Pinterest SEO for Beginners

As you likely know, at it’s core Pinterest is a search and discovery platform (AKA search engine). People come to Pinterest to find solutions to problems or questions, to plan a project and to shop for product options for a purchase. With that in mind, SEO (search engine optimization) becomes incredibly important for your success on the platform. You want to show up in search search results. In this blog I will outline the basics of Pinterest SEO for Beginners. Great SEO will help increase your reach and conversions on the platform.

Take these first steps in improving your Pinterest presence with SEO basics for beginners. Understand how Pinterest SEO works, why keywords are key, and how to optimize your profile and pins for maximum visibility.

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What is SEO - Search Engine Optimization

SEO is the process of increasing the quality and amount of your website, shop, blog, or in our case, Pinterest traffic. It is a way of ranking higher in organic search. It is the process of adding information (keywords) on your website, content and Pinterest account that helps searchers find you or be correctly matched with what you are offering.

Good SEO research allows businesses to find these important words and phrases that let them know what their ideal customer is searching for and then in turn, they can offer content, products, or services that meet the needs of that customer. SEO research helps us understand the questions our customers need answers to, what they want to purchase and desire.

When you know WHAT they are looking for, then you can provide that to them. AND, when you are using those commonly used words and phrases to describe what you are offering, it helps search engines match you with the people making the search.

Keywords and SEO

Keywords and SEO are extremely important to your success when using Pinterest Marketing for your business.

Note: In the blog, I am providing the basics. SEO is a very in-depth specialty. My goal is to provide you with some tips to research keywords for your content and use them on Pinterest.

What are Keywords?

Keywords are the words and phrases used on a website, blog, shop or on Pinterest that make it possible for people to find relevant content when using search engines (reminder, Pinterest is a visual search engine).

Websites, blog posts, product descriptions, Pinterest Accounts and Pins that are well optimized for search with keywords will be more easily and often found when someone is searching for that item.

Researching Pinterest Keywords and using them strategically will help your pins get more attention and help more searchers find what you have to offer. Here in the blog, I will share some tips to find these keywords and where you should use them on your Pinterest Account and Pins.

And keep in mind, while we are talkingi about using keywords on Pinterest, your keywords can (and should) be used throughout your business, in your marketing, on your website, and in your content.

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Keyword Research

When researching Keywords, I recommend looking in several places. It can be super easy. Start by doing some research on Pinterest and Google.

On Pinterest

On Pinterest, there are several places you can research keywords:

• Search Bar 1 - Type in a main term, look at the bubbles below. These are keywords.

• Search Bar 2 - Type in the main term, look at the list that pops up below. These are keywords.

• Trends Tool - Using Analytics>Trends Tool>Search terms for your niche.

• Pins - Use the most popular pins as examples of what works. Look at their titles and descriptions for clues.

On Google

On Google, there are several places you can research keywords. After typing your main term in the search bar, look in these areas for clues:

• Search Bar

• People also Ask

• Result Titles

• Related Searches

Where to Use your Pinterest Keywords

On your Pinterest Account

Pinterest Profile

Your profile description should tell viewers what your business is about and what you offer. Try to carefully and naturally weave in keywords that will help the algorithm understand you and searchers find you.

Board Titles

Your account should include relevant boards for your content. The names or titles of those boards should be easy to understand, clear and should include relevant keywords. While fun, cute names may seem appealing when you are creating your titles, I suggest something more straightforward. Remember, Pinterest is attempting to match you and your content to searchers. You want to be sure it is clear to the search engine what can be found in the board.

Board Descriptions

Once you have added a board to your account, fill in the description with a clear explanation of what can be found in the board. I usually start out with a couple sentences to explain a board and then include a few more sentences weaving in various keywords and keyword phrases. Always fill your description, don’t leave empty space. This is another area where Pinterest is looking to understand what your account and board are about so they can send searchers your way.

On Your Pins

Text Overlay

As you create your pin graphics, if you are including text overlay, it’s the perfect place to add keywords. The text you use on your pins should be clear and easy to understand.

Pin Title

The Pin Title is one of the first things viewers see. It is the perfect place to include keywords. The Pin Title also helps Pinterest understand your pin better. Being consistent and clear helps Pinterest and viewers understand what they will get when they click on your pin. Vary your keyword-rich titles on different pins so that you can use several versions of your keywords.

Pin Description

The Pin Description is another place to include information about your pin and what people will get when they click. Use keywords in your description as well. This will help viewers understand your content but will also help Pinterest direct people to your Pin.

A Note About Keyword Stuffing

I have shared a lot here about how important it is to use keywords. BUT, it is also very important that you don’t OVERUSE your keywords. When visitors see your content or pins, you want them to have a positive user experience. This means it’s important to provide easy to view or read, natural feeling text.

It is incredibly obvious when someone is overusing or “stuffing” keywords for the purposes of attracting search engine results. Don’t do this. You will very quickly lose your viewers!

As you use keywords, do so naturally and you will accomplish both results in search and a positive user experience.

Conclusion

SEO and Keywords are important to your success on Pinterest. We want your pins to show up in searches for the topics or products that you offer. Your ideal customer is on Pinterest, so getting your SEO in order will help them find you. Start with these basics as you update or build your Pinterest account. Great SEO will help increase your reach and conversions on the platform.

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