Pinterest isn’t just a social network for collecting pretty pictures; it’s a powerful visual search engine. Many people ask, “Is Pinterest good for SEO?” The short answer is yes!
Done right, Pinterest and SEO go hand in hand to boost your visibility.
This guide will walk you through what Pinterest SEO is, why it matters in 2025, and how to create a winning Pinterest SEO strategy.
You’ll learn how the Pinterest algorithm works and get step-by-step Pinterest SEO tips to grow your Pinterest traffic.
TL;DR
- Pinterest is a powerful visual search engine that requires a unique SEO strategy.
- Keywords, image quality, pin descriptions, and consistency are critical for visibility.
- Tools like Tailwind and Pinterest Trends can streamline and amplify results.
- Avoid common pitfalls like poor mobile optimization and keyword stuffing.
- Use Pinterest Analytics to refine and grow over time.
What is Pinterest SEO?
Pinterest SEO is the process of optimizing your Pins, boards, profile, and website so your content ranks in Pinterest search results and feeds.
It combines relevant keyword targeting with visual appeal to help Pinterest search engine understand your content and surface it to the right people.
Unlike other social networks, Pinterest functions like a search engine. Users come here to search for ideas, products, and inspiration, just like they would on Google, but in a more visual format.
That’s why Pinterest SEO requires two things: the right keywords to tell Pinterest what your content is about, and high-quality visuals to grab attention, encourage clicks, and earn saves.
Both matter.
So optimizing for Pinterest means writing compelling descriptions and designing eye-catching graphics, all with keyword intent in mind.
How Does Pinterest SEO Differ from Google SEO
At a glance, Pinterest and Google both serve search intent. But how they rank content is completely different.
Google leans on technical SEO. It focuses on things like backlinks, site speed, page structure, and domain authority. It’s about how your site performs behind the scenes.
Pinterest doesn’t care much about any of that. It looks at engagement signals and visual relevance. It doesn’t matter how fast your site loads or how many domains link to you. What matters is how your Pin performs inside Pinterest.
That means things like saves, clicks, comments, and shares are what really move the needle. The more people interact with your Pin, the more Pinterest sees it as valuable and keeps showing it to more users.
Another key difference is how Pinterest reads images.
Thanks to image recognition and text overlay scanning, Pinterest understands the topic of your Pin visually. If your image says “5-Minute Hair Routine” or “Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Weeks,” that text helps Pinterest categorize your content.
It’s not just decoration. It adds context that supports your SEO.
So yes, keywords still matter.
But Pinterest ranks content differently than a traditional search engine. A well-designed, high-engagement Pin with a clear title and smart description can outrank a plain image, even if both target the same keyword.
Pinterest SEO is about combining relevant keywords with the right visuals, and then earning engagement once your Pin is live.
Why Pinterest SEO Matters in 2025
If you’re a marketer, blogger, or small business owner, you might be wondering if Pinterest is still worth your time in 2025.
The answer? 100% yes.
In fact, it might be one of the smartest platforms you can invest in right now.
Pinterest continues to grow. It has over 553 million monthly active users, and that number is rising, up roughly 11% year over year. While some social networks are stalling out, Pinterest is quietly gaining ground.
What makes Pinterest different isn’t just the size of its user base. It’s how people use it.
Pinners come to the platform looking for ideas, planning purchases, and saving content to take action later. The average session lasts 14 minutes. That’s a long time by social media standards.
And here’s something unique: content lasts longer on Pinterest.
A trending topic on Pinterest tends to stick around 21% longer than on other platforms. That means the content you Pin today can keep driving traffic for months—or even years—without needing to be constantly refreshed.
For businesses and bloggers, that’s a huge advantage. Pinterest isn’t just a branding channel. It drives real traffic; and real results.
More than half of Pinners (55%) use the platform to shop or find products. And 85% of weekly users say they’ve made a purchase based on something they saw on Pinterest.
So the intent is there. People are looking. People are clicking. People are buying.
And with additional features like visual search and the AR “try-on” for shopping, Pinterest’s role in the buyer journey is only getting bigger.
