How To Outrank Everyone on Pinterest

f you want to make money blogging, your number one priority should be driving traffic to your website. More visitors mean more opportunities to monetize your content and earn passive income from your blog.

The quickest and most effective way to boost your blog traffic? Pinterest.

Pinterest is a free, highly visual search engine that can generate significant traffic faster than traditional Google SEO. Even if your blog is brand new and hasn’t gained traction on Google yet, Pinterest offers a shortcut to visibility and growth.

But where do you begin? How can you ensure your content stands out from the competition?

This guide breaks down my top ten proven strategies to rank higher on Pinterest and attract more readers to your blog. As a blogger with over 10 years of experience and more than $500,000 in blogging earnings, I’ve tested these strategies firsthand—and they work.

Let’s dive in and start driving massive traffic to your blog!

1. Create a Pinterest Business Account
2. Complete Your Pinterest Profile
3. Identify Your Target Audience
4. Find and Use Pinterest Keywords Strategically
5. Set Up Optimized Pinterest Boards
6. Create Valuable, Click-Worthy Content
7. Design Stunning, Clickable Pinterest Graphics
8. Follow Pinterest Best Practices for Pinning
9. Implement a Consistent Pinterest Marketing Strategy
10. Leverage Pinterest Analytics to Optimize Your Strategy

A Pinterest business account unlocks powerful features like Pinterest Analytics and rich pins, which improve visibility and engagement. It’s free and easy to set up:

• Sign up at Pinterest Business.
• Enter your email, password, and business details.
• Connect your website, Instagram, Etsy, or YouTube accounts.
• Choose your interests and set your advertising preferences.

Having a business account also allows you to run paid Pinterest ads and access analytics that help you fine-tune your strategy over time. Make sure you claim your website so that Pinterest attributes your content properly and enhances your credibility on the platform.

Optimizing your profile ensures users quickly understand who you are and what value your content provides. Follow these steps:

• Add a professional profile photo or logo.
• Write a compelling bio that includes relevant keywords.
• Use your brand name in your display name.
• Claim your website to verify ownership and gain access to advanced analytics.

Your profile should clearly communicate how you help your audience. Keep it concise, engaging, and keyword-rich. Also, ensure your username aligns with your brand name to maintain consistency across all platforms.

3. Identify Your Target Audience

Knowing your target audience is essential for creating content that resonates with them. Ask yourself:

• Who benefits most from my blog content?
• What problems are they trying to solve?
• What type of content do they engage with most on Pinterest?

Understanding your audience allows you to craft content that directly addresses their needs, increasing engagement and click-through rates. Use Pinterest Analytics to track audience behavior and demographics, helping you refine your approach over time.

4. Find and Use Pinterest Keywords Strategically

Pinterest is a search engine, so keyword optimization is crucial. Follow these steps:

• Use Pinterest’s search bar to discover trending keywords in your niche.
• Analyze suggested search terms—these reflect what users are actively searching for.
• Incorporate keywords naturally in your pin titles, descriptions, board names, and profile bio.

Long-tail keywords (phrases with 3+ words) perform best because they’re specific and have less competition. Additionally, consider seasonal and trending keywords to stay ahead of the competition.

5. Set Up Optimized Pinterest Boards

Pinterest boards organize your pins into categories. Well-structured boards boost your visibility and credibility. Here’s how to create high-ranking boards:

• Name boards using descriptive, keyword-rich titles (e.g., “Easy Keto Recipes” instead of “Yummy Food”).
• Write compelling board descriptions using relevant keywords.
• Pin high-quality content regularly, mixing your own pins with valuable third-party pins.
• Organize pins into subcategories where necessary to improve navigation.

Regularly updating and maintaining your boards ensures they remain relevant and continue attracting Pinterest users.

6. Create Valuable, Click-Worthy Content

Your content should answer questions, solve problems, or provide inspiration. The more value you deliver, the more engagement you’ll receive. Consider:

• How-to guides and tutorials
• List posts and actionable tips
• Infographics and quick-reference visuals

Make sure every pin you create leads to high-quality, relevant blog content. Writing compelling headlines and descriptions increases the chances of your content being shared and saved by users.

7. Design Stunning, Clickable Pinterest Graphics

Since Pinterest is highly visual, your pins need to be eye-catching and professional. Follow these design best practices:

• Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g., 1000×1500 pixels).
• Add text overlays with clear, benefit-driven messaging.
• Include your website URL or logo for branding.
• Use bright colors and readable fonts to make pins stand out.
• Test different pin styles to see which performs best.

Free tools like Canva make it easy to design stunning Pinterest graphics.

8. Follow Pinterest Best Practices for Pinning

To maximize your visibility and reach, follow these pinning best practices:

• Pin consistently (at least 5-10 fresh pins per week).
• Schedule pins using tools like Tailwind to maintain a steady posting schedule.
• Pin new content first before resharing older posts.
• Engage with trending topics by creating seasonal and timely content.
• Avoid pinning spammy content and keep your boards organized and relevant.

9. Implement a Consistent Pinterest Marketing Strategy

Success on Pinterest requires consistency. Here’s a simple Pinterest marketing plan:

• Set a weekly pinning schedule and stick to it.
• Create multiple pin designs for each blog post.
• Test different call-to-action phrases to boost engagement.
• Monitor performance and adjust your strategy as needed.
• Repurpose content by creating fresh pins for older blog posts.

10. Leverage Pinterest Analytics to Optimize Your Strategy

Pinterest Analytics helps you understand what’s working so you can refine your approach. Focus on:

• Top-performing pins – Identify which pins drive the most clicks and engagement.
• Board performance – Double down on boards with high engagement.
• Keyword insights – See what search terms bring traffic to your pins.
• Adjust strategies based on data – Eliminate low-performing pins and improve high-performing ones.

Use this data to fine-tune your Pinterest strategy and maximize results.

Pinterest SEO: Optimize Your Descriptions for Maximum Visibility

Pinterest is a powerful visual search engine, and optimizing your pin descriptions is crucial for ranking higher and driving more traffic to your blog. Here are some key Pinterest SEO strategies to craft compelling descriptions:

1. Use Relevant Keywords: Research and incorporate long-tail keywords that your target audience is searching for. Place them naturally within your pin description.
2. Write a Clear and Engaging Description: Describe what your pin is about in a compelling way. Use actionable language to entice users to click through to your blog.
3. Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage users to take the next step, whether it’s reading your blog, saving the pin, or signing up for your email list.
4. Use Hashtags Wisely: Pinterest allows hashtags, but use them sparingly (2-5 per pin) with relevant terms to improve discoverability.
5. Leverage Rich Pins: If available, use rich pins to automatically pull metadata from your blog post, making your pins more informative and SEO-friendly.
6. Avoid Keyword Stuffing: While using keywords is essential, ensure your descriptions sound natural and engaging rather than forced.
7. Use Storytelling: Engaging storytelling in your descriptions can increase user interest and encourage them to take action.
8. Include Your Brand Name: Add your brand name in your descriptions to build recognition and credibility over time.
9. Optimize Board Descriptions: Your boards should also be keyword-optimized to ensure that your pins get maximum exposure.
10. Test and Analyze Performance: Use Pinterest Analytics to track which descriptions perform best and refine your strategy accordingly.