Over the years, we’ve noticed that many WordPress users struggle with Pinterest verification. It’s a common challenge we see in our WPBeginner community, and we remember feeling the same confusion when we first tackled it.
Pinterest has become a powerful traffic source for WordPress websites, driving millions of visitors to blogs and online stores. But to tap into its full potential, you need to verify your website first – something that isn’t always straightforward with WordPress.
In this guide, we’ll show you the fastest and most reliable way to verify your WordPress site on Pinterest. We’ve simplified the process based on years of experience helping website owners, so you can get it done in just a few minutes.
Why Should You Verify Your WordPress Site on Pinterest?
Pinterest is like a treasure trove for visual content and one of the leading platforms to share photos, videos, and more. Think of it as your creative canvas, similar to Instagram or Flickr, but with a distinct twist.
By building boards, you and other users can curate collections, linking back to inspiring websites and captivating content.
If your blog resonates with images and videos, Pinterest can become an invaluable traffic source. It’s perfect for photography websites and other visually rich subjects.
Verifying your website unlocks powerful insights through Pinterest Analytics. It allows you to understand your audience better and participate in Pinterest’s ad programs. These steps can craft a solid strategy to boost your Pinterest traffic effectively.
So, let’s walk through the simple steps to get your WordPress blog verified on Pinterest.
How to Verify Your WordPress Site on Pinterest
Before we start, you will need to upgrade your Pinterest profile to a business account. This will allow you to use all their Pro tools like analytics, ad programs, and more. The Pinterest business account is free and easy to set up.
Then, let’s get started:
Step 1: Upgrade Your Pinterest Account to Business
First, you need to log in to your Pinterest account and click on the down arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Next, click on the ‘Unlock business tools’ option.
On the next screen, you will see a list of features the business account will offer.
To upgrade your personal account and use these features, click the ‘Switch to business’ button.
After that, enter your business account details like a profile name, website URL, country, and language.
Once you have entered all these details, click the ‘Next’ button.
Pinterest will now ask you to describe your business. You can select an industry from the dropdown menu and pick 3 goals from the given options.
After that, click the ‘Next’ button.
On the next screen, you will be asked to select an option to get customized recommendations.
Once you have done this, make sure you click the ‘Next’ button.
Now, you will be asked to select an option if you are interested in advertising on Pinterest and then click the ‘Next’ button.
For this tutorial, you can select the ‘No, I am not planning to advertise’ option.
Next, Pinterest will show you different options to get started with your business account.
You can click the ‘cross’ icon in the top right corner to skip this part.
Step 2: Claim Your Website on Pinterest
The next step is to claim your website on Pinterest.
To do that, you can click on the ‘Claim domain’ button from your Pinterest Business hub page, and it will directly take you to the claim settings page.
Another way to claim your website is by clicking on the down arrow in the top right corner and selecting the ‘Settings’ option. Then, head over to the ‘Claim’ section in the left menu.
To get the credit for your content on Pinterest, click the ‘Claim’ button for Websites.
Once you click the button, a popup window will appear with three options to claim your WordPress website.
We are choosing the ‘Add HTML tag’ option because it is the easiest.
However, if you prefer, you can choose the other option where you download the HTML file and upload it to your website’s root directory using an FTP client or your WordPress hosting file manager.
You can also add a verification TXT record to your domain settings using your domain registrar.
Step 3: Add HTML Tag to Your WordPress Website
There are multiple ways to add an HTML tag to your website’s header, but we will only cover the two easiest methods.
Add Pinterest HTML Tag With an SEO Plugin
First, you can use the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) WordPress plugin and enter the HTML tag to your website. For more details, follow our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
AIOSEO is the best SEO plugin for WordPress and makes it very easy to optimize your site for search engines without hiring an expert.
While we recommend the Pro version, you can also use the free version of AIOSEO to add Pinterest verification.
To add the HTML tag, go to All in One SEO » General Settings and then click the ‘Webmaster Tools’ tab from the top menu.
