How to Improve Pinterest SEO in 2025
To improve your Pinterest SEO in 2025, concentrate on using long-tail keywords in your pin descriptions, designing stunning, high-quality pins, and leveraging hashtags effectively to expand your reach. Growing on Pinterest is still attainable, but it now calls for greater dedication, consistent effort, and a well-crafted game plan compared to earlier years.
What is Pinterest SEO?
Pinterest users come to the platform to search for ideas, products, or tips, for topics they are interested in. As a business, you need to be aware of what your clients’ pain points are. What solutions they are trying to find, what tips do they need, where do they want help, what trends they are enjoying, etc..
By creating quality pins, adding keywords, utilizing hashtags, and other strategies, you can position your content to reach the right audiences. This is the basis of Pinterest and ways that brands can gain awareness.
As we know, visibility is extremely important across social media. Instead of investing in expensive advertising, there are ways to optimize your profile to reach more organic traffic.
There are also a few SEO factors specific to Pinterest that you should be aware of. These factors are how the network’s algorithm determines the order in which pins appear to each user.
These include:
- Domain quality: The quality of your website, based on the popularity of your pins.
- Pin quality: The quality of your pins, based on engagement and likes.
- Pinner quality: The measure of your Pinterest account’s entire activity and engagement.
- Topic relevance: How the use of the keywords in your pins matches with common searches and topics.
How Pinterest’s Search Engine Really Works
To master Pinterest SEO, you first need to understand how the platform’s search algorithm operates. Pinterest functions primarily as a visual search engine, with its “Smart Feed” determining content visibility based on these following factors.
- Content freshness – Pinterest prioritizes new content
- Keyword relevance – How well your pins match search queries
- Pin quality – Engagement rates and visual appeal
- Posting consistency – Regular activity signals reliability
- Audience engagement – Saves, clicks, and interaction levels
The Pinterest algorithm evaluates these factors collectively to determine which content appears in users’ feeds and search results. This means your Pinterest SEO strategy must address each component systematically.
Why Pinterest SEO Matters in 2025
Pinterest isn’t just another social media platform—it’s a visual search engine with over 537 million monthly active users actively seeking inspiration, products, and ideas. Unlike traditional social platforms where content quickly disappears, Pinterest content can continue driving traffic months or even years after posting. That’s why mastering Pinterest SEO is essential for anyone looking to grow their online presence in 2025.
This year, Pinterest has introduced significant updates to its platform, making it more powerful—but also more competitive. To stand out and succeed, you’ll need a strategic approach to Pinterest SEO that aligns with the platform’s latest algorithm changes and user behavior patterns.
Setting Up Your Account for Pinterest SEO Success
The foundation of effective Pinterest SEO begins with a properly configured business account. Without this critical first step, you’ll miss out on essential features needed for optimization.
Why a business account matters
Let’s talk about what you get with a Pinterest business account. First off, you’ll have access to Pinterest Analytics, which gives you all those juicy insights about how your content is performing. You’ll also be able to create Rich Pins, which we’ll explain later, that showcase extra information directly in the Pin itself – super helpful for driving engagement.
Want to reach more people? A business account unlocks all the advertising features so you can promote your content to targeted audiences. Plus, you’ll enjoy enhanced profile customization options to really make your brand stand out on the platform.
One of my favorite perks is that business accounts often get first dibs on trying new beta features before they roll out to everyone else. It’s like having VIP access to Pinterest’s latest tools!
The best part? Converting to a business account won’t cost you a penny and only takes a few minutes of your time. You’ve got options too – either transform your existing personal account (keeping all your followers and content) or start fresh with a brand new business profile. It’s totally up to you!
If you currently have a personal account, you can easily switch to a business account by heading to your Account Settings on your profile and clicking on ‘Convert to business account’.
Pin Optimization: The Core of Pinterest SEO
Pinterest places a strong emphasis on showcasing new content and incorporating appropriate keywords. Much like Google, its search engine generates a Smart Feed influenced by these factors. Additionally, Pinterest evaluates the quality of your pins, the consistency of your posting schedule, and how actively your audience interacts with your content. Let’s dive a little deeper.
Strategic keyword research and placement
Just like that one friend who keeps giving you unsolicited advice, keywords are essential but annoying. You need to sprinkle them like confetti in your pin descriptions, board titles, and even your profile. Think of keywords as the trendy hashtags on Instagram but with less youthful exuberance. Look at these effective keyword placements.
- Pin titles: Include your primary keyword naturally in the first 40 characters
- Pin descriptions: Incorporate 2-3 related keywords in the first 50-60 words
- Alt text and image filenames: Use descriptive keywords before uploading images
- Board names and descriptions: Apply relevant keywords to help categorize your content
Example: If you’re posting about a vegan chocolate cake, use keywords like “vegan dessert,” “chocolate cake,” and “how to bake.” It’s like shouting your cake’s name at a party until everyone knows it’s the star of the show.
