4 Ways to Find Pinterest Keywords – Pinterest keyword Guide
Last Updated on April 14, 2022
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Many Pinterest users are using the platform in a completely wrong way.
Pinterest is not a social media platform, it’s a search engine so it has to be treated differently than Instagram and Facebook.
That’s why it’s important to have some knowledge of Pinterest SEO and what Pinterest keywords you should use.
This guide will teach you all about what Pinterest keywords are, how to do keyword research on Pinterest, and how to use them in your own pins.
How Pinterest works
SEO stands for search engine optimization. For your blog post to be seen on Google, you optimize it for Google. The same with Pinterest.
For your pin to be at the top when someone types in a search term that relates to your pin, you need to make sure you are using keywords in your pins.
Pinterest is different from Google, however.
Google is HUGE compared to Pinterest and Google focuses on words, Pinterest is a visual platform and focuses on images. It’s a visual search engine.
Why you need keywords on Pinterest
One of the most important parts of learning how to use Pinterest keywords is learning the right keywords within your pins for your pins to be seen and clicked on by others.
What is a keyword?
A keyword is just a word (or phrase) that someone types in to find information on that topic.
For example, if I want to know the best vegan scone recipes I am going to type into Pinterest or Google: best vegan scone recipe, vegan scones, or vegan scone recipe.
There are lots of different ways that someone can type into a search engine to get one result.
For your pin to be seen you need to input keywords that people are searching for.
How do I find the best keywords for Pinterest?
You need to do keyword research! This allows you to know exactly what people are searching for within your niche and the topics that you specialize in.
Take some time and do proper keyword research for Pinterest so that you’re correct with the keywords you use.
I’m going to give you different ways to do this and also how to add keywords to Pinterest pins once you find the best ones.
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4 ways to find Pinterest keywords
Time to do some Pinterest keyword research! You need to find out what people are typing into the Pinterest search bar most often.
Without this first important step, you will be guessing what your audience is typing and that’s a sure-fire way to fail and waste time with your Pinterest marketing strategy.
Let’s look into 4 easy ways you can do keyword research on Pinterest.
1. The search bar
You can do this by going onto Pinterest and typing in a word that relates to your pin.
If you are doing a pin on vegan scone recipes, type in ‘scone’ and see what suggestions come up below.
This tells us other popular phrases that are related to what you have input into the search bar.
I would do this on a computer rather than your phone so you can see what shows up.
When you’re first learning your way around Pinterest and how to search on Pinterest, this is often the go-to option as it is most similar to Google.
2. The coloured tiles
When you press enter you will see a bunch of coloured tiles below. These are also common search terms that people are also typing into Pinterest.
Usually, within the tiles, they have some great phrases you can use within your pins as keywords.
I have had students of my Pinterest course tell me that they no longer see the coloured tiles.
So, if that is the case then you will have to use the option above or the next two recommendations below to find the best Pinterest keywords.
3. ads manager
You can also find some great keywords if you head to the ads manager.
You will need to have a Pinterest business account to do this so make sure you have signed up for one or have converted your personal account to a business account.
You will need to do Ads> Create Ad >Continue. It will look like you’re setting up an ad, but you won’t be. Then you will scroll down to the section where it says ‘Interests and Keywords’.
From there click ‘add keywords’ and start typing in a very basic keyword.
You should see a bunch of other keywords pop in the box with also the average monthly viewers – Super handy!
With this tool, you need to type in a broad search term to get options. If you don’t see any options, then you are probably being too specific and there are just not enough keywords for that topic.
You will need to do some playing around with this.
4. Pinterest keyword vault – best Pinterest keyword tool
There is a 4th way to find keywords and this way is by far the EASIEST. And that is to gain access to my Pinterest Keyword Vault.
If you are struggling to try to figure out how to find keywords for Pinterest, the Vault contains thousands of viral Pinterest keywords which range in hundreds of categories.
It’s done-for-you Pinterest keyword research and will save you so much time!
The people who have got the Pinterest keyword vault are already seeing an increase in page views to their businesses after implementing these viral keywords.
This is your one-stop-shop for all your Pinterest keywords within one easy resource.
