If you are trying to grow your blog, your online store, or your YouTube channel, you have probably heard that Pinterest is a goldmine. But here is the truth most people do not know. Pinterest is not really a social media app like Instagram or Facebook. It is a search engine. Just like Google, people type words into the search bar to find answers, ideas, and products.
That means if you want people to see your pins, you need to understand what words they are typing. That is called keyword research. But there is a problem. Everyone wants to rank for big, popular keywords. Those are too hard for beginners. You need low-competition keywords. These are the secret doors that let you get traffic fast without fighting against huge brands. If you want to download images of pinterest free , then click here
In this article, I will show you exactly how to find those low-competition keywords on Pinterest. You do not need any fancy tools. You do not need to be a tech expert. You just need to follow these simple steps. By the end, you will know how to get more eyes on your pins for free.
Why Low-Competition Keywords Matter on Pinterest
Let me explain this with a simple story. Imagine you open a small lemonade stand in a big city. If you try to sell your lemonade right next to a huge supermarket, nobody will notice you. The supermarket is too big and too strong. But if you find a small street where people are thirsty and there are no other lemonade stands, you will sell out in an hour.
That is exactly how Pinterest keywords work. High-competition keywords are like that supermarket. For example, the keyword “dinner recipes” is huge. Millions of people pin about it. Big food blogs with thousands of followers own that keyword. You cannot compete with them as a beginner. But a low-competition keyword like “easy dinner recipes for tired moms” is different. Fewer people are fighting for it. And the people searching for it know exactly what they want.
When you target low-competition keywords, three good things happen. First, your pins show up higher in search results faster. Second, you get more clicks because your pin is exactly what people are looking for. Third, your traffic grows steadily without you having to spend money on ads.
Step One: Brainstorm Your Seed Keywords
Every keyword research journey starts with seed keywords. These are the basic words that describe your niche. Do not overthink this step. Just grab a piece of paper or open a blank note on your phone and write down 5 to 10 words that describe what you create content about.
For example, if you have a blog about home organization, your seed keywords could be: organize, declutter, storage, cleaning tips, closet organization, kitchen organization, small space organization, and budget organization.
If you sell handmade jewelry, your seed keywords could be: beaded earrings, wire wrap necklace, polymer clay jewelry, handmade gifts, affordable jewelry, minimalist jewelry, and bohemian style.
These seed keywords are like the roots of a tree. They will help you grow many smaller, more specific keywords later. Do not worry if your seed keywords are competitive. That is fine. They are just your starting point.
Step Two: Use Pinterest Search Bar Like a Detective
Now comes the fun part. Open Pinterest and start typing your seed keywords one by one into the search bar. But do not press enter yet. Watch what happens. Pinterest automatically shows you a list of suggestions below the search bar. These are the exact phrases that real people are typing right now.
Let me give you a real example. Type “easy dinner” into Pinterest search. Do not click search. Just look at the suggestions. You will see things like “easy dinner ideas for family,” “easy dinner recipes with chicken,” “easy dinner meals for picky eaters,” and “easy dinner ideas for two.” Each one of these is a keyword phrase.
Here is the trick that most people miss. Do not just grab the first suggestion. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the suggestion list. The keywords at the very bottom are often the least competitive. Why? Because they are more specific. They are longer phrases. In keyword research, we call these long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords are your best friends. They have lower competition because fewer people think to use them. But the people who do use them are usually ready to take action. They are not just browsing. They have a specific problem they want to solve.
Write down every suggestion that feels relevant to your content. Aim for at least 20 to 30 keyword phrases from this step alone.
Step Three: Check the Competition Level with a Simple Eye Test
Now you have a list of keyword phrases. But how do you know which ones are low competition? You do not need a paid tool for this. You can use your own eyes. Pinterest shows you clues if you know where to look.
Take one keyword phrase from your list and type it into the Pinterest search bar. Hit enter. Now look at the results that come up. Pay attention to three things.
First, look at the pins themselves. Are they all from big, famous accounts with thousands of repins? Or do you see some pins from smaller accounts? If you see pins from regular people like you, that is a good sign. It means the keyword is not completely owned by the big players yet.
