How to Add Keywords to Pinterest Pins: Expert Guide for 2025

How to Add Keywords to Pinterest Pins?

If you’ve been struggling to answer this question, you came to the right place!

I’m a Pinterest marketing expert (and a Pinterest manager) with over 10 years of experience on the platform, and in this article I will clear out all the confusion and questions you might have about the correct use and placement of Pinterest keywords.

Ready to get started?

Why Keywords Matter on Pinterest

Pinterest = Search Engine

Pinterest is, first and foremost, a search engine, not a social media platform. You need to realize this before you even get started.

As you know, search engines are powered by keywords, and the same is true about Pinterest.

When users come to Pinterest, they’re actively searching for specific ideas, solutions, or inspiration.

Pinterest algorithm then uses a variety of ranking systems and machine learning to narrow down the options from billions of pins, to just a few dozens of most relevant pins for that specific keyword.

The platform has become super efficient in doing this, and here are a few key ingredients that help the algorithm make this process faster:

1. Visual content (what is in your pin images, including text)
2. Metadata (titles, descriptions, alt text) – Keywords
3. User engagement (saves, clicks) – user behaviour on platform
4. Interest categorization – faster delivery or relevant results

These are just a few of the things that the algorithm takes into account – and this is not an educated guess – the inner workings of Pinterest’s algorithm are documented on their publicly available engineering blog.

Keywords are basically the bridge connecting your content to searchers.

Every time someone types “easy dinner recipes” or “modern living room ideas” into the Pinterest search bar, the algorithm scans millions of pins to find the most relevant matches.

This search-focused behavior is evident when you look at Pinterest Trends or check the search suggestions that appear when typing in the search bar.

These aren’t random—they represent what real people are actively searching for right now.

What Happens When You Use the Right Keywords

When you optimize your pins with the right keywords, two important things happen:

1. Search Visibility: Pinterest will show your pins to a small part of your existing audience, to see how they engage with it, and it may also be shown in search results for your keyword.
2. Saves to Grow: As the users save your content, it signals to Pinterest that it’s a high-quality content and it will distribute it to a wider audience.

These two points are super important.

You need to use the right keywords to increase the visibility of your content initially, but any further growth beyond the initial optimization comes really from the engagement signals on that pin.

So, getting a lot of repins on brand-new content will shoot up your engagement rate and tell the algorithm to distribute it to a wider audience.

How to Add Keywords to Pinterest Pins

Let’s break down each area where keywords can and should be added to maximize your pin’s visibility.

1. Pin Title

The pin title is one of the most important places for keywords.

Pinterest’s algorithm heavily weights these words when determining what searches your pin should appear in.

Pinterest will scan your title for any keywords, so it can understand what your content is about, and what audience to show it to.

Here are my top tips for Pinterest title keywords:

• use them as early as possible in the title
• use some sort of benefit in the headline
• avoid overly click-bait style headlines
• stick to the recommended character limit
• test different variations of headlines for your pins

2. Pin Description

Your pin description provides space to expand on your title and incorporate additional relevant keywords naturally.

Ideal length: 100-300 characters. While Pinterest allows up to 500 characters, most users won’t read descriptions longer than a few sentences.

On mobile, it is also much shorter so the users will only see a few of the first words of your description – make it count.

How to optimize descriptions:

• Include 2-3 long-tail keywords naturally within the text
• Add context that might not fit in your title
• Include a clear call-to-action – I like to use ‘save for later’ to increase engagement signals

Example of a well-optimized description:

“Transform your living room with these cozy fall decor ideas perfect for small apartments. Learn budget-friendly ways to create autumn ambiance without cluttering your space. Save this to your home decor board for later!”

Notice how the keywords (italicized) flow naturally within conversational text. This is much more effective than keyword stuffing, which can actually harm your visibility.

3. Image Alt Text

Alt text is often overlooked, because you can only add it if you’re using the native publisher on Pinterest.

In my experience, it doesn’t see to have a lot more weight in the algorithm, so if you’re not using it, it’s not something to stress about.

