10 Spots To Use Pinterest Keywords For Better Reach

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Last updated on July 10th, 2024

Knowing where to put Pinterest keywords can make or break your growth strategy.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to optimize the keywords from your Pinterest keyword research:

Here’s what you’ll find in this beginner’s guide:

• Top 10 key areas to focus on to ensure your content gets in front of the right audience
• Additional resources that I used to help me write better Pinterest copy with those keywords
• Tips on using Pinterest keywords

Let’s dive into details for each of the above sections.

Your Pinterest Profile

1. Display Name

Placing your keywords in your display name or “nameplate” allows your profile to appear in search results when users search for specific terms.

Choose 1-2 main keywords that describe your niche or what you want to be known for.

Including your first name is also a great way to personalize your account.

2. Bio/Description

The profile bio is your 500-character elevator pitch. It’s the place to showcase your value to your readers.

Use the following questions to help you write the bio:

• Why should they follow you?
• What problems will you help them solve?
• What pain points will you address with your content?
• Who is your target audience?

Along with your display name, your profile bio can also appear in search results. So, if there are any keywords you didn’t get a chance to use in the profile name, you can add them here.

RESOURCE: How to write a bio that attracts followers – Jana O Media

Your Pinterest Boards

3. Board Titles

When choosing the keywords for your board titles, here are a few tips:

• Don’t use cute or clever names like “wine o’clock” or “berry delicious” (they’re funny, I know), but unless persons are actually searching for these terms, don’t waste precious Pinterest SEO real estate by trying to be witty.
• Avoid being too general with terms like “vegan recipes” or “home decor,” as they can be hard to rank for. Conversely, don’t be so specific that you limit the topics for that board, such as “leather pant styles for women in their 50s.” Aim for a long-tail keyword that’s 3-6 words long.

For instance, I use “Pinterest Marketing for Bloggers” on my profile. It’s a long-tail keyword, and I avoided using “Pinterest Marketing” alone as it would be too broad and hard to rank for.

4. Board Descriptions

These are essentially the board equivalent of your profile bio, so use the questions mentioned above to help you write them.

Here’s a quick formula I got from Kim Herrington’s blog that helped me write my board descriptions:

[What content is featured on the board] + [The problem the content will solve] + [Who the content is for]

Your Pinterest Pins

5. Pin Titles

Having a keyword-rich pin title is crucial because Pinterest uses this metadata to rank and suggest your content to the right audience. But remember not to overstuff.

The principles of writing catchy email and blog post headlines also apply to pin titles. Use hooks to grab your reader’s attention, and avoid misleading clickbait.

RESOURCE: How to write better pin titles on Pinterest – Heather Farris

6. Pin Descriptions

This is one of the most important locations for placing your keywords to get your content in front of your target readers.

RESOURCES: If you’re looking for a tool to help you write compelling pin titles and descriptions using AI, check out RightBlogger. It allows you to customize your descriptions with target keywords, tone of writing, and what keywords you would like it to include.

I use the additional instructions box to give it specific hooks I like or particular pain points to address to make the copy more effective. It’s one of my favorite blogging tools for saving time on Pinterest.

7. Pin Text Overlay

Did you know that Pinterest can read the text overlay on your images?

This is why it’s recommended to avoid using scripted font on the important keywords in your image. It’s hard for the Pinterest algorithm (and readers) to read.

If you really want to include some aesthetic fonts, consider using them on less significant words like “the,” “your,” or other words that are not part of your target keyword.

8. Pin file names

Similar to how Google SEO operates, the file names of your Pinterest pins also affect the indexing of your content.

So, if you have file names with random letters and numbers (like me), now would be a good time to use your primary keyword as the file name when you save it from Canva.

9. Pin alt text

Alt text, or alternative text, is a short description that explains what an image is showing.

Alt text is important because not everyone can see images on websites or apps. Some people have visual impairments, while others may have slow internet connections that prevent images from loading.

ALT TEXT IS NO LONGER VISIBLE IN THE NATIVE PINTEREST SCHEDULER

In the native Pinterest scheduler, there was a box where you could add alt text with your keywords. However, that feature is no longer available.

But here’s how you can access it again: Once the pin is published, select the three dots at the top right corner of the pin and choose “edit pin.” Now, the Alt Text Box will be available for you to insert your keywords.

Remember, this is not a place to add your pin description. You are describing the image so that screen readers can understand what the image is about.

Your Blog

10. Source URL’s page

Did you know that Pinterest scans the landing page associated with your pin?

This means that the source URL of your pin, whether it’s a YouTube video or a blog post, should include some of your Pinterest keywords as well.

General tips when using Pinterest keywords

1. Check what others are using

If you’re unsure which keywords to prioritize, use the search bar and filter by “profiles” to see how your competitors use keywords in their profiles, boards, and pins.

This can give you an idea of which keywords are in higher demand than others.

2. Avoid keyword stuffing

Just like with Google SEO, stuffing your content with keywords is not ideal for Pinterest SEO either.

Remember, you’re writing for humans. Make sure your sentences are conversational and flow smoothly.

3. You don’t have to choose the most perfect keywords

You can always change or upgrade your keywords as your business evolves, so don’t get paralyzed by trying to choose the perfect keyword.

However, it’s also crucial to avoid frequent changes. Pinterest needs time to understand (or index) your profile and content so that it can display it to the most relevant audience.

Constant changes can slow down this indexing process and consequently affect your engagement.

4. Hashtags are no longer important in 2024

Once upon a time, hashtags were used to categorize content and make it easily searchable for specific audiences, like on Instagram.

However, with recent updates to the Pinterest algorithm and platform, hashtags have become irrelevant.

While you can still use them, it is not recommended as it can make your pin descriptions look spammy.

Conclusion

To sum up, here are the 10 places you need to be using Pinterest keywords to increase your organic traffic:

1. profile display name
2. profile bio
3. board titles
4. board descriptions
5. pin titles
6. pin descriptions
7. pin text overlay
8. pin alt text
9. pin file name
10. source URL’s page

Navigating Pinterest SEO might feel challenging. However, you’ll be surprised by how simple it is to get your pins noticed by ensuring you use your keywords strategically.