What are Rich Pins and how do I activate them?

Do you want to increase your reach on Pinterest and showcase your blog posts or products more professionally? Then Rich Pins are exactly the tool you need. In this FAQ, you’ll find everything you need to know to use them successfully for your website.

What actually are Rich Pins?

Rich Pins are a free, SEO-oriented feature for Pinterest business accounts. They are often called "organic pins" because they automatically sync additional information (metadata) directly from your website. Unlike standard pins, they provide users with significantly more context and useful details right above or below the pin image.

Why do they exist? (The Benefits)

Pinterest is a visual search engine with over 2 billion searches per month. Rich Pins were developed to:

• Increase Visibility: The Pinterest algorithm prefers Rich Pins and ranks them higher in search results.
• Build Brand Trust: Your pins automatically include your logo and website name, making your brand look more professional.
• Ensure Accuracy: If you change something on your website (e.g., a price), Pinterest updates the pin automatically.
• Boost Click-Through Rates: Because they provide more information, they stand out from the crowd and attract more potential customers.

Which types of Rich Pins are there?

Depending on the content you share, there are three (or four) main categories:

• Article Pins: Ideal for bloggers. They display the headline, author, and a description of the article.
• Product Pins: Perfect for e-commerce. They include real-time info on pricing, availability, and where to buy.
• Recipe Pins: A must-have for food blogs. They provide ingredient lists, serving sizes, and cooking instructions.
• App Pins: Allow users to download an app directly via Pinterest (requires specific technical setups).

What makes them better for a Pinterest user?

For the user, the experience on Pinterest becomes much more valuable through Rich Pins:

• Purchase Planning: Since 93% of users use Pinterest to plan purchases, price and stock info help them make informed decisions.
• Value Without Clicking: Recipes or article details are immediately visible, saving time and increasing relevance.
• Interaction: Users can, for example, copy ingredient lists directly or see instantly if a product is still in stock.

How do I set them up? (Step-by-Step Guide)

The setup is a one-time process and very straightforward. Here is how to activate Rich Pins for your WordPress site:

Step 1: Provide Metadata

Your website needs to tell Pinterest which information is important. This is done via so-called meta tags (Open Graph or Schema.org).
Tip for WordPress users: Simply activate the three options in the Blog2Social settings under "Social Meta Data" -> "Meta Tag Settings for Posts and Pages". The plugin will handle the rest for you.
What are open graph tags and what do I use them for?

Step 2: Use the Rich Pin Validator

Once the metadata is on your site, you need to have it verified by Pinterest:
1) Go to the Pinterest Rich Pin Validator.
2) Paste the link to any blog post or product page (please do not use your homepage!).
3) Click "Validate".

Step 3: Apply

If the metadata is read correctly, a confirmation message will appear.
1) Click "Apply Now".
2) Select the appropriate HTML tags and click "Apply" again.
3) Now, just wait a moment: Pinterest usually approves the application within 24 hours.

The best part: Once you have validated a single URL, it applies to your entire domain. All future and even existing pins linking to your site will automatically turn into Rich Pins!

Other helpful guides

• How do I connect Blog2Social with Pinterest?
• How to share multiple images in one Social Media Post?
• How do I auto-post and auto-schedule blog posts on Social Media with the Auto-Poster?