We all know Google is king when it comes to search, but Pinterest rivals even the king when it comes to intent-based discovery. Good Pinterest SEO is the single biggest factor in how much traffic you can drive to your blog—even if you have a tiny following.
Whether someone is looking for kids' crafts, home renovation inspiration, or party ideas, they go to Pinterest to search. To get found, you need to optimize your profile and your pins. Here are the 6 key areas where SEO matters most.
1. Your Profile
Your profile is your first impression. It has two parts that both require keywords: your name and your description.
Profile Name: Unless you are a world-famous celebrity, your name means next to nothing for search. Use your brand name, followed by a hyphen or vertical bar, and 2-3 keywords that describe what you do (e.g., "Jane Smith | Homesteading & Gardening").
Description: You have 160 characters. Make them count. Speak directly to your ideal follower using keyword-rich sentences and include a clear call to action.
2. Your Boards
When creating boards, the most important SEO factor is the Board Name. Avoid being "cute." If your board is about frugal recipes, name it "Frugal Recipes." Pinterest uses board names to categorize every pin you save to them.
Don't forget the board description. You have 500 characters to weave in related keyword phrases. If your board is "Dinosaur Birthday Party," work in terms like "dinosaur decorations," "party menu," and "crafts for kids."
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5 Tips for Naming Pinterest Boards for Maximum Traffic →3. Your Pin Descriptions
Every image you upload needs a description that tells Pinterest and the user exactly what they’ll find when they click. Aim for about 300 characters. Weave 2-3 of your top keywords naturally into the text. This is what helps you show up at the top of the search results.
4. Your Titles
If you have Rich Pins enabled on your site, Pinterest will auto-populate your pin titles using your blog post's metadata. This means your blog post title must contain your main keyword. Since you are likely already optimizing your site for Google, this should happen naturally.
Headline Strategy
A keyword-rich title is great for SEO, but it also needs to be "clickable." Learn how to craft click-worthy headlines.
5. Your Image File Name
This is often overlooked. When you save an image, don't use "IMG_1234.jpg." Rename it to something like "dinosaur-party-ideas.jpg" before uploading it to your website or Pinterest. This hidden data gives Pinterest another clue about your content's relevance.
6. Your Alt Tags
Alternative Text (Alt Tags) should primarily describe the image for accessibility, but Pinterest also uses this text as a default description when someone pins directly from your site. Ensure your main Pinterest image has a well-crafted tag that includes your keyword and a brief description of the post.
Take the time to optimize these 6 areas, and you will start to see results regardless of your follower count. Pinterest is a machine—give it the right data, and it will work for you!