How to Verify Your Website on Pinterest

Verifying your website on Pinterest unlocks a treasure trove of powerful marketing tools, but the process can seem intimidating if you're not a developer. This guide breaks down exactly how to claim your website step-by-step, using three different methods, so you can start benefiting from powerful analytics, rich pins, and increased brand visibility today.

Why Should You Verify Your Website on Pinterest?

Taking a few minutes to verify, or "claim," your website is one of the most important first steps for any brand, creator, or business using Pinterest. It's not just about getting a little checkmark, it's about signaling to Pinterest that you are the legitimate owner of the content originating from your site. In return, you get access to a suite of indispensable features.

Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits:

• Access to Pinterest Analytics: This is the big one. Once verified, you unlock detailed analytics for all Pins saved from your site, not just the ones you created. You can see which of your blog posts, products, or pages are resonating most with the Pinterest audience, track outbound clicks, see your top-performing boards, and understand your audience demographics. This data is invaluable for refining your content and SEO strategy.
• Your Profile on Every Pin: After claiming your site, your profile picture and a "Follow" button will appear on every single Pin that originates from your website, no matter who Pinned it. This turns every piece of your content into a branding opportunity, driving follows directly back to your account and increasing your authority.
• Seamless Rich Pin Application: Rich Pins are super-charged Pins that automatically sync information from your website. There are three types: Product Pins (real-time price, availability), Recipe Pins (ingredients, cooking times), and Article Pins (headline, author). Verifying your site is a prerequisite for getting Rich Pins enabled, which can significantly boost engagement and clicks.
• Enhanced Brand Credibility: A claimed website shows a link directly on your Pinterest profile, acting as a clear, official gateway to your business. This builds trust with users who land on your profile and want to learn more about your brand.
• Potential for Better Distribution: While Pinterest doesn't explicitly state it's a ranking factor, verified accounts are seen as more legitimate content sources. This can lead to your Pins being shown more favorably by the algorithm.

Getting Started: Your Pre-Verification Checklist

Before you jump into the technical steps, make sure you have two things ready:

1. A Pinterest Business Account: Verification is a feature exclusive to business accounts. If you're currently using a personal account, you can convert it for free in just a few clicks within your account settings. This will also give you access to ads and other business tools.
2. Access to Your Website's Backend: You’ll need to be able to either add a piece of code to your site's HTML, upload a file to its main folder, or access your domain name registrar's settings (like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or Namecheap).

Got those ready? Perfect. Let's walk through the three ways to get it done.

How to Claim Your Website on Pinterest: 3 Easy Methods

Pinterest offers three different options to prove you own your website. We'll start with the most common and user-friendly method and work our way to the more technical ones. You only need to choose one of these methods.

Method 1: Add an HTML Tag to Your Website's Header

This is the most popular method, especially for business owners using platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify. You simply copy a line of code from Pinterest and paste it into a specific location on your site.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Navigate to Your Pinterest Settings: Log in to your Pinterest Business account. Click the down arrow in the top-right corner and select Settings.
2. Go to "Claimed Accounts": In the left-hand menu, click on Claimed accounts.
3. Start the Claim Process: Next to "Websites," click the Claim button. A pop-up window will appear with your verification options.
4. Select "Add HTML tag": This is the first and default option. Pinterest will generate a unique meta tag for your website. It will look something like this: <,meta name="p:domain_verify" content="youruniquealphanumericcode"/>,
5. Copy the HTML Tag: Click the code block to automatically copy the entire tag to your clipboard.
6. Venture into Your Website's Backend: Now, open a new tab and log in to the backend of your website (e.g., your WordPress dashboard, Shopify admin, etc.). You need to find where you can edit the HTML <,head>, section of your site's theme.
7. Paste the Tag: Paste the copied meta tag into your site's <,head>, section, right before the closing <,/head>, tag. The exact location varies by platform:
   • WordPress: If you're using a modern theme, there's often a "Header/Footer Scripts" section in your theme customization options (Appearance >, Customize). Alternatively, you can use a plugin like "Insert Headers and Footers."
   • Shopify: Go to Online Store >, Themes. Click "Actions" >, "Edit code." Open the theme.liquid file and paste the tag before the <,/head>, element.
   • Squarespace: Go to Settings >, Advanced >, Code Injection. Paste the code into the "Header" field.
   • Wix: Go to your Wix Dashboard and navigate to Settings >, Marketing & SEO >, SEO Tools >, Site Verification. Select "Add New Code" and paste the code snippet there.
8. Save Your Changes: Make sure to save or publish the changes on your website.
9. Finalize Back on Pinterest: Return to the Pinterest verification pop-up. Enter your website URL into the text box and click Verify. Pinterest will check your site for the code. If it finds it, you'll see a "Connected" message. This can be instant, but sometimes it takes a few hours.

