No, Pinterest links are nofollow, so they don’t directly boost Google rankings, but they can send qualified traffic and spark natural backlinks.
Readers ask this all the time because pins send real clicks. The short answer above settles the ranking part, but the full story matters for your marketing plan. Below you’ll see how links on the platform work, where the gains show up, and a practical workflow that turns pins into search wins without chasing myths.
What Pinterest Link Value Really Looks Like
Pins, boards, and comments usually attach attributes that tell search engines not to pass authority. That means your pin URL won’t push a page up the results on its own. Still, the network shines as a discovery channel that gets new visitors to your site, which can lead to editorial mentions and real backlinks from publishers. Think of it as a spark that can light links elsewhere.
| Placement | Typical Link Attribute | Direct Ranking Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pin Button Or Description | rel=”nofollow” or rel=”ugc” | No direct boost |
| Board Description | rel=”nofollow” | No direct boost |
| User Comments/Text | rel=”ugc” | No direct boost |
| Profile Website Field | Platform-controlled | Treat as referral only |
Pinterest Link Value For Google Rankings: What Matters
Google treats link attributes like nofollow, sponsored, and ugc as hints. In practice, most social links marked this way won’t pass authority. Since the network relies on user submissions and paid placements, outgoing URLs commonly carry those markers. Still, pins and boards can appear in Google’s index, which helps people discover your content and click through. The ranking lift then comes later if those visitors cite your work on sites that do pass equity.
Where Pinterest Helps SEO Without Passing Authority
Discovery Traffic That Converts
Visual search is powerful. When a post shows a clear promise—like a recipe, outfit, checklist, or remodel idea—people click. That traffic improves email growth and product views. It also proves demand for topics you can expand into deeper guides and product pages.
Indirect Links From Viewers
Bloggers and editors use the network to collect ideas for roundup posts and buying guides. If your asset stands out, it often turns into a write-up with a followed link from the publisher’s site. That editorial link can move rankings. The original pin didn’t pass authority, but it started the chain.
Set Up Your Pin-To-Search Workflow
You’ll get better results when your pin plan supports pages you already want to rank. Start with evergreen topics, design strong images, and sync your message across the pin and the landing page. Keep your destination URL clean. Use campaign parameters only when measurement truly needs it, since long URLs can create duplicates if your tech stack isn’t tidy.
Checklist For Every New Pin
• Square or 2:3 vertical art with crisp contrast and clear focus.
• Readable text overlay on small screens.
• Description that explains the promise in plain words.
• Destination URL that loads fast on mobile.
• On-page images with descriptive alt text that names the subject, not a string of keywords.
• Schema that matches the content type when relevant (Recipe, HowTo, Product).
Avoid These Common Pitfalls
• Linking to a slow, ad-heavy page that loses visitors.
• Thin pages that repeat a gallery but fail to answer the query.
• Generic stock art that blends into feeds and search results.
• Calls-to-action hidden below long blocks of copy.
Measurement That Proves Real Impact
Measure clicks, sign-ups, sales, and assisted conversions from pin traffic. Review short windows for direct actions and longer windows for people who saw a pin, returned later by searching your brand, and converted. Those delayed lifts are common with evergreen content and shopping cycles.
UTM Plan You Can Reuse
Keep your scheme simple so reports stay clean. Use the network as the source, a campaign name for the theme, and a content label for creative tests. Here’s a compact template you can copy:
| Parameter | Value Pattern | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| utm_source | Identifies the network | |
| utm_medium | social | Separates from email or ads |
| utm_campaign | topic-cluster-name | Groups related pins |
| utm_content | creative-A or creative-B | Tracks image tests |
Best Practices That Align With Google’s Guidance
Google’s documentation explains how to qualify outbound links with attributes like nofollow, sponsored, and ugc. Use those on your own site when you run paid placements or accept user submissions. You can review the guidance here: qualify outbound links. That page also clarifies when each attribute fits. Aligning your linking habits with that rule set keeps your site clean and avoids messy manual reviews.
Image traffic also grows when your on-page images send the right signals. Google’s image guidelines suggest writing alt text that describes the subject in natural language and avoiding keyword stuffing. See: image SEO best practices. Clean filenames, descriptive alt text, and fast loading pictures help both searchers and accessibility.
Pin Design Tips That Earn Clicks
Clarity beats decoration. Choose one main benefit per image, not a laundry list. Use contrast that survives a crowded feed. Numbers work well—like “7-step process” or “30-minute meal.” Place a small brand mark in a corner so your name rides along with re-pins. Test fresh art every quarter; small tweaks in color, layout, or cropping can widen your reach.
When A Board Can Help A Page Rank
A tightly curated board can rank for niche searches because it clusters many visuals on one theme. When people land on that board and see your content near the top, they reach your page through the pin link or your profile. It’s still an indirect path, yet it scales when boards map one-to-one with your site’s topic clusters.
Content Ideas That Turn Pins Into Organic Wins
Evergreen Guides
Build picture-led explainers around the tasks your audience repeats often—recipes, home projects, fitness moves, outfits, lesson plans, or travel checklists. Each guide should include a clear step flow, a short tool list, and images that match the step names on the page.
Data-Backed Lists
Writers link to lists that save time. Research-led roundups with brief notes, pricing ranges, and a lean decision tip attract citations. One good list can earn links for months.
Before-And-After Stories
People save visuals that show a change. Tie the story to a method page that explains how to repeat the result. That page can rank on its own; the pin sends it steady discovery traffic.
Site Prep So Pin Traffic Sticks
Speed And Stability
Compress images, lazy-load below-the-fold media, and keep scripts lean. Visitors from this network bounce fast if the page stalls. A light page earns more saves and shares, which multiplies your reach inside the platform.
Clear Headings And Short Paragraphs
Readers arrive with a picture in mind. Headings that mirror the promise on the pin keep them moving. Aim for two to four sentences per paragraph and break steps into bullets where it helps scan-reading.
Smart Internal Links
Guide people to the next step. Link related posts, product pages, and category pages with natural anchors. Keep the path obvious on mobile.
A Simple Action Plan
1) Pick five evergreen pages that already bring leads or sales. 2) Create two vertical images for each page. 3) Write two distinct descriptions that match different intents. 4) Publish on a steady rhythm across two weeks. 5) Track clicks and saves, then retire the low performer and iterate on the winner. 6) After a month, look for mentions or new backlinks that include your brand or article title. That’s the moment where search lifts begin to show up.
Common Questions, Answered Briefly
Do Saves Help Rankings?
Saves don’t act as a ranking signal in Google. They do increase platform reach, which sends more people to your pages. More readers lead to more chances for natural citations on other sites.
Do You Need Campaign Links On Every Pin?
No. Clean URLs protect canonical consolidation and make sharing easier. Use tracked links only when you’re testing spend or reporting to stakeholders who need split data.
Should You Mark Your Own Outbound Links?
Yes, when a link is paid or placed by a user, tag it accordingly on your site. Use sponsored for paid placements and ugc for user submissions. When you vouch for a source, a regular followed link is fine.
Putting It All Together
Links on the platform rarely pass authority. Yet the network can still lift search by sending buyers, subscribers, and writers who later cite your work. Build pins around pages that answer real queries, design images people want to save, and keep your site fast and clear. That mix earns traffic today and links that move rankings tomorrow.