A Beginner Guide to Mastering Pinterest SEO

Published on 25.06.2026 by Chizoba T

Pinterest is more than a platform for inspiration. It’s also a visual search engine with significant potential to drive traffic to your site. You can use Pinterest to build brand awareness and drive conversions. 

However, to do that effectively, you need to optimize your Pinterest account to increase its visibility to the Pinterest algorithm and even your presence on other social media platforms. In this article, we guide you on mastering Pinterest SEO to drive your brand’s visibility.

What is Pinterest SEO?

SEO on Pinterest involves optimizing your profile, boards, pins, and website to help your content rank highly in Pinterest feeds and search results. It involves adding target keywords so the platform can understand what your content is about and deliver it to the right people searching for that content.

As noted earlier, Pinterest users visit the platform for inspiration and to find products and services. That is why a good Pinterest strategy involves adding the right keywords that help people understand what your content is about, as well as high-quality visuals that are attention-grabbing, earn saves, and generate clicks.

Pinterest content is also visible on platforms such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. When you search for content on these search engines, the AI snippets and LLMs will, at times, show Pinterest content. This means that brands can increase their visibility on search engines and the platform itself by investing in SEO.

How Pinterest SEO Differs from Google SEO

Here are the differences between the two:

Type of Content

Pinterest differs from Google and other search engines in that it is a visuals-first search engine. When pinners search on Pinterest, they are looking for information, guides, or products to enhance their creative process. That's unlike Google, where searchers are looking for a wide range of information.

Technical SEO vs. Engagement

The way the two platforms rank content is also different, with Google focusing more on technical SEO. This involves factors such as site speed, the number of high-quality backlinks, domain authority, and page structure. That means how your site performs behind the scenes is important.

On the other hand, technical SEO has almost zero significance. Instead, it focuses more on visual relevance and engagement signals. You can have a fast-loading site with a lot of backlinks, but all that will not matter. Instead, your pin’s performance will be the most important factor.

When doing Pinterest SEO, the most important factors are the comments, clicks, saves, and shares. The higher your pin's interaction level, the more valuable Pinterest considers the content, and the more people it will show it to.

Ability to Read Images

Another important factor to consider is how Pinterest processes images, as it uses text overlays and image recognition to understand your pins. When you add an image with text overlays reading "5-minute routine for your hair," Pinterest will use this text to determine your content category. Therefore, this text will support your SEO.

Unlike Google, a well-designed pin with a captivating title and an outstanding description will outrank a plain image, even when targeting similar keywords. When doing Pinterest SEO, you should focus on pairing the right keywords with compelling visuals to drive engagement with your pin.

Why Consider Pinterest SEO in 2026

Here are several great reasons to consider Pinterest SEO:

High Number of Users

As of early 2026, Pinterest had over 600 million monthly active users, and the number keeps on growing at an average of 11% p.a. That means while some social media platforms have plateaued in their growth, Pinterest continues to gain ground. This makes it suitable for your long-term social media lead generation.

High Intent Pinners

The way Pinterest's users use it is also another factor that makes it worth considering. When they visit the platform, Pinterest users are looking for ideas to spark project inspiration, making them a high-intent group. According to statistics, the average Pinterest session lasts 14 minutes.

Higher Content Life Span

On most social media platforms, trending content appears shortly before disappearing. That means when you pin content today, it will keep driving traffic to your page or website for months or years, without the need to update it.

Steps in Conducting Pinterest SEO

When using Pinterest for SEO, follow these steps:

Optimize Your Profile

The Pinterest profile should act as the foundation of your SEO strategy. When you optimize your profile for SEO, you can help Pinterest better understand the value it will get from your profile. 

Here are some of the details you need to optimize on your Pinterest profile:

Name and Bio

Use the following tips to optimize your Pinterest profile name and bio:

  • Add a clear name field with keywords. For instance, the John Smith/Salt Lake City wedding photographer.
  • Include a short bio that highlights your work while integrating your primary keywords.
  • Add a branded, professional-looking image that aligns with your business needs.
  • Claim website. This will boost your credibility and provide you with greater value in Pinterest Analytics. You can go to Settings > Claim > Add your website URL.

Keyword Research and Optimization

Just like on Google, keyword research is the foundation of Pinterest SEO, helping guide users to your content. You can conduct Pinterest keyword research in different steps, such as:

  • Use the search bar in Pinterest to explore the most popular suggestions. For instance, when you type "wedding photography," Pinterest will list other related keywords you can use as long-tail phrases.
  • Use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner and Pinterest Trends to find other relevant keywords.

After finding the relevant keywords, you can use them in the following:

  • Pin title/description. Use the keywords to describe the context of your content.
  • Board titles/descriptions. Use keywords for the board names as well.
  • Profile bio/alt text. You can describe your brand and images using the relevant keywords.
  • Pin graphics names. The name you give to the pin you created can also be searched. Therefore, use the relevant keywords.
  • Pin graphic text. When you add words to your pin graphics, Pinterest can read them. You should also use keywords there.

Tips for Creating Some SEO-Friendly Pins

  • A good Pinterest strategy should include some SEO-friendly pins in a 1000 x 25000 pixel size. You can find these templates on Canva.
  • Add main keywords in the text overlay. This can help you instantly communicate the role of the pin.

Optimizing Titles & Descriptions

  • Use some clear, engaging, and keyword-rich titles.
  • Add a storytelling description within the naturally used keywords.

Optimize Keyword Boards

The boards should do more than just save pins. You can use them to showcase your level of expertise.

  • Use a strategic name for boards. Don't use some generic names like home makeover. Instead, use specific, searchable names such as "Sitting room makeover Salt Lake City."
  • Make the board description detailed. Describe the details users can find on the board using the relevant keywords.

Track the Performance of Your Pinterest SEO

After optimizing your content and profile, you need to track the progress to determine what is working and what isn't. Here are tips on doing that:

  • Monitor the key metrics such as pin clicks, impressions, and saves. Outbound clicks can also be important for businesses using Pinterest for marketing.
  • Study the top-performing trends to see the trends.

Combine Organic and Paid Strategies 

Ads don't directly affect SEO strategies. However, a good social media marketing plan combines the two for the best results. For instance, you can use Pinterest ads to increase your reach and brand awareness, thereby indirectly improving your discoverability. The insights you get from both strategies will provide important insights into consumer intent and emerging trends.

Cross-Promote on Social Media Platforms

You can increase the reach of your content by adding pins in newsletters, blogs, and your other online assets. This can encourage users to share content organically, affecting its overall visibility. In return, it can lead to greater brand awareness, higher engagement, and more backlinks.

Pivot Accordingly

Once you have the relevant data you have tracked in the previous step, you can use the data to optimize your strategy as follows:

  • A/B test different pin designs and keywords.
  • Check the analytics to determine the pins bearing the most outbound clicks. You can then focus on creating more visuals like these and adding the relevant keywords.
  • Repin the top-performing content after several months so it remains active. However, don't overdo this, as Pinterest prioritizes fresh content.

In Conclusion

Search is no longer limited to Google, Bing, and other search engines. Pinterest is also a visual search engine that creators and brands can use to increase brand awareness. However, to do that effectively, they will need to understand the top SEO strategies. By following the steps outlined in this guide, it should be easy.