How to Add Keywords to Pinterest

Adding the right keywords to Pinterest can completely change how many people see your content. It’s the difference between creating Pins for an empty room and showcasing them in a bustling digital marketplace. This guide will walk you through exactly where to place keywords on your Pinterest profile, boards, and Pins to help your ideal audience find you.

Why Keywords on Pinterest Matter (More Than You Think)

First, let's get one thing straight: Pinterest isn't just a social media platform, it's a visual search engine. Every day, millions of people come here not just to scroll, but to actively search for ideas, products, and inspiration. They type in phrases like "easy weeknight dinners," "fall wedding guest dress," or "DIY small bathroom remodel."

Each of these search queries is a keyword. When you strategically place these keywords in your content, you are telling Pinterest’s algorithm what your Pins are about. This helps Pinterest show your Pins to the exact people who are looking for what you have to offer. Without keywords, your Pins might look great, but they’ll be invisible to the search engine and the users it serves.

Finding the Right Pinterest Keywords: Your Search Strategy

Before you can place keywords, you need to find them. Don't guess. Your goal is to use the specific words and phrases your target audience is already typing into the search bar. Luckily, Pinterest gives you all the tools you need.

Start with the Pinterest Search Bar

This is the most straightforward and effective method for keyword research. Here's how to do it:

• Brainstorm "Seed" Keywords: Start with a broad topic related to your content. For example, if you're a food blogger, you might start with "chicken recipes."
• Type and Observe: Type your seed keyword into the Pinterest search bar but don't press enter. Pinterest will automatically suggest a list of popular, related long-tail keywords. For "chicken recipes," you might see "chicken recipes healthy," "chicken recipes for dinner," or "chicken recipes crockpot." These are gold mines.
• Press Enter for More Ideas: After you search, look at the colorful bubbles that appear just below the search bar. These represent related search terms and sub-niches that other users are exploring. Clicking on them can help you narrow down your topic and find even more specific keywords.

Use Pinterest Trends

For a higher-level view, check out the Pinterest Trends tool. It's fantastic for understanding a keyword's popularity over time and discovering seasonal trends. You can see when people start searching for terms like "Christmas decor" or "summer outfit ideas," which helps you plan your content calendar far in advance. You can also compare the popularity of different keywords to see which has more search volume.

Analyze Top-Performing Pins

Search for one of your target keywords and look at the Pins that show up on the first page. What phrases are they using in their titles and descriptions? Pay attention to the specific language. You’re not copying them, but you’re learning what the algorithm already understands and ranks for that particular topic. Don’t just look at the Pin itself, click through to see the board it's saved on for even more keyword ideas in the board titles and descriptions.

Where to Add Keywords on Pinterest for Maximum Reach

Once you have a solid list of relevant keywords, it's time to put them to work. Here are the seven most important places to add keywords across your Pinterest presence.

1. Your Pinterest Profile

Your profile is often the first interaction a person has with your brand. Think of it as your digital storefront - it should clearly state who you are and what you offer.

• Display Name: Don't just put your name or business name here. There’s valuable real estate for a primary keyword. For example, instead of just "Jane Smith," use "Jane Smith | Healthy Meal Prep Ideas." This immediately tells Pinterest and users what your account is about.
• Bio (About Section): You have 160 characters to tell your story. Weave in 2-3 of your most important keywords naturally. Think about what your audience needs and how you solve their problems. Instead of "I love making food," try "Sharing easy, healthy meal prep recipes for busy families. Find weekly vegan and gluten-free dinner ideas to save you time."

2. Your Board Titles and Descriptions

Your boards are how you organize your content, but for Pinterest, they're also a massive signal about the topics you cover.

• Board Titles: Be clear, not clever. Name your boards with keywords people actually search for. Instead of a cute name like "Yummy Yums," use a descriptive, keyword-rich title like "Healthy Dinner Recipes."
• Board Descriptions: Every board has a description box - use it! Write a few sentences that describe what the board is about, naturally incorporating several relevant primary and long-tail keywords. For a "Fall Outfit Ideas" board, your description could be: "A collection of cute and cozy fall outfit ideas. Find inspiration for fall sweaters, casual autumn style, layered looks for cold weather, and what to wear to a fall wedding."

