The inspiration for this week’s Friday Pinterest Quick Tip comes from Judy in Pennsylvania. Judy came by the blog and left a question about using hashtags or #s on Pinterest. If you’re a Twitter user you’re probably pretty familiar with them but on Pinterest they work a bit differently. Please see the latest update on using Hashtags on Pinterest here.
Using #’s in Board Titles
Judy’s question was about using hashtags or #s in a group board’s name. She’s starting a group board about inspirational quotes and asked “To be more searchable for the inspirational quote area, should I put # before (key)words such as #inspirational or #inspiration…?”
Like this:
From my research on Pinterest, #s used in board titles or in board descriptions seem to have no impact on making boards easier to find in Pinterest searches. I was able to find only 1 board named #Inspirational quotes and it was way down on the list.
The search function of Pinterst is somewhat of a mystery to me. I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me how Pinterest decides who or what appears in the search and in what order. For example, on the day of writing this post I did a search for inspirational quotes boards and the first board listed was for a Pinterest account with 56 followers and the most recent pin on the board had been pinned 22 weeks ago.
It doesn’t seem that Pinterest uses the number of followers, the number of pins or the board’s activity to order search results. Could it be completely random? Actually, I like the idea of it being random, that means everyone has a shot of being listed first!
How can #’s be used on Pinterest?
Where #s really seem to show their muscle on Pinterest is in pin descriptions. The # is clickable within the pin’s description and when clicked, it searches and pulls up the other pins that use the the same # or words in their description. It seems to be a shortcut for using the search box.
For example, in the contest I entered with Bazaart and Lionesque Style. I had to use a # in my pin’s description to enter the contest, it was #Lionesquestyle. (You can read more about that contest here.) The # made it easy for Lionesque Style to find contest entries.
An example of a less effective use of a # on Pinterest is when it is used with a common keyword. I’m guilty of this mistake hoping to make my pin more searchable. In the example below, I used #Pinterest in the pin’s description. When clicked, every pin with Pinterest in the description and some that just linked back to something Pinterest in the URL came up. Everything from recipes to wedding dresses and iPhone apps came up. Don’t do this!
The #socialmedia one did a bit better, clicking it bought up other pins with the same # but the results were pretty broad.
I also found that if you use multiple words in your hashtags, and you capitalize the words, you’ll get different results than if you didn’t.
Changing #socialmedia to #SocialMedia brought up different results. It did not bring up any pins with the same #. The pins that were found in the search results in had “social media” with a space between the words as a part of each pin’s description. It seems that Pinterest possibly recognized the capital letter as a new word when searching.
Make the most of # in Pinterest
In Pinterest, #s are really powerful when you can create one that is unique and use it in a pin’s description and use it repeatedly in your other pins that fit with the hashtag. This could be used to help you find repins of your pins when repinned by someone who you don’t follow. Lionesque Style can easily find the pins with their unique # and see who pinned them just by clicking on it. Pinterest users who clicked on it would find pins with similar content which also builds brand awareness for Lionesque Style. Powerful stuff!
Hmm, what could I use as a unique # to use in Oh So Pinteresting’s pins? Have any suggestions? Leave them in the comments or on the Oh So Pinteresting Facebook page I’d really like to hear what you think.
58 Comments
I’ve been wondering how hashtags worked on Pinterest. This certainly helped! Thanks for the research! I pinned it of course. 🙂
Meagan, so glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for the pin!
Hi Cynthia, This is an amazing article about the usage of hashtags. I really liked it. 🙂 Thanks.
My pleasure Abinash. Thanks for stopping by!
[…] #s used in board titles or in board descriptions seem to have no impact on making boards easier to find in Pinterest searches but can make a big difference in pin descriptions […]
[…] #s used in board titles or in board descriptions seem to have no impact on making boards easier to find in Pinterest searches but can make a big difference in pin descriptions […]
Excellent advice. Thank you. I’ll get to #ing in the description right away! 🙂
So glad it was helpful. Thank you for leaving a comment, I really appreciate it 🙂
Great post. No one has really been able to answer the # question re using multiple words. I found it very interesting to hear that you get different results form using caps when bunching 2 words together…interesting! Thanks for posting. I’m sharing now 🙂
Hi Jane, thanks so much for sharing the post. I’m so glad you found it helpful.