Second, look at the overall quality of the pins. Are the pins mostly blurry photos or plain text images? Or are they beautiful, professional graphics? If the top results are low quality, that is great news for you. You can easily make a better pin and rank above them.
Third, look at the number of pins for that keyword. Pinterest shows you a rough number near the top of the search results. If you see a number like “100+ pins” or “500+ pins,” that is low competition. If you see “10k+ pins” or “100k+ pins,” that is high competition. Stick to keywords with lower pin counts.
Here is a real example. The keyword “summer dresses” might have millions of pins. That is too hard. But the keyword “summer dresses for apple shape body” might have only a few hundred pins. That is a perfect low-competition keyword.
Step Four: Look at the Guided Search Suggestions
Pinterest has a hidden feature that many people do not know about. It is called guided search. When you search for a keyword and hit enter, look just below the search bar. You will see several small boxes with words in them. These are called guided search terms.
For example, if you search for “home decor,” the guided search might show you words like “living room,” “bedroom,” “wall art,” “farmhouse,” and “budget.” When you click on one of these words, Pinterest adds it to your search. So “home decor” becomes “home decor living room” or “home decor budget.”
This is pure gold for finding low-competition keywords. Each time you add a new word, you make your keyword more specific. More specific means less competition. Click through these guided search options and write down the new keyword phrases you discover.
Keep clicking deeper. Start with “home decor.” Then click “budget.” Then click “apartment.” Now you have “home decor budget apartment.” That is a very specific keyword. Very few people are targeting it. But the people searching for it are desperate for help. They will click on your pin because it speaks directly to their situation.
Step Five: Spy on Your Competitors the Smart Way
You do not need to reinvent the wheel. Other people in your niche have already done some of the hard work. You can learn from them. Find three to five Pinterest accounts in your niche that are growing steadily. They do not have to be huge. In fact, smaller accounts are better for this exercise.
Go to one of these accounts and look at their boards. Open each board and scroll through their pins. Pay attention to the titles and descriptions they write. Look for repeating phrases. If they keep using the same words over and over, those words are probably good keywords.
But do not copy their keywords exactly. Use them as inspiration. Take their keyword and make it even more specific. If they are using “quick breakfast ideas,” you could use “quick breakfast ideas for college students” or “quick breakfast ideas under 10 minutes.”
Also look at the comments on their popular pins. People often ask questions in the comments. Those questions are real keywords. If someone comments, “Do you have any gluten-free options?” that tells you there is demand for gluten-free breakfast ideas. That is a keyword opportunity.
Step Six: Use Pinterest Trends for Free Data
Pinterest has a free tool called Pinterest Trends. You can find it by searching “Pinterest Trends” on Google. This tool shows you what people are searching for over time. It is like a weather forecast for keywords.
Type a keyword into Pinterest Trends. It will show you a graph. The graph goes up and down. If the line is going up, that keyword is growing in popularity. If the line is flat or going down, people are losing interest.
For low-competition keywords, look for keywords that are rising but are not yet at their peak. These are called rising trends. They are not yet popular enough for the big accounts to notice. But they are getting more popular every week. If you create pins for these keywords now, you will be ahead of the crowd.
Pinterest Trends also shows you related keywords. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will see a list of other keywords that people search for alongside your main keyword. Add these to your list.
Here is an example. If you search for “meal prep” on Pinterest Trends, you might see related keywords like “meal prep for weight loss,” “meal prep on a budget,” and “meal prep for picky eaters.” Each one of these is a low-competition opportunity.
Step Seven: Combine Two or Three Ideas to Create Unique Keywords
Now you have a big list of keyword phrases. This next step is where you become a keyword creation machine. Take two or three of your keywords and mash them together. This creates a unique keyword that almost nobody else is using.
Let me show you how this works. Look at these three keywords: “easy dinner,” “for two people,” and “under 30 minutes.” Combine them and you get “easy dinner for two people under 30 minutes.” That is a fantastic low-competition keyword. It is specific. It solves a real problem. And almost no other pin is targeting that exact phrase.
