If you’ve spent any time learning about Pinterest, you’ve probably heard the same advice over and over:
“Use keywords.”
The problem?
Nobody tells you how to actually find them.
So you open Pinterest, stare at the search bar, and wonder:
- What keywords should I use?
- How do I know if people are searching for them?
- Do I need expensive tools?
- Am I just supposed to guess?
The good news is that Pinterest keyword research is much simpler than most people think.
In fact, Pinterest gives you many of the answers directly inside the platform.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to find Pinterest keywords, where to use them, and how they help more people discover your content.
Short on Time?
Here’s the entire process:
- Start typing a topic into Pinterest Search.
- Write down Pinterest’s suggestions.
- Look at the keyword bubbles.
- Create content around those keywords.
- Use those keywords in your pins, boards, and descriptions.
That’s the foundation of Pinterest keyword research.
What Are Pinterest Keywords?
Pinterest keywords are words and phrases people type into Pinterest when they’re looking for ideas, answers, or inspiration.
For example:
Someone might search:
- blogging tips
- Pinterest marketing
- meal planning
- small garden ideas
- wedding decorations
Those search terms are keywords.
When your content matches those keywords, Pinterest has a better chance of showing your pins to the right people.
Think of keywords as clues.
They tell you what your audience wants.
Why Keywords Matter on Pinterest
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is treating Pinterest like social media.
Pinterest is much closer to a search engine.
People aren’t opening Pinterest to see what their friends had for dinner.
They’re opening Pinterest because they’re looking for something.
That means Pinterest needs to understand:
- What your content is about
- Who it’s for
- When to show it
Keywords help Pinterest make those connections.
Without keywords, Pinterest has to guess.
With keywords, Pinterest has a much better understanding of your content.
Method #1: Use Pinterest Search Suggestions
This is my favorite method because it’s simple, free, and comes directly from Pinterest.
Go to Pinterest.
Click the search bar.
Start typing a topic related to your niche.
Let’s use:
easy dinner recipes
As you type, Pinterest will start suggesting additional searches.
You might see:
- easy dinner recipes for families
- easy dinner recipes for picky eaters
- easy dinner recipes on a budget
- easy dinner recipes healthy
- easy dinner recipes for two
Those suggestions aren’t random.
They come from real searches people are making on Pinterest.
In other words, Pinterest is showing you exactly what users are interested in.
That’s valuable information.
If multiple people are searching for “easy dinner recipes for picky eaters,” that could become:
- A blog post
- A Pinterest pin
- A recipe roundup
- A meal planning guide
The same strategy works in every niche.
Whether you’re writing about food, home decor, parenting, travel, or blogging, Pinterest search suggestions can help you discover topics people are actively searching for.
When you find a keyword that fits your content, write it down.
You’ve just found a potential content idea straight from your audience.
Method #2: Use the Keyword Bubbles
After you search for a topic, Pinterest often displays colored keyword bubbles below the search bar.
These bubbles help users narrow down their search.
They also give you clues about what Pinterest connects to that topic.
Let’s use a food blog example.
Search:
easy dinner recipes
You might see keyword bubbles such as:
- healthy
- family
- quick
- chicken
- budget
- crockpot
What does that tell us?
It tells us that Pinterest users searching for easy dinner recipes are also interested in:
- Healthy meals
- Family-friendly dinners
- Quick recipes
- Chicken recipes
- Budget meals
- Slow cooker recipes
That’s valuable information.
Those keyword bubbles can become content ideas all on their own.
For example:
- Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
- 25 Family-Friendly Dinner Ideas
- Quick Chicken Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes
- Budget-Friendly Meals the Whole Family Will Eat
- Easy Crockpot Recipes for Busy Families
The more bubbles you see, the more insight you have into what people are searching for.
And because these suggestions come directly from Pinterest, they’re often a great indicator of topics Pinterest already understands and associates with your niche.
Don’t ignore the keyword bubbles.
They’re one of the easiest ways to discover new content ideas and related keywords without using any paid tools.
Method #3: Look at Related Searches
Scroll through Pinterest results.
Pay attention to:
- pin titles
- descriptions
- recurring phrases
Patterns will start appearing.
If the same phrase keeps showing up, there’s usually a reason.
People are searching for it.
Pinterest is rewarding it.
That doesn’t mean you should copy.
It means you should pay attention.
Method #4: Use Your Existing Blog Topics
One of the easiest places to find Pinterest keywords is your own content.
You don’t always need to start your keyword research from scratch.
Sometimes the best keywords are already hiding inside the blog posts you’ve written.
