Troubleshooting Part #2: Keywords

Summary

Simple Pin Podcast: Simple Ways to Boost Your Business Using Pinterest
Episode Summary: Troubleshooting Part #2: Keywords
Release Date: June 4, 2025
Host: Kate Ahl
Co-Host: [Unknown]

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Introduction and Episode Overview

In the second installment of the "Troubleshooting Pinterest" series, host Kate Ahl and her co-host delve deep into the critical role of keywords in Pinterest marketing. This episode, titled "Troubleshooting Part #2: Keywords," was released on June 4, 2025, and provides invaluable insights for business owners aiming to optimize their Pinterest strategies effectively.

The Crucial Role of Keywords on Pinterest

From the outset, Kate emphasizes the foundational importance of keywords within the Pinterest ecosystem.

Kate Ahl states at [00:37] (MM:SS):
*"Without keywords, we really wouldn't have Pinterest. It would just be a bunch of pretty pictures thrown around."_

This highlights that keywords are not merely an add-on but the backbone that ensures content is discoverable and relevant to users searching for specific topics or products.

Common Challenges in Keyword Utilization

Despite their importance, many marketers struggle with effective keyword usage on Pinterest. The co-host identifies a prevalent issue:

Unknown Co-Host at [03:51]:
*"The problem that I see with Pinterest keywords out there is... people are not being intentional about choosing the right keywords or they simply don't even know where to go to choose the right keywords."_

This lack of intentionality often stems from marketing fatigue, where content creators hastily populate descriptions without thoughtful keyword integration, leading to underperforming pins.

Practical Solutions and Best Practices

To address these challenges, Kate and her co-host offer actionable strategies:

1. Be Intentional and Methodical

Kate Ahl encourages slowing down to focus on keyword selection:

Kate Ahl at [05:29]:
*"One, slow a little bit down and get intentional."_

By methodically choosing relevant keywords, marketers can enhance the visibility and effectiveness of their pins.

2. Leverage Pinterest's Native Tools

Kate Ahl introduces Pinterest Trends as a valuable resource:

Kate Ahl at [06:02]:
*"There's two native tools that Pinterest has—the Trends bar on Pinterest."_

Pinterest Trends provides insights into trending keywords across different seasons and categories, enabling users to align their content with what’s currently popular.

3. Utilize Third-Party Keyword Tools

The co-host highlights Tailwind's keyword tool as an alternative:

Unknown Co-Host at [06:40]:
*"Tailwind also has a keyword tool that you can use."_

These tools help identify popular and relevant keywords, allowing marketers to target their audience more effectively.

4. Incorporate Consistent Keyword Themes

Maintaining a spreadsheet of preferred keywords can streamline the pin creation process:

Unknown Co-Host at [07:04]:
*"You can get a general idea of what you want to use as your keywords and just use those."_

By having a repository of tested keywords, marketers can ensure consistency and efficiency in their campaigns.

5. Harness the Power of AI

AI tools like Claude can assist in crafting optimized descriptions:

Kate Ahl at [08:05]:
*"I like Claude. I feel like it writes in a really great voice."_

Unknown Co-Host adds at [07:38]:
*"You could even ask it to write 10 to 20 for you if you know you're going to be using it on different products or different pieces of content."_

AI not only speeds up the description writing process but also ensures that the content is optimized with the right keywords.

Addressing Automated Posting Issues

A significant pitfall discussed is the reliance on Instagram's auto-post feature, which can lead to non-optimized Pinterest descriptions:

Unknown Co-Host at [04:31]:
*"People will turn on the auto post feature from Instagram so that all it will take an Instagram post and auto pin it to Pinterest."_

This often results in descriptions that aren’t tailored for Pinterest’s search algorithms, causing pins to underperform. Kate advises reviewing and optimizing these auto-generated descriptions to ensure they incorporate relevant keywords.

Free Resources for Enhanced Keyword Strategy

To further support listeners, Kate announces a comprehensive keyword planning guide:

Kate Ahl at [02:35]:
*"We have created an extensive... keyword planning guide... it's yours for free."_

Listeners can access this 20-page guide, which covers over ten categories, including trending keywords, seasonal keyword ideas, and brainstorming techniques, by visiting simplepinmedia.com.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In wrapping up, Kate and her co-host reinforce the necessity of keyword optimization:

Kate Ahl at [09:08]:
*"You need to keyword on Pinterest so that your products or your content get found."_

They urge marketers to evaluate their current keyword strategies and make necessary adjustments to enhance their Pinterest performance.

Upcoming Topics

The episode concludes with a teaser for the next installment in the series:

Unknown Co-Host at [09:54]:
*"Next up, we are going to actually cover our third and final installment of troubleshooting Pinterest marketing, and that is content."_

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kate Ahl [00:37]:
  "Without keywords, we really wouldn't have Pinterest. It would just be a bunch of pretty pictures thrown around."

