you’re serious about growing your brand online, you can’t afford to ignore visual platforms. Your competitors are already out there—pinning, posting, and pulling in new customers. And if you think Pinterest is just for recipes or DIY crafts, think again.

Pinterest is a powerful marketing tool. But it’s not alone. Other image-sharing platforms also give you huge advantages in SEO (search engine optimization) and online marketing.

In this article, we’ll dive into Pinterest, explore platforms similar to it, and show you how to use them to boost your traffic, visibility, and engagement.

 

Why Visual Platforms Are So Important in 2025

In 2025, visuals aren’t just a bonus—they’re the main event. People scroll fast and remember images much more than plain text. That’s why platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Behance are so valuable for brands.

Here’s why visuals matter now more than ever:

    • Faster Attention: A strong image grabs attention in seconds.
    • Better Memory: People remember what they see longer than what they read.
    • Search Visibility: Google now shows more images in search results.
    • Higher Engagement: Posts with images get more clicks, shares, and saves.

Using visual platforms helps your brand stay top-of-mind and easy to find. In 2025, showing is just as important as telling.

 

AI generated image of a man using laptop computer. Icons of social image sharing websites including Pinterest, Flickr, Instagram,

Pinterest: More Than Just Pins

Let’s start with Pinterest.

Pinterest is like a visual search engine. People come here to discover ideas, plan projects, and find new products. It’s not just scrolling—it’s intentional searching.

Here’s how Pinterest helps with marketing:

    • People use Pinterest to plan: weddings, home designs, meals, vacations, and more.
    • Pins live forever. A post from last year can still drive traffic today.
    • You can link every pin to your website, product page, or blog post.
    • Pinterest content gets indexed by Google, which means even more reach.

If you’re selling a product, offering a service, or building a personal brand, Pinterest can send traffic to your site for free and for a long time.

And the best part? Pinterest is underused by many businesses, which means less competition for your niche.

Watch Anastasia’s video below and learn how to boost your Pinterest reach with smart SEO optimization:

But Pinterest Isn’t the Only Visual Social Media website

Pinterest is great, but other platforms work similarly, and some might even be better depending on your audience.Let’s take a look at six platforms like Pinterest that offer major SEO and marketing benefits.

Screenshot of the Instagram login page

Instagram – The Visual Giant

Instagram started as a simple photo-sharing app. Today, it’s a powerful marketing tool used by brands of all sizes.

It’s not just for influencers. Businesses, agencies, and even solo creators use Instagram also.

They use Instagram to:

    • Showcase products or services
    • Build brand identity
    • Attract followers who turn into customers

SEO and Marketing Benefits:

    • Instagram is now searchable by keywords, not just hashtags.
    • Your posts can show up in Google (especially when accounts are public).
    • You can drive traffic with bio links, stories, or shopping tags.

Pro Tip: Use a mix of keywords and hashtags in your captions. Also, write alt text for each image. This helps Instagram understand your post better—and helps Google index it.

 

Screenshot of the Behance home page

Behance – The Portfolio Powerhouse

Behance is owned by Adobe and is designed for creatives like designers, artists, and photographers. But it’s not just for them.

If you sell a visual product, have a brand with strong design, or offer creative services, Behance is a must.

Why It’s Great for SEO:

    • Every project has a unique URL that can be indexed by Google.
    • You can include long-form descriptions with keywords.
    • You can link back to your website, service page, or portfolio.

Use Case: Let’s say you run a digital agency. You can post your logo designs, web design mockups, or campaign work. Each post becomes a mini landing page that brings in search traffic.

 

Screenshot of the image sharing website, Dribbble

Dribbble – Short and Sweet Visual Sharing

Dribbble is perfect for quick, eye-catching content. It’s popular with designers, but any brand with strong visuals can benefit. Unlike Behance, which showcases full projects, Dribbble is all about small “shots”—simple previews of creative work.

Here’s how to use Dribbble for marketing:

    • Share logo ideas, ads, or product previews as individual shots.
    • Use clear titles and tags that include keywords for SEO.
    • Keep your bio updated with a link to your website or store.

Dribbble posts often appear in Google Image searches. That means more eyes on your brand with minimal effort. If you want a clean, creative place to show your visuals, Dribbble is a fast and powerful option.