For every keyword, we also have the average monthly viewer to make it easier for you to pick which keywords to use over others.
➡ GET ACCESS TO THE VAULT HERE
The other great thing about this Pinterest keywords finder is that you can request for categories to be added.
If you have a pin about a very specific niche on Pinterest then you can request for me to do Keyword research and for viral keywords to be added to the vault, which means that it’s the product that keeps on giving!
A big bonus is that recently I added in the monthly searches for every keyword.
This means that you will know how many people are roughly searching for your keywords so you can pick the best ones always.
This Pinterest keywords tool is a game-changer, and it can really help you and your business succeed on Pinterest.
💸 #1 PINTEREST TOOL: Get access to the Pinterest Keyword Vault with thousands of keywords covering hundreds of niches.
Can I use a Google SEO tool to do keyword research on Pinterest?
I would not use a keyword research tool like Keysearch (which is incredible for Google SEO) for Pinterest as that is targeted to what people are searching for on Google and not Pinterest.
Keysearch does have a Pinterest section but for now, as I’m writing this it’s very inaccurate.
Pinterest and Google are different platforms, people will be tying in different terms on each platform. What might do well on Google might not do well on Pinterest and vice versa.
Google is supersaturated and Pinterest is not yet.
For example, if you were to try and rank for ‘things to do in London’ on Google it would be near impossible.
However, if you went after ‘things to do in London’ on Pinterest you have a good chance as long as you are using great keywords and your pin is beautiful and clickable.
Remember Pinterest is a visual platform, so you NEED to have beautiful eye-catching pins to do well on Pinterest.
If your pins are hard to read, dark and don’t pop, then don’t bother with Pinterest because it’s not going to work.
Where to put the Pinterest keywords
Are you wondering how to use keywords on Pinterest that you’ve now found after doing keyword research?
Here are 5 places to put these viral Pinterest keywords on Pinterest.
1. Pinterest profile name
I don’t just have ‘Anita Hendrieka’ as my profile name on Pinterest. I have “Anita Hendrieka / New Zealand Travel Blogger & Travel Blog Coach”.
My keywords are New Zealand, Travel blogger, Travel blog, Travel blog coach, coach, and travel. Do you see how many keywords I have managed to squeeze in my profile title?!
This is important because occasionally people will search for profiles and accounts related to the niche they are looking for.
If you can help Pinterest categorize your account, then it will show up as your ideal customer search for it on Pinterest.
2. Pinterest profile bio
You get 160 characters in your Pinterest profile so make it count! You can change your bio from time to time too.
If you have a particular offer, like a freebie or a blog post then don’t be afraid to change the last sentence up from time to time to test different links. Here’s my bio currently
“Top travel blog exploring underrated travel destinations (mostly Albania), blogging tips & promoting the digital nomad lifestyle”
Your profile description has huge potential to raise searchability for your account and pins so make sure you take the time to craft the perfect bio.
Within your bio, you want to delve into which topics you are an expert in and what people can expect from your account.
3. Pin title
Your pin title counts and should have your main keyword on Pinterest in there!
Make your pin title juicy and inspiring for the pinner to click into your pin and know more. A lot of businesses underestimate the pin title.
4. Pin description
You get 500 characters in your Pin, try and use it all!
But don’t keyword stuff, make sure you naturally add them within your pin description, do not just stuff all of the keywords in one place.
If you do this, Pinterest can mark your pin or whole account as spam as this is a BAD PINTEREST PRACTICE.
Don’t risk all your hard work.
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5. Pinterest board descriptions
If you do not have board descriptions, do that now!
You need board descriptions for your account and boards to be seen. You get 500 characters, so fill that description up with lots of viral Pinterest keywords!
Those are 5 different places to put some viral Pinterest keywords. Make sure you put keywords that people are searching for in those 5 spots within your pins and account.
Remember if you want to know the best viral Pinterest keywords to use then go grab access to my Pinterest keyword Vault, it’s going to save you so much time and accelerate your page views and sales!
How many keywords should you use on Pinterest?
This is a great question! I would say as many as you can while also being natural.
