Whether you’ve been blogging for a while or are just starting out, you’ve probably heard about SEO and how optimizing your website and blog posts can help bring more traffic to your site through Google.
Well, Pinterest works the same way. Instead of thinking of Pinterest as a social media platform, think of it like Google. You want to SEO everything you can to gain the most views, which means you need to get strategic with your boards.
In case you’re new to SEO, it’s really not as scary as it seems.
It’s basically describing your content with words that people would use to find that content. It tells the search engine what your content is about so it can send you people who are searching for content like yours.
For example, I write a lot of articles geared towards virtual assistants so I make sure to use the keyword ‘virtual assistant’ in my posts and throughout my site.
To SEO your website pages and posts, you’d do this in the backend of your website. With Pinterest, you put the keywords in your board titles and descriptions.
HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS TO GET MORE VIEWS:
1) Include keywords in your board titles
Like I mentioned above, Pinterest is like Google. If you want to search for healthy recipes on Google you would type “healthy recipes” in the search bar.
The same goes for Pinterest. People on Pinterest are usually looking for something specific, like how to do something. This is why it’s important to choose keyword rich board titles.
What’s really cool is that you can use Pinterest as a keyword search tool. Try searching different keywords in the Pinterest search bar to see what comes up (don’t click enter, the keywords will show up below the keyword you typed).
The results are what is searched for most often, so if the keyword(s) are relevant to your board topic, choose one for the title to get the best results.
For example, if you’re pinning healthy recipes, you can find out which terms people use to find that content. Start typing related keywords and phrases in the search bar and pay attention to what pops up, because those are the terms people are searching most often!
“Healthy Recipes” might be the best title for your board, or maybe “Healthy Dinner Recipes” is an even better title for your board.
Notice what comes up below your keyword BEFORE clicking ‘enter’
A word about cutesy board names: Ditch them! Yes, they’re lots of fun, I totally get that, but they’re not the best choice if you’re wanting to increase your traffic.
2) Include keywords in your board descriptions
Think of all the keywords and phrases someone might use to search for and find the content on that board. Then write a few sentences using those same keywords. The more keywords and specific search terms you have, the better.
For example, if you have a board with healthy recipes, you could choose keywords such as healthy recipes for weight loss, easy healthy recipes, healthy dinner recipes, etc. Your board description could then be:
“Check out this board full of easy healthy recipes! Whether you’re looking for healthy recipes for weight loss, healthy dinner recipes, or….” You get the drift!
Use the Pinterest search bar as you did with your boards’ titles to see what’s most popular. Click enter when you type a keyword and see what other keywords come up. Use those that are relevant to your board’s topic in the description.
Don’t forget to click the arrow button on the very right to view more keywords!
Choose keywords that are relevant to your board’s topic and write them in the board description
3) Create short titles that show up
Take a look at your Pinterest profile and scroll through your boards. Can you see the entire title of all your boards, or are your titles so long that they get cut off?
You want to make sure your titles are short and descriptive so potential followers can immediately see what the board is about and whether or not they want to follow it. If your titles aren’t showing up in their entirety on your profile page and below your boards, trim them down!
No long titles here!
4) Choose covers that are on brand and look good as a whole
You’d be shocked by how much the general appearance of a Pinterest profile can affect someone’s decision to follow or not!
An attractive, organized, and on-brand account not only increases brand recognition for your business but attracts viewers because your account looks carefully curated and useful. It’s like the difference between a house with a front yard that is well-kept and neat with healthy flower beds and a house with a yard that is overgrown, messy, and full of trash. Even if the house itself is awesome, it’s hard to tell when the front yard is a disaster.
A word about creating pretty board covers for each of your boards: I say don’t bother. It makes it difficult to see what the board is about and I tend to click away when I see them.
I’d much rather see boards with images as their covers than a bunch of boards with designed board covers and the title. I’m a very visual person and I have to admit, it drives me bonkers! Pinterest is all about visuals too, so I recommend steering clear.
It’s also a time-consuming task to create new covers every time you create a new board. I know I don’t have the time or energy to do that!
Taking the time to optimize your Pinterest account is time well spent. Do the suggestions above and you’ll be on your way to getting more views on your boards, pins, and website!
Want to learn more about doing keyword research and optimizing your Pinterest account? My Pinterest 101 course inside the Introvert VA Club goes in-depth on how to do so (and also includes a keyword research spreadsheet). You’ll get access to this course and all the others when you join!
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