11 Tips to Build SEO with Your Pinterest Business Account

Pinterest is a powerful platform for businesses and content creators to drive traffic, boost visibility, and engage with a large audience. However, to fully optimize your presence on Pinterest and improve your search engine optimization (SEO), it’s essential to implement effective strategies.

By following these 11 tips, you can enhance the discoverability of your pins, increase engagement, and ultimately drive more traffic to your website or blog.

Starting with the basics, setting up a business account and verifying your website are important initial steps to establish credibility on Pinterest. Creating high-quality, engaging content across various formats is key to capturing users’ attention and encouraging interaction. By utilizing guided search and performing keyword research, you can identify popular topics and incorporate relevant keywords into your descriptions.

Lastly, studying your analytics provides valuable insights into user behavior and keyword performance, allowing you to refine your strategies and drive better results. By implementing these tips and continuously monitoring and adapting your approach, you can maximize the potential of Pinterest as a powerful SEO tool.

The Basics of Pinterest of SEO

Pinterest uses its own algorithm called the Smart Feed which curates content based on the viewers interests, quality of pins, and keywords. Based on those three criteria, the Smart Feed enables discovery three different ways within the platform:

1. Home feed, where the end-user receives personalized content based on interactions.
2. Water tab, where the end-user receives video content based on engagement.
3. Search, where items are recommended based on context and keywords.

Relevance, broadly, is determined by how closely your pins match audience interests and specific match queries.

Tip #1: Set Yourself Up for Success

To make the most of Pinterest, it’s crucial to register a business account and a verified website. A business account gives you access to valuable analytics and special features like Rich Pins. Setting up a business account is free and easy, and claiming your website helps establish your credibility on Pinterest.

You’ll want to establish between five and ten boards that you’ll actively maintain. Ensure the board names are descriptive and detailed, using natural language while integrating relevant keywords. Organize them based on priority.

Tip #2: Create and Pin Quality, Engagement-Worthy Content

High-quality content is the foundation of successful SEO on Pinterest. It’s important to create engaging images and diverse content types such as blogs, videos, infographics, and products.

Image quality is important. Canva can be a helpful tool for creating eye-catching pins. Additionally, create multiple unique pins for each piece of content to increase visibility and engagement.

Tip #3: Use Guided Search to Understand User Interests

Before conducting formal keyword research, explore Pinterest’s guided search feature. By entering relevant search terms, you can get an idea of what users are looking for and discover related phrases. Dive into different boards and competitor profiles to gather ideas and identify hot topics to create content around.

Tip #4: Perform Keyword Research

Utilize Google’s free keyword planning tools to find keywords and phrases related to your niche. While this data represents Google searches rather than Pinterest searches specifically, it still provides insights into what the market wants. Focus on long-tail keywords with high search volume and moderate competition to attract quality traffic to your Pinterest page and website.

Tip #5: Write Keyword-Rich Descriptions for Pins and Boards

You may have the most beautiful and interesting pins on Pinterest but if they aren’t optimized for the correct keywords, they won’t gain any traction – keyword research is key.

Craft comprehensive descriptions for your pins and boards that incorporate the relevant long-tail keywords you discovered. These descriptions help Pinterest’s algorithm understand your content and improve its visibility in search results. Consider using Pinterest’s keyword extraction techniques for better ranking.

Remember the number of saves is an important signal for pin relevance. Encourage users to save your pins to increase their visibility and engagement.

Tip #6: Use Hashtags

It should go without saying but it’s incredible how many people forego this step. Hashtags enhance the discoverability of your pins on Pinterest. While you can add up to 20 hashtags to a pin, it’s best to stick to a few relevant ones to avoid appearing spammy. Ensure your hashtags align with the content you’re pinning, as they can increase exposure and initial views.

Tip #7: Add the Pinterest Tag to Your Website

Implementing the Pinterest tag on your website allows you to track traffic from Pinterest and understand user actions. By monitoring conversions, you can identify which keywords drive valuable traffic and adjust your SEO strategy accordingly. The Pinterest tag enables tracking various actions such as page visits, searches, checkouts, signups, and video views.

Tip #8: Add the Pinterest “Save” Button to Images on Your Site

Increase traffic, followers, and exposure by adding the Pinterest “Save” button to images on your website. This button allows users to save your images directly to their Pinterest boards, expanding your reach. Make the button easily visible or appear upon hovering to encourage more pinning and engagement.

Tip #9: Use Rich Pins

Rich Pins are essential for e-commerce businesses on Pinterest. They automatically update pricing, product descriptions, and other details to ensure consistency between Pinterest and your website. Apply for Rich Pins and embed the necessary HTML code to display accurate information for your products or articles.

Tip #10: Format Images for the Platform

Considering that a majority of Pinterest traffic comes from mobile devices, optimize your images accordingly. Longer pins with a 2:3 ratio (such as 1,000 pixels by 1,500 pixels) tend to perform well. Choose eye-catching colors that stand out to attract users’ attention amidst the visual content on Pinterest.

Tip #11: Study The Analytics

Much like how it’s important to benchmark your SEO work for your personal site, Pinterest provides robust analytics that offer valuable insights into user behavior, keyword performance, and engagement. Analyze this data to identify which keywords drive traffic, conversions, and engagement. Understanding your analytics helps refine your strategy.

Pay attention to metrics such as impressions, saves, clicks, and engagement rates to gauge the effectiveness of your pins. Identify which pins are performing well and try to understand the reasons behind their success. Is it the visuals, the descriptions, or the keywords used? Use this knowledge to replicate successful patterns and improve underperforming pins.

Additionally, keep an eye on emerging trends and changes in user behavior. Pinterest is a dynamic platform, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Stay updated with new features, algorithm updates, and best practices to ensure your strategy remains relevant and effective.

Regularly revisit your keyword research and update your pin descriptions accordingly. Experiment with different approaches, such as testing new visuals, trying alternative keywords, or exploring different content formats. By monitoring your results and adapting your strategy based on data-driven insights, you can continuously optimize your Pinterest SEO efforts for maximum impact.

Remember, the key to success on Pinterest lies in a combination of creativity, data analysis, and adaptability. By consistently monitoring, evaluating, and adapting your strategy, you can stay ahead of the curve and leverage Pinterest as a powerful tool for SEO and business growth.

In Conclusion

Optimizing your Pinterest pins for SEO is a strategic approach that can significantly boost your online presence, increase traffic, and drive conversions. By following the 11 tips discussed, you can enhance your visibility on Pinterest and reach a wider audience.

Setting up a business account and verifying your website are fundamental steps that establish credibility and provide access to valuable analytics. Creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience and utilizing guided search and keyword research ensures your pins align with user interests and search queries.

Hashtags, the Pinterest tag, and the “Save” button help increase discoverability and engagement with your pins. Leveraging Rich Pins and formatting images for optimal mobile viewing further optimize your presence on the platform.

Studying your analytics allows you to gain insights into user behavior, keyword performance, and the effectiveness of your strategies. By continuously monitoring and analyzing this data, you can refine your approach and make informed decisions to improve your Pinterest SEO efforts.

Remember, Pinterest is a dynamic platform, so it’s essential to stay updated with its features, algorithms, and user trends. By consistently applying these tips and adapting your strategy, you can unlock the full potential of Pinterest as a valuable tool for SEO and business growth.

Return to the off-page SEO guide for more off-page SEO tips.