3. Your Pin Titles

The Pin title is one of the most heavily weighted elements for the algorithm. It needs to be direct and contain your most important keyword for that specific Pin.

Let's say your Pin is about a keto-friendly smoothie. A weak title would be "My Favorite Smoothie." A strong, keyword-optimized title would be "Easy 5-Minute Keto Green Smoothie Recipe." It tells both users and the algorithm exactly what to expect.

4. Your Pin Descriptions

Your Pin description is where you can truly flesh out your keyword strategy. You have up to 500 characters, so use them wisely.

Write a helpful, conversational description that tells a story and provides context. Don't just stuff it with keywords. Integrate a handful of your best keywords naturally into 2-3 complete sentences. For your keto smoothie, a good description could be: "Looking for a healthy keto smoothie recipe that's packed with nutrients? This low-carb green smoothie is perfect for a quick breakfast. Made with spinach, avocado, and protein powder, it's a delicious way to start your day on the ketogenic diet." Notice how phrases like "healthy keto smoothie recipe," "low-carb green smoothie," and "quick breakfast" are all included without sounding robotic.

5. Your Pin's ALT Text

ALT text (alternative text) is primarily for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers. It describes what's in your image. However, it's also another signal to the Pinterest algorithm.

When you upload a Pin, you'll see an option to "Add ALT text." Use it to describe exactly what is in the image, and if you can, naturally work in your main keyword. For our smoothie pin, the ALT text could be: "A vibrant green keto smoothie in a glass jar with fresh spinach and avocado slices next to it on a white marble countertop."

6. Text Overlays on Pin Images

Pinterest is smart. Its technology can read the text directly from your images. This means the text you place on your Pin graphic is another keyword opportunity.

Make sure your Pin graphic's title is clear, legible, and includes your primary keyword. Using the same text you used for your Pin title is a great practice. For our example, having "Easy 5-Minute Keto Green Smoothie" in a large, easy-to-read font on the image itself reinforces the topic for both users and Pinterest’s visual search tools.

7. Video Pin Tags

If you're creating Video Pins, you get one more amazing keyword opportunity: tags. After you've written your title and description, Pinterest allows you to add up to 10 relevant tags. Think of these like hashtags. Start typing a relevant keyword, and Pinterest will suggest popular tags. Select the ones that best describe your video's content to help it get categorized and discovered in more feeds.

Bringing It All Together: A Pinterest Keyword Workflow Example

Let’s put it all together. Imagine you run a blog about container gardening, and you just wrote a post on "How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots."

1. Keyword Research: You search "grow tomatoes" and find keywords like "growing tomatoes in containers," "balcony garden ideas," "DIY planters," and "small space gardening."
2. Pin Graphic: You create a beautiful Pin with a photo of a thriving tomato plant in a pot on a patio. You add a text overlay that says, "How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots: A Beginner's Guide."
3. Board Selection: You save it to your board named "Container Gardening for Small Spaces." That board has a description mentioning phrases like "urban gardening tips," "balcony vegetable garden," and "planting in pots."
4. Pin Title: "How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots on a Balcony"
5. Pin Description: "Learn everything you need about growing tomatoes in containers with this easy guide! Perfect for small space gardening, this advice will help your balcony garden flourish. Get tips for an awesome tomato harvest from your potted plants."
6. ALT Text: "A healthy, tall tomato plant with red ripe tomatoes growing in a large terracotta pot on an urban balcony."

By touching on keywords in every available spot, you've given Pinterest a crystal-clear picture of what your Pin is about, drastically increasing the chances it will be shown to someone searching for those exact topics.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing your Pinterest content is a system, not a secret. By consistently finding what your audience is searching for and placing those keywords in your profile, boards, and every part of your Pins, you signal to Pinterest exactly who needs to see your ideas.

Applying this strategy consistently can feel like a lot to manage, especially when you're scheduling dozens of Pins. One of the biggest challenges for us has always been keeping all those optimized descriptions and keyword-rich titles organized. That’s why we built our visual calendar in Postbase, it lets us plan our content far in advance, see where everything fits, and schedule Pins with perfectly crafted, keyword-optimized messages without jumping between spreadsheets and platforms. It helps you stay consistent and turn your keyword strategy into a real, manageable workflow.