Benefits for Blogs and Businesses
Pinterest SEO isn’t just about brand awareness.
It can drive real, lasting traffic. For many blogs, Pinterest is one of the top sources of visitors. And the best part is, the traffic keeps coming without needing daily posts or ad spend.
If you’re running an e-commerce store, Pinterest works like a discovery engine.
People use it to plan purchases. They save products they like, come back to them later, and often buy them when they’re ready. These aren’t passive scrollers. They’re intentional.
Because Pins don’t expire the way posts do on other platforms, your content keeps working in the background. One well-optimized product Pin can continue to earn saves and clicks for months. Instagram posts fade fast. Pinterest content doesn’t.
If you’re a content creator or blogger, this long shelf life is even more valuable.
Your evergreen posts, things like how-to guides, recipes, or checklists, can get discovered again and again by new audiences. And each new view is another chance to convert a visitor or build your email list.
Here’s another reason Pinterest is worth your attention.
As of January 2024, Pinterest’s reported advertising reach is 307.6 million users. That’s a big jump from 249.7 million the year before.
Whether you run ads or not, it’s a sign that more people are engaging on the platform.
And more users means more chances for your organic content to be found.
How the Pinterest Algorithm Works
Pinterest doesn’t show the newest Pins first. It shows the most relevant ones.
That’s why understanding how its algorithm works is key to getting more visibility.
The platform uses a system called the Smart Feed.
The Smart Feedpulls the most relevant Pins for each user, ranking them by past engagement rather than post time.
Instead of showing content in real-time, Pinterest pulls in Pins from across the platform and ranks them based on how useful and engaging they are for each individual user.
What you post and how you optimize it matters more than when you publish.
There are four main signals Pinterest uses to evaluate your content.
First is domain quality. This refers to how your website performs on Pinterest.
If people regularly click or save content that links back to your domain, Pinterest starts to trust your site more. That trust can boost the reach of your future Pins, even if they’re brand new.
Next is Pin quality. This is all about how well a specific Pin performs.
If users click, save, or share it, that activity sends a signal that your content is valuable. The better a Pin does, the more Pinterest continues to show it.
Then there’s pinner quality. This measures how active and consistent you are.
If you Pin regularly, engage with the platform, and interact with other users’ content, Pinterest sees you as a valuable creator. That can lead to more exposure across search and feed.
The last signal is topic relevance. Pinterest checks if your content aligns with what a user is searching for or interested in. It looks at the title, description, board category, and even the text on the image.
It also uses image recognition to understand what’s visually in your Pin. The more relevant your content is to the searcher’s intent, the better it performs.
Pro Tip: If you’re asking, “How to optimize Pinterest pins for search?”, remember these four factors; domain, Pin quality, pinner quality, and relevance, must all align.
Want to master SEO across all search platforms, not just Pinterest?
Check out our free guide to Search Everywhere Optimization and learn how to future-proof your marketing strategy.
Pinterest SEO Strategy: Step-by-Step
Below is a step-by-step strategy covering all the bases of Pinterest SEO.
Follow these steps to optimize everything from keywords to Pin design in a conversational but expert way.
Step 1: Keyword Research for Pinterest
Just like with traditional SEO, every strong Pinterest SEO strategy starts with keyword research. But the way you find keywords on Pinterest is a little different, because it’s a visual platform.
Your goal here is simple. You want to find out what people are actually searching for so you can use those terms in your Pin titles, descriptions, board names, and even on your Pin images.
The easiest place to start is the Pinterest search bar. Type in a broad keyword related to your niche, and you’ll see auto-suggestions pop up.
For example, type “home office” and you might get “home office setup ideas” or “home office organization.”
Autocomplete reveals the exact phrases users type, perfect seeds for your Pin titles, descriptions, and board names.
These suggestions come from real searches happening on Pinterest. That makes them valuable keywords to include in your content.
Pinterest Trends is another useful tool. It shows how often a keyword is searched over time and helps you spot seasonal spikes or rising topics. If you’re planning content a few weeks or months ahead, this can help you stay ahead of the curve.