After that, click the ‘Pinterest Site Verification’ block.
Now, enter the HTML tag you copied in the previous step in the Pinterest Site Verification field.
Then, you need to click the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Add Pinterest HTML Tag With a Code Snippets Plugin
Apart from using AIOSEO, another way of adding the HTML tag is by installing and activating the WPCode plugin.
Upon activation, you need to visit the Code Snippets » Header & Footer page in your WordPress dashboard. In the ‘Header’ section, you need to paste the HTML tag. Then, click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Once the HTML code is added to your website’s header section, you need to go back to the Pinterest screen and click on the ‘Continue’ button in the popup.
It will now ask you to enter the URL of your website and then click the ‘Verify’ button.
Once you do that, you will see a message saying, ‘Verification in progress.’
Normally, the process takes 24 hours, and you get an email about your website’s verification.
That is it! You have now successfully verified your WordPress website on Pinterest.
Tip: If Pinterest fails to verify after you have added the verification code, then it means you need to clear your WordPress cache.
Video Tutorial
Expert Guides on Using Pinterest in WordPress
We hope this article helped you learn how to verify your WordPress site on Pinterest. You may also want to see some other guides related to using Pinterest in WordPress:
- How to Show Your Latest Pinterest Pins in WordPress Sidebar Widgets
- How to Hide Pinterest Images in Your WordPress Blog Posts
- How to Add Pinterest “Pin It” Button in your WordPress Blog
- The Complete Social Media Cheat Sheet for WordPress (Updated)
- Best Social Media Plugins for WordPress
- How to Supercharge Pinterest Traffic to Your Blog
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Dennis Muthomi
The AIOSEO method works great! Quick tip from my experience: make a simple checklist for WordPress sites. The most important thing? Always clear the cache after adding the verification code.
I can’t tell you how many times clients called about failed verifications. A quick cache clear fixed it right away! While the guide mentions a 24-hour verification window (which is true), I’ve seen it work much faster with a cleared cache.
Marian
I did as the article mentioned, and it has not worked. Not even after I cleared my cache.
WPBeginner Support
It would depend on the specific issue you are running into, is it not verifying or are you seeing a different error?
Admin
aga
Thank you so much!! I’ve been trying to do it for weeks and you made it so simple!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could help
Admin
Iruoma
Hey,
Thanks for this info!
I used the AIOSEO and tried going back to my interest to confirm and it says no relevant meta tag was found. Do I have to wait some more to allow for verification?
Thank you.
WPBeginner Support
You would want to check that you’ve cleared any caching on your site as that is the most common reason for that message after adding the verification to your site.
Admin
Kelly Grace
I have Wordfence on my WP.org website and it gives me a warning when I try to add the HTML tag I copied from Pinterest. Is it safe to ignore that and proceed?
Taufiq Azad Siam
Can you please tell me why should I verify my WordPress website on Pinterest?
Please don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of this website. I just want to know the benefits.
WPBeginner Support
We would recommend taking a look at the beginning of our article where we cover what is gained from verifying your site
Admin
Eddie Morgan
Can I uninstall AIOSEO verifying pininterest
WPBeginner Support
Once the site is verified you can remove it from your site but AIOSEO is used for much more than only verifying your site on Pinterest.
Admin
Eddie Morgan
Thank you so much, I followed the steps and got the notification verification in progress. How will I know when the website has been successfully claimed? Is it the email they will send? or what changes will I see on Pinterest to know its been successfully claimed.
WPBeginner Support
It is normally an email, as we say in the article above
Salma
Hello!
