4 Ways of How Pinterest Ranks Pins: A Full Breakdown

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We covered a lot about Pinterest SEO and how to use it to successfully drive traffic to your website. However, what I didn’t cover is how Pinterest is ranking you and how that plays a role in your overall strategy. Do you fully understand how Pinterest ranks Pins?

There are a variety of factors you are going to want to be aware of when it comes to understanding how Pinterest ranks Pins. SEO is one of them. The other ways I will be discussing below.

The Superiority of Your Domain

Pinterest is going to look at your Pins and see how often other pinners are interacting with them.

• How many impressions do your Pins receive?
• How often are they being opened?
• How many times are people clicking through to your website?
• How many times are your Pins being saved by other pinners?

These are all important factors in determining the quality of your domain. The more your Pins are being interacted with, the more Pinterest interprets that as your Pins being a source of high-quality and highly desired content.

These factors influence Pinterest and their determination of how often you will appear in searches related to your content. You want to give your website authority on Pinterest. This is one way of how Pinterest ranks Pins.

The Quality of Your Pins

This is going to include the image, text, and description. It is a major factor in how Pinterest ranks Pins. Are you creating Pins that you would want to click on?

If you want to know how to create Pins the right way, consider everything you are about to read.

First, consider the image

• Is it relevant to what your Pin is about?
• Is it the right size?
• Is it attractive?

Pinterest will look at the image and determine whether it’s relevant to your keywords. For example, pictures that have laptops in them tend to be associated with blogging. Pinterest sees a laptop and that’s what they relate it to.

Make sure it’s an attractive photo too. Would you click on it if you saw it in the feed next to all the other beautiful, well thought out Pins?

Finally, keep in mind that size is also very important. Pinterest wants to see vertical Pins. They are not a fan of square photos. This isn’t to say that they aren’t allowed, they simply aren’t favored.

Pinterest wants pictures with 1000 x 1500 pixels or a 2:3 ratio no smaller than 600 x 900. If you use a platform such as Canva, they have an option to choose a Pinterest pin design.

It will automatically size the image to the desired pixels. If not, you can choose custom dimensions and type them in yourself.  

Second, consider the text

• What text are you going to choose to be on that image?
• Are you including keywords?
• Can it be easily read?
• Is it going to make someone want to click on your Pin?

Don’t forget, Pinterest can read your Pin so make sure you’re picking something good.

Most people tend to use the title of their article. If not, choose something super catchy that’s in line with your title. You want everything to be cohesive for when Pinterest begins to try and understand exactly what your Pin is about.

Also, choose an attractive font that can be easily read. I personally skip right over the Pins that are hard to read or lack the lust factor. Make it where everyone wants to click on your Pin.

Third, consider the description

• Are you using the right keywords?
• Is it readable and in sentence format?
• Are you presenting a call to action to get a click through?
• Are you adding 3-4 relevant hashtags? (Yes, that’s apparently a thing).

This doesn’t mean to treat the description area the way you do Pinterest and max out space with hashtags. It means adding 3-4 related to your Pin after you type out a normal description.

I’d suggest using your blog name as one too. Example: #awonderfullyimperfectlife

I put this on every single picture on my Instagram and I do the same on my Pinterest. This will help you to be more easily found when anyone searches for your Pins. This is the second way of how Pinterest ranks Pins.

Your Quality

As crazy as it may sound, Pinterest also evaluates you as the pinner. It’s another factor in how Pinterest ranks Pins.

• Are you creating quality Pins?
• Are the Pins you are saving from other user’s quality Pins?
• Are you being consistent?

They are basically grading you and these major factors. Not only are they looking at the quality of your Pins, but also the ones you are re-pinning.

Are you choosing popular, high-quality Pins to save to your boards? If not, you may want to reconsider your strategy. Pinterest wants the best of the best. If they see you pinning spammy or low-quality Pins, they will ultimately lower your rating within their platform.

Keep in mind too, you want to make sure that when you are re-pinning, you are pinning to relevant boards.

I personally have seen what I’m about to explain.

I have gone on people’s profiles to check out all their boards. Look at the names of their boards and the Pins saved within them.

What I’ve seen multiple times are boards named, “re-Pins board” or “Group board” or “Everything board.” This is exactly what Pinterest does NOT want to see.

If you are one of these types of Pinterest “people,” I’d suggest you change that immediately. Pinterest doesn’t like it and neither do your fellow pinners.

This negatively affects the ability of their Pins to gain authority. This is the third way of how Pinterest ranks Pins.

How Relevant Your Keywords are To the Pin

Keywords are so extremely important. You need to be sure they are accurate, highly searched for, and placed properly.

This is what will tell Pinterest exactly what your Pins are about. Once Pinterest understands your Pin, they have a much better chance of matching it to the right users.

The users that want to see it, engage with it, and hopefully re-Pin it. This is the fourth way of how Pinterest ranks Pins.

If you want a better understanding of Pinterest SEO and Pins, check out How Implementing Pinterest SEO Best Strategies Benefits You. This is going to go into more detail about placing your keywords properly and maximizing your SEO strategy.

My Thoughts

Do it right the first time around. I’m telling you as someone who messed up their entire strategy and am now trying to go back and fix it.

I made so many mistakes and have given myself double the work to try and do it correctly.

Don’t just rush into making your Pins. Know how to create Pins correctly. If you’re new to Pinterest, look at other Pins, and what they look like.

What attracts you to certain Pins versus others? Is it the color? The font? The picture? The verbiage?

Take all that into consideration when creating yours. Every Pin is being evaluated and ultimately will determine your success on Pinterest. Just remember all the ways on how Pinterest ranks Pins.

Create stunning Pins and be consistent. You won’t see results overnight. Eventually, though, you will. Your monthly page views on Pinterest will go up, your followers will start to increase and this will hopefully result in the traffic to your website rising as well. Be patient and you will see results.

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