Pinterest keyword research is one of those things that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You don’t need expensive tools or a spreadsheet full of search volumes. You just need to understand how Pinterest search works…
Table of Contents
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy something, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve actually used or thoroughly researched.
Pinterest keyword research is one of those things that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You don’t need expensive tools or a spreadsheet full of search volumes. You just need to understand how Pinterest search works — and then use that knowledge consistently across your account.
Get this right and Pinterest starts showing your content to the people who are actively looking for it. Get it wrong and you’re pinning into a void, wondering why nothing is getting traction.
This guide covers everything you need to know — where to find keywords on Pinterest, how to choose the right ones, and exactly where to use them so they actually do something.
Recommended reading: Pinterest SEO for Beginners
Free Pinterest Training Workshop
Content ideas are only useful if your Pinterest strategy is solid enough to make them work. Meagan Williamson’s free workshop — The Discovery Loop — covers the full system so your content actually gets found.
Why Keywords Matter So Much on Pinterest
Pinterest isn’t a social media platform in the traditional sense. It’s a visual search engine. When someone opens Pinterest, they’re not scrolling to see what their friends are up to — they’re searching for something specific.
“Easy budget meals for families.” “Home office ideas for small spaces.” “How to start a blog and make money.”
These are real searches happening millions of times a day. And Pinterest is trying to match those searches with the most relevant content it can find.
The way it figures out what your content is about is through keywords. The words you use in your profile, your board titles, your board descriptions, your pin titles, and your pin descriptions all tell Pinterest what your content covers — and who to show it to.
This is why Pinterest keyword research isn’t optional. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.
According to Pinterest’s business resources, 97% of top Pinterest searches are unbranded — meaning people are searching for ideas and solutions, not specific companies or creators. That’s a huge opportunity for bloggers who know how to show up in those searches.
How Pinterest Search Actually Works
Before you start hunting for keywords, it helps to understand what Pinterest is doing when someone types a search.
Pinterest looks at the text across your entire account — not just one pin, but your profile bio, your board names, your board descriptions, and your pin copy. It uses all of that together to decide what your account is about and who your audience is.
This means keywords need to be consistent across everything, not just dropped into one pin description and forgotten.
It also means that new accounts take time. Pinterest needs to see enough consistent signals before it’s confident enough to start distributing your content widely. This is why the early months of a Pinterest strategy feel slow — the algorithm is still figuring you out.
The good news is that once Pinterest understands your niche, it keeps working for you. Pins can drive traffic for months or even years after you create them, as long as the keywords are doing their job.
Where to Find Keywords on Pinterest
You don’t need any third-party tools for Pinterest keyword research. The best keyword data is right there inside Pinterest itself — you just need to know where to look.
Method 1: The Pinterest Search Bar
This is the most straightforward method and the one you’ll use most often.
Go to Pinterest and start typing your topic into the search bar. Before you even finish typing, Pinterest will show you autocomplete suggestions. These are based on real searches from real users — they’re not guesses or estimates. They’re telling you exactly how people are looking for content in your niche.
For example, if you type “meal prep” you might see:
- meal prep for beginners
- meal prep ideas for the week
- meal prep on a budget
- meal prep containers
Each of those is a real search phrase with real people behind it. Write them down. These are your keywords.
Method 2: The Guided Search Bubbles
Once you hit search on a term, Pinterest displays a row of colored topic bubbles just below the search bar. These are related searches — variations and subtopics that Pinterest knows people commonly search for alongside your main term.
These bubbles are gold for finding long-tail keywords you might not have thought of. Click through a few of them and note what comes up. You’ll quickly build a picture of how people in your niche are searching.
Method 3: Look at What’s Already Performing
Search for your main topic on Pinterest and look at the pins that appear at the top of the results. These are the pins Pinterest has decided are the most relevant and highest quality for that search.
Look at their titles and descriptions. What keywords are they using? How are they phrasing things? You’re not copying — you’re researching what Pinterest already considers relevant for your topic.
Method 4: Pinterest Trends
Pinterest has a free trends tool at trends.pinterest.com that shows you what’s trending on the platform over time. You can search for a keyword and see whether interest in it is growing, declining, or seasonal.
This is useful for planning content around seasonal topics — holiday recipes, back-to-school ideas, New Year goal-setting content — so you’re creating pins before the search volume peaks, not after.
How to Choose the Right Keywords
Not every keyword you find is worth using. Here’s how to think about which ones to prioritise.
Relevance first. The keyword needs to actually match your content. Stuffing irrelevant keywords into your pins to chase volume doesn’t work — Pinterest is good at detecting when content doesn’t match the keywords used, and it will hurt your distribution.
Specific over broad. “Recipes” is too broad. “Easy weeknight dinner recipes for beginners” is specific enough to attract the right reader. Long-tail keywords — longer, more specific phrases — tend to convert better because the person searching knows exactly what they want.
Searchable language. Use the words your readers actually type, not the language you use when you’re talking about your topic internally. If you blog about personal finance, your readers might search “how to save money fast” rather than “personal finance strategies.” Match their language, not yours.
