Learn how Pin Clicks impact Pinterest SEO, visibility, and ranking in 2025. Understand Pinterest engagement signals, Saves, Outbound Clicks, and strategies to increase your Pin Clicks for better growth and traffic.

Pinterest is one of the most powerful visual search engines in the world. Whether you run a blog, an online store, or a niche website, Pinterest can drive massive traffic — but only if your pins rank well in search and home feed.
One of the most common questions creators ask is:

“Do Pin Clicks help my content rank higher on Pinterest?”

The short answer is YES — Pin Clicks are a positive ranking signal.
But the longer answer is much more valuable if you want to grow on Pinterest.

This blog post explains:

• What Pin Clicks actually mean
• How Pinterest interprets user actions
• Which engagement signals matter the most
• How Pin Clicks contribute to ranking
• How to use Pin Clicks to grow your blog or business

Let’s begin!

What Are Pin Clicks on Pinterest?

On Pinterest Analytics, Pin Clicks refer to:

A user clicking your pin to open it in a close-up view.

This means:

• They saw your pin in the feed or search results
• They clicked to see it fully
• They interacted with your content visually

But they did NOT:

• Save the pin
• React to it
• Click your website link (outbound click)

Pin Clicks = Interest and curiosity, not website traffic.

Are Pin Clicks Good for Pinterest SEO?

Yes — Pin Clicks are a positive ranking signal.

Whenever someone clicks to open your pin:

• Pinterest recognizes that the pin caught user attention
• Pinterest sees it as relevant and engaging
• Pinterest increases visibility of your pin to similar audiences

This helps your pin reach more people, which often leads to:

• More Saves
• More Outbound Clicks
• Higher Engagement Rate

Pinterest heavily uses engagement signals to decide which pins get promoted.

How Pinterest Measures Engagement: The Ranking Signals

Pinterest uses several engagement signals to determine ranking strength.
Here they are from strongest to weakest:

1️⃣ Saves (Strongest Signal)

Saves are the most powerful signal.

Why?

Because Saves mean:

• Users found long-term value in the pin
• They want to see it again
• They want to store it for future use

Pinterest LOVES Pins that get saved because it shows high value.

2️⃣ Outbound Clicks (Very Strong)

Outbound clicks indicate:

• The user was satisfied with the information
• They wanted to learn more
• They trusted the content enough to visit the website

This is a strong signal of quality and relevance.

3️⃣ Pin Clicks (Medium Strong Signal)

Pin Clicks show that:

• Your design grabbed attention
• Your topic is relevant
• Your pin layout and headline were interesting

While Pin Clicks alone won’t skyrocket your rankings, they:

• Boost your engagement rate
• Improve your pin’s early momentum
• Help Pinterest decide whether to show your pin more widely

So Pin Clicks do matter, especially in the first 24–72 hours after publishing.

4️⃣ Dwell Time (Viewing Time)

If users:

• Open your pin
• Stay on it
• Zoom in
• Read the text on image

Pinterest considers this as additional engagement.

Dwell time increases your ranking strength even if the user takes no further action.

5️⃣ Impressions Only (Weakest)

If your pin only gets impressions but:

• No clicks
• No saves
• No outbound traffic

Then Pinterest reduces its reach over time.

Pins with low engagement often stop getting distribution.

Why Pin Clicks Still Matter Even Without Saves

Even if a user:

• Just opens your pin
• Does not save
• Does not click your link

Pinterest still identifies your pin as interesting.

This simple action:
✔ increases your engagement rate
✔ tells Pinterest your content is relevant
✔ improves your chance of ranking higher
✔ grows your distribution in the Home Feed and Search results

Many viral pins begin with high Pin Clicks, then slowly gather:

• Saves
• Shares
• Website traffic

Pin Clicks are often the FIRST step toward strong Pinterest performance.

How Pinterest Uses Pin Click Data (Behind the Scenes)
Pinterest’s algorithm (home feed + search) looks at user behavior:
If 100 people see your pin and 10 click to open it:

• That’s a 10% Pin Click Rate → good

If another pin gets only 1 Pin Click per 100 impressions:

• That’s a 1% rate → low engagement
• Pinterest reduces its reach

Pinterest compares your pins’ engagement against similar pins in your niche.
If your pin performs better, Pinterest will keep pushing it to more users.

