How to Tag on Pinterest

Learning how to tag on Pinterest is one of the most effective ways to make sure your content gets discovered by the people who need to see it. It’s a simple step, but one that many creators misunderstand. This guide breaks down exactly what Pinterest tagging is, the different ways to do it, and how to use tags to drive more traffic, engagement, and sales for your brand.

So, Why Does Tagging on Pinterest Even Matter?

Unlike other platforms where content fades away in hours, Pinterest content has a long shelf life. This is because Pinterest isn't just a social network, it’s a visual search engine. People don't just idly scroll, they actively search for ideas, information, products, and inspiration. When you search for "healthy dinner recipes" or "DIY bookshelf ideas," Pinterest scans millions of Pins to deliver the most relevant results.

This is where tagging comes in. Proper tagging is how you tell the Pinterest algorithm exactly what your Pin is about. It helps Pinterest categorize your content and show it to users who are searching for those very topics. When done right, tagging:

• Increases Discoverability: Your Pins show up in search results, in users’ feeds, and in the "More Like This" section, drastically expanding your reach beyond just your followers.
• Attracts the Right Audience: You’re not just getting random views, you’re connecting with users who have a high intent to engage, save, click, or buy.
• Boosts Engagement and Traffic: More relevant views lead to more saves, clicks out to your website, and overall engagement with your brand.

In short, skipping the tagging process is like writing a fantastic book but giving it a blank cover. You’re leaving its discovery entirely to chance. By using tags effectively, you put your content right where it needs to be: in front of an engaged, searching audience.

The Different Ways to "Tag" on Pinterest

The term "tagging" on Pinterest actually covers a few distinct actions. You won't find one single "tag" button. Instead, tagging is woven into how you create and describe your Pins. Let's break down the three main types of tags you need to master.

1. Keywords: Pinterest’s Most Powerful Tagging System

If you take away just one thing from this guide, let it be this: keywords are the most important form of tagging on Pinterest. While other platforms rely on visible hashtags, Pinterest puts a huge emphasis on keywords seamlessly integrated into your text. Think of keywords as the secret tags that power the entire search engine.

How Keyword "Tagging" Works

Pinterest is incredibly smart. It reads and indexes the text you provide to understand context and relevance. When a user queries a term, Pinterest matches it to the keywords associated with your Pin, Board, and profile. The more aligned your keywords are with user searches, the higher your content will rank.

Finding the Right Keywords to Use

Effective keyword research on Pinterest doesn’t require expensive tools. The best insights are right on the platform itself.

• Use the Search Bar: Type a broad topic related to your Pin into the Pinterest search bar - for example, "living room decor." Before you even hit enter, Pinterest will suggest popular, related long-tail keywords like "living room decor modern" or "living room decor on a budget." These are things real users are actively looking for.
• Look for the Bubbles: After searching, look at the colorful bubbles that appear below the search bar. These are additional modifiers and closely related keywords that can help you niche down and target your specific audience even better.
• Explore Pinterest Trends: Visit trends.pinterest.com to see what’s trending in your region. You can compare search terms, see seasonal interest, and discover breakout keywords before they become saturated.

Where to Place Your Keywords for Maximum Impact

Once you have a list of relevant keywords, you need to place them where the Pinterest algorithm is looking. Here are the most valuable spots:

• In your Pin Title: This is prime real estate. Make your title clear, compelling, and include your most important keyword. For example, “Easy Weeknight Chicken Curry Recipe.”
• In your Pin Description: Write a helpful, user-first description of 2-3 sentences. Weave in your primary keyword and a couple of secondary, long-tail keywords in a natural, conversational way. Don't just stuff keywords in, write for the human on the other side.
• In your Board Titles & Descriptions: Your Boards should be tightly themed around specific keyword categories. A board named “Modern Home Decor Ideas” is much more effective than one named “My Favorite Things.” Fill out the board description with sentences using related keywords, too.
• In your Image's Alt Text: When you upload a Pin, there's an option to add "alt text." This is designed for screen readers for the visually impaired, but it’s also another place search engines check for context. Briefly describe what’s in the image using your main keyword.

2. Product Tagging: Turning Pins into Purchases

For any e-commerce brand, influencer, or blogger with an online shop, product tagging is a game-changer. It allows you to add a shopping tag directly onto the items featured in your Pin. When a user taps the tag, they see current pricing, availability, and a direct link to buy - transforming inspiration directly into sales.