Pinterest Trends lets you check how keyword interest rises or falls over time, ideal for timing seasonal or emerging topics in your Pin schedule.
You can also use Tailwind’s keyword finder. Tailwind is a Pinterest partner tool that gives you a list of related keywords based on what you enter.
You can input a term or your website URL and see which Pinterest keywords are getting attention. It’s a great way to find new keyword variations or angles you hadn’t considered.
The Tailwind tool suggests related Pinterest keywords and shows their weekly and monthly search growth, helping you spot fresh angles for Pin optimization
If you have a Pinterest business account, the built-in Pinterest Analytics tool (or Pinterest ads) will show you which of your Pins are getting the most impressions. You can use that to figure out which keywords are already working for your brand.
Step 2: Optimize Your Profile and Boards
Your Pinterest profile is the foundation of your Pinterest SEO.
It’s one of the first places Pinterest looks to understand who you are and what kind of content you offer.
A well-optimized profile and well-organized Pinterest boards can make a big difference in how often your Pins show up in search results.
Start with your profile name and bio. These fields should include relevant keywords.
Use your brand name, but combine it with a core topic if you can. For example, instead of just “AcmeCrafts,” you might use “AcmeCraftsDIY” or “Acme Crafts – DIY Home Decor Ideas.” This helps Pinterest quickly connect your profile to a specific niche.
The account name pairs the brand with its niche (“DIY Crafts”), and the bio repeats DIY-related keywords, helping Pinterest classify the profile instantly.
Your bio, or “About you” section, is another chance to reinforce what your account is about.
Write a short, natural description of what you do, and include a few key terms. Something like “Blogger sharing easy recipes and healthy meal ideas. Love cooking, meal prep, and all things food” gives Pinterest and users a clear picture of your content focus.
The profile bio clearly states the niche, colorful art, design, and fashion, so Pinterest (and visitors) instantly know what content to expect.
Boards are just as important. Think of them as content categories. Each one should focus on a clear topic, and the title should include a keyword that people actually search for.
A board named “Healthy Dinner Recipes” is more effective than something vague like “My Favorites.”
Each board also has a description field. Use it to add one or two short sentences that explain what kind of Pins you save there.
Again, include keywords naturally. This helps Pinterest understand your content and match it to the right searches.
You can manually reorder your boards, so move the most important or best-performing ones to the top of your profile. This helps users and Pinterest see what you’re known for.
This image shows how boards appear on a Pinterest profile, arranged under the Saved tab, illustrating why it helps to reorder your most important or best-performing boards to the top for stronger first-impressions.
If you’re publishing your own content, create a dedicated board just for that. Something like “[Your Blog Name] Best Posts” lets you collect all your Pins in one place and helps Pinterest recognize your original work.
Last thing, make sure your profile image is clean and recognizable.
Use a high-quality logo or photo that matches your branding. Consistent visuals help people remember you and trust your content when they see it in their feed.
Step 3: Design SEO-Friendly Pins
On Pinterest, design is part of your SEO. A well-designed Pin doesn’t just look good—it helps your content get discovered. That’s why your visuals need to be intentional, not just pretty.
Pinterest uses a vertical-scrolling layout, so vertical images always perform better. The best aspect ratio is 2:3, usually 1000px by 1500px. This keeps your Pin fully visible across mobile and desktop.
To make your Pins stand out, use bright or high-contrast colours, clear imagery, and bold, readable text. Avoid cluttered visuals.
Good lighting and simple backgrounds work well. If you’re using a graphic, make sure the font is easy to read on a small screen.
Warm colours like red and orange have shown higher repin rates in some studies. But the priority is content relevance. A great visual with the right message will always win over a stylish one with no context.
Add your branding subtly—a small logo or your website URL in a corner helps with brand recognition and discourages others from reposting without credit.
This Pin illustrates Pinterest-friendly design: a 2:3 vertical layout, clear headline text overlay, vibrant food photo, and subtle branding
If your Pin leads to a blog post or tutorial, add a text overlay. This is a simple title or phrase on the image that tells users what the Pin is about. For example, “Easy 15-Minute Pasta Recipe” works better than a plain image of food. It sets expectations and boosts click-through rates.