Pro tip: How to find the best Pinterest SEO keywords
Use Pinterest’s search bar for autocomplete suggestions to discover popular keywords in your niche. Pay attention to the guided search topics that appear below the search bar—these represent high-volume search categories.
Visual optimization for maximum impact
Listen, if your images look like they were taken during an earthquake, nobody’s pinning that disaster. Pinterest is a visual platform, and your images need to be as stunning as a sunset over the Grand Canyon. Here are some best practices for Pinterest SEO.
- Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio (ideally 1000 x 1500 pixels)
- Maintain clean, bright compositions with good lighting
- Limit text overlay to less than 30% of the image
- Create infographics that deliver value at a glance
- Use high-quality, attention-grabbing cover images for video pins
According to Pinterest, “Pins that are 735 pixels wide are the most repinned.” So if you want people to share your content, make it look good!
Rich pins implementation
Rich Pins are a way to make your content on Pinterest more detailed. They pull extra information from your website, like article summaries or product prices, and display it directly on the Pin. This enhanced context improves discoverability and click-through rates. These are the different types of Rich Pins.
A very popular type of rich pins are articles on Pinterest. When we say “article,” we’re simply referring to webpages that are mostly written content – think blog posts or news stories. If your page is mainly lists or mostly images with just a bit of text, it doesn’t count as an article in Pinterest’s eyes.
Want to make your articles shine as rich Pins? It’s pretty straightforward – you’ll need to add some Open Graph or Schema.org metadata in the <head> section of your HTML for each page. Once you’ve done this, our system automatically starts pulling in those enhanced details whenever someone creates a Pin linking to your content.
Another type of rich pin is for recipe content, and the process is similar but slightly different. You’ll need to include either Schema.org or h-recipe markups in your HTML’s <head> section. After that’s set up, any Pins linking to your recipes will automatically display as rich Pins with all those mouth-watering details.
Looking to add recipe ratings? That’s a great way to make your Pins even more engaging! You’ll need to use Schema.org’s meta tags for this feature. If you’re not sure how to implement it, just hop over to Schema.org for some guidance, or check out how Betty Crocker does it on their Pins for a real-world example.
One quick thing to note – these ratings only work with Schema.org markup (not h-recipe), and they’ll only show up for people browsing on iOS and Android devices.
Lastly, Product Pins are a special type of rich Pin that automatically display the latest details about your products, such as the price, stock availability, product name, and description, directly from your website. Sometimes, your Pin might showcase a “Best Seller” badge if it’s a top-selling item in a particular Pinterest product category across various sellers. Alternatively, it could feature a “Popular” badge if it’s one of the most clicked-on product Pins in its category on Pinterest.
To enable Rich Pins, you’ll need to add appropriate metadata to your website and apply for validation through Pinterest’s developer tools.
*Important notes: If your site is hosted on Etsy, eBay, or Teachers Pay Teachers, you don’t need to add any code. Pinterest will update the product info automatically. For more advanced setups, you can use catalogs to upload product data and group similar products.
Verify your website
In order to track your site analytics, you need to claim your website. With this, your business needs to own a second-level domain, a subdomain, or a subpath domain. This will help your account become more visible, and reputable, and allow users to find more information about your business.
Plus, unlocking analytics for your Pins will help you understand what content is performing best, and what users are interested in your business.
“Each website must be at a second-level domain (like example.com), subdomain (like ads.example.com) or subpath domain (like example.com/uk). A second-level domain refers to the domain name to the left of the domain extension (the .com, .org, or .net for example). A subdomain refers to a smaller unit of a domain. These subdomains are part of the domain. They’re extensions of the main page. Finally, a subpath domain is one way websites can ensure their sites are structured correctly and all pages, URLs, or products will be attributed to the correct place. For example, back to their UK site (as in example.com/uk) rather than their US site (which would happen if they left off the /UK).”
Content Strategy for Pinterest SEO Success
Create high-performance content
The content itself remains the most crucial element of Pinterest SEO. In 2025, certain content types consistently outperform others on the platform. Here’s some help if you’re wondering what kind of content drives Pinterest SEO results.
Your content should offer practical, actionable solutions that directly address the specific challenges your audience faces. Include step-by-step tutorials with clear visual guidance that makes following along effortless. Focus on quick, manageable projects that inspire people to take immediate action rather than feeling overwhelmed.
It’s best to stay relevant by creating seasonal and trending content informed by Pinterest Predicts insights, which we’ll get to later. And remember, authentic, relatable visuals connect with people far better than overly polished, perfect-looking content that feels unattainable.
On Pinterest, people are less focused on achieving a flawless aesthetic and more interested in content they can connect with—ideas that spark motivation or encourage them to try something new.
Strategic posting schedule
Pinterest is like a needy pet; it wants your attention regularly. If you just throw up a few pins and ghost it for weeks, Pinterest will be like, “Yeah, I’m not showing your stuff to anyone.” Aim for a schedule—maybe 5-10 pins a day, because let’s face it, you have nothing better to do… right? Here is an optimal posting strategy for you to follow.