A mix of competitive and niche. Some keywords will be highly competitive — lots of great content already ranking for them. Others will be more niche with less competition. A good strategy uses both. Go after the niche keywords first to build momentum, then work toward the more competitive ones as your account grows.
Where to Use Your Keywords on Pinterest
Finding keywords is only half the job. The other half is placing them consistently across your account. Here’s exactly where they need to go.
Your Profile Bio
Your bio is the first thing Pinterest reads to understand what your account is about. Use your primary keywords naturally in your description — describe what you do and who you help using the language your audience searches for.
Don’t keyword stuff. Write it like a sentence a real person would say. “I help beginner bloggers grow traffic and income using Pinterest, blogging, and email marketing” is better than a list of keywords with no context.
Board Titles
Every board title should include a keyword. Not a clever name — a searchable name. Think about what your reader would type to find the kind of content on that board.
“Pinterest Tips for Bloggers” works. “My Pinterest Stuff” doesn’t.
Board Descriptions
Write 2–3 sentences for each board description using natural language and relevant keywords. Pinterest reads these to understand the board’s topic and match it with the right searches.
Don’t just list keywords. Write it like you’re explaining the board to a new follower.
Pin Titles
Your pin title is one of the most important places for keywords. It should include your primary keyword for that pin and clearly communicate what the reader will get if they click.
Keep it readable — this is what humans see when they’re scrolling. A clear, benefit-driven title with a keyword in it will outperform a keyword-stuffed title every time.
Pin Descriptions
Pin descriptions give you more space to use keywords naturally. Aim for 100–150 words. Include your primary keyword in the first sentence, add a couple of related keywords throughout, and end with a clear call to action.
Write for the reader first. The keywords should feel like a natural part of the description, not something bolted on at the end.
Image File Names
Before you upload a pin image, rename the file using your keywords. Instead of “image-001.jpg” use something like “pinterest-keyword-research-tips.jpg.” Pinterest can read file names and uses them as an additional signal about your content.
It’s a small thing, but small things add up.
Your Blog Post Alt Text
When you add images to your blog posts that you plan to save to Pinterest, add descriptive alt text using your keywords. This helps both with Google SEO and with Pinterest understanding what your pinned content is about.
A Simple Pinterest Keyword Research Workflow
Here’s how to put this into practice without it taking over your afternoon.
When setting up a new board:
- Type your board topic into the Pinterest search bar
- Note the autocomplete suggestions — these are your board title options
- Hit search and note the topic bubbles — these give you description keywords
- Write a board title and description using what you’ve found
When creating a new pin:
- Type your blog post topic into Pinterest search
- Note 3–5 keyword variations from the autocomplete and bubbles
- Choose the most relevant one for your pin title
- Use the others naturally in your pin description
When reviewing your strategy monthly:
- Check Pinterest Trends for any seasonal keywords coming up
- Look at which of your pins are performing best — what keywords did they use?
- Apply what’s working to new pins
The whole process for a single pin takes about five minutes once you’re comfortable with it. It becomes second nature quickly.
Free Pinterest Training Workshop
Content ideas are only useful if your Pinterest strategy is solid enough to make them work. Meagan Williamson’s free workshop — The Discovery Loop — covers the full system so your content actually gets found.
Common Pinterest Keyword Mistakes to Avoid
Using the same keyword everywhere. If every single pin, board, and description uses the exact same keyword phrase, it looks spammy. Use variations and related terms to show Pinterest the full picture of your content.
Ignoring long-tail keywords. Beginners often chase the biggest, broadest keywords and wonder why they’re not ranking. Long-tail keywords have less competition and attract readers who know exactly what they want — which usually means better click-through rates.
Keyword stuffing. Cramming as many keywords as possible into a description might feel like you’re covering all your bases. You’re not. Pinterest can detect unnatural keyword density and it hurts your distribution. Write for humans first.
Setting and forgetting. Keywords that were performing well six months ago might not be the best choice today. Check Pinterest Trends regularly and update your boards and pin descriptions when you spot better opportunities.
Not using keywords in board descriptions. Most beginners focus on pin titles and descriptions and completely ignore board descriptions. Pinterest reads all of it — don’t leave any of it blank.
Want to Go Deeper on Pinterest SEO?
If you want a proper structured approach to Pinterest keyword research rather than piecing it together yourself, Meagan Williamson’s Pinterest Keyword Research Toolkit is worth looking at. It’s a dedicated resource built specifically around finding and using keywords on Pinterest — and Meagan has been in the trenches of Pinterest marketing since 2011, so the advice is grounded in real platform experience rather than theory.
Related guide: Pinterest SEO for Beginners
Final Thoughts
Pinterest keyword research doesn’t need to be complicated. The search bar tells you everything you need to know — you just have to use it before you start creating content, not after.
Find your keywords, use them consistently across your profile, boards, and pins, and give Pinterest time to figure out who your audience is. That’s the whole system.
The bloggers who get real traction on Pinterest aren’t doing anything magical with keywords. They’re just being consistent and specific about their topic — and showing up regularly enough for Pinterest to figure out who to show their content to.
Next step: Pinterest SEO for Beginners