Method 2: Upload an HTML File to Your Root Directory

This method is a great alternative if you feel uncomfortable editing your theme's code. It involves downloading a file from Pinterest and uploading it directly to your website's main folder using an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting provider's File Manager.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Method 1: Log in to your Pinterest settings, go to "Claimed accounts," and click the "Claim" button.
2. Select the "Upload HTML file" Option: In the pop-up, choose the second option.
3. Download the File: Click the Download button. Pinterest will give you a unique HTML file named something like pinterest-a1b2c.html. Save it somewhere easy to find on your computer.
4. Access Your Website’s CPanel or FTP: Log in to your web hosting account's cPanel and open the File Manager, or connect to your server using an FTP client.
5. Upload the File to Your Root Directory: Navigate to the main or "root" folder of your website. This is typically named public_html or www. Upload the HTML file you downloaded directly into this folder. Do not place it in any subfolders.
6. Confirm the Upload: To make sure it worked, try navigating to https://YourDomain.com/pinterest-a1b2c.html (using your actual file name and domain). You should see a success message.
7. Finalize on Pinterest: Go back to Pinterest, enter your URL, and click Verify. Pinterest will look for that specific file at that URL to prove you have access to the server.

Method 3: Add a TXT Record to Your DNS

This is the most technical option and is best for those who are comfortable editing DNS records with their domain registrar. The main advantage is that it doesn't involve any changes to your website's files or code. It's a clean and effective way to handle verification.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Method 1: You guessed it - start in your Pinterest settings under "Claimed accounts."
2. Select the "Add TXT Record" Option: Choose the third option from the pop-up menu. Pinterest will generate a unique value for you to use.
3. Copy the TXT Record Value: Click to copy the unique code string.
4. Go to your Domain Registrar's DNS Settings: Open a new tab and log in to the company where you bought your domain name (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). Find the DNS Management section for your domain.
5. Create a New TXT Record: Look for an option to "Add a new record." For the record type, select TXT.
   • Host/Name: Set this to @ (or leave it blank if your registrar defaults to your main domain).
   • Value/Points to: Paste the unique value you copied from Pinterest.
   • TTL (Time to Live): Leave this at the default setting (usually 1 hour or automatic).
6. Save the Record: Save your new DNS record. It's important to know that DNS changes can take time to propagate across the internet - sometimes up to 24-48 hours, though it's often much faster.
7. Verify on Pinterest: Return to Pinterest and click Verify. If you try too soon, it might fail. Don't panic. Grab a coffee, wait an hour, and try again. Once the DNS record is public, Pinterest will find it and your site will be verified.

Final Thoughts

Verifying your website on Pinterest is a foundational step for tapping into the platform's full potential as a visual discovery and traffic-driving engine. By following one of the three methods above, you can confidently claim your domain, get access to critical user data, enhance your brand's presence, and enable powerful features like Rich Pins that help you stand out.

Once your site is verified, your next step is consistently scheduling high-quality content that drives clicks back to it. That's where we wanted to make life easier. We designed Postbase with a visual calendar that allows you to see all your scheduled Pins and posts across every platform in one place. You can plan your content weeks ahead, spot consistency gaps, and ensure your entire social strategy - from Pinterest boards to Instagram Reels - is working together seamlessly.