 

Screenshot of the Flickr homepage.

Flickr – Still Strong for Photography

Flickr might seem like a platform from the past, but it’s still one of the most SEO-friendly places to post images.

Photographers, bloggers, and marketers use Flickr to host high-quality images and to get those images found on Google.

Why It’s Still Useful:

    • Google loves indexing Flickr photos
    • Every photo has a title, description, and tag options
    • You can geotag and license images to increase reach

Use Case:
You run a food blog. You upload your own images to Flickr with SEO-friendly titles like “chocolate chip cookie recipe.” Add a backlink to your blog. Now your image shows up in Google Images and leads people to your post.

 

Screenshot of the Imgur homepage.

Imgur – The Viral Playground

Imgur is best known for memes and viral content. It’s where Reddit users host their images, and funny content often starts here before spreading.

But smart marketers know how to use Imgur, too.

When to Use Imgur:

    • You want to go viral with something funny, shocking, or surprising
    • You’re launching a creative campaign and want to test engagement
    • You’re looking for a younger, meme-savvy audience

SEO Note:
Imgur links are often nofollow, so they won’t directly boost SEO, but if your image goes viral, you can get indirect backlinks from blogs and forums that share it.

 

Screenshot of the Tumblr trending topics page.

6. Tumblr – The Comeback Kid

You might be surprised to see Tumblr on this list.  Tumblr isn’t dead—it’s evolving. It’s now becoming a space for creative brands, fandoms, indie projects, and artsy content.

It allows text, video, and especially visual storytelling. If your brand has a unique voice or creative twist, Tumblr is worth exploring.

SEO Strengths:

    • Tumblr posts can be indexed by Google
    • You can write full blog-style posts with images and keywords
    • You can link out to your site with every post

Smart Use:
Turn your visuals into microblogs. Share the story behind the image, the process, or a customer review. Tag your posts properly. Add a link to your product or signup page.

How to Use These Platforms Together

You don’t have to choose just one platform—use them together to create a bigger impact. Each platform has its own strengths, and combining them helps you reach more people in different ways.

Here’s a smart way to make it work:

    • Pinterest: Share helpful, evergreen visuals that link to your site.
    • Instagram: Post daily updates, stories, and behind-the-scenes photos.
    • Behance or Dribbble: Showcase your best work in a clean, professional format.
    • Flickr: Host high-quality images with SEO-rich descriptions.
    • Tumblr: Turn your visuals into blog-style posts with a creative twist.

Using them side by side builds your brand across the internet—and keeps your content working 24/7.

 

Boosting SEO with Visual Platforms

Visual platforms aren’t just for likes—they help you show up on Google too. Each time you post an image with the right info, you boost your chance of being found in search results.

Here’s how to improve SEO using visuals:

    • Use Descriptive File Names: Name your image “modern-kitchen-design.jpg” instead of “IMG1234.”
    • Add Alt Text: This helps search engines understand what your image is about.
    • Write Keyword-Rich Captions: Add simple sentences that explain the image using your target keywords.
    • Include Backlinks: On platforms like Pinterest or Behance, link back to your website.

These small steps make your images work harder—and your content go further. Smart visuals = better search rankings.

Pro Tip: Repurpose Your Visuals

Creating content takes time, so why only use it once? Repurposing your visuals is a smart way to get more value without doing more work.

Here’s how you can reuse one image across multiple platforms:

    • Pinterest: Turn it into a vertical pin with a keyword-rich title.
    • Instagram: Use it in a carousel or as a Reel cover.
    • Tumblr: Add a story or quote to make it a mini blog post.
    • Flickr: Upload the high-res version with SEO-friendly tags.
    • Dribbble/Behance: Include it in a full project case study.

Every time you share it somewhere new, you reach a different audience. More exposure, better SEO, and no extra content to create. That’s smart marketing.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Your Competitors Win Without a Fight

Here’s the truth: Your competitors are already using Pinterest. Some of them are using Behance, Instagram, Flickr, and other platforms too. They’re getting traffic, building brand awareness, and showing up in Google when people search.

Meanwhile, your business might be invisible.

But you can change that, starting today.

Pick two platforms from this article. Start posting consistently. Use SEO-friendly titles, descriptions, and links.

Over time, your reach will grow. Your traffic will increase. And you’ll start winning too.