If you happen to use the native publisher on Pinterest (meaning pinning manually via the platform), feel free to use it and optimize for your keywords, making sure its descriptive and not just used for stuffing keywords.

4. Text on Pin Graphic (Text Overlays)

Did you know that Pinterest can actually “read” the text on your pin images?

Their optical recognition can scan not just what’s in the image, as in objects, but also read what text is displayed in there.

This is a huge opportunity to optimize your pin more and give it the highest chance to be seen by more users.

How to ensure your text is scannable:

• Use clear, legible fonts
• Ensure high contrast between text and background
• Keep text concise and keyword-focused

Design tip: Combine your main keyword with a clear benefit statement. For example, “Fall Decor Ideas for Small Spaces” tells both what the content is about and who it’s for.

5. Board Titles and Descriptions

Do not neglect the keywords used in your boards – this is the most common mistake I see clients making.

Boards are collections of pins grouped by a certain theme, and this should not be completely random.

You should not use cute or branded board names, but research them as keywords, and use them with properly optimized description.

The relationship between your pin and the board to which it is pinned has a lot of weight in the algorithm, so do not underestimate the importance of also optimizing your boards for SEO.

Example:

• Generic board: “Home Stuff”
• Keyword-rich board: “Fall Home Decor’

Read more about board SEO here:

• What Are Pinterest Group Boards + How to Use Them to Grow Your Traffic
• Pinterest Board Ideas: Use These Board Names to Rank Faster
• How to Merge Pinterest Boards: Step by Step Tutorial
• How To Create A Board On Pinterest: Expert Step by Step Tutorial

Keyword Research for Pinterest (Made Simple)

Now that you know where to place keywords, the next step is finding the right ones.

Here are the most effective methods for Pinterest keyword research.

Use the Pinterest Search Bar

One of the easiest yet most effective keyword research methods is right at your fingertips—the Pinterest search bar.

When you begin typing a search term, Pinterest automatically suggests popular related searches.

These suggestions are gold mines for keyword ideas because they represent what real users are actually searching for.

For example, typing “fall decor” might reveal suggestions like:

• fall decor ideas for living room
• fall decor neutral
• fall decor small apartment
• fall decor on a budget

Each of these suggestions can become a targeted keyword phrase for your pins and boards.

Check Pinterest Trends

Pinterest Trends (trends.pinterest.com) is a free tool that shows you what topics are currently popular on the platform and how search volume changes throughout the year.

How to use it effectively:

1. Enter a broad keyword into the filters or use the interest filter
2. Review related search terms and their popularity
3. Note seasonal patterns to plan content in advance

Pinterest Keyword Tools

If you want to research a lot of keywords or make the process much faster and easier, I recommend getting a simple tool like Pin Inspector.

This inexpensive (one off payment) software will quickly give you keyword suggestions, allow you to spy on competitors, see engagement metrics and even search volumes for keywords.

It’s a must have tool for anyone who is serious about growing on Pinterest. You can get it below.

Real Example: Optimizing a Pinterest Pin from Start to Finish

Let’s walk through a complete optimization process for a sample pin about DIY fall wreaths.

Step 1: Keyword Research

After using the methods above, I identified these related keywords:

• DIY fall wreath
• Fall door wreath ideas
• Farmhouse autumn wreath
• Budget-friendly fall decor

Step 2: Create and Optimize the Pin Image

• Clean image of the completed wreath
• Text overlay: “Easy DIY Fall Wreath | Budget-Friendly Door Decor”
• Image filename: diy-farmhouse-fall-wreath.jpg

Step 3: Write an Optimized Title “DIY Fall Wreath Tutorial: Simple Farmhouse Door Decor Under $20”

Step 4: Craft the Description “Create this beautiful DIY fall wreath for your front door using budget-friendly materials. Perfect farmhouse autumn decor that takes just 30 minutes to make! Includes step-by-step instructions and supply list. Save it for later!”

Step 5: Choose the Right Board Save to a board titled “Fall Decor” rather than a generic “Crafts” board.

