Writing Great Descriptions on Pinterest

I have been using Pinterest since it first came out and have since then noticed people neglecting the most important part of a pin after the image itself i.e. the description of a pin. It’s time to understand the importance of pin descriptions and learning how to write them effectively.


A normal user on Pinterest need not bother changing the descriptions or writing great ones but a social media marketer cannot neglect them at any cost. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when writing the descriptions-

Utilizing the Space

There is a 500 word limit on the pin descriptions, utilize this space to add all the important information related to the pin. Describe what this pin is about and also what to expect from the link where it takes you. You can add information that is obvious like the color of the product, material used, etc. This will help the potential pinners searching for your product on Pinterest and even search engines.

Adding Links in the Description

When writing the description, you may add links to your website, Pinterest profile or any other place you find relevant. You can add the same link from where the image is pinned but that will not be a good practice. Giving a link to your profile or website homepage will encourage clicks from the viewers who are not interested in the image but something similar.

Using Keywords

You need not do a keyword research here, just think of the words people may be searching for what you are pinning. Now, add those words in your description smartly among all other sentences. Do not write something that is not present on the pin or the website.

Writing New Descriptions when Repinning

Your Pinterest profile is not formed of your own pins but is a collaboration of the pins from all over the website. In your Pinterest marketing strategy, you will surely be pinning images from other users. Whenever you do so, check whether the image you are repinning has a proper description or not. If it’s missing anything, add it on your own and then repin it. This way your pin will perform better in Pinterest search results and more users will be visiting your profile via that pin. Here’s a tip: Look for images that are heavily pinned but have small or inappropriate descriptions. This is for sure that the content in that image is loved by the Pinterest users. Repin this image with a detailed description and you will have your own viral pin. Write about the category where the image belongs to, so whenever people search for that category they see this beautiful image pinned by you.

Using Hashtags

Hashtags on Pinterest are nowhere as popular or powerful as they are on Twitter but they are still significant. Add relevant hashtags wherever appropriate and stick with a maximum of 2 or 3 per pin. See the hashtags used on the post popular pins in a category and use them on your own pins.

This post is entirely focused on the pin descriptions. To learn more about Pinterest marketing, check my previous post on Pinterest marketing tips.