Pinterest’s algorithm reads text on images. So your overlay doesn’t just help users—it helps Pinterest figure out what your content is about. This makes your Pins more likely to show up in the right searches.
Step 4: Write Strong Pin Descriptions
The Pin description is where you give context to your image and incorporate the keywords you researched in Step 1.
A well-crafted description improves your Pinterest SEO by helping the algorithm understand your content and giving users a reason to click.
A strong example is a Pin with a clear title on the image and descriptive copy that includes keywords like “keyword research tools.”
This tells Pinterest what the content is about and signals relevance to the right searches. It also makes it easier for users to understand what they’ll get by clicking through.
Pinterest’s algorithm looks at the beginning of your description to find keywords, so it’s important to lead with your most relevant terms.
If your Pin is about garden design, a good example might be: “Small Garden Design Ideas – Transform your tiny backyard with these creative landscaping tips.”
By placing key phrases early, you increase your chances of matching user search queries.
Once you’ve led with keywords, use the rest of the description to add value. Explain what the content is and what benefit the user gets from clicking.
You have up to 500 characters to work with, but don’t feel obligated to use every word. A focused, benefit-driven description works best.
For instance, you might say, “Find step-by-step instructions to create a lush container garden, even in a small space. These tips cover soil, plant selection, and layout to help you grow a beautiful mini-garden. Click to see the full guide!”
If you’re still wondering, “Does Pinterest use hashtags for SEO?” It does.
The Pin pairs a keyword-rich title in both the graphic and the Pin title field, then backs it with a description that repeats “digital planner” and ends with a few niche hashtags, perfect for Pinterest’s search and Smart Feed.
Pinterest allows you to use hashtags, which help categorize content and improve visibility. Including one or two at the end of your description—for example, #SpringDecor or #DIYtutorial—can increase discovery, especially for seasonal or event-related searches. Just keep it targeted.
Avoid overloading the description with irrelevant or overly broad hashtags.
Beyond the description, Pinterest also includes a field for Pin titles.
This is separate from the image text or description and appears prominently above the Pin close-up.
You get up to 100 characters, and it’s indexed for search—so it’s a smart place to repeat or slightly rework your keyword.
Often, the Pin title will match or complement the text overlay on the image.
Finally, make sure your Pin description and the landing page it links to are aligned.
If your Pin promises “5 Tips” or a “Step-by-Step Guide,” the page it leads to should deliver exactly that. This consistency not only improves the user experience but also supports your domain quality signal—one of Pinterest’s key ranking factors.
Step 5: Use Rich Pins
Rich Pins are one of the most underrated Pinterest SEO features.
They pull additional metadata from your website and display it directly on your Pins, making them more informative, more professional, and more likely to earn clicks.
There are three types of Rich Pins: Article, Product, and Recipe.
Article Rich Pins automatically display the headline, author, and a short description below the image when you link to a blog post or article.
Product Rich Pins go a step further, showing real-time price, availability, and product title, which can help drive conversions.
Recipe Rich Pins include ingredients, cooking time, and serving size, giving users more value up front and making it easier for Pinterest to categorize the content correctly.
Recipe Rich Pins surface key info (ingredients, time, servings) directly in the Pin,
Using Rich Pins makes your content stand out in the feed. They include a bold title and extra contextual information, which helps users understand what your Pin is offering without having to click. This added layer of clarity builds trust.
Setting up Rich Pins is a one-time process.
First, you need to have Open Graph or Schema markup on your site that Pinterest can fetch. If you use WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Pinterest-specific plugins can help add this metadata for articles, products, or recipes.
Next, go into your Pinterest account settings, find the “Claim” section, and claim your website. You’ll be asked to verify ownership either by uploading an HTML file to your site or by adding a meta tag to your header.
Once Pinterest confirms ownership, your Pins will automatically begin displaying Rich Pin data when pulled from your domain.
You can verify it’s working by checking a newly published article Pin. You should see the title in bold, the source website, and a snippet of additional information below the image; all without manually entering that data in the Pin description.
