How to Get Traffic From Pinterest to Your Website
Pinterest is one of the few platforms built to send people somewhere else. Most pins carry a link, and people browse Pinterest while planning things they will go and do or buy. That makes it a strong traffic source for blogs, shops, and service businesses, if your pins are set up to earn the click.
Traffic on Pinterest follows a simple chain: found in search → chosen over other pins → clicked → the page delivers. This guide works through each link in that chain, then shows how to measure what you get.
Why Pinterest Sends Traffic
- Links are built in. Standard pins link to a destination URL, and clicking through is a normal part of using Pinterest.
- People are planning. Searches like “easy weeknight dinners” or “small balcony ideas” are the start of a task, and your page can be the next step.
- Pins last. A pin can keep appearing in search and recommendations long after it is published, so traffic compounds as you add more.
Set Up for Traffic
- Use a business account so you can see outbound clicks in Pinterest Analytics.
- Claim your website. Pinterest's claim your website process connects your domain to your profile, so pins from your site are attributed to you.
- Add a Pinterest save button or make images easy to save on your own site, so readers can create pins for you.
- Enable rich pins if your site supports them, so article and product details are pulled from your page metadata.
Get Found: Match Pins to Searches
Pinterest decides where to show a pin mostly from its text and image. Start with the phrases people type into Pinterest search, then use one main phrase per pin in the title, description, image text, and board. Our Pinterest SEO guide covers each of those in depth; the short version:
- Find phrases with Pinterest search autocomplete and Pinterest Trends.
- Lead the title with the phrase (the first 40 or so characters are the most visible).
- Write a two or three sentence description around it; descriptions aren't shown in the feed but Pinterest uses them for relevance.
- Save the pin to a clearly named board that matches the topic.
Get Chosen: Pins People Tap
In search results your pin sits next to dozens of others. The ones that get tapped usually:
- Promise a specific result in the image headline: “7 No-Drill Shelf Ideas for Renters” beats “Shelf Ideas”.
- Show the outcome, such as the finished room, dish, or outfit, rather than a generic stock photo.
- Read at thumbnail size: short headline, high contrast, one idea.
- Use a vertical 2:3 image, such as 1000 x 1500 pixels, which Pinterest recommends.
Test with fresh pins, not edits
If a page gets impressions but few clicks, make a new pin with a different image and headline rather than repeatedly editing the old one. You learn which angle works and give Pinterest a genuinely new pin.
Get Clicked: Link to the Right Page
The destination decides whether a click turns into anything useful:
| Pin is about | Link to | Not to |
|---|---|---|
| A recipe or tutorial | That exact post | Your homepage or a category page |
| A product | The product page | Your shop's front page |
| A roundup or gift guide | The roundup post | A single product in it |
| A free download | The sign-up page for that download | A general contact form |
Make sure the page loads quickly on a phone, and that the first screen confirms the visitor is in the right place. Pinterest's guidelines also ask for a “no surprises” approach to links, so avoid redirect chains and link shorteners that hide the destination.
Keep Traffic Growing
- Publish fresh pins consistently. New images for existing pages, each targeting a different keyword angle. Our guide to how often to post on Pinterest suggests a pace by stage.
- Cover your whole archive. Older posts and products that still matter deserve pins too.
- Plan seasonal content early. Interest in seasonal topics rises before the event; publish ahead of it.
- Double down on winners. When a page earns clicks, create more pins for it and for related pages.
Turning one page into several pins by hand is the slow part. Our walkthrough of turning one link into a month of pins shows a faster workflow.
Measure Pinterest Traffic
- Pinterest Analytics: impressions, saves, pin clicks, and outbound clicks per pin. Outbound clicks are the traffic number.
- Your site analytics: referral traffic from Pinterest by landing page shows which pages benefit.
- UTM parameters: add them to pin links if you want to separate campaigns or pin styles in your analytics.
Review monthly. Sort pins by outbound clicks, look for patterns in topics and designs, and make more of what works.
Tips by Type of Site
- Blogs: make several pins per post and cover your archive. See Pinterest scheduling for bloggers for a blogger workflow.
- Shops: mix product pins with idea pins (gift guides, room ideas) that link to collections or products.
- Services: pin helpful how-tos, before-and-afters, and checklists that link to a service or booking page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get traffic from Pinterest?
Pinterest doesn't publish a timeline. New pins often take weeks to settle into search results, and traffic tends to build over months as you publish more fresh pins. Judge progress over three months rather than three days.
Why do my pins get impressions but no clicks?
Usually the pin shows up for the right searches but doesn't give people a reason to leave Pinterest. Try a clearer headline on the image that promises a specific result, a title that matches the search, and a destination page that obviously delivers on the pin.
Can I get Pinterest traffic without a blog?
Yes. Any page you control works as a destination: a product page, a shop listing, a portfolio, a landing page, or a newsletter sign-up page. What matters is that the page matches what the pin promises.
How do I see how much traffic Pinterest sends me?
Pinterest Analytics shows outbound clicks per pin. On your site, check referral traffic from pinterest.com in your analytics tool, and add UTM parameters to pin links if you want campaign-level detail.
Should I link every pin to my homepage?
No. Link each pin to the specific page it is about. A pin about a recipe should open that recipe, not your homepage; otherwise people bounce and the pin loses the engagement that keeps it showing.
Traffic Is a Chain; Fix the Weakest Link
If you have few impressions, work on keywords and fresh pins. If you have impressions but few clicks, work on the image and title. If you have clicks but no results, work on the landing page. Checking your analytics monthly tells you which link to fix next.
More pins for every page you want traffic to
Paste a blog post or product URL and Pin Generator drafts several pin designs you can review and schedule, so each page reaches Pinterest from more than one angle.
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