How to Rank Recipe Posts on Pinterest and Google Simultaneously
Here's what most food bloggers miss: Pinterest and Google want similar things but reward different tactics. Master both and you'll 2-3x your traffic without creating extra content.
Why Pinterest + Google = Maximum Recipe Traffic
Pinterest drives immediate traffic spikes. Google provides steady, long-term traffic. Together, they create a sustainable traffic system that compounds over time.
Traffic Breakdown for Food Blogs:
Long-term, evergreen traffic from search rankings
Immediate visibility + recurring pins keep traffic flowing
Email, Instagram, direct traffic
The Key Differences: Pinterest vs Google SEO
| Factor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Answer search queries with quality content | Inspire visual discovery |
| Image Priority | Helpful but not critical | Absolutely essential |
| Title Length | 50-60 characters | Up to 100 characters (truncates at ~60 on mobile) |
| Keywords | Natural, contextual placement | Explicit, descriptive, can be repetitive |
| Time to Rank | 3-6 months for new content | Hours to days |
| Traffic Pattern | Steady, long-term | Spike + sustained if evergreen |
| Content Depth | Longer, comprehensive (1000-2000+ words) | Visual priority, text secondary |
The Dual-Platform Optimization Strategy
1. Start with Google-First Content Structure
Build your recipe post for Google first because it requires more content depth. Pinterest optimization layers on top easily.
Essential Google Recipe Post Elements:
- ✓SEO Title: 50-60 chars with primary keyword front-loaded
- ✓Meta Description: 155 chars with compelling benefit
- ✓Introduction: 200-300 words addressing search intent
- ✓Recipe Card: With proper schema markup
- ✓Step-by-Step Instructions: Detailed with process photos
- ✓Tips Section: Substitutions, storage, FAQs
- ✓Nutritional Info: Adds authority and ranks for nutrition queries
2. Create Pinterest-Optimized Images
This is where most food bloggers fail. Your images need to work for BOTH platforms with different requirements.
Image Strategy for Both Platforms:
Pinterest Pin Image (Required)
- • Size: 1000x1500px (2:3 ratio, vertical)
- • Text Overlay: Large, readable font with keyword-rich title
- • Branding: Logo in corner
- • Colors: Bright, high-contrast to stand out in feed
- • File Name: descriptive-keyword-rich-name.jpg
Google Featured Image (Required)
- • Size: 1200x800px (3:2 ratio, horizontal)
- • Text Overlay: None (Google prefers natural photos)
- • Alt Text: Descriptive with natural keyword inclusion
- • Focus: Hero shot of finished dish
- • File Name: keyword-rich-name.jpg
Process Photos (Optional but Recommended)
- • Size: 1200x800px (same as Google featured image)
- • Purpose: Help Google rankings + increase time-on-page
- • Number: 3-5 key steps illustrated
- • Alt Text: Describe what's happening in the image
Pro Tip: Create 3-5 different Pinterest pin designs for each recipe. Pinterest rewards fresh images, so you can re-pin with new designs months later for traffic surges.
3. Master Dual-Keyword Strategy
Pinterest and Google searches use different language. Optimize for both without keyword stuffing.
Example: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Focus: "best chocolate chip cookies," "soft chewy chocolate chip cookies recipe"
Body: Naturally mention "homemade," "easy," "from scratch"
Pin Description: "Best chocolate chip cookies recipe. Soft, chewy, easy homemade cookies. Perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe for dessert ideas, baking recipes, cookie recipes."
Board: "Cookie Recipes," "Dessert Ideas," "Easy Baking"
4. Optimize Your Pin Descriptions for Discoverability
Pinterest descriptions are searchable and crucial for ranking. Follow this formula:
Pinterest Description Formula:
[Keyword-rich sentence about recipe] + [Benefit/outcome] + [Call-to-action] + [Hashtag keywords]
Example:
"Easy chocolate chip cookies recipe with soft, chewy centers and crispy edges. This homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe uses brown butter for rich flavor. Perfect for cookie cravings! Click for the full recipe. #chocolatechipcookies #cookierecipes #easybaking #dessertrecipes #homemadecookies"
5. Implement Technical SEO for Both Platforms
For Google:
- •Recipe Schema Markup: Required for rich results
- •Mobile Optimization: Fast load times (under 3 seconds)
- •Internal Links: Link to related recipes (3-5 per post)
- •Alt Text: Descriptive with keywords where natural
For Pinterest:
- •Pinterest Meta Tags: Install Pinterest-specific Open Graph tags
- •Rich Pins: Apply for Rich Pin validation (auto-syncs recipe details)
- •Save Button: Add Pinterest save button to images
- •Board Strategy: Organize pins into keyword-targeted boards
The Complete Publishing Workflow
Step-by-Step Process:
- Write & optimize post for Google - Include all SEO elements, schema markup, keyword optimization
- Create image set - 1 horizontal Google image (1200x800) + 3-5 vertical Pinterest pins (1000x1500)
- Publish post - Ensure schema validates in Google Rich Results Test
- Pin immediately - Create pin with keyword-rich description, save to relevant board
- Schedule repeat pins - Use Tailwind or Pinterest Scheduler to re-pin at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months with different images
- Request indexing - Submit URL to Google Search Console for faster indexing
- Monitor & adjust - Track traffic from both platforms, optimize underperformers
Content That Works Best on Both Platforms
🔥 High Performers:
- • Holiday/seasonal recipes (Valentine's Day cookies, Thanksgiving sides)
- • Dietary-specific recipes (keto, vegan, gluten-free desserts)
- • Quick weeknight dinners ("30-minute," "one-pot")
- • Visually stunning recipes (layer cakes, colorful salads)
- • Comfort food classics with a twist
⚠️ Platform-Specific:
- • Pinterest-only: Meal prep ideas, party platters (visual appeal trumps recipe detail)
- • Google-only: Technical recipes (sourdough, sous vide), nutritional content (high-protein meals)
Tracking Success on Both Platforms
Key Metrics to Monitor:
- • Organic search traffic (overall trend)
- • Landing pages by traffic (which recipes rank)
- • Average time on page (engagement signal)
- • Average position by query (are you ranking top 10?)
- • Click-through rate (is your meta description compelling?)
- • Impressions (is your content being shown?)
- • Impressions (how many times your pins are seen)
- • Saves (are people saving to boards?)
- • Outbound clicks (traffic to your site)
- • Top pins (which images perform best)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using the Same Image for Both Platforms
Horizontal images don't perform on Pinterest. Vertical pins with text overlays look spammy in Google Image Search. Create separate images for each platform.
❌ Ignoring Pinterest After Initial Pin
Pinterest rewards fresh pins. Re-pin your recipe with new images every few months to maintain visibility and drive continuous traffic.
❌ Optimizing for One Platform Only
Food bloggers who only optimize for Google miss 20-40% of potential traffic. Those who only focus on Pinterest have no long-term traffic stability. Do both.
❌ Forgetting Mobile Optimization
80%+ of Pinterest users are on mobile. Your recipe post must load fast and read easily on small screens or you'll have high bounce rates on both platforms.
Quick Wins: Optimize Existing Content
Don't just apply this to new recipes. Update your existing content:
30-Minute Update Checklist:
- Create 2-3 vertical Pinterest pin images for existing recipes
- Add Pinterest-optimized descriptions to new pins
- Check that recipe schema is valid and complete
- Add alt text to all images with natural keyword inclusion
- Update meta descriptions using proven templates
- Add internal links to 3-5 related recipes
Pro Tip: Start with your top 10 recipes by traffic. Optimizing high-performers gives you the biggest immediate traffic boost.
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