Most people approach Pinterest the same way they approach social media: post when they can, try a few ideas, then move on when results don’t come quickly. But Pinterest doesn’t reward randomness. It rewards clarity.
That’s where this Pinterest SEO experiment comes in.
This isn’t about pinning every day forever or chasing viral content. It’s about intentionally optimizing what you already have, staying consistent long enough to see patterns, and understanding how Pinterest growth actually happens over time.
What This Pinterest SEO Experiment Is
This experiment is designed to answer a simple question:
What happens when you focus on optimization and consistency instead of occasional posting?
Rather than adding more content to an unoptimized account, the goal is to slow down and improve how Pinterest understands your content. You’ll make small, intentional changes and track what happens to impressions, clicks, and affiliate income.
Why Pinterest SEO Matters for Growth
Pinterest isn’t social media in the traditional sense. It’s a search engine.
People come to Pinterest with intent: to plan, research and buy. That means Pinterest needs clear signals to know who your content is for and when it should show up in search results.
If your account isn’t optimized, Pinterest struggles to categorize your content. Even great pins can underperform simply because the platform doesn’t fully understand them.
If you’re newer to SEO in general, this foundational post breaks it down in simple terms: SEO: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Master It
Where Pinterest SEO Actually Matters
Pinterest looks at keywords across your entire account, not just individual pins. These are the most important places SEO should show up:
- Your profile name and bio
- Board titles and board descriptions
- Pin titles and pin descriptions
- The content on the linked page (blog post or product page)
When these areas are aligned, Pinterest has a much easier time connecting your content to the right searches, which is where consistent traffic starts to build.
Researching Pinterest SEO Keywords
You don’t need expensive tools or hours of research to find good Pinterest keywords. A lot of effective keyword research comes from simply paying attention to how people talk about topics they’re already interested in.
I always start on Pinterest itself, the search bar and Pinterest Trends are great for seeing what people are actively searching for, especially around seasonal content or specific problems. If a phrase keeps showing up in suggestions, that’s usually a good sign that Pinterest recognizes it as a searchable topic.
I also look closely at what’s trending outside of Pinterest. If a topic is picking up momentum on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, there’s a good chance people will head to Pinterest looking for ideas, tutorials, or product recommendations related to that trend.
When I create pins around those topics, I think about the exact phrases someone might type into a search bar to find them. Instead of focusing on one perfect keyword, I use a mix of related terms that describe the same idea naturally, the way a real person would search.
ChatGPT can also be especially helpful. I use it to expand keyword ideas, rephrase titles, suggest new board titles and make sure my descriptions include relevant search terms without sounding robotic.
If you want to see exactly how I do this step by step, I break it down here: How to Use ChatGPT to Master Pinterest SEO
To make this experiment easier (and much faster), I put together a free ChatGPT prompt list specifically for Pinterest SEO.
It will help you:
- Brainstorm keyword ideas for your niche
- Rewrite board descriptions clearly
- Improve pin titles and descriptions without keyword stuffing
- Plan content that aligns with search intent
Get the free Pinterest SEO ChatGPT prompt list here
This is the same framework I use when optimizing my own Pinterest accounts.
The Pinterest SEO Experiment
The experiment works best when you keep it simple and manageable.
Here’s the structure:
- Commit to making one small SEO-related improvement per day
- Focus on clarity and consistency, not volume
- Track your results so you can see what actually changes
Each day, you might:
- Rewrite a board description
- Improve a pin title or description
- Refresh a pin linking to an affiliate product
- Identify a few new keywords to use going forward
- Review analytics to see what’s gaining traction
Five to ten minutes a day is enough. The power comes from doing it consistently, not from doing everything at once.
Track Progress During the Experiment
Tracking turns this from “busy work” into a real learning tool.
Pay attention to:
- Pinterest impressions and outbound clicks
- Saves and engagement
- Which boards and pins start performing better
- Affiliate clicks or sales (if applicable)
Over time, you’ll start noticing patterns, what Pinterest responds to, what converts and what’s worth repeating.
Pinterest Business Account
If you’re serious about Pinterest growth, a business account is essential. It gives you access to analytics, trends, and better insight into how your content performs.
If you need help setting one up, I walk through the process step by step in this video:
Why This Experiment Is Worth Doing
Most people don’t fail on Pinterest because they’re bad at it. They struggle because their effort is scattered – posting occasionally, switching strategies often, and never giving one approach enough time to work.
This experiment helps you slow down and build a foundation that lasts.
Spending time improving your account will show you exactly how consistency and SEO impact Pinterest reach and how that leads to more traffic and income.
If you want to try ChatGPT to help you with the process, grab the free Pinterest SEO ChatGPT prompt list.