Step 6: Pin Consistently and Strategically
Consistency is key to Pinterest SEO best practices:
If you want to build authority and maintain visibility in the Smart Feed, you need to Pin regularly and with intent. Sporadic posting won’t get the job done.
Instead of uploading 50 Pins in one day and going quiet for a week, aim for a consistent daily rhythm. Pinterest’s algorithm favors creators who publish steadily.
A good starting point is 5 to 15 Pins per day, spaced out at optimal times. You can adjust based on your workflow and results, but the key is signaling to Pinterest that you’re consistently active.
Timing also matters.
Pinterest users are often most engaged during evenings and weekends. Research shows that Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays see strong performance, with high engagement levels carrying into Monday and Tuesday. In terms of timing, the 8 PM to 11 PM window (in your audience’s time zone) is often the sweet spot for visibility and saves.
Pinterest also prioritizes fresh content, meaning new URLs, new images, and new Pin designs. This doesn’t mean you need to constantly publish brand-new blog posts. You can take your best-performing articles or products and create new Pins for them using different visuals or text overlays. Each variation counts as a fresh Pin, which boosts distribution.
A strong strategy is to design multiple Pins per piece of content and publish them over time to maintain a steady presence.
Consistent pinning tells Pinterest you’re a reliable source of new ideas.
And over time, that reliability gets rewarded with more reach, more visibility, and more engagement in search and feed placements.
Tools to Improve Pinterest SEO
Pinterest SEO takes effort, but you don’t have to do it all manually. These tools can help you design, schedule, and track Pins more efficiently—saving you time while improving results.
Tailwind
Tailwind is an official Pinterest partner tool known for its scheduling features. You can upload a batch of Pins and schedule them to post at the best times based on your audience’s activity.
But Tailwind isn’t just for scheduling. It also includes a Hashtag and Keyword Finder, SmartSchedule to pick optimal posting times, and Tailwind Communities where users share each other’s content for broader reach.
You can even use Tailwind Create to generate branded Pin designs automatically. It’s a huge time-saver if you don’t have a designer. Their Ghostwriter tool also helps write Pin titles and descriptions using AI, which is helpful when you’re short on ideas or in a rush.
Tailwind offers a free tier, but most of the best features are behind a paid plan. It’s a great option if you manage Pinterest content regularly, though the dashboard can feel a bit busy when you’re just getting started.
Canva
Canva is the go-to design tool for creators. It’s beginner-friendly, and it includes Pinterest-ready templates at the ideal 2:3 ratio. You just drag, drop, and customize.
Canva also lets you add animation to make your Pins pop. And if you’re working with a team, collaboration is simple. The free version gives you a lot of functionality, and the Pro version adds premium elements, easy resizing, and branding kits.
The only catch? Canva doesn’t post directly to Pinterest, so you’ll need to export your Pins and schedule them separately—either manually or using a tool like Tailwind.
Also, be careful not to rely too heavily on default templates. If your Pins start to look like everyone else’s, they’ll blend into the feed. Make small changes to keep your visuals fresh and unique.
Pinterest Trends (and Analytics)
We touched on Pinterest Trends earlier. While Pinterest Trends and Pinterest Analytics aren’t technically third-party tools, they are essential resources for improving your Pinterest SEO.
Pinterest Trends helps you explore real keyword search data, showing you how interest in a topic rises or falls over time. Use it to find seasonal trends, validate content ideas, or plan ahead for upcoming campaigns.
Pinterest Analytics becomes available once you switch to a Pinterest business account. It shows key performance metrics like impressions, saves, clicks, and overall engagement rate.
The Analytics dashboard lets you track impressions, saves, outbound clicks, and engaged audience per Pin or board
You can also track your top-performing Pins and boards. This helps you understand what content is working, so you can do more of it—and stop wasting time on what’s not.
Pinterest SEO Mistakes to Avoid
Even with a solid strategy, it’s easy to slip into habits that hurt your Pinterest performance. These mistakes are common and can quietly reduce your visibility, engagement, and overall results.
