You can learn more about engagement vs reach through our blog at Colewood Digital!
Another Pro Tip From Colewood Digital: Adjust your strategic SEO approach based on performance data every month to optimise for the best results.
Pinterest can be a powerful tool to expand your reach and drive more traffic to your site, especially if your business is part of the top searched industries on Pinterest! Remember, SEO on Pinterest in a marathon and not a sprint —so keep refining your strategy, tracking your performance, and adapting based on results.
If you need expert help, contact us here at Colewood Digital and we can help take your digital marketing strategy to the next level and get you those results. Whether that is adding Paid Search to your Pinterest, or creating product photography for your pins, with a FREE consultation, you can find the perfect package for you and your business!
