With over 530 million active users each month (read that again, then ask yourself why did not use it before), Pinterest is a visual discovery engine, a powerful tool for discovering ideas, organizing inspiration, and even more… driving traffic to blogs and businesses. Pinterest is often misunderstood as just another social media platform, that aim to make you keep scrolling, but in reality, it functions more like any other visual search engine (for example, Google) and it makes you drive off the platform and click to other sites (for example, to blogs).
So I hope that now you see it, the popularity of this platform is high, so it would be a shame not to start pinning and investing in learning how does Pinterest actually work.
If you’re new to Pinterest or looking to understand how it works, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform that allows users to find and save ideas for various interests, from home decor and fashion to marketing and business strategies. So yeah, even this site has a Pinterest platform and I’m wondering now, did you find me from Pinterest?
Unlike traditional social media platforms, like Instagram, TikTok or even Facebook that focus on interaction and communication, Pinterest is designed for inspiration and action. It can be your digital scarpbook, a place where you organize your ideeas, or a place where you can make your business run better.
So no, please don’t confuse by any means Pinterest with any other social media platform. If you never used before these amazing app, please make sure to follow the above mentioned steps. Now let’s dive into it!
How Does Pinterest Work?
1. Creating an account and setting up your Pinterest profile
- Sign up: You can create a Pinterest account using your email, Google, or Facebook account.
- Choose an account type: For bloggers and business owners, a Pinterest Business Account is highly recommended as it offers analytics and promotional tools. And as far as I know, we (business owners and bloggers) make all of these for our readers, so yes, make sure you look at your analytics and understand what your readers need.
- Pick a username: Choose a handle that aligns with your blog or business name for easy recognition.
- Complete your profile: Add a professional photo, write a compelling bio with relevant keywords, and link your website.
Pinterest is built around boards and pins, the two primary tools for organizing and sharing content:
Boards: Think of boards as digital folders where you save content related to specific themes. For example, a food blogger might have boards like “Healthy Recipes” and “Quick Weeknight Dinners.” However, I will have some boards named “Pinterest Basics”, “Pinterest Tipps”, “Pinterest Strategies”, “Pinterest SEO” and so on…
The “Plus +” size it will appear on the right side of your screen, somewhere down
Pins: A pin is a visual bookmark that links back to the original source, whether it’s a blog post, product page, or tutorial. You will save/upload your pins to your boards.
Organizing your content into clear, keyword-rich boards helps improve your visibility on the platform and it will help your followers understand you. And please don’t forget, here, in the world of Pinterest engagement is not the main goal — is all about content discovery rather than conversation.
2. The Pinterest search bar and Pinterest SEO
Listen to me, the search bar it could be a goldmine for you, if you use it correctly. Pinterest’s search engine functions much like Google, using keywords and algorithms to display relevant content. So this means that keyword optimization is essential. Users can search for specific terms or browse by categories and trends. And it gives you a great insight on what readers/buyers look up for.
So make sure you use Pinterest as a keyword research tool: start writing your word in the search bar, and see what other searches have been made. Like if you start writing “organization”, you will see how people searched for “organization for home ideas” or “organization aesthetics” or even “organization hacks”. There you go, you already have a few keywords, you are welcome.
Pinterest SEO plays a crucial role in ensuring your content gets discovered. So, without a good SEO and a good keyword research, your Pinterest page won’t make it!
Use relevant keywords!!! Pinterest SEO is literally everything! Optimize your pin titles, descriptions, and board names with high-traffic keywords. Please take some time to write a very good board description too. Don’t skip these parts. You only need to write it once.
Stay updated on seasonal and trending topics to create timely, relevant and evergreen content.
Focus on creating original content! Here are a few tips to make sure you make it right:
Design eye-catching pins: Use tools like Canva to create visually appealing graphics, which BTW, is free to use.
Write SEO-friendly titles and descriptions: Include keywords naturally in your pin descriptions and titles, and even save your photo with a keyword-reach title before uploading it to Pinterest.
Link back to valuable content: Drive traffic to your blog or product pages by ensuring every pin has a clear call to action.
Use hashtags wisely: Though not as crucial, hashtags can help categorize your content and improve discoverability. I use # only when i remember it, but I use it.
Why is Pinterest different from other social media platforms?
While Pinterest may seem similar to Instagram or Facebook, it has some distinct differences:
- Search intent: Users come to Pinterest with the intention of finding something useful, whether it’s a recipe, a tutorial, or a business strategy.
- Evergreen content: Unlike Instagram posts or Facebook updates that have a short lifespan, Pins can drive traffic for months or even years after being posted. So, it will be worth it!
- Higher conversion rates: Pinterest users are often in “buying mode,” making it an excellent platform for bloggers, e-commerce businesses, and content creators. So hear me out, the useres of this platform don’t just search for special brands, they look for items. Make sure your brands items will appear first.
Pinterest for bloggers and businesses owners
Pinterest is not just for personal inspiration—it’s a powerful marketing tool. You can sell, educate and do (almost) whatever you want.
You can use simply photos, but you can use Rich Pins too. They provide more context about your content directly on the Pin itself. They automatically sync information from your website to your Pins, ensuring that the content stays up to date.
There are different types of Rich Pins:
Product Pins: Display real-time pricing, availability, and product descriptions and it changes with all tha changes you make on your website.
Article Pins: Highlight blog posts with headlines, author names, and descriptions.
Recipe Pins: Show ingredients, cooking times, and serving sizes.
Rich Pins not only make your content more informative but also increase engagement and click-through rates. We will learn about Rich Pins later, so make sure you come back!
Here’s how different users can benefit from the platform:
Pinterest for bloggers
For bloggers and content creators, Pinterest is a traffic-driving powerhouse. By creating eye-catching Pins linked to their blog posts, creators can direct Pinterest users to their websites. Because Pinterest functions like a search engine, well-optimized content can remain visible and relevant for months or even years, unlike traditional social media posts that fade quickly.
- Increases website traffic by linking Pins to blog posts.-> and you can add 5-6 pins/blogpost and Pinterest will know it is not a spam.
- Helps rank blog content in Pinterest search results.
- Allows content to remain relevant and discoverable for months. Because you can add 5-6 photos for the same blogpost years later too. This is why evergreen and seasonal content is mandatory for your blog!!!
Pinterest for small businesses owners
Small business owners also benefit greatly from Pinterest. It’s an excellent platform for product discovery and brand visibility. What sets Pinterest apart is that users often search for specific items or solutions without focusing on a particular brand. This means that businesses—especially smaller ones—have a much higher chance of being discovered. Unlike Google, where users often search with brand names, Pinterest users tend to explore brand-neutral ideas, making them more open to discovering new products and businesses
- Drives product discovery and sales.
- Provides an additional channel for brand visibility.
- Works as a low-cost marketing tool compared to paid advertising.
Moreover, Pinterest is a valuable tool for marketing and education. Brands and educators share tutorials, how-to guides, and infographics that provide value while promoting their expertise. This not only builds trust but also positions them as industry leaders.
In essence, Pinterest is more than just a place for pretty pictures—it’s a strategic platform for inspiration, education, and business growth. Whether you’re a casual user, a blogger, or a small business owner, Pinterest offers endless opportunities to explore, learn, and thrive.
[…] people think of search engine optimization (SEO), they only think of Google. But did you know that Pinterest is also a powerful search engine? Unlike traditional social media platforms, Pinterest acts as a […]