Type your topic into the Pinterest search bar and write down the suggestions that drop down. Click one, then note the word bubbles under the search bar. Check seasonal timing in Pinterest Trends. Pick one main keyword per pin, put it at the start of the title, and use one or two related phrases in the description.
Why Pinterest keywords matter
Pinterest can see your picture, but it still leans hard on words to decide who should see it. If your pin says "Our Sunday favorite" and people search "easy pot roast", you won't meet. The keyword is the bridge.
The good news is that Pinterest tells you, for free, exactly what people type. You don't need to guess, and you don't need an expensive tool to get started.
Method 1: The Pinterest search bar
This is the best free Pinterest keyword tool there is, and it's right at the top of the screen. Every suggestion in the drop-down is a phrase real people search for.
- Type the broad topic, like "banana bread". Don't press enter yet.
- Write down the suggestions that appear: "banana bread recipe", "banana bread recipe easy", "banana bread muffins" and so on.
- Add a letter after your topic, like "banana bread a", "banana bread b", to shake out more suggestions.
- Do the same with words like "easy", "healthy", "best" and "ideas" in front of your topic.
Use the website on a computer for this, and log out or use a private window if you can. Your own history can nudge the suggestions a little.
Method 2: The word bubbles under the search bar
After you search for something, Pinterest shows a row of colored bubbles just under the search bar. These are the most common ways people narrow that search. Search "living room ideas" and you'll see bubbles like "cozy", "small", "modern", "boho" and "apartment".
Each bubble is a ready-made keyword: "cozy living room ideas", "small living room ideas". Click one and you'll get a new row of bubbles that goes even more specific. Two or three clicks deep is where you find the phrases with less competition.
Method 3: Pinterest Trends
Pinterest Trends (trends.pinterest.com) shows how searches for a phrase rise and fall over the year. It's the best way to answer "when should I pin this?". Type a keyword and you'll see a line chart, plus related terms that are growing.
You'll notice that many topics peak well before the date. "Christmas cookies" starts climbing in October. "Garden planning" climbs in January and February, long before anyone plants anything. Pin a few weeks before the line starts to climb. Our Pinterest content calendar has these start dates worked out for the big seasons.
Trends needs a business account and isn't available in every country. If you can't see it, the search bar methods still work everywhere.
Method 4: Look at what already ranks
Search your keyword and open the top few pins. Read their titles and descriptions. You're not copying them. You're looking for words you missed. If every top pin for "banana bread" mentions "moist" or "one bowl", those words matter to people searching it.
Also look at the boards those pins are saved to. Board names are written by regular people, and they're a great source of the plain words your readers use.
How to pick the right keyword for each pin
Once you have a list, pick one main keyword per pin and one or two related ones. A simple way to choose:
| Keyword type | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Broad | banana bread | On your strongest pins, in board names. Lots of searches, lots of competition. |
| Specific | easy banana bread recipe | As the main keyword on most pins. Clear intent, easier to rank for. |
| Long and narrow | banana bread with sour cream | On extra pins for the same post. Fewer searches, but very ready to click. |
| Seasonal | fall banana bread | On fresh pins made 6 to 12 weeks before the season. |
The best keyword is the one that matches what's actually on the page. If your recipe doesn't use sour cream, don't use that keyword, even if it's popular. People who click and leave right away teach Pinterest your pin was a bad match.
Where to put your Pinterest keywords
Put the main keyword at the start of your pin title, use it once in the description with a related phrase or two, and use it in the text on the image if there's room. Name boards after broad keywords and use your niche's main words in your profile name.
Write for people. "Easy banana bread recipe, moist and ready in an hour" uses the keyword and still sounds like a person. "Banana bread banana bread recipe easy banana bread" is what not to do. Our Pinterest SEO guide covers each spot in detail.
Keep a simple keyword list you can reuse
Don't redo this research for every pin. Spend an hour once and keep a list in a spreadsheet or a note. Four columns are enough:
| Keyword | Type | Season | Pages it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| easy banana bread recipe | Specific | All year | Banana bread post |
| healthy banana muffins | Specific | January | Banana muffin post |
| fall baking recipes | Broad | September to November | Pumpkin bread, apple cake, board name |
| what to do with ripe bananas | Long and narrow | All year | Banana bread, muffins, smoothie posts |
Add to it whenever the search bar suggests something new. After a few months, you'll have a list that makes writing every pin quicker.
Pinterest keyword mistakes to avoid
- Stuffing: listing ten keywords in a row. It reads as spam and doesn't help.
- Clever titles with no keyword: "Sunday mood" tells Pinterest nothing.
- Using a popular keyword that doesn't match the page. Clicks that bounce hurt more than they help.
- Using the exact same title on every pin for a page. Each fresh pin is a chance to target a different search.
- Only using broad keywords. "Dinner" is too crowded. "Easy one-pan chicken dinner" is where you can win.
A quick example, start to finish
Say you have a post about a small balcony garden. In 15 minutes you might find:
- From the search bar: "small balcony garden ideas", "balcony garden apartment", "balcony vegetable garden".
- From the bubbles: "small balcony garden ideas budget", "balcony garden ideas privacy".
- From Trends: searches start rising in February and peak in April and May.
So you'd make three pins and start in February. Pin one: "Small balcony garden ideas for apartments". Pin two: "Balcony vegetable garden for beginners". Pin three: "Cheap small balcony garden ideas". Same post, three different searches, spaced a week or two apart.
Quick answers
What is the best free Pinterest keyword tool?
The Pinterest search bar. Its drop-down suggestions and the word bubbles under it are real searches. Pinterest Trends adds when people search.
How many keywords should I use per pin?
One main keyword and one or two related phrases. More than that usually reads as spam to people and to Pinterest.
Do Google keywords work on Pinterest?
Partly. People search Pinterest for ideas, so words like "ideas", "easy" and "aesthetic" are more common there. Always check the Pinterest search bar too.
Why can't I see Pinterest Trends?
It needs a business account and isn't available in every country yet. The search bar method works for everyone.