Here are more combinations you can try. Add a specific group of people like “for moms,” “for college students,” “for beginners,” “for seniors,” or “for pet owners.” Add a budget like “under 10 dollars,” “on a tight budget,” or “free.” Add a time limit like “in 5 minutes,” “under 1 hour,” or “last minute.” Add a skill level like “no experience needed,” “simple,” or “easy for kids.”
The more specific you get, the lower the competition. And here is the beautiful part. Even though your keyword is very specific, it can still bring you lots of traffic. Because Pinterest is good at understanding what people want. If someone searches for a slightly different phrase but your pin is the best answer, Pinterest will still show it to them.
Step Eight: Test Your Keywords Before You Spend Hours on a Pin
You have a list of potential keywords. But you do not want to create a beautiful pin for a keyword that nobody actually searches for. So test them first. This will save you hours of wasted work.
Take one keyword from your list and type it into Pinterest search. Hit enter. Now look at the top of the search results. Pinterest shows you a little box that says “Try searching for” with a few alternative phrases. If Pinterest is showing you alternative phrases, that means your keyword is not very popular. That is actually good for low-competition hunting. But you also want to make sure at least a few pins exist for that keyword. If there are zero pins, that keyword is too specific. Nobody is looking for it.
The sweet spot is a keyword that has some pins but not too many. Somewhere between 50 and 1000 pins is perfect. That is the low-competition zone. It tells you that people are searching for this keyword, but not many creators have figured it out yet.
Also test your keyword in Google Trends. This is another free tool. Type your keyword into Google Trends and see if there is any search volume. Even a small amount of search volume is fine. You just want to confirm that people are actually looking for this topic outside of Pinterest too.
Step Nine: Organize Your Keywords in a Simple Spreadsheet
You are going to find dozens or even hundreds of keywords. Do not try to remember them all. You will forget. Open a simple spreadsheet. Google Sheets is free. You can also use Excel or even a notebook.
Create four columns. Label them Keyword, Competition Level, Search Volume, and Notes. In the Keyword column, write the exact phrase. In the Competition Level column, write Low, Medium, or High based on what you saw. In the Search Volume column, write your best guess. Is this a popular phrase or a niche phrase? In the Notes column, write any ideas you have for pins you could create for that keyword.
This spreadsheet becomes your treasure map. Every time you need a new idea for a pin, you look at your spreadsheet and pick a low-competition keyword. You never have to wonder what to create. You never have to guess. You just follow your map.
Update your spreadsheet once a month. Keywords change over time. What is low competition today might become high competition next month. And new low-competition keywords appear all the time. By keeping your spreadsheet fresh, you stay ahead of the game.
Step Ten: Put Your Keywords in the Right Places
Finding low-competition keywords is only half the battle. You also need to use them correctly. Pinterest looks at several places on your pin to understand what it is about. If you miss any of these places, you are leaving traffic on the table.
First, put your main keyword in the pin title. The title is the bold text at the top of your pin. Make it natural. Do not just stuff keywords together. Write a title that a real person would want to read. For example, if your keyword is “easy dinner for two people under 30 minutes,” your title could be “15 Easy Dinners for Two People That Are Ready in Under 30 Minutes.”
Second, put your keyword in the pin description. The description is the longer text below the title. Write at least two or three sentences. Use your keyword naturally in the first sentence. Then add some helpful details. Tell people what they will get if they click your pin. Tell them why this pin solves their problem.
Third, put your keyword in the file name of the image you upload. Before you upload your pin image to Pinterest, rename the file. Most people leave the file name as something like “IMG_1234.jpg.” Change it to something like “easy-dinner-for-two-under-30-minutes.jpg.” Pinterest reads file names. This is a small thing that gives you a tiny advantage over people who do not do it.
Fourth, put your keyword in the alt text. Alt text is a hidden description that helps people who cannot see the image. Most people ignore alt text. That is a mistake. Pinterest uses alt text to understand your pin. Write a short sentence that includes your keyword.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Low-Competition Keywords
Even when you know how to find low-competition keywords, you can still make mistakes. Let me warn you about the most common ones so you can avoid them.