By following each of these steps, you’ve created a fully optimized pin that stands the best chance of appearing in search results and attracting engagement.

Advanced Tips to Boost Pinterest SEO

Once you’ve mastered the basics of keyword optimization, these advanced strategies can take your Pinterest performance to the next level.

1. Consistency is Key

Pinterest rewards consistent activity much more than sporadic bursts of pinning.

Best practices:

• Pin 5-10 fresh pins daily rather than 50 pins once a week (for optimal pinning strategies, check this post)
• Use Pinterest’s native scheduler or tools like Tailwind to maintain consistency
• Regularly refresh old content with new images and updated keywords

Consistency signals to Pinterest that you’re an active, reliable contributor to the platform, which can boost overall account visibility.

2. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

While keywords are essential, overusing them can actually harm your performance.

Guidelines to follow:

• Limit yourself to 2-3 target phrases per pin
• Ensure all text reads naturally to human users
• Vary your keyword usage across different pins

Remember that Pinterest’s algorithm is sophisticated enough to understand context and relevance without exact keyword matching in every possible place.

3. Website Optimization

Ensure that the metadata on your website—including title tags, meta descriptions, and schema markup—contains the same strategic keywords you’re using in your Pinterest content.

Common Keyword Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced Pinterest marketers sometimes make these simple mistakes:

Using hashtags: In 2018, Pinterest supported hashtags for discoverability, but their algorithm has changed. Since 2024, hashtags have minimal impact on search visibility. There is no need to add them to your descriptions.

Keyword stuffing: “Fall decor fall decorating fall home decor autumn decorations fall decorating ideas” might seem keyword-rich, but it reads as spam to both the algorithm and users.

Skipping board optimization: Your beautifully optimized pin won’t reach its full potential if you save it to a poorly named, undescribed board. Always consider your full Pinterest ecosystem.

Repeating the same keyword: Using identical keywords in your title, description, image text, and board name doesn’t amplify your chances of ranking—it actually limits your reach by narrowing the variety of search terms you might appear for.

Tools & Templates to Help You Plan Pinterest Keywords

To streamline your Pinterest keyword strategy, consider using these helpful resources:

Pinterest SEO Keyword Planner Template Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for:

• Main keyword
• Related long-tail keywords
• Seasonal timing
• Board placement
• Performance tracking

Pinterest Trends Bookmark trends.pinterest.com and check it monthly to stay ahead of emerging search patterns.

Canva Pin Templates Create templates with designated text overlay zones to maintain consistent branding while incorporating your keywords.

As I already mentioned, you can also use an inexpensive tool like Pin Inspector to take your Pinterest marketing game to the next level.

I have written a few articles about how to use it:

• How To Create Pinterest Board Strategy with Pin Inspector
• Pinterest Marketing Hacks: 3 Ways to Use Pin Inspector for Explosive Growth
• Pinterest SEO Keywords: How to Find Low Competition Keywords in Seconds

Final Tips + What to Do Next

Now that you understand the importance of keywords on Pinterest and how to implement them effectively, here are your next steps:

• Audit your top 5 existing pins: Look at your Pinterest analytics to identify your current best performers. How can you further optimize their keywords based on what you’ve learned?
• Create a keyword research routine: Set aside 30 minutes each month to research trending keywords in your niche using the tools we’ve discussed.
• Develop a consistent pinning schedule: Remember that consistency trumps volume.
• Track and iterate: Pay attention to which keywords and pin styles perform best for your specific audience, then double down on what works.
• Stay current with Pinterest changes: Pinterest regularly updates its algorithm and features. To stay in loop with the changes and updates, you can sign up to my newsletter at the end of this post.

By implementing these Pinterest keyword strategies, you’ll create a strong foundation for growing your presence on the platform, driving more traffic to your website, and connecting with an engaged audience that’s actively searching for exactly what you offer.

Want to Learn More?

Sign up for my newsletter to get access to my free Pinterest Mini Course.

This PDF guide will give you a crash course in Pinterest Marketing – plus I included access to my free AI tool for creating SEO optimized titles & descriptions.

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