Pinterest Video Optimization Strategies for Maximum Discovery

Gone are the days when Pinterest was just for pinning home décor and recipes. Today, Pinterest is a powerful visual search engine and one of the top creative tools for businesses looking to promote their brand and grow their audience. Video content not only thrives on Pinterest but is often prioritized by the algorithm for maximum discoverability.

But how do you ensure your video pins actually get seen, saved, and clicked? You need an updated strategy. We're here to show you the essential strategies to optimize your video pins for maximum impact and discovery in 2025.

Pinterest Video Optimization Strategies for Maximum Discovery

Why Video Wins on the Pinterest Feed

Pinterest is a screen full of static images. When your video pin starts to autoplay, that movement instantly grabs attention. Since most users scroll through Pinterest with their audio off, the challenge — and the solution — lies in optimizing the visuals and text to communicate your value immediately.

Essential Strategies to Maximize Your Video Pins

1. Define Your Discovery Goal (Think Search Intent)

Unlike TikTok, people use Pinterest to plan or buy. Before you upload, define what the user is searching for: Is it "bathroom renovation ideas," "easy weeknight meals," or "maximalist home decor"?

Your video pin must clearly fulfill that intent. Focus on content that is practical, inspiring, or educational, making it easily searchable and worth saving for a later date.

2. Format Vertically for the Feed

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Pinterest, you’ll notice that most content is vertically formatted. This is crucial: vertical content takes up the most screen real estate and tends to perform the best.

Pro tip: Your video should be formatted to a vertical aspect ratio (9:16). If you filmed your original video horizontally, use a tool like Zubtitle to quickly resize and crop your video to the correct vertical dimensions.

3. Make Every Pin Mute-Proof with Captions

Pinterest is fundamentally a mute-first platform with an auto-play feature. Even if the movement catches a viewer's eye, if they can’t immediately tell what’s happening without audio, they’ll scroll away.

This is why captions are vital. They bridge the communication gap, ensuring your content is understood instantly. Don't waste time transcribing your video — use Zubtitle! Our automated social media video tool automatically transcribes the speech and converts it to captions, making your content accessible and clear in minutes.

4. Engage Instantly with On-Video Text

Your video title and description are great for SEO, but an eye-catching headline on the video itself is essential for stopping the scroll.

Pro tip: Take your most descriptive, informative title and add it as a bold headline directly onto your video. If you’re using Zubtitle to add captions, you can also use it to add a headline that uses powerful text to hook the viewer before they even read the title below the Pin.

5. Master Advanced Pinterest SEO

Keywords are the backbone of discovery on Pinterest. You must be strategic with your keyword placement:

• Title and Description: Include main keywords clearly.
• Hashtags and Tags: Add relevant hashtags and take advantage of Pinterest’s auto-suggest tagging feature.
• Board Titles and File Names: For advanced optimization, ensure your board titles and the original video file name also contain relevant keywords.

The more relevant tags, hashtags, and keywords you use across all areas, the more you’ll improve the discoverability of your video pins.

6. Embrace the Multi-Scene Idea Pin Format

The single static pin has competition. Idea Pins (or multi-scene video Pins) are highly favored because they allow you to create a short, multi-step process or a mini-series. This format is perfect for step-by-step tutorials, before-and-after reveals, or showcasing multiple products in one sequence. This encourages deeper engagement and saves.

7. Keep It Focused and Actionable

While video pins are allowed to be up to 15 minutes long, optimal performance usually requires keeping your content under 45 seconds. Remember, humans lose concentration quickly, and Pinterest is designed for fast scrolling. Focus your video on solving one specific problem or offering one strong idea to maximize effectiveness.

ro tip: Alongside captions and resizing, use Zubtitle's tools to add your brand’s logo and insert a progress bar animation. This adds a professional touch and encourages viewers to watch until the end.

Ready to optimize your video pins on Pinterest?

You can sign up for a free Zubtitle account today to get started! With our free plan, you can create two videos per month. To create up to 10 videos per month (and remove the Zubtitle watermark), check out our standard plan.