- Best times: 2-4 PM EST and 8-9 PM EST
- Best days: Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays
- Posting frequency: 15-25 pins daily (spread throughout optimal times)
- Consistency: Maintain a regular posting schedule rather than sporadic bursts
Board organization and optimization
How you structure and organize your boards significantly impacts your Pinterest SEO performance. Sort your new Pins into specific boards. The details of a Pin, including the board it’s saved on, add valuable context, making it easier for people on Pinterest to find and engage with your content. Follow these board optimization techniques.
- Create specific, niche-focused boards rather than generic collections
- Use keyword-rich board titles and descriptions
- Arrange boards strategically with top-performing boards first
- Pin new content to relevant, active boards rather than creating separate “video” boards
- Maintain board relevance by regularly adding fresh content
Video Content Optimization for Pinterest SEO
A video Pin refers to content crafted by uploading short, engaging videos. Video pins have become increasingly important for Pinterest SEO, with the algorithm favoring this engaging format. Whether you’re demonstrating step-by-step tutorials or sharing inspiring and entertaining ideas, videos play a key role in the Pinterest content experience. They’re a dynamic way to grab attention, tell compelling stories, and motivate viewers to take action.
Video pin best practices
Start off strong. To really grab your audience’s attention, make the first 10 seconds of your video really count. Kick things off with a key takeaway or a helpful tip—this could be a striking visual or a sneak peek at the finished product—rather than dragging it out with a lengthy introduction. Consider using text overlay instead of traditional title cards for a smoother and more engaging experience.
As a general rule, aim to keep your video concise and to the point, ideally between 45 and 90 seconds long.
Gear up for action. Pinterest users are ready to take the next step, whether that’s saving an idea to try out later or buying a product they’ve found on the platform. Capture the attention of this motivated audience with content that not only inspires but also offers practical value.
When it fits, focus on creating videos that teach viewers how to complete a task, master a skill, or add a creative touch. Keep the tone upbeat and centered on solutions.
Stay on track. Be deliberate when choosing the cover image for your video. Since not all video Pins automatically play on the feed, picking an eye-catching and informative cover photo can make your Pin stand out.
Opt for a clear, distraction-free image (keep any text overlay to less than 30% of the screen). The photo should directly tie to the topic of your Pin. For instance, if it’s a recipe video, showcase the final dish as the cover image, rather than a picture of the creator or someone eating it. Highlight the end result—whether it’s a meal, craft, or style—rather than focusing on the person behind it.
All hands on the Board! To maximize the reach of your video Pins, place them on an active, well-engaged board that aligns with the content, rather than starting a new board or creating a dedicated “video” board. For instance, if your video is about nail art, add it to a “beauty” board, or if it’s a DIY tutorial, place it on a “crafts” board.
Make your content easier to discover by filling out all the relevant fields thoughtfully. Include attention-grabbing titles, detailed descriptions, and appropriate topic tags. Research trending keywords and experiment with them to see what resonates best.
To ensure your content isn’t obstructed, keep some padding at both the top and bottom of your video. This allows room for the control bar at the bottom and the settings icon at the top without covering important parts of your video. For additional details, refer to the Pin specification guide here.
Use Pinterest Predicts for Trend-Based SEO
Pinterest Predicts is the platform’s annual trend forecast based on billions of keyword and visual searches across the platform. With predictions that are 2X more durable than trends from other sources, it also has an 80% accuracy rate over the past five years. The data comes directly from user search behavior, making it highly relevant for content planning.
Maximize these 2025 predictions in your Pinterest content strategy
Get creative with visuals. Start by auditing the assets you have published to find overlap with predicted trends. Incorporate trend aesthetics or color palettes into your content. Also highlight products that align with these emerging trends. Lastly, create trend-inspired content that matches your brand identity.
Optimize keywords for discoverability. You should add trend-related keywords to your Pin titles and descriptions. For example, wedding publishers could use “Rococo Wedding” (from the Rococo Revival trend). Home decor creators might incorporate “contrast trim” or “hand-painted furniture” (from the Primary Play trend). Even for food content, you could include keywords like “rat cake” (from the Chaos Cake trend).
Plan for seasonal opportunities. Plan out trends with seasons and events throughout the year. Schedule content in advance to capitalize on emerging interests. Some examples of this would be for food creators to feature “pickle de gallo” or “homemade soda” right before summer. Or, fashion brands can upload pins like “fisherman sandals” for warm seasons and “cable-knit jumpers” for cooler months.
Pinterest does such an amazing job at helping every user and creator out with staying on trend. Plus, they provide global insights so you can reach every corner of the world
Now you know all about Pinterest SEO, and some tips you can utilize in your strategy to grow your account and reach new audiences. Happy pinning!