Hi Cynthia, great article, I’m very happy that I found it on the first page on my google search:)
I have updated the description of some pictures with an unique hashtag, however, when I click on it I get no results back. Is this delay normal? Is it going to take a while for Pinterest to reindex the descriptions or my #s are a lost cause because I haven’t had them from beginning?
Thanks
Ciprian
Hi Ciprian, I don’t think your hashtags are a lost cause. The Pinterest search function is not the most reliable system yet, and as you said, it might just not be indexed yet. The people who repinned your pins before wont have the new hashtag included in the description but going forward the new repins will.
Thanks for your question. I’d like to see how things are working with your hashtags, what’s your Pinterest user name?
Hopefully the search function will be sorted out very soon as Pinterest already started to roll out the new design that has non-clickable hashtags (bummer). Our username is showmecats – quite new in the space, only 3 weeks old 🙂
That is a bummer. So far on all of the accounts I manage the hashtags are still clickable. On the Pinterest support page I searched for hashtags and found this reply “Right now, our search does not support hashtags (ex: #hashtag). It’s a feature we know would be useful for pinners and businesses and that we may add in the future. If you’d also like to see hashtag searches on Pinterest, vote for it using the “Me too!” button below.”
You might try going there to show your support for searchable hashtags.
I’m not sure If you have an account that has different updates than the ones I have access to. When I clicked on your #showmecats it is odd that nothing came up but the other hashtags worked. Have you tried using capital letters to separate the words? I’m not sure if it will make a difference but it might be worth a shot.
Good luck and congrats on joining the Pinterest community. It looks like your account following is growing well. 🙂
Have a look at these screenshots:
http://screencast.com/t/HjPWLdZ0i
http://screencast.com/t/b1nK3ShDF
http://screencast.com/t/yLSHGA9S
Bigger pictures on the home page, no activity history, unclickable #s, more estate for the board where the pin comes from.
PS: the other #s don’t work either, #thecutie #thehipster #thesocial, etc.
PPS: I clicked the Me too button
Oh, my! I think I like the new look but I don’t like that they’re taking away features. On the support/help page, you can also email Pinterest with your problem here.
I really appreciate you sending the screen shots. Hopefully, the updates they’re making offer more features instead of taking them away.
Very informative and to the point. Thanks
Thanks for your comment. This post was written before the new Pinterest look. Some of the features in the new look do not function the same way at this time. Hopefully, they will return.
Thanks for the informative post.
I’m also wondering is there a difference between #motivationalquotes and #motivational quotes in the eyes of Pinterest?
Hi HT, thanks for the question. From what I found poking around Pinterest is that it depends on how you search.
If you put “#motivational quotes” in the search box you would get results with both words. If you click on this phrase in a pin description the search would result in pins with #motivational and some with just the word in the description or the link.
Thanks Cynthia. So in your opinion, is it better to split the 2 words in the hashtag or join them?
HT, I think it matters if you want to be found for a specific phrase. For example, #CoachingJourney would probably more effective than #Coaching Journey or #Coaching#Journey since clicking on the hashtag would only search for the single word.
Ahh I see what you mean; I get it now. Thanks Cynthia.
So question for you – I have pinned many items with the same hashtag – but when I click on it, the search comes back saying there are no pins for that search. What am I doing wrong?
Jalin, I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. It might take a while for Pinterest to index them so you might not see your pins right away. I hope they work for you soon. Can you send me a link to one of you pins with the hashtag? Thanks for your question.
Great article. I was wondering how many hashtags are too many when putting them in the description of a pin? Also, is my pin going to be more visible to others by adding relevant hashtags?
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for you question. As far as how many hashtags, there isn’t a set recommended number maybe just a few, any more than that and it could give a negative feeling and the person repining could change the whole description.
It doesn’t seem that hashtags have that big of an impact in visibility for general terms. What seems to be important is if the word or phrase is used in the pin description and if the same word or phrase is in the URL the pin is linked to. For unique phrases like #pinuplive hashtags make a big difference.
Do you notice more of your clients using Pinterest?
I didn’t even realize you could tag on Pinterest! Really helpful, thanks!!
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and
wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog
posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and
I hope you write again very soon!
