Many people look at Pinterest as an inspiring mood board, but the wise know the platform goes above and beyond that. The visual search engine is a gold mine of opportunity for brands and creators looking to make money from their pins.
That’s right.
With the right strategy, you can use your Pinterest account to drive traffic to your blog, promote your online store, and generate a passive income.
Not sure where to start?
Keep reading to discover how to make money on Pinterest and turn your account into a revenue-driving asset.
7 Ways to Make Money on Pinterest
For any of the below strategies to work, you’ll first need a Pinterest business account. Luckily, signing up for one or switching over from a personal account is super easy.
Done?
Let’s jump into how to make money on Pinterest!
Keep Reading: Dive into your complete guide to using Pinterest for Business.
1. Tag Pins With Your Affiliate Links
Affiliate marketing is one of the best (and easiest) ways to make money online and earn a passive income.
And Pinterest? It’s the perfect platform for it.
In essence, all you’re doing is promoting products and earning a small commission when someone clicks through and makes a purchase via your unique affiliate link.
- You don’t need to create a product.
- You don’t need to start a business.
All you need is a Pinterest business account, a posting strategy and products you believe in.
For Pinterest users, the potential is huge. With over 522 million monthly active users, it’s a platform where people come to find inspiration, shop, and discover new products. By strategically pinning products tagged with your affiliate links, you can generate income just by sharing what you love.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Join an Affiliate Program: Sign up for affiliate networks like ShareASale, FlexOffers, or Amazon Associates.
2. Choose Your Products Carefully: Select products that align with your niche and your audience’s interests. The more relevant the product, the more likely your Pinterest followers will trust your recommendations and make a purchase.
3. Create Beautiful Pins: Design engaging, eye-catching pins using high-quality images and compelling copy. Add your affiliate link to the Pin so that you earn a commission when someone clicks through and makes a purchase.
4. Optimize for Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your pin descriptions to make your content searchable and get more eyeballs on your Pins.
5. Track Your Success: Data is your BFF. Monitor which pins are driving the most traffic and conversions. Double down on what’s working and ditch what isn’t.
Need to level up your affiliate marketing education? Sign up for a course like Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing.
2. Use Product Pins to Sell Products
Got an e-commerce Shopify store or sell on Etsy? Then, allow me to introduce you to one of the best ways to make money on Pinterest – Product Pins.
Product Pins allow you to turn your Pinterest pins into a fully shoppable experience. By tagging your products, users get real-time information like price, availability, and a direct link to your website. It removes the usual friction in social selling and helps you seamlessly convert Pinterest users into paying customers.
Need some convincing that it’s worth the time?
- Pinterest reaches 40% of US households with an annual income over $150K
- Shoppers on Pinterest spend 2x more per month than people on other platforms
- People who use Pinterest weekly shop more often and spend more every month
I don’t know about you, but I can hear the sounds of cha-ching in the distance!
Read our full guide on how to set up your Product Pins and start selling! P.S. You will need a Pinterest business account.
3. Pitch Yourself for Brand Partnerships and Sponsored Content
Creator @astoldbydom teamed up with Gatorade for a brand sponsorship on Pinterest.
You don’t necessarily need a product (or even affiliate links) to make money on Pinterest. In fact, your Pinterest audience alone can be enough.
If you’ve built a loyal and engaged audience, your following alone is a valuable asset for brands. As long as your niche is active on Pinterest, brands are always on the lookout for creators who can promote their products to the right audience, opening the door to earning money through brand partnerships and sponsored content on Pinterest.
Here’s how to start collaborating with brands and get paid for your content:
1. Pitch Yourself to Brands: Take the first step by reaching out to brands that align with your Pinterest content and audience. It’s crucial to have a media kit ready to share—this should include your Pinterest profile, audience insights, engagement metrics, and examples of past collaborations. Highlight your unique value and how you can help the brand reach its target audience.
2. Create Engaging Sponsored Pins: Once you’ve secured a partnership, it’s time to create sponsored content that showcases the brand in a natural and authentic way to your followers.
3. Use the Paid Partnership Label: Disclose your sponsored content using Pinterest’s paid partnership tool. When creating a pin, simply toggle the option to tag your brand partner, and once approved, their brand name will be displayed on your Pin. This builds transparency with your audience and keeps everything within Pinterest’s guidelines.
Read More: 5 Ways to Score Yourself Brand Collaborations
4. Monetize Your Blog Traffic with Pinterest
Make money on Pinterest by creating pins that drive traffic to your blog!
Even if you don’t sell a product or service, you can still earn money by driving traffic to your blog through Pinterest.
Unlike other platforms, Pinterest functions as a visual search engine. Users search for topics, discover your blog posts, and click through to your site.
The more traffic you generate, the more opportunities you have to make money through display advertising networks like Google AdSense, Ezoic, or affiliate links embedded in each blog post
And it works!
Rosemarie from The Busy Budgeter used Pinterest to grow her blog traffic to over 400,000 page views monthly. By consistently pinning content related to budgeting, saving money, and meal planning, she monetized her blog through affiliate marketing, display ads, and product sales.
Jenn Leach also used Pinterest to build a blog with nearly 100K monthly page views within weeks!
Lauren McManus & Alex Nerney, the dynamic duo behind Create and Go, have earned six figures through their health blog Avocadu and credit Pinterest as one of their top traffic sources.
Read More: Top 10 Pinterest SEO Tips to Get Discovered on Pinterest
5. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Earn money on Pinterest by helping other creators manage their profiles and content
Have you mastered Pinterest strategy, SEO, content creation or management? Then, you can apply for virtual assistant jobs that require you to manage Pinterest accounts.
Some businesses see the potential of building an audience on Pinterest but lack the resources to operate an account in-house. Offering your skills as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant might be a lucrative business venture and can help you make money on Pinterest.
As a Pinterest virtual assistant, your job may be to:
• Come up with content/Pin ideas
• Create Pins
• Manage ads
• Improve Pinterest Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Analyze the Pinterest account insights
6. Get Certified as a Pinterest Media Buyer, AKA a Pinterest Ads Manager
If you’re looking to upskill and make money using Pinterest, becoming a certified Pinterest Media Buyer is a smart move. Pinterest’s advertising platform is growing rapidly, and businesses need skilled professionals (like you!) to manage their ad campaigns.
Pinterest offers a free certification program through its Pinterest Academy. Once certified, you’ll have the knowledge to create, manage, and optimize Pinterest ads that drive results. It also gives you the credibility to pitch your services to brands or agencies, helping you kick-start your career as a freelancer or consultant.
7. Join the Pinterest Inclusion Fund
The Pinterest Inclusion Fund, formerly known as the Pinterest Creator Fund, which ended in 2022, is a fantastic opportunity for underrepresented communities to grow their presence on Pinterest and make money. This six-week