Thank you for such helpful guides. Your guides are very thorough and helped me through a lot of complications I didn’t think I’d run through while making a blog. So, I just thought I’d thank you for putting in so much work.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guides have been helpful
Admin
Laura
this was SO helpful. thank you for posting!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Nesha
This video was so helpful thank you. I have been trying to do this in multiple ways for a while now and never succeeding. Working with your video I managed it in less than 5 minutes. Thank you for sharing!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Chay
This was a lifesaver!!!! I’ve have been struggling with claiming my website foreverrr. Yoast really is the easiest way and I already had it. Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Miles
I’m great at adventures, not so great at websites… You rock thank you would have never gotten this alone
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Ashish Kumar Banchhor
Thankyou dear,
I was looking for this. thanks a lot
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
John
I was going to add your plugin but it’s saying it’s untested with my version of Wordpress 5.5.1. (which is saying I’m running the latest version).
WPBeginner Support
For that warning, you would want to take a look at our article below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/opinion/should-you-install-plugins-not-tested-with-your-wordpress-version/
The plugin should still be working and we’ll look into updating the tested number
Admin
John
Great thanks so much, appreciate your response. Thanks for all your guidance and content, it’s been so helpful as I continue to learn Wordpress.
Bryce
Thanks !!
I have tried to do that many times but never succeeded.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide can help change that
Admin
Tasia
Your site is super helpful. I’ve come across it many times for answers to questions I’ve googled. Great work!
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad our content is helpful
Admin
Lydia
I have been trying to figure this out for a week! I should have come to WPBeginners in the first place, duh. The way you showed it in connection with Yoast was so easy, thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could make it easier for you
Admin
ajumohit
tq for the guidance. my website claimed within 15 minutes
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Sanaz
I keep getting “Authorization Failed” after entering my website URL, does anyone know why this is happening?
WPBeginner Support
It would depend on where you are getting the error but the most likely reason would be if you hadn’t cleared all your caching we would recommend doing that to ensure Pinterest can see the tag properly
Admin
Marlene
I have claimed my website already and I accidentally deleted my header and footer plugin and now I’ve lost my meta tag for my claimed Pinterest account. I’m using SEO Yeost now. How do I find that meta tag again so I can input that into my SEO Pinterest section?
WPBeginner Support
Unless you edit the website claim on Pinterest, your site will remain claimed without you needing to include the tag
Admin
Lynn
I have followed the instructions but it never claims my website and after a couple of days I try again! Could there be another reason?
WPBeginner Support
You would want to ensure you’ve cleared all of your caching and that you don’t have a coming soon page up preventing Pinterest from seeing your code.
Admin
Emma
I came across this article when needing more information on getting my Pinterest business account up and running, this was really helpful and easy to follow, thank you very much.
I will be bookmarking your website to return to in the near future as I continue my learning
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article was helpful
Admin
Lungi
Thanks you, this was super easy to follow!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Michelle
Hi
I’ve done this, but after 22 hours or so Pinterest says it can’t find the meta data. Is it be because I have the coming soon page on? Or is security to high or something? If you can help. It happened with confirming gsuite email address aswel.
WPBeginner Support
That would be due to your coming soon page likely not including the meta information
Admin
Tracy Crites
Thank you so much for this!!! I was trying to figure out how to link Pinterest for the 4,000th time, and your tutorial is the first that made sense to me. You are a teacher at heart. It worked!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide could help make the process understandable
Admin
Shannon
Thank you so much! I’ve been avoiding this for years because it seemed way too hard!!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide could make the process manageable
Admin
Isaac Mutwiri
This made the whole process seem so simple. Thanks a lot.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad we could simplify the process
Admin
Jesse
Helpful indeed…..
WPBeginner Support
Glad you found our guide helpful
Admin
Hannah
This was the most helpful walk through I found!
Thank you so MUCH!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Kristen
Thank you for the super simple walk through!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Mary
Do you need to have the premium/paid version of the Yoast plug-in? I don’t have the options you refer to in your step by step process. The only place I can input anything regarding social is through the wizard, and this only allows for your social site url.