One of the biggest issues is keyword stuffing. Just like with Google, Pinterest can tell when you’re forcing too many keywords into a title or description. It looks spammy and doesn’t perform well in search. Instead, focus on writing clear, helpful descriptions that use keywords naturally and in context.
Another mistake is ignoring Pinterest Analytics. Pinterest SEO isn’t something you do once and forget. You need to review your data regularly to see which Pins are getting impressions, saves, and clicks. If you’re not checking performance, you’re missing key insights into what your audience wants and what’s not landing.
A critical but less obvious mistake is not optimizing for mobile users. Since 82 to 85% of Pinterest traffic comes from mobile, your Pins must be readable on small screens. Pins that look fine on desktop can fall apart on mobile if the text is too small or the layout is too busy. Always preview your Pins for mobile before publishing.
Some creators also fall into the habit of only posting their own content. But Pinterest values participation. If you treat the platform like a one-way feed, your profile can come off as inactive or overly promotional. Instead, save relevant content from other sources to show Pinterest that you’re an engaged and balanced user.
Finally, avoid the urge to delete underperforming Pins or boards. It might seem like a good idea to clean things up, but doing so can actually erase SEO value that content has built over time. Some Pins take weeks—or months—to gain traction. Unless a Pin is truly outdated or off-topic, keep it live and test a fresh version rather than removing the original.
Measuring Pinterest SEO Success
The only way to know if your Pinterest SEO strategy is working is to track the right metrics. Pinterest’s built-in analytics tools let you monitor performance over time and help you figure out what’s working and what needs adjusting.
Start with impressions. This is the number of times your Pins appeared on screen, whether in someone’s home feed, search results, or on a board. A steady increase in impressions usually means your SEO is improving and Pinterest’s algorithm is showing your content more often.
Next, look at saves, also called repins. When someone saves your Pin to their board, it signals that your content had value. Saves are a strong engagement signal because they show that people want to keep your Pin, refer back to it, or share it later.
For most marketers, the most important metrics are clicks and outbound clicks. These measure how many users clicked on your Pin or followed the link to your website. Impressions and saves are great, but outbound clicks drive actual traffic and conversions.
Pinterest Analytics separates Pin clicks from outbound clicks. Pin clicks show interest in your image or description. Outbound clicks show that someone went to your site. Both matter, but outbound clicks are the key metric if your goal is traffic or sales.
Another useful metric is engagement rate. This includes saves, Pin clicks, and outbound clicks divided by impressions. A high engagement rate means your content is connecting with viewers, and your design and keyword choices are working.
You should also check your top-performing Pins and boards regularly. Pinterest shows you which ones are getting the most engagement. This acts as your SEO feedback loop. If certain styles, topics, or keywords perform better, you’ll know what to focus on in future content.
And don’t forget your website analytics. Check how much Pinterest traffic you’re getting and how those visitors behave.
Look at metrics like time on page, pages per session, and bounce rate. If Pinterest users are sticking around and exploring your site, that’s a strong sign that your SEO is attracting the right people.
Final Tips for Long-Term Pinterest SEO Growth
Still asking, “How to optimize Pinterest pins for search?” or “How can I improve my Pinterest visibility?” It comes down to regular pinning, engaging visuals, and consistent keyword use throughout your Pinterest account.
Pinterest isn’t a quick-win platform. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. A Pin you post today might not gain traction until weeks later. That’s normal.
The goal is to stay consistent. Keep publishing new Pins. Keep improving your visuals. Keep refining your keyword targeting. Even if growth feels slow at first, your efforts build over time.
It also helps to stay curious. Try new formats, test new topics, and pay attention to your data. Pinterest will continue to evolve, and so should your strategy.
Look for small ways to cross-promote your Pinterest content. For example, embed Pins into your blog posts or email newsletters. This increases saves, drives traffic back to your profile, and helps grow your audience beyond the platform.
Most of all, keep learning. Use your analytics. Follow what’s working in your niche. And don’t be afraid to experiment when Pinterest rolls out new features. The accounts that grow long-term are the ones that adapt.
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