Pinterest is a search engine as much as it is a social platform. When someone types "easy weeknight dinners" or "boho living room ideas" into the Pinterest search bar, the results they see are determined by the keywords in those Pins' titles, descriptions, and associated content.
If your Pins aren't using the right keywords, they won't show up — no matter how beautiful they are. Tailwind's Keyword Research tool is built to help you find and use the exact keywords that will get your content in front of the right people.
Why Keywords Matter on Pinterest
Pinterest's algorithm uses keywords to understand what your content is about and decide who to show it to. Keywords appear in:
Pin titles — the first thing Pinterest's algorithm reads
Pin descriptions — provides context and reinforces relevance
Board names and descriptions — helps Pinterest categorize your entire profile
Alt text — additional signal for search relevance
Strong keywords don't just help with search — they also help Pinterest distribute your content in home feeds and related Pin recommendations to users who haven't searched for your topic but might be interested. The better your keywords, the broader and more targeted your reach can be.
Unlike Google, where SEO can take months to show results, Pinterest keyword optimization can start working quickly — especially when combined with fresh Pin creation and engagement tools like Turbo.
The Tailwind Keyword Research Tool
Tailwind's Keyword Research tool is available at tailwindapp.com/dashboard/v2/keywords/pinterest. It analyzes signals from across Pinterest and combines them into a simple score so you can quickly see which keywords will drive the best results for your content.
What the Tool Shows You
For any keyword you search, Tailwind pulls together several Pinterest-specific signals in one view:
Monthly search volume — How often Pinterest users are searching for this keyword each month
Related Ideas & Interests — Topic areas Pinterest associates with your keyword, useful for understanding your audience
Typeahead Suggestions — The autocomplete phrases Pinterest shows when users start typing your keyword — these are highly valuable because they reflect real search behavior
Pinterest Trends — Whether interest in a keyword is rising, seasonal, or declining over time
Ads Audience Sizes — The potential audience size for keyword-targeted content, a useful indicator of demand
Shopping Intent — Whether searchers using this keyword tend to be in a buying mindset (high-intent keywords are especially valuable for product-based content)
💡 Tip: Queries show partial results instantly, with full data available within a few minutes. If you don't see complete data right away, give it a moment and refresh.
How to Use the Keyword Research Tool
Step 1: Search by Keyword or URL
Head to the Keyword Research tool and enter either:
A topic or keyword you want to rank for (e.g., "healthy meal prep")
A webpage URL from your site — Tailwind will analyze the page and suggest relevant keywords automatically
Review the results and look for keywords with strong monthly search volume, rising trends, and high shopping intent (if relevant to your content).
Step 2: Save Your Best Keywords
When you find a keyword you want to use, save it to your keyword list. Saved keywords are stored in the Saved Keywords tab, where you can:
View and organize all your saved keywords in one place
Add keywords manually if you already know what you want to target
Add a URL to associate saved keywords with specific pages on your site
Copy keywords quickly to paste into Pin titles and descriptions
Export your full keyword list as a CSV
Building a solid saved keyword list pays dividends over time — the more keywords you have organized for your key pages and topics, the easier it becomes to write optimized Pin copy quickly.
Step 3: Apply Keywords to Your Pins
Saved keywords are most powerful when they're woven into every Pin you create. Here's where to use them:
Pin title — Lead with your primary keyword. Pinterest gives the title strong weight in search.
Pin description — Use 2–3 related keywords naturally in a sentence or two. Don't just list keywords — write copy that reads well for a human while including your target phrases.
Alt text — Add your primary keyword here as well for an extra SEO signal.
Board name and description — Make sure the boards you're pinning to also include relevant keywords. This helps Pinterest understand the overall context of your content.
Using Keywords on Your Pin Drafts
One of the most convenient places keywords show up in Tailwind is directly on your Pin drafts in the Pin Scheduler.
When you open a draft Pin to review or edit it, Tailwind surfaces keyword suggestions inline — based on the content of your Pin and any keywords you've already saved for that URL. This means you don't have to flip back and forth between the Keyword Research tool and your draft; the suggestions come to you right where you're working.
You can use these suggestions to:
Quickly strengthen a Pin title that's missing a search-optimized phrase
Enrich a description with additional keyword variations you might have missed
Confirm that the keywords you've used are strong matches for what Pinterest users are actually searching
This is especially helpful when reviewing SmartPin drafts — Ghostwriter writes your copy automatically, and the keyword suggestions help you verify the Pin is as search-optimized as possible before you schedule it.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Keyword Research
Target a mix of broad and specific keywords. High-volume, broad keywords (like "home decor") are competitive. Long-tail, specific phrases (like "coastal boho living room ideas") have lower volume but face less competition and tend to convert better. A healthy keyword strategy includes both.
Look for high shopping intent when your content is commercial. If you're promoting products, services, or affiliate content, prioritize keywords flagged as high shopping intent. These keywords attract users who are actively looking to buy — exactly the audience you want.
Ride seasonal trends early. The Pinterest Trends chart in the keyword tool shows you when interest in a keyword peaks each year. Plan and create your seasonal content 4–6 weeks before that peak so your Pins have time to gain traction before the surge hits.
Use the URL search to research your own pages. Enter a URL from your site and Tailwind will suggest relevant keywords based on your actual content — a great shortcut for finding the right keywords without starting from scratch.
Let keywords inform your SmartPin setup. When setting up SmartPin for a URL, adding strong keywords ensures that every auto-generated Pin draft will have optimized titles and descriptions built in. You're essentially telling Ghostwriter what to write about before it even starts. Set up SmartPin →
Refresh your keyword list regularly. Pinterest trends shift. What people search for in January isn't always what they search for in July. Check your saved keywords every few months and update them to reflect seasonal changes and emerging trends.
Keywords and Tailwind Credits
Using the Keyword Research tool uses Tailwind Credits. Credits are included in every paid Tailwind plan, so for most users keyword research is simply part of your normal Tailwind workflow. You can see your current credit balance and learn about purchasing additional credits at any time.
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