What You Need to Get Started

Before you can tag products, there are a few prerequisites:

• A Pinterest Business account (it's free!).
• A claimed website where your products are sold.
• A product catalog connected to Pinterest. You can do this by setting up the Shop tab on your profile or connecting a data source for your products. This allows Pinterest to pull in real-time product info.

How to Tag Products on a New Pin (Step-by-Step)

1. From your Pinterest profile, click the Create button and choose Create Pin.
2. Upload your image or video. This should be a high-quality lifestyle photo showing your product in use, or a simple product shot.
3. On the right-hand panel, click the tag icon labeled Tag Products.
4. Click on the spot in your image where you'd like the product tag to appear.
5. A search bar will pop up. You can either paste the URL of the product from your site or search by name from your connected product catalog.
6. Select the correct product from the results. You can add multiple product tags to a single image.
7. Finish your Pin with a great keyword-rich title and description, choose a relevant board, and click Publish.

Your Pin will now be a dynamic Shoppable Pin, making it incredibly easy for users to go from discovery right to checkout.

3. @Mentions: Tagging Another Person or Brand

Just like on other social platforms, you can @mention other Pinterest users or brands in your Pin descriptions and in comments. Doing this serves a valuable, but different, purpose than keyword or product tagging.

How to @Mention a User or Brand

The process is simple: In a Pin description or a comment section, type the @ symbol immediately followed by the Pinterest username you want to tag. For example: @username. A list of users will appear as you type, select the correct one from the list. The mentioned user will receive a notification that you’ve tagged them.

When to Use @Mentions

Mentioning should be done thoughtfully and authentically. Use it to:

• Give Credit: If your Pin features work from another creator (e.g., a photo, a recipe inspiration), mention them to give them proper credit.
• Collaborate: If you created content in partnership with another brand or influencer, tag them so your audiences can discover each other.
• Engage Community: If you're running a challenge or showcasing user-generated content, you can mention the user whose content you’re featuring.

Never use @mentions in a spammy way by tagging unrelated, big accounts just to get their attention. It’s bad form and won’t get you the engagement you want.

A Quick Note on Hashtags: Are They Still Relevant?

This is a common point of confusion. A few years ago, Pinterest rolled out hashtags and encouraged their use. However, the platform's emphasis has since shifted decisively toward prioritizing keywords in titles and descriptions. Pinterest's own advice is to focus on writing descriptive, helpful copy rather than relying on a string of hashtags.

So, should you use them? The general consensus is this: focus 95% of your energy on keyword optimization. If you must add hashtags, use 2-4 highly specific and relevant ones at the very end of your description. They might provide a small discoverability boost for new content, but they are far from the vital tool that keywords and product tags are.

Pinterest Tagging Best Practices: A Quick Checklist

Feeling ready? Here is a simple checklist to run through every time you create a new Pin to make sure your tagging strategy is on point:

• ✅ Lead with Keywords: Did you add your main keyword to your title and naturally include it (plus 2-3 secondary keywords) in your description?
• ✅ Optimize All the Text Fields: Don’t leave any fields blank. Your Board titles, Board descriptions, and alt text are all opportunities to provide context.
• ✅ Tag Your Products: If your Pin features any items you sell, did you add product tags to make it shoppable?
• ✅ Be Hyper-Relevant: Do your tags (keywords, products, mentions) accurately reflect what your Pin is about? Irrelevance hurts your Pin's performance.
• ✅ Mention with a Purpose: If you're using an @mention, is it to give credit or genuinely collaborate?
• ✅ Say No to Keyword Stuffing: Read your description out loud. Does it sound natural? If it sounds robotic or stuffed with keywords, rewrite it for a human first.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to tag on Pinterest is really about understanding its functionality as a search engine. It boils down to a focus on well-researched keywords, turning visual inspiration into sales with product tags, and building community by crediting others with @mentions. If you consistently nail these core actions, you'll see a massive improvement in your account's reach and the quality of traffic you drive.

Once you’ve perfected your keyword strategy, the real work is in consistently creating and scheduling that optimized content. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar to make planning your content across Pinterest and all your other platforms simple. You can draft your Pins, perfect your keyword-rich descriptions, and schedule everything weeks in advance, all from one place. This consistency helps you get Pins out the door on a regular schedule without the daily grind of manual posting, so you can spend more of your time making great content.