• Kate Ahl [03:51]:
  "People are not being intentional about choosing the right keywords or they simply don't even know where to go to choose the right keywords."

• Kate Ahl [05:29]:
  "One, slow a little bit down and get intentional."

• Unknown Co-Host [07:38]:
  "You could even ask it to write 10 to 20 for you if you know you're going to be using it on different products or different pieces of content."

• Kate Ahl [09:08]:
  "You need to keyword on Pinterest so that your products or your content get found."

Resources Mentioned

• Pinterest Keyword Planning Guide: Available for free at simplepinmedia.com
• Pinterest Trends Tool: Accessible via Pinterest’s Trends page
• Tailwind's Keyword Tool: Available through the Tailwind platform
• AI Tools for Description Writing: Claude recommended as a preferred option

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This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for marketers seeking to refine their Pinterest keyword strategies. By addressing common pitfalls and offering practical solutions, Kate Ahl and her co-host provide listeners with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance their Pinterest marketing efforts effectively.

Transcript

[Kate All]

Hey there, and welcome back to another episode of the Simplepen podcast.

[Unknown Co-Host]

This is part two in our Troubleshooting.

[Kate All]

Pinterest series, and it's all about keywords. Keywords have been a part of the.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Pinterest ecosystem for over 10 years.

[Kate All]

It's essentially how pins get surfaced when pinners search for a particular topic or product.

[Unknown Co-Host]

It's also how pins end up in your home feed and after you've searched for something.

[Kate All]

Without keywords, we really wouldn't have Pinterest. It would just be a bunch of.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Pretty pictures thrown around.

[Kate All]

So then, as a marketer, how do we add these in, where do we find them, and frankly, how do we be intentional about them? A lot of people struggle with keywords.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And I think part of the reason.

[Kate All]

They struggle is that they've done so, so much marketing and so much content creation that we get to this point at Pinterest and we just kind of slap up a description. I know, I am guilty of that, too.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I've created a podcast, I've created this video, and then I get to this part about a Pinterest image, which takes.

[Kate All]

Me an extra bit of time, and then you want me to write a few sentences that describe it with creativity and, and with a lot of intention. Frankly, by that point, I slow down a bit. I have covered the topic of Pinterest keywords extensively over the last nine years of this podcast.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I actually went back to look through my website and lost count of how many posts I had done. In fact, one of the very first podcasts I did, number 35, in fact.

[Kate All]

We'Re on 427, was around this topic. So what I'm going to do today is I'm not going to spend too much time on it because frankly, I've done it a lot.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I want to list some resources for.

[Kate All]

You, but most importantly, I want to talk about the problem that I see.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And a few things you can do.

[Kate All]

To fix it, as well as leave.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You with some resources. Stay with us.

[Unknown Announcer]

You're listening to the Simple Pen podcast, Pinterest. For business advice that goes down smooth and easy. Here's your host, Kate All.

[Kate All]

Since we're talking about key wording, I do want to bring this up. We have created an extensive, and by extensive, I mean probably around 20 pages covering 10 plus categories, all about how to use keywords in your Pinterest marketing. If you are, let's say, dry with ideas.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Inside this keyword planning guide, there's trending.

[Kate All]

Keywords for all seasons, how to use.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Keywords, how to not use keywords, Non seasonal keyword ideas, and season seasonal keyword.

[Kate All]

Ideas in addition to additional pages that.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Can give you ideas for brainstorming, places.

[Kate All]

To take notes, and it's yours for free.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Simply scroll down below in the description and you'll find this freebie there.

[Kate All]

It's simplepinmedia.com it's our keyword guide, so don't forget to grab that link.

[Unknown Co-Host]

If you are diving into this episode already and you're thinking, well, I'm just.

[Kate All]

Going to go get the guide, that's fine too.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You don't have to stick around. So that's kind of like your cheat sheet. So go ahead and grab our free.

[Kate All]

Pinterest keyword guide guide on our website below. Okay, back to the episode keywords. Okay, so the problem that I see with Pinterest keywords out there is what.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I said in the beginning. People are not being intentional about choosing the right keywords or they simply don't even know where to go to choose.

[Kate All]

The right keywords, which I understand it is hard when you are thinking about Google, you're thinking about YouTube, you're thinking about Instagram or TikTok and Facebook, you're thinking about all of them.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And you have to assume on some.

[Kate All]

Level that people are searching the same keyword. But sometimes what we find is that.

[Unknown Co-Host]

People on Pinterest might not be searching that same keyword. So it's worth the due diligence to.

[Kate All]

Spend at least five or ten minutes just double checking.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The other problem I see is that.