The first mistake is targeting keywords that are too broad. Words like “fashion,” “food,” or “travel” are impossible for beginners. You will never rank for them. Always add more words to make your keyword specific. Remember, the longer the keyword phrase, the lower the competition.
The second mistake is ignoring the searcher’s intent. Intent means what the person actually wants when they type those words. If someone searches for “how to knit a scarf,” they want a tutorial. If you give them a page selling scarves, they will leave immediately. Pinterest notices when people leave quickly. That hurts your ranking. Always make sure your pin delivers exactly what the keyword promises.
The third mistake is creating only one pin for a keyword. This is a big one. You found a great low-competition keyword. You made one beautiful pin. You published it. Then you moved on. That is not enough. You should create multiple pins for the same keyword. Try different images. Try different titles. Try different descriptions. Pinterest will see that you are serious about that topic and show your pins to more people.
The fourth mistake is giving up too soon. Low-competition keywords are easier to rank for, but they are not instant. It can take a few weeks or even a few months for your pin to climb to the top of the search results. Do not delete your pin after a week because it did not get many views. Be patient. Keep creating more pins for your best keywords. The traffic will come.
A Real Example from Start to Finish
Let me walk you through a complete example so you can see how all these steps work together. Imagine you have a blog about indoor gardening. You want to find low-competition keywords for your next pin.
You start with seed keywords like “house plants,” “indoor garden,” “plant care,” and “small space plants.”
You type “plant care” into Pinterest search. The suggestions show “plant care for beginners,” “plant care indoor,” “plant care schedule,” and “plant care winter.” You write all of these down.
You search for “plant care for beginners” and look at the results. You see about 2000 pins. Some are from small accounts. That is a good sign. The guided search shows “low light,” “apartment,” and “on a budget.” You click “low light” and now you have “plant care for beginners low light.” This keyword has only 300 pins. Perfect.
You check Pinterest Trends for “plant care for beginners.” The graph is going up. More people are searching for this every month. You combine this with another idea from your list. You create “plant care for beginners low light small apartment.”
You test this keyword. Pinterest shows a few pins but not many. The “Try searching for” box shows similar phrases. You are confident this is a winner.
You create a pin titled “7 Easy Plant Care Tips for Beginners in Low Light Small Apartments.” You write a description that explains exactly what the reader will learn. You name your image file “plant-care-tips-beginners-low-light-apartment.jpg.” You publish your pin and wait.
After three weeks, that pin starts getting saves and clicks. After two months, it is one of your top performing pins. And because you chose a low-competition keyword, you did not have to fight against the big gardening blogs. You found your own little corner of Pinterest and made it yours.
How Many Low-Competition Keywords Do You Need?
You do not need hundreds of keywords to be successful on Pinterest. You need a small number of really good ones. Start with ten low-competition keywords. Create one pin for each keyword. Then watch what happens.
After a few weeks, some of those keywords will perform better than others. Double down on the winners. Create more pins for those keywords. Create different versions. Link to different pages on your blog or store. The keywords that do not perform well, you can set aside for now. Maybe they will work better later. Maybe they were not as low competition as you thought.
As you get better at this process, you will naturally find more keywords. Aim to add five to ten new low-competition keywords to your spreadsheet every week. That is more than enough to keep you busy. If you do that consistently for three months, you will have over one hundred low-competition keywords. And that is when Pinterest starts sending you serious traffic.
Final Thoughts: Start Today with Just One Keyword
Everything I have shared with you in this article is useless if you do not take action. You do not need to master every step before you start. You just need to begin. Pick one seed keyword from your niche right now. Type it into Pinterest. Find one low-competition keyword phrase. Create one pin for that keyword. Publish it.
That one pin is your first step. Tomorrow, do it again. Find another keyword. Create another pin. Do not worry about being perfect. Do not worry about having the most beautiful graphics. Just focus on finding keywords that real people are searching for and giving them a helpful answer.
Pinterest rewards consistency. The people who show up every day and do this simple process are the ones who win. They build traffic that lasts for months and even years. Their pins from two years ago are still bringing them new visitors today. That can be you. Start your keyword research today. Find those low-competition gems. And watch your Pinterest traffic grow.
