The first question I get asked by those new to the Pinterest platform is what is a Pinterest Image Description?
It’s a snippet of text that, ideally, comes from the data-pin-description that is attributed to an image. Pinterest descriptions should be created with both search and exploration in mind. After all we are using Pinterest.
In the world of Pinterest image is everything… or is it?
There are two main elements to a pin. One is the image, the other is the text that describes those images.
What is a Pinterest Image Description?
A Pinterest image description is shown when an image on the Pinterest platform is clicked on for a closer look and to learn more about the pin.
When an image is saved to Pinterest you have a few options on how the description is filled in, the image description might be auto-filled based on the information from your site. It can also be edited or created newly by the user. And there might be a few unlucky pins that are left blank.
Basically, an image description gives the Pinterest user a reason to click through to the website. And we all want that for lead generation.
Where are Pinterest Descriptions taken from on my blog?
Pinterest descriptions are taken from a few places. Pinterest will always try to use the most specific description for the image, and it pulls this from your blog in a specific order. Pinterest might pull from these three places.
- the image’s data-pin-description
- The image’s alt attribute
- The first few sentences from your blog post.
The more specific you are about an image allows Pinterest users to have more information before the click on the pin for a close up or go to the website.
Honestly the last thing you want Pinterest to do is pull the first few sentences from your blog to a Pin Image. So how do you avoid this?
By having Pinterest pull the data-pin-description.
Where the heck can you find that you might ask?
It’s Pinterest magic. It’s a special attribution that you can add to your image that contains a specific description that you’ve formatted just for Pinterest!
Using the data-pin-description allows you to create a description that has the best chance of…
- getting shared by other Pinners (Repins!)
- being discovered in Pinterest searches!
- getting users to click through to your website/blog!
Pretty sweet huh?
Now if you are a master at coding and HTML you can hard code at this to your images. BUT if you are like me and really have no freaking clue what HTML is, nor really want to learn it.
Then you are gonna love this super simple plugin that does all the heavy lifting for you. Meet WPTasty!
This powerful WordPress plugin allows you to add a text description to every image that you add to your blog post. This is brilliant on so many levels and as a Pinterest marketer, a must have plugin for your blog.
You can learn more about it by clicking on WPTasty.
The picture below shows you what it will look like from the back office of your WordPress blog when you upload an image. You see to the left that you have the ability to add Pinterest Text to each image.
Disclaimer: If you choose to purchase WP Tasty, I am an affiliate and will make a few dollars when you purchase. The good news is that you can also become an affiliate… and make your back your $27/year investment. ?
How To Write Great Pinterest Descriptions!
Creating a great Pinterest description is part art and part SEO. A good description spikes a Pinner’s interest and gets them to do something, like click through to your blog/website.
A great Pinterest description also helps a pin perform well in the Pinterest search. With only 500 words at your fingertips, you have your work cut out for you. Good thing I’m gonna share some of my secrets with you right now.
Get Into the Pinner’s Mind!
Remember Pinterest isn’t a social platform. It is a visual search engine platform. Over 2 billion searches are performed on Pinterest every single month. This is a huge opportunity for you to get your content discovered by Pinterest users.
The image description on a pin helps Pinterest understand what the pin is about.
We want to get into the Pinner’s mind and think about what THEY are searching for on Pinterest. What searches do you want your Pins to show up for? How can we match the expected search queries with the content description of our pins?
A few facts that I discovered from WPTasty.
- 75% of searches on Pinterest come from 1-3 word queries
- 97% don’t include a brand name
- Pinners are looking for ideas, not necessarily specific entities
Let’s say you have a product from your network marketing company that is called Simplicity. It’s a pretty safe bet that most people outside of your network marketing company don’t know what that product is or even the name of it. It’s too specific and pinners are searching for brand or company names.
Imagine how you would search Pinterest… it might look like this.
- Weight loss shake
- Nutritional weight loss
- Simple weight loss diet
- Weight loss drinks
That right there is the magic. Those are the types of words you want to be included in your Pinterest description. The better your content matches the search query, the higher your chance that your Pin will show up for those searches. But we don’t want to be someone that stuffs our Pinterest descriptions with a bunch of search terms… YUCK!
Make it make sense
Take the search term you want to use and turn them into a sentence that makes sense. Remember that only the first 75-100 characters show up in the search results, so those first few words are key.
The closer your first few words match the search query, the more likely you are to get that click! And that is Search 101 peeps!
Also note that Pins now have headlines. Use that to highlight your top keyword phrases as part of the title. Make it conversational.
Toss in some Hashtags…
Pinterest recently endorsed the hashtag back into the description. For a while there, hashtags were a no, no. And now they are back and ready to be used for your fun and pleasure.
Actually, this is something you really want to pay attention to. Using hashtags in your Pin image is a game-changer. With as many millennials on the Pinterest platform… many are searching Pinterest with hashtags.
So keep your hashtags relevant and consider how you would use hashtags to search on the Pinterest platform. Keep hashtags between 4-10 per description. Some guidelines to follow
- Include hashtags that apply specifically to your pin
- Include hashtags that can encompass whatever is in your pin.
- DON’T use random hashtags that no one uses #omgAmIUsingTheWrongHashTag
- Don’t use unrelated hashtags just because they are popular or trending.
- Check out other Pinterest users in your niche and see what hashtags they are using.
- Search Pinterest with your hashtag and see what comes up. Check out what other hashtags were used.
To Add URL or Not?
This is a question that I get every now and then. Should you add your url to the pin description.
Honestly, if you are creating pins the right way… You know that every pin you add to the Pinterest platform should have a related URL link.
I wouldn’t waste the little space you have by adding your URL. I would maximize your pin description with search phrases and hashtags.
Now that you have the perfect description… how about know the right pin size to use. With the newest Pinterest update, I recommend reading this also!
Did you find this helpful? Let me know what you think in the comments below. Also, I would greatly appreciate if you shared on Pinterest and Facebook.
Yours in Gratitude,
Chef Katrina