[Kate All]

People will turn on the auto post feature from Instagram so that all it will take an Instagram post and auto.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Pin it to Pinterest.

[Kate All]

If you have no idea what I'm.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Talking about and this is new news to you, I'll leave a link to a video below where you can talk.

[Kate All]

About why this was created and how.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To turn it on or to turn it off. A lot of people who don't have websites will leave this turned on because Instagram is their main point of content creation. This is great, but what happens is that your description on Instagram is not.

[Kate All]

Nothing like what your description should be on Pinterest.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Therefore, we have a lot of pins.

[Kate All]

That you've put out onto Pinterest that.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Are not optimized or don't have the right keyword.

[Kate All]

And then people stand back and say Pinterest isn't working. It doesn't work for me.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I don't understand it.

[Kate All]

I'm going to give up. But before you give up, here's a.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Few fixes you should know, but that.

[Kate All]

You can put in place before you jump ship. One, slow a little bit down and get intentional.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I know this part is hard. We are fast and furious. I do it all the time.

[Kate All]

I have all these things on my checklist. All the T's are crossed, the eyes are dotted. It feels like.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And then I bump up into this.

[Kate All]

Thing and it's like, oh, you're kidding me.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I have to give another five to ten minutes to this.

[Kate All]

It's okay.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You can slow down and you can use a tool. We have a few tools out there.

[Kate All]

One, there's two native tools that Pinterest has the Trends bar on Pinterest, not.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Trends bar, the Trends tool. You can find this by going to Trends. Pinterest. Com.

[Kate All]

There's so much information in this now.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Don't let that make you feel overwhelmed.

[Kate All]

It's good information. There's a lot of creative ideas you.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Can get from this. A lot of new keyword ideas.

[Kate All]

If you're looking for what keyword to use, start there. Number two, the search bar.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You can go on your phone, you can go on desktop.

[Kate All]

Simply search to surface which keyword you want to use.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Tailwind also has a keyword tool that you can use.

[Kate All]

You can search up what keywords are most popular, or there's some other ones out there that you could potentially use as well. Regardless of whatever tool you use, the important part is that you use one.

[Unknown Co-Host]

So that you can start to begin to get an idea of where you're going to target. Now, you don't have to do this.

[Kate All]

Every single time you create a new.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Post or a new pin.

[Kate All]

You can get a general idea of what you want to use as your. Your keywords and just use those.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You could even put them into a.

[Kate All]

Spreadsheet, pull them in every time, or Maybe you have 10 or so variations of descriptions that you want to use. I do want to make this note here, since AI is coming into the discussion and there's been a lot of conversation about images on Pinterest being AI modified.

[Unknown Co-Host]

We did ask the Pinterest team, I.

[Kate All]

Am an educator with Pinterest, if the AI would be flagged like it's flagged right now. If you use AI to create an image, it's a little thing that says AI modified. If the description is written with AI, is that also flagged? And what we know at this time is it is not. And I think that's really great because using AI, I like Claude.

[Unknown Co-Host]

That is my favorite.

[Kate All]

I feel like it writes in a really great voice. Plus I don't get all the rocket emojis that you get from Chat GPT, so leverage these tools to make that part quicker. But just double check it to make sure it's using the right keyword. You could even ask it we use.

[Unknown Co-Host]

A key, an optimized keyword for Pinterest.

[Kate All]

In this description and it makes it so quick.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You can even ask it to write.

[Kate All]

10 to 20 for you if you know you're going to be using it on different products or different pieces of content. So you leverage them but make sure.

[Unknown Co-Host]

They sound like normal, natural sounding sentences.

[Kate All]

And I believe I for some reason.

[Unknown Co-Host]

I heard that it might have been.

[Kate All]

Increased, but I think it's 500 characters still. For your description, we'll list the specifications down below in the description and just.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Begin to get into this rhythm and this habit. Most of you who are listening to this podcast have been listening for a while. So you know, keywords are important. But some of you who are new.

[Kate All]

To Pinterest might be asking, well, why do I need to keyword?

[Unknown Co-Host]

You need to keyword on Pinterest so.

[Kate All]

That your products or your content get found. That's it. It's that simple. Okay, this was a short and sweet episode. There wasn't a whole lot that I needed to cover here that I haven't covered before, but I wanted to bring it to the forefront to have you be thinking about these things in particular so that you could ask yourself, am I doing pretty good at keywords or am I really ignoring them and kind of brushing past them and being super unintentional about them? If that's you, slow down a little bit, get intentional about keywords and get very specific about the ones that you're using. Okay, next up, we are going to actually cover our third and final installment of troubleshooting Pinterest marketing.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And that is content.

[Kate All]

Been asked about it lately again, so I'm going to dive into it next week on our podcast. Thanks so much for listening.