8 Things Every Pinterest Business Account Should Optimize

Running a business account on Pinterest isn’t about pinning pretty pictures and hoping something sticks. It’s about treating Pinterest as a search engine—which is exactly what it is—and optimizing your presence for visibility, clicks, saves, and ultimately, conversions.

This isn’t theoretical advice. I’ve worked with bloggers, e-commerce brands, and digital marketers who doubled their Pinterest reach just by getting these foundational pieces right. So whether you’re starting from scratch or refining what’s already in place, this guide will walk you through the 8 things every Pinterest business account should optimize for long-term traffic and authority.

Let’s dive in.

1. Your Pinterest Profile (It’s Your First Impression)

Think of your Pinterest profile like your storefront on a busy street. It should be clean, focused, and clearly state who you are and what you offer.

Here’s what to optimize:

Business name & display name: These should include keywords you want to be found for. If you’re a wedding photographer in New York, don’t just write “Sarah Rose” — use “Sarah Rose | NYC Wedding Photographer.”
Username: Keep it short, memorable, and brand-aligned. It also affects your profile URL.
Bio: You have 160 characters to show what you do and who you help. Include your value proposition and a couple of keywords naturally. Ex: Helping busy moms simplify meal prep with easy, healthy recipes.
Profile picture: Use your logo (if you’re a brand) or a clear headshot (if you’re a creator). Make it recognizable across platforms.

Why it matters: Pinterest’s algorithm uses this information to understand your niche. And your audience uses it to decide if you’re worth following.

2. Website Claiming & Verification

Claiming your website is one of the first things you should do with a Pinterest business account. When you do, Pinterest gives you access to:

Full analytics for pins that link to your site
Branding (your logo appears on pins saved from your site)
The ability to enable Rich Pins (more on that next)

You can claim your website by adding a snippet of code to your site header or uploading an HTML file. If you use platforms like Shopify, WordPress, or Squarespace, Pinterest has built-in integrations that make this easy.

Bonus tip: Also claim your Instagram and YouTube accounts if you use those for your brand. The more claimed accounts, the better your cross-platform attribution.

3. Rich Pins (For Extra SEO Juice)

Once your website is claimed, you can apply for Rich Pins. These pull additional metadata from your website to your pins, making them more informative, trustworthy, and clickable.

There are 4 types of Rich Pins:

Product Pins – Show price, availability, and product title.
Article Pins – Include the blog post title, meta description, and author.
Recipe Pins – Add ingredients, cooking time, and ratings.
App Pins (U.S. only) – Let users download apps from Pinterest directly.

Rich Pins are a trust signal for Pinterest. They tell the algorithm, “This content is real, informative, and connected to a verified source.” They also lead to higher engagement, especially for e-commerce and content-driven sites.

4. Boards That Are SEO-Friendly (Not Just Aesthetic)

Boards aren’t just folders for saving pins. They’re indexable assets that tell Pinterest what your account is about. Optimized boards help your profile show up in searches—even when your individual pins don’t.

Here’s how to do it:

Board Titles: Use plain, searchable language. Skip cutesy names like “Yummylicious” and go with “Easy Dinner Recipes” instead.
Board Descriptions: Write 1–2 sentences using related keywords naturally. Think like a mini blog meta description. Example: “A collection of quick and healthy dinner recipes for busy weeknights, including chicken, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals.”
Cover Pins: Choose visually strong pins to represent each board. This helps with click-throughs and profile impressions.

Also, pin relevant content regularly to each board. An inactive board sends signals to Pinterest that it’s not valuable, even if it’s well-optimized.

5. Pins That Are Actually Clickable (Not Just Pretty)

Now we’re talking about the heart of your content. Pins are the engine that drives traffic—and like any engine, they need proper tuning.

Here’s the anatomy of a high-performing pin:

Vertical format: 1000x1500px is ideal (2:3 aspect ratio). Avoid horizontal or square images—they get less real estate in feeds.
Compelling visual: Use high-quality photos, bold text overlays, and consistent branding. Think of this as a blog post headline in image form.
Readable text: Don’t cram too much on the image. Aim for 5–8 words max. Prioritize contrast and legibility on mobile.
Clear CTA in the description: Tell people what they’ll get if they click. “Get the free guide,” “See the step-by-step tutorial,” etc.
SEO-optimized descriptions: Pinterest is a search engine. Use keywords naturally in your description and alt text.

Pro tip: Create 3–5 pins per blog post or product. Each pin can target a different angle or keyword set. More chances to rank.

6. A Strategic Pinning Schedule (Consistency > Virality)

Pinterest rewards consistency. You don’t need to go viral. You need to show up steadily, day after day.

Here’s what works in 2025:

Pin at least once daily, ideally 5–15 fresh pins per week
Spread out your content over time (don’t pin 20 things at once)
Mix your own content with curated pins in your niche
Prioritize “fresh pins” (new image + URL combos)

Use Pinterest’s native scheduler or a tool like Tailwind to queue up content weeks in advance. This keeps your presence consistent without burning you out.

Remember: the algorithm needs time. Some pins will take months to gain traction. Keep showing up.

7. Keyword Research (No, It’s Not Just for Google)

If you treat Pinterest like a visual Google, you’ll start to see better results. Every part of your Pinterest account should be keyword optimized—but not in a spammy way.

Where to find keywords:

Pinterest search bar – Type your main keyword and see the auto-suggestions.
Pinterest Trends – Great for seasonal and niche data (US/UK only).
Top-performing competitors – Look at how other profiles write their titles and pin descriptions.

Where to use keywords:

Profile name and bio
Board titles and descriptions
Pin titles and descriptions
Image alt text
Display names for products or blog post pins

Avoid stuffing. Write like a human, using the language your audience uses. Pinterest is getting better at understanding context and synonyms, so natural language wins.

8. Analytics That Guide, Not Confuse

Pinterest gives you access to deep analytics—if you know where to look.

Here’s what to track monthly:

Impressions – How many people saw your pin
Saves – How many saved it to their boards
Outbound clicks – How many visited your site (the gold standard metric)
Top-performing pins – What worked and why? Create more like those.
Underperforming boards – Consider revamping, renaming, or archiving them.

Analytics help you avoid wasting time. If a type of pin or board is tanking, you can pivot. If something’s crushing it, double down.

Pinterest Optimization is the Long Game (But It’s Worth It)

Pinterest isn’t Instagram. It’s not TikTok. It’s not built on trends or charisma or fast-paced scrolling. It’s a discovery engine, and if you treat it that way—with intentional optimization, solid keyword strategy, and consistent pinning—you’ll win.

It might take a few months. But then the traffic starts snowballing. The pins you posted 90 days ago? Still working for you. Still bringing clicks. Still building authority.

That’s the power of a well-optimized Pinterest business account. It compounds.

So if you’re ready to treat Pinterest like the traffic goldmine it is, start here. Check these 8 boxes. Refine what’s working. Cut what’s not. And watch your Pinterest presence become a lead-generating, authority-building asset that works even while you sleep.

Do you have no time to improve your Pinterest and SEO traffic? Check out our services. We can help you out!