WPBeginner Support
The method in this guide does not require the paid plugin, you may want to ensure your Yoast SEO is up to date and you should be able to see the options under SEO>Social in your wp-admin area
Admin
Candace Colt
Thanks for this concise video! I went through all kinds of confusing posts and finally found this! This solution worked. Pinterest leaves you hanging!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help
Admin
laura
Awesome, thank you so much for this! The instructions I found through WordPress did NOT work, so this was perfect.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Nikki
Thank you! The step by step was so easy to follow.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Sharon
thank you so much, really appreciate. This was easy and simple
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad we could make the process easier for you
Admin
Madelynn
This was helpful. Thank you!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Saad Ali
Still having problems claiming my website, when I click save changes button after entering meta tag for pinterest, it directs me to 404 error page
WPBeginner Support
You would want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure nothing on their end is causing this error.
Admin
Vanessa
This was so helpful and easy!! Thank you so much
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Chrystal
Thank you for explaining this is clear, simple terms!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Denaye
Hello, could you do the html tag with a personal plan? I don’t have a business plan yet. I do I need a business or a premium plan to install hmtl?
WPBeginner Support
You would need to check with WordPress.com’s support for their currently allowed methods. Our tutorials are for WordPress.org sites:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/
Admin
Sushovita Nelson
I was really so lost and confused. I was going around in circles to get this done. I then found this page that is so beautifully explained, I am so thankful for the support you give others.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our content could be helpful
Admin
Tara
Hi there. I have been trying to claim my website for 3 days with no luck. I have literally tried every single way possible, but I just get a message after many hours telling me that they couldn’t find the HTML meta tag or the verification file. I am waiting on a reply from Pinterest. I don’t know what esle to do.
WPBeginner Support
Have you cleared all caching and reached out to your hosting provider to ensure they don’t have caching that would be showing the old page without the HTML tag?
Admin
Laura
Thank you so much! Very helpful!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our article was helpful
Admin
Abraar
Thanks wpbegineer, you are really helping us beginners a lot. Never stop your work.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, we’ll certainly keep adding more content to our site
Admin
Celina
Thanks so much! This was much easier than uploading the HTML. Your post was very helpful.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendation could help
Admin
Elizabeth
WP Beginner’s text version of how to claim your website helped me get further in the process than any of the similar how-to articles I’ve encountered on the internet. So, many thanks.
When I say I got further in the process, I mean that I nearly completed it but not quite. When I selected the Pinterest tab, entered the meta tag at the Pinterest confirmation window, and hit save changes, no box appeared, pop-up or otherwise. Any idea what I should do next?
WPBeginner Support
There shouldn’t be a popup from Yoast when you save normally but it should be added to your site. Once you clear your cache and give Pinterest 48 hours to recrawl your site it should be able to see the tag.
Admin
Elizabeth
Hi there
I’m not on a wordpress business plan, I think my plan’s called premium or personal (one step before business). Can I still verify my Pinterest account another way? The ways shown here don’t work for me, I don’t have yoast / seo link on my dashboard, and I don’t want to upgrade to a business plan at this stage just to enable plugins for this site verification.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
WPBeginner Support
If you check WordPress.com’s support documentation they should let you know what options they have available currently
Admin
Keith
Hi I tried using both yoast and insert header footer widgets but both didn’t work. For yoast, there weren’t any options for SEO at all. For insert header footer widget, do I have to use it with elementor as I’m using that to build my website? Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
The insert headers and footers plugin is not a widget, it adds code to your header. You could check with Yoast if there is a conflict but the most common issue is if you have a caching plugin that is preventing the required code from being seen.
Admin
Brooke
Thanks so much for this! I’ve been putting off doing this because every time I try and figure out how to, I’m left frustrated! This tutorial was exactly what I needed!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Corin
Hi, thanks for your post. Very informative! You wrote about claiming a website on Pinterest. Is there a way to unlink it? Thanks in advance.
WPBeginner Support
Unless I hear otherwise, there isn’t a method for unlinking at the moment other than closing the account.
Admin