Let’s use a food blog as an example.
Imagine you’ve written a post called:
Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes for Busy Families
Possible Pinterest keywords might include:
- easy dinner recipes
- family dinner ideas
- weeknight meals
- quick dinner recipes
- easy family meals
Notice how one blog post can naturally support several related keywords.
That’s important because people don’t always search for the exact same phrase.
One person might search:
easy dinner recipes
While someone else searches:
quick family meals
They’re looking for similar content, but using different words.
Pinterest understands those relationships.
That’s why it’s helpful to look at your existing blog posts and ask:
“What keywords would someone use to find this content?”
You may discover that a single article can inspire:
- Multiple Pinterest keywords
- Multiple pin titles
- Multiple pin designs
In other words, one blog post can generate a lot of Pinterest content.
That’s one of the reasons Pinterest and blogging work so well together.
You create one helpful piece of content, then use Pinterest keywords to help more people discover it.
How to Choose the Right Keywords
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is chasing the broadest possible keywords.
Bigger isn’t always better.
In fact, more specific keywords are often easier to rank for and do a better job of attracting the right audience.
Let’s use a food blog as an example.
Instead of targeting:
Dinner Recipes
Try:
Easy Dinner Recipes for Families
Instead of:
Chicken Recipes
Try:
30-Minute Chicken Dinner Recipes
Instead of:
Healthy Meals
Try:
Healthy Weeknight Dinners for Busy Families
Why?
Because specific keywords tell us more about what the searcher wants.
Someone searching:
Dinner Recipes
Could be looking for almost anything.
But someone searching:
Easy Dinner Recipes for Families
Has a very clear goal.
They want family-friendly meals that are simple to make.
The more specific the keyword, the easier it is to create content that matches exactly what the reader is looking for.
And that’s good for both Pinterest and your audience.
Instead of trying to reach everyone, focus on helping a specific person solve a specific problem.
That’s often where the best Pinterest traffic comes from.
Where to Use Pinterest Keywords
Finding keywords is only half the process.
Now you need to use them.
Pin Titles
Your keyword should appear naturally in your title.
Example:
Pinterest Keyword Research for Beginners
Pin Descriptions
Describe what the reader will learn.
Use your keyword naturally.
Avoid keyword stuffing.
Board Names
Instead of:
Dinner Recipes
Try:
Easy Dinner Recipes for Families
Instead of:
Healthy Meals
Try:
Healthy Weeknight Dinners for Busy Families
Board Descriptions
Tell Pinterest what the board is about.
Keywords belong here too.
Your Content
Pinterest looks at your website.
If your pin says:
Healthy Weeknight Dinners for Busy Families
But your article is about gardening…
Pinterest gets confused.
Everything should align.
My Beginner Pinterest Workflow
If I publish a new blog post today, here’s what I’d do:
Step 1
Choose one primary keyword.
Step 2
Gather related keywords from:
- Pinterest suggestions
- Keyword bubbles
- Related searches
Step 3
Create 3–5 pin designs.
Step 4
Use keywords in:
- pin titles
- pin descriptions
- relevant boards
Step 5
Repeat for every new blog post.
That’s it.
No complicated systems.
No expensive software.
Just a repeatable process.
Common Pinterest Keyword Mistakes
Guessing
Pinterest already provides keyword clues.
Use them.
Being Too Broad
Specific keywords usually perform better.
Keyword Stuffing
Pinterest wants natural language.
Not a list of repeated keywords.
Ignoring Search Intent
Make sure your content matches what people are actually looking for.
Chasing Trends Instead of Questions
Helpful content often outperforms trendy content in the long run.
Your Pinterest Keyword Research Checklist
Before creating a pin, ask yourself:
☐ Did I identify a primary keyword?
☐ Did I gather related keywords?
☐ Is my keyword in the pin title?
☐ Is my keyword in the pin description?
☐ Is my content aligned with the keyword?
☐ Does my pin clearly explain the benefit of clicking?
If you can check those boxes, you’re already ahead of many beginners.
Your Next Step
Pinterest keyword research doesn’t have to be complicated.
You don’t need expensive tools.
You don’t need advanced strategies.
You simply need to pay attention to what people are already searching for.
Pinterest gives you those clues every day.
Your job is to notice them.
Because the better you understand what your audience is looking for, the easier it becomes to create content they’ll actually find.
And that’s where Pinterest traffic begins.
Read Next
👉 How to Create Pinterest Pins That Get Clicks
👉 Pinterest for Bloggers: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Traffic
👉 SEO for Complete Beginners: Everything You Need to Know (Without the Jargon)