Hi,
Thank you for the information. I am very new to the world of hashtags and social media…that said, I just created a board for my business through the Pinterest business page. I was told to hashtag my store name in every pin description as that would help when people search for me. Is this true and I quess my question would be about how to make my boards/profile more searchable and how to best use hashtags to do that. Thank you so much for any help in this matter.
Hashtags aren’t as powerful on Pinterest as they ore on Twitter. Basically hashtags give users a quick way to search for related content but not necessarily limited to pins with the hashtag. For example, I clicked on #timemanagement in a pin’s description and pins with the hashtag and the phrase “time management” came up in the results. Unless your business name is very uni Hashtags don’t work at all in board or account names.
Hashtags used in pin descriptions are can sometimes take a while to be indexed by Pinterest. I’ve heard of some cases where even after weeks some hashtags aren’t searchable.
Thanks so much for your question. Best of luck to you.
hi Cynthia
very helpful your article! I didn´t know also in Pinterest I can use hashtags
all the best 🙂
Thanks Dusan! Hashtags can be tricky but when they work, they’re great!
This is really helpful article! Thanks so much!
Thanks for solving this problem about hash tags and Pinterest. It will be interesting to experiment a little and see what works.
Thanks, great article! I haven’t thought about using hash tags for Pinterest. Quick question about creating unique hash tag: what about using your brand name or website name? For ex, #lettucebehealthy? Thanks!
I would try experimenting with it Kim. A unique branded hashtag like your business names would be most beneficial for you to help you get found. Sometimes they get indexed and sometimes they don’t, they’re pretty quirky on Pinterest but it’s worth a shot.
Thanks a bunch for your question 🙂
Thanks for this post. I learned a few new things. I do have one question for you. If I edit the pins on my boards to include hashtags, will that help? Or do the hashtags need to be used when the pin is originally pinned to Pinterest. Thanks in advance.
Melissa, that’s something I haven’t tested yet but I don’t think it could hurt. It would make sense that if you edit a pin that Pinterest would keep up with the changes. If you add a hashtag and it gets indexed it could help your pins to be found in searches. Thanks for your question 🙂
Hi Cynthia, Its a great article and this can help to promote business in pinterest. I have a quick doubt on this matter how to use broad keywords or long keyword terms # tag. Ex-Budgethotelsinamerica etc.. Thanks in advance
Sometimes Pinterest will break those long key words phrases into smaller words in the search results so it migh be better to use the separate words. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
thanks for clearing the doubts. Being new to pinterest, don’t know what’s going on there.
Interesting… I would have thought that you didn’t want weird unique hash tags. I’ll have to experiment with it.
Today, I went tօ the beach front with mƴ kids.
I found a sea sɦell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it ƿinched her ear.
She never wants to go bасk! LoL I know this is entirely off
topic but I had to tell someone!
So how do you actually SEARCH for hashtagged posts on pinterest? I searched for #pergola and got results that didn’t have hashtags in them.
Pinterest doesn’t limit the search results to content with hashtags, it will give you results with and without.
I love the idea of using unique hashtags. What a great way to direct people to more of your pins. Thanks!
Good article. I wish one could follow hash tags directly through your twitter account. In the beginning you could track tags but it seems that service was stopped. I’m using Monitter and the normal Twitter search to follow tags but clearly….thanku….
http://hashtagpirate.com/
I got this website from my buddy who informed me regarding this website and at the moment
this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative content here.
If you are going for best contents like I do, only visit this web page everyday since it gives feature contents,
thanks
I’m now not certain where you are getting your information, but good topic.
I must spend some time learning more or working
out more. Thanks for magnificent info I used to be searching for this information for my mission.
Hi mates, its great post concerning educationand
completely defined, keep it up all the time.
What’s up to all, as I am truly keen of reading this blog’s post
to be updated daily. It consists of pleasant
stuff.
Good post. I’m dealing with many of these issues as well..
Hurrah! In the end I got a website from where I can actually take helpful facts regarding my study and knowledge.
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.
The issue is something not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy that I found this in my search for something relating to this.
Famous last words, I suppose. We’ll see what happens if and when it does.
To be sure I got this right, hashtags don’t work on Pinterest…they’re just another searchable character, and capitalization matters not only for uniqueness, but also to separate words in searches. Is that right? Thank you!