There are many businesses that can benefit from rich visuals on Pinterest. However, knowing how and why to claim your website on Pinterest can elevate your presence on the platform to a whole new level.
Why should you claim your website on Pinterest?
Pinterest is a busy and competitive place. Research indicates that around 2 million shopping Pins and over 14 million article Pins are created daily on the platform. This is a result of about 5 billion searches conducted on Pinterest each month.
With this level of activity, claiming your website goes a long way in ensuring that your content is seen in Pinterest’s search results. With better visibility, you get more traffic to your Pins and thus to your website.
The benefits go beyond just better visibility in Pinterest’s native search. The links from your Pins that point back to your claimed website can also help improve your organic search engine optimization (SEO) performance, as backlinks are a ranking factor that Google’s algorithms consider when indexing your site.
But one of the main reasons I encourage clients (especially e-commerce businesses) to claim their websites on Pinterest is the high intent behind the searches. Pinterest has the highest click-through rate of any social media platform.
How to claim your website on Pinterest
When I talk to clients about claiming, I’m often asked to do it on their behalf – and I gladly do. But in reality, claiming your website on Pinterest is a very straightforward process as long as you know where to look. So, if you want to do it yourself, here are the steps I recommend.
1. Convert your profile to a business account
By default, Pinterest creates standard user profiles when you sign up for the platform. But to claim your website, you first need to convert it to a business account.
When you log into Pinterest, click under the circular profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen. You will see the option to “Convert to a Business Account.”
Upon clicking this option, Pinterest takes you to a screen that highlights the benefits you will get with the free upgrade to a business account.
I know this screen can sometimes confuse people as it looks similar to a paid subscription plan. But there is no action or payment required from you here. The upgrade is completely free. So, just click on “Upgrade.”
2. Claim your website
I know there is a lot happening in the Business Hub, and you might want to spend some time exploring the analytics section. However, to go directly to claiming your website, check the top bar of the page.
You will see three options: Claim Website, Install Tag, Create Campaign.
Select the first option “Claim Website.”
Next to the website options, click on “Claim.”
You will see three options, as shown in the image below. If you are not fully familiar with websites, these options may seem daunting. But I often guide clients through this process, and it is not as difficult as it appears.
I recommend the first option, as it is usually the easiest, regardless of the website builder or content management system you are using.
3. Add the HTML snippet from Pinterest to your site
Next, you will add this HTML snippet to the head of your site. The hardest part of this step can be finding where you can add the code.
For example, I work with more and more clients who use website builders like Wix. In this case, you can go to the “Tools and Settings” section in your website dashboard and click on “Claim Website,” where you will see a specific option ready and waiting for Pinterest. Popular website builders like Wix and Squarespace follow a similar methodology.
But
If you are working with HubSpot or WordPress or a custom content management system, you will need to add the HTML code to the header code of your site.
If you are working with a WordPress site, the header/footer settings location may depend on the theme you are using. But usually, you will find it under “Appearance” and “Customize,” where you will see a section for “Header/Footer Scripts.”
In some WordPress themes, you may be able to click on “My Site” and go to the “Marketing” settings, where you will see site verification options with a designated place for your Pinterest tag.
Now, all you need to do is open the header and paste the full HTML snippet for Pinterest into it, being careful not to disable any existing snippets and ensuring you include it before the </head> tag.
If you are not completely comfortable with this step, I always recommend having your website developer complete it on your behalf.
4. Complete the verification process on Pinterest
Go back to Pinterest and click “Next” from the verification option screen. It will prompt you to enter your website address:
Enter your website’s address and click “Verify.”
If you did not install the HTML code correctly, you will receive an error message saying “Meta tag not found.” If this happens, the first thing I do is go back to the site and check that the full HTML snippet has been added, that I placed it in the correct location, and that I remembered to publish the change on the site.
Once Pinterest finds the tag on your site, you will receive a green checkmark and a notification that the site verification is in progress. It usually takes less than an hour to receive confirmation that your site is fully verified on Pinterest.
Leveraging Enhanced Pinterest Analytics and Advanced Features
Once your site is verified on Pinterest, you will be able to see detailed analytics in your Business Hub and start using Rich Pins. The net effect is great insights into Pinterest users’ behavior and demographics and the ability to evaluate your best content.
If you decide to start running ads, make sure to add the Pinterest tag to your site as well. This will allow you to track conversions from clicks on Pinterest ads, gain more insights into user behavior, and create a custom target audience to retarget site visitors.
Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/website/pinterest-confirm-website-wordpress
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