Want more eyes on your pins? One of Pinterest’s most overlooked tools — annotations — could be the missing piece. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find out what Pinterest thinks your content is about, how to influence those internal labels, and how annotations directly impact your pin visibility.
In this article, we’ll break down what annotations are, how to influence them, the role of keyword buckets, and how tools like PinClicks and Pin Inspector can help you stay ahead of Pinterest’s evolving algorithm.
What Are Pinterest Annotations?
Annotations are the internal tags and topic labels that Pinterest assigns to your pins. These labels are generated by AI using your image, text overlay, description, and engagement history. Pinterest doesn’t show them to creators, but they influence:
- Search Placement
- Feed recommendations
- Board suggestions
- Related pin visibility
They act like Pinterest’s personal filing system — determining which content ends up where.
Do Annotations Override Pin Descriptions?
Not directly — but they often carry more weight. Your description still helps guide the algorithm, especially when it’s keyword-rich and specific. However, annotations can override your intent if there’s a mismatch between what you wrote and what Pinterest “reads” from the image or overlay.
For example, if you share a pin titled “Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips,” but the image is too abstract, or the overlay says “Weekend Vibes,” Pinterest may annotate it incorrectly — or not at all. That pin could be buried under the wrong search terms or not shown to the right audience.
Why Annotations Matter Now More Than Ever.
Pinterest’s AI has gotten smarter — but not perfect. With recent changes to spam detection, visual recognition, and Canva-style overlays, more creators are seeing strange mismatches between what they post and how Pinterest ranks it.
That’s why influencing annotations has become part of a successful strategy. When your pin is correctly annotated, you’ll see better reach, saves, and rankings. When it’s misread—even slightly—your performance can tank, even with great content.
What Are Pinterest “Buckets”?
Buckets are Pinterest’s internal categories — think of them as smart folders where pins with similar topics live. There are well-established buckets like “chicken pasta recipes” or “fall tablescapes,” and there are newer or less-defined ones that Pinterest is still figuring out.
Your content must fall into the right bucket to rank well in search and get recommended alongside similar pins. If your annotations and keywords don’t match an existing bucket or confuse Pinterest, your content won’t get prioritized.
Help Pinterest Grow Its Keyword Buckets Over Time
Pinterest learns from creator behavior. If enough high-quality pins start using a new keyword, Pinterest builds a new bucket around that topic. That’s why it’s important to optimize for current search terms and introduce new or emerging keywords thoughtfully.
A new food trend like “butter board” or “girl dinner” hits the mainstream. At first, Pinterest may not recognize it. However, as creators start labeling and describing pins with those terms, Pinterest builds a bucket and eventually suggests it in search or autofill.
By using new, descriptive keywords early, you help Pinterest evolve and give your pins a shot at being foundational content in a growing category.
Avoid Vague, Trendy Buzzwords
That said, not all trend language is helpful. Vulgar phrases like “vibes,” “aesthetic,” or “this era” might work on TikTok, but on Pinterest, they weaken the algorithm’s ability to categorize your pin. These buzzwords don’t describe content, and Pinterest thrives on specifics.
Instead, use trend-aware but descriptive phrasing. “Cottage cheese flatbread” or “viral date bark” are far more effective than “easy snack for this season.” Always ground your titles and descriptions in the content.
How to Influence Pinterest Annotations
Here are five practical ways to improve your annotation accuracy:
Use Clear, On-Topic Text Overlays
Pinterest scans overlay text. Be direct: “One-Pan Tuscan Chicken” is better than “Dinner Goals.”
Write Keyword-Rich (but Natural) Descriptions
Include your primary keyword and 1–2 adjacent ones. Avoid repeating the exact phrase multiple times — it limits Pinterest’s understanding and looks spammy.
Introduce New Keywords With Strategy
Mix in 1–2 newer or long-tail phrases per pin. This method helps Pinterest grow its categorization system — and positions your content early in rising trends.
Match Image Style With Category
Pinterest expects food to look like food—bright, clear, and top-down. Abstract visuals may look pretty but can lead to poor annotations.
Pin to Relevant Boards First
Pinterest uses board context to assign annotations. Make sure your first save is to a well-optimized, on-topic board.
Using Tools to Decode Annotation Performance
You can’t see annotations directly on Pinterest — but you can use third-party tools to infer what’s happening behind the scenes.
PinClicks
It shows you what topics Pinterest has assigned to your pins. Suppose you’re getting annotated with off-topic terms (e.g., your “sweet potato biscuits” showing up under “dessert recipes”). In that case, you’ll know it’s time to adjust your overlay, description, or board strategy.
Pin Inspector
Reveals search volume for keyword phrases much as PinClicks does — many of which align with Pinterest’s annotation buckets. Use this tool to:
- Target high-performing keywords that Pinterest already recognizes
- Spot new phrases gaining traction
- Build pins around terms that are likely to become future annotation categories
Together, these tools give you the data you need to create pins Pinterest wants to rank — not just pins you hope will rank.
Final Takeaway: Annotations Are the Missing Link
If you’ve ever wondered why a beautifully designed pin didn’t take off — or why a basic one did — annotations are likely the answer. They determine what Pinterest thinks your pin is and what users might see it next to.
If you influence them well, your reach will improve. If you ignore them, however, your content may be buried, no matter how good it is.
Need Help With Annotations?
If all of this sounds like a lot — it is. That’s where a Pinterest strategist steps in. I help food bloggers and content creators decode what’s happening behind the scenes, improve annotations, and turn good content into Pinterest-performing content.
