How to be found on Pinterest
“How can I be found on Pinterest?” “Why do I have such a low reach? And Why isn’t my content being seen?”
Those are two questions I get asked most often. And a lot of times, there is a simple solution.
Like any platform, Pinterest is constantly changing and evolving, and the key to creating a successful Pinterest marketing strategy is to stay on top of the ever-changing updates and best practices.
Let me go over some realistic expectations first…
I am not here to make it seem like Pinterest is this instant fix for your traffic issues; it’s not. Though I am sure you have read 10+ posts before you got to this one telling you that, in fact, Pinterest can triple your website traffic overnight!
Posts like that are the reason so many users quit Pinterest before it gets good. And let me tell you, when it gets good, it’s GOOD.
Pinterest is for longevity. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok, when you pin something on Pinterest, it will continue circulating the platform for life.
Here is a pin I created back in 2017. The last time I touched this pin was in 2017. In the last 30 days, it’s sent me over 3,000+ new visitors to my website. ONE PIN. Without me touching it, it started trending again, all on its own.
Here are my stats from today, July 30th, 2023. It’s 2:30 pm EST, and Pinterest has already sent me over 2,400 visitors to my website JUST today, and the day isn’t even over yet!
I am showing you these stats because I want you to know how valuable Pinterest can be for your blog or online business long term.
What matters when it comes to being found on Pinterest?
First proper “Pinterest” SEO. This tip isn’t a new one, but it can never be emphasized enough. The reason SO many users are not getting the reach they want is because they aren’t optimizing their accounts and content the right way.
I have been working in Pinterest Marketing since 2015, and this is the #1 issue I see when looking at an underperforming account, no SEO or improper SEO.
Something to note: If you have been using proper Pinterest SEO, but your account is under 6 months old, a lower reach is normal. However, you should still see it growing steadily with consistent and proper pinning. If not, you may want to re-evaluate your SEO.
Also, let’s say your account is three years old. But you haven’t been using proper SEO till now, and you haven’t been consistent with your pinning till now; you can also expect it to take a few months for the algorithm to start picking up on your content.
Why SEO Matters
Because Pinterest is a search engine, it operates on an algorithm. And if you aren’t using proper SEO for the algorithm to pick up on, it will have no idea where your content belongs.
I mentioned at the beginning of this post that being found on Pinterest is typically a simple fix because it is.
When you go from not optimizing content (and your profile) the right way to doing it correctly, you start to see steady and consistent growth.
Think about it like this: The Pinterest algorithm favors relevancy. So if you are pinning your recipe pin to a “free for all” style group board, not optimized for SEO and filled with pins on various niches, it will have no clue where your pin belongs OR who to show it to.
And your reach stays in the single digits.
Now, you have correctly optimized Pinterest boards and sent your optimized pin to the most relevant board; the algorithm goes, “Ok, this pin is about gluten-free recipes, so I will show it to users searching for gluten-free recipes.”
Having proper SEO on your boards and pins gives the algorithm a much better idea of where your content belongs. Thus helping your content trend and, in return, showing it to more users.
How you can be found on Pinterest
The first thing I tell my clients and students to consider is the MAIN keyword under which you want your account/content to appear.
For me, it’s Pinterest Marketing. I want the algorithm to know my account is all about Pinterest, and to do that; I optimized my profile with Pinterest Marketing specific keywords.
And because I did it correctly, my profile shows up at the top when someone searches “Pinterest Marketing.”
Now I want to think of 5-6 sub keywords I want my content to rank under. These usually have to do with other topics you blog about or other products you sell.
My example would be:
- Pinterest Marketing Tips
- Pinterest Marketing Strategy
- Pinterest Marketing for Beginners
- Pinterest for business
- Pinterest for Bloggers
- Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Those are the six sub-keywords I use most often and the top keywords that have to do with my business.
Because I always focus on my top sub-keywords when creating content, my content typically ranks right at the top when those keywords are searched.
The algorithm sees that I am using relevant and proper SEO and that I am consistent in my pinning, so it favors my content and shows it to a larger audience.
So if you are one of the Pinterest users who is getting frustrated with a low reach, re-evaluate your SEO and your strategy. You will be surprised how a few simple tweaks can elevate your entire account.
Gone are the days when Pinterest wanted us re-pinning our content over and over.
Being successful on Pinterest today means focusing on fresh Pin content- rather than pinning the same pin to multiple boards.
This is a very outdated practice many users are still using. A practice that will hurt your reach and possibly get your account flagged.
Staying up-to-date on best practices is key to being found on Pinterest.
Don’t let a low reach get you down. Re-evaluate your SEO and strategy.
Think about how nice it will be six months from now to have a pin you haven’t touched in months send you traffic on auto-pilot. Think about what that could mean for your email list or client list. Or even better, your sales.
And if you want to learn more about proper Pinterest SEO and current best practices and pinning strategies, click HERE!
As always,
Happy Pinning!
xo Megan
