Break the keyword habit: Drive results with visual search
11 November 2025
Your customers can’t describe what they want. But they know it when they see it.
UK ad spend will hit £46b this year, fueled largely by search—even as AI-generated overviews change how people find answers.1 And over half your customers can't find the words for what they want anyway.2
That’s why there’s been a shift away from traditional search. Shoppers don't start with keywords anymore. They start with an image, a video or even a feeling, and discover something unexpected.
Pinterest and Retail Week surveyed 1,000 UK consumers, and the data tells the story: 52% struggle to put their needs into words and one in three already discover new brands on visual platforms.3
On Pinterest, AI-powered visual discovery helps shoppers uncover what they didn’t know they needed—and decide to buy it. Here’s how to turn that discovery into purchase decisions.
1. Upload your catalogue
Upload your full product catalogue to Pinterest—putting more products on the platform is one of the most effective ways to get discovered.
A complete, high-quality feed (accurate titles, categories and descriptions) puts your products directly in feeds and relevant searches. The larger your catalogue, the higher your potential ROAS: Advertisers with feeds over 2,500 items see 3.8x higher ROAS on average.4
Pinterest's AI doesn't wait for shoppers to know exactly what they want—it surfaces products based on visual cues and intent signals. The more products you include, the greater your chance of being found in those early, high-intent moments.
2. Let AI do the heavy lifting
Use Pinterest Performance+, our suite of AI-powered features that help get your products in front of the right people, at the right time, with speed and scale.Advertisers using Pinterest Performance+ catalogue sales campaigns have seen a 20% improvement in CPA compared to their business-as-usual setups.5 It uses real-time signals to automatically adjust bids and budgets, capturing high-intent moments while keeping costs down.
And you stay in control. Pinterest Performance+ puts guardrails around every decision—like negative keyword controls and brand safety guidelines—so you get smarter automation you can trust.
Less manual work. Improved performance. Just ask home improvement retailer Wickes: They used Pinterest Performance+ to drive 520% more clicks while reducing costs by 77%.6
3. Show up authentically with creative that inspires
How you show up shapes what happens next. As AI algorithms influence what shoppers see, trust and relevance matter more than ever.
Pinterest Performance+ creative helps you build assets quickly—but it amplifies human creativity, it doesn’t replace it. Use lifestyle imagery, subtle motion and multiple angles to help shoppers see themselves using your products. Follow creative best practices to make your product Pins work harder.
Show up where your audience is, with content that’s helpful and inspiring. Advertisers have seen an average 14% increase in conversion rate when using Pinterest Performance+ creative.7
Help shoppers see what’s possible. Make the decision easy.
Visual discovery drives purchase decisions
Pinterest is an AI-powered visual search platform designed for decisions. As shopping habits evolve, Pinterest keeps you connected to your customers—capturing intent early, building trust through relevance and turning inspiration into action.
Ready to get started? Upload your product catalogue today and unlock the full power of visual discovery.