What I mean by this is you want to use as many keywords as you can so you’re ranking for lots without your niche but at the same time, you do not want to keyword stuff.
This is the fastest way to get banned on Pinterest.
When you use keywords, make them natural without a sentence. Do NOT do this:
“Content marketing strategy, content tips, social media ideas, social media marketing, business ideas, business tips”
This is called black hat SEO and with any search engine, this is a big no. Trying to trick the system is a no-no.
You may get some great results at first, but you will jeopardize your whole account by doing this so it’s a big no from me.
Do I need to use hashtags on Pinterest?
No not anymore. Hashtags on Pinterest are being replaced with keywords so your sole focus should be on those.
Pinterest is not a social media platform, so people are not using hashtags to search they are just using keywords.
Keywords are used to help categorize the content that’s on Pinterest. Hashtags used to be a thing but they are a thing of the past so you can stop using them!
Two big mistakes with Pinterest keywords
When it comes to Pinterest keywords there are a couple of big mistakes that creators make when searching and using them.
1. Not knowing your audience
With SEO you always need to come back to who you’re trying to target.
Who are your ideal audience and what kind of problems are they trying to find a solution for? What inspiration are they looking for? What do they need help with next?
Once you know your customer and pinner profile you can then think like them. Sit down at your computer, go to Pinterest and get into their mindset.
For example, let’s say you are an interior designer, and you want to think like your customer this.
If I’m the pinner and I’m looking to re-do my lounge I’m going to go to Pinterest and type in some search terms like.
-Lounge interior design
-Design ideas for lounge
-Bright lounge ideas
As the creator on Pinterest, you can use those keyword terms and develop them even further.
2. Keyword stuffing
We talked about this above but do make sure you are naturally using the keywords you find. Although Pinterest is essentially a robot, your audience is not.
So, if you want to a) get banned off the platform and/or b) not appeal to your audience then go ahead and keyword stuff (but please don’t).
Over on Tik Tok, I recently called out a business coach who was mass uploading her tik toks and pasting lists of keywords in her idea pins descriptions.
She created a video showing her audience how to do the same and I did a duet about it.
I created a follow-up on tik tok about why she shouldn’t do this (and most importantly tell her thousands of followers to do this) and I checked her account and she’s still doing it.
My takeaway for you with this interaction is to please double-check the information that you come across with Pinterest experts and coaches!
Sadly not all Pinterest description tips are created equal and this kind of keywording advice can ruin so many accounts.
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How long does it take for your pins to rank?
There is no easy answer to this because your pin might not rank at all! With google SEO I always allow 3-6months before I expect to see any results and anything ranking although sometimes you do get lucky and rank fast depending on your niche and other factors.
What I would say is to create your pin on Canva, publish it and come back to it months down the line and see how it goes.
You want to give it at least 3 months of posting consistently before you audit your results and what’s working and what’s not.
But ultimately, one of the best Pinterest keyword tips I can give you is just to be patient, but vigilant.
If you want to automate your Pinterest account growth and do it the right way you need to use Tailwind (Get a $30 credit here).
Pinterest is hard to grow if you are not using this tool to schedule multiple pins per day to your account. They are also partners with Pinterest so it’s a safe tool to use to grow your Pinterest account.
Pinterest can take some time to get used to but it’s an incredible platform to use to drive page views to your blog, or sales to your online business. Pinterest is invaluable for all online businesses!
Frequently Asked Questions
Pinterest keywords are words or phrases that you use to search for a specific topic on Pinterest. These can be broad (i.e. ‘NYC’) or more specific (i.e. ‘parks in Brooklyn NYC’) depending on what information/type of pin you are looking for.
There are a few ways to find Pinterest keywords: the search bar on Pinterest will generate suggestions, the coloured tiles along the top of the website, your ads manager, OR, by using my Pinterest Keyword Vault. This last resource has thousands of researched keywords across multiple niches and is always kept up to date.
These are all my best Pinterest keyword tips and tricks. If you have any questions, make sure you leave them below!
Other articles you will love:
- Guide to creating a travel blog and making it successful
- How to Create Pinterest Video Pins that Convert
- How to Make Money from Pinterest
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