Why High Pin Click Rate = Higher Rankings

Pinterest’s logic is simple:

“If users are opening this pin more than others, it must be valuable.”

So Pinterest gives your pin:

• Higher placement in search results
• More visibility in home feeds
• More frequent distribution to new audiences

This means:
More Pin Clicks → More reach → More Saves → More traffic → More growth

How to Increase Your Pin Clicks

Here are proven strategies to get more Pin Clicks:

✔ Use high-contrast, eye-catching colors

Pinterest users scroll fast; bold colors stop the scroll.

✔ Add readable text overlays

Text helps users understand the purpose instantly.

✔ Use curiosity-trigger headlines

Example:
❌ “Tips for Bloggers”
✔ “7 Blogging Mistakes You Must Fix Today”

✔ Design vertical pins (1000 x 1500 pixels)

This is the most recommended Pinterest dimension.

✔ Use relevant Pinterest keywords

Add keywords in:

• Pin title
• Pin description
• Board description
• Alt text

✔ Use high-quality images

Bright, clean, aesthetic images perform significantly better.

Pin Clicks vs Outbound Clicks: Which Matters More?

For ranking → Both matter
For traffic → Outbound Clicks matter more

Pin Clicks help your pin grow and get discovered.
Outbound Clicks send users to your website.

But remember:

• A pin cannot get Outbound Clicks without first getting Pin Clicks.
• Pin Clicks are the “entry gate” to all future engagement.

Final Answer: Do Pin Clicks Help Rank Your Pin Better?

YES — they absolutely do.

Pin Clicks are a positive engagement signal and contribute to Pinterest SEO.
They help Pinterest understand that your content:

• Is relevant
• Is visually appealing
• Deserves more distribution

Pin Clicks alone will not bring website traffic, but they are essential for:

• Early momentum
• Higher ranking
• Reaching more users
• Getting Saves and Outbound Clicks later

If your pins consistently get high Pin Clicks, Pinterest will reward your content with better visibility and higher ranking.

FAQ Section

1. Do Pin Clicks help a pin rank better on Pinterest?

Yes. Pin Clicks are a positive engagement signal. When users open your pin, Pinterest considers it relevant and interesting, which helps increase your reach and ranking in both search and home feed.

2. What is considered a Pin Click on Pinterest?

A Pin Click happens when a user clicks your pin to view it in a close-up. This does not include saves or outbound clicks. It simply shows that the user opened your pin for a better look.

3. Are Pin Clicks more important than Saves?

No. Saves are much stronger ranking signals because they show long-term value. However, Pin Clicks still help Pinterest identify good content and improve initial distribution.

4. Do Pin Clicks count as website clicks?

No. Outbound Clicks are website visits. Pin Clicks only indicate that the user opened the pin on Pinterest.

5. Can a pin rank even if it has no Saves?

Yes, but only if it has strong early engagement such as Pin Clicks and dwell time. Saves improve ranking further, but pins can still be distributed without them.

6. Why is my pin getting impressions but no Pin Clicks?

This usually means:

• Weak visuals
• Low-quality design
• Poor keyword targeting
• Boring or unclear text overlay
  Improving design and keywords can increase Pin Clicks.

7. Do Pin Clicks increase Pinterest traffic?

Indirectly, yes. Pin Clicks increase engagement, leading to higher distribution. This increases the chance of more Outbound Clicks, which drive traffic to your website.

8. Is it normal to have high Pin Clicks but low Saves?

Yes. Users often open pins out of curiosity, but they only save content that they find valuable for the future. High Pin Clicks are still a good sign.

9. How can I increase Pin Clicks on Pinterest?

Use eye-catching visuals, bold text overlays, curiosity-based titles, proper keyword targeting, and vertical pin sizes (1000 × 1500 px).

10. Do Pin Clicks affect Pinterest SEO in 2025?

Absolutely. In 2025, Pinterest’s algorithm still considers Pin Clicks an essential engagement signal that determines early ranking, user interest, and content relevance.