Pinterest Keyword Research Tutorial

If you're hesitant about using Pinterest in your digital marketing strategy because you're unsure about how to do keyword research, don't worry! This comprehensive guide on Pinterest keyword research will simplify your life.

In reality, Pinterest keyword research is quite straightforward, and it won't take much time. By mastering it, you can enhance your Pinterest SEO strategy and start experiencing a significant boost in website traffic from Pinterest.

Before we delve into the Pinterest keyword research tutorial, there are a few important points to keep in mind to ensure you achieve the best results from your Pinterest marketing efforts.

Why Do You Need Keywords On Pinterest?

While many people think of Pinterest as a social media platform, it actually operates more like a search engine. Users search for topics they like on Pinterest, and then they see a feed of pins related to their search. Each pin links to an external website.

So, if you want your content to be found on Pinterest, you should use keywords in your pins to make them show up in relevant searches.

How Many Keywords Should You Use On Pinterest?

There isn't a specific number of keywords you must use on Pinterest. It's better to naturally include keywords in your pin's content for better results. Using too many keywords, known as "keyword stuffing," is not a good practice on Pinterest anymore. In fact, it can make your pin less likely to show up in Pinterest's search results.

Where Should You Put Keywords On Pinterest?

There are several places you should include your keywords on Pinterest. On your Pinterest pins, you should include your keywords in:

• Your pin graphic (i.e. text on your graphic)
• Your pin title
• Your pin description

On your Pinterest profile, you should include your keywords in:

• Your profile name
• Your profile description
• Your board names
• Your board descriptions

How To Do Pinterest Keyword Research?

Now that you’re clear on everywhere you need to include your keywords and why they are so important for your Pinterest SEO strategy, let’s dive into how to do keyword research on Pinterest!

Before we get started, I recommend opening up an Excel or Word document so you can make a note of all the keywords you find during your keyword research. That way when you come to optimise your pins you can just refer to the document and take out the keywords you need.

For all of this tutorial, we will be using native Pinterest features to carry out our keyword research because these are the only tools you need to find the best Pinterest keywords for your pins.

You don’t need external tools to do this, especially not paid ones!

The Pinterest Search Bar

The first place we are going to start is the Pinterest search bar. This is the best Pinterest keyword tool you’re going to find so it’s always wise to start here before looking elsewhere.

Type your “seed keyword” into the search bar. A seed keyword is a starter keyword related to your business, for example, I might use “web design” or “SEO”.

Once you’ve typed in your seed keyword, do not hit enter.

Instead, take a look at what is appearing below the search bar once you’ve entered your keyword:

These keywords are the most searched keywords related to your seed keyword. Typically, they will be based on what is trending so you may find it includes the current year or, depending on your seed keyword, particular styles that are popular on Pinterest.

This means I can confidently use these keywords on Pinterest knowing that Pinterest users are searching for these terms:

• Pinterest SEO strategy
• Pinterest SEO
• Pinterest SEO tips
• Pinterest SEO 2022 (I expect this will become 2023 soon!)
• Pinterest SEO for bloggers

Guided Search

Pinterest's Guided Search feature seems to be gradually disappearing for some users, but if you still have access to it, you can use it for your searches.

When you're on Pinterest and want to search for something, just type your keyword in the search bar and press "Enter."

If you notice colorful boxes appearing below the search bar, like in the screenshot, that means you still have access to Guided Search.

Guided Search features common phrases that are searched alongside your seed keyword. You’ll notice this result includes suggested searches from the Pinterest search bar method already, but it offers a few more relevant keywords to your search.

From this, I can add the following to my list of Pinterest keyword research:

• Pinterest SEO checklist
• Pinterest SEO hacks
• Pinterest SEO strategy 2022
• What is Pinterest SEO

Pinterest Trends

We're shifting our focus away from Pinterest's regular search feature and exploring a highly underutilized tool on the platform, which happens to be an excellent and free resource for finding keywords.

Pinterest Trends is a relatively new feature that allows you to discover trending keyword ideas on the platform. This can be incredibly useful, especially when creating content related to seasons or when you want to gauge how popular specific keywords are. This is something we didn't have access to before.

In the past, these features were part of Pinterest Ads, but now they've been moved to a separate section. This means you can use Pinterest Trends to discover relevant keywords without the need to create advertising campaigns. Just keep in mind that you'll need a Pinterest Business account to access Pinterest Trends.

When you enter your initial keyword, you'll notice that Pinterest provides keyword ideas that may not be directly related but are currently trending.

Let’s try a different seed keyword and see what comes up!

As we approach Christmas, it's a good time to dive into some Pinterest keywords.

Last year, these keywords saw a significant spike in traffic during the holiday season, with "Christmas nails acrylic" being the most popular. This year, searches started increasing in early November.

So, "Christmas nails acrylic" and "Christmas nails short" are solid choices to include in your Pinterest keyword list. However, "Christmas nail ideas" didn't perform well last year, so you might want to skip it.

Pinterest Trends is a valuable tool as it offers insights into search demographics and popular pins. It's especially useful for seasonal content and industries with emerging trends. If your Pinterest strategy aligns with these, Pinterest Trends is a must-have.

Final Pinterest Keyword Research Tips

Here are some key tips for effective Pinterest keyword research :

1. Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Don't overuse your keywords. It's essential to include them naturally in your content. The Pinterest algorithm can tell if you're forcing too many keywords, and you won't get any rewards for it.
2. Optimize Your Pinterest Account: Make sure to include your Pinterest keywords in your profile name, description, and boards. This is an important one-time task that will improve your entire Pinterest account, not just your individual pins.
3. Think About Your Audience: Consider who you want to attract with your pins. This will help you choose the right keywords for your Pinterest strategy. For instance, if your content is not related to Etsy, don't use keywords like "Pinterest SEO for Etsy" as it won't drive relevant traffic to your pins.

That's everything you need to know about Pinterest keyword research in a nutshell! I hope you find these tips helpful, and I look forward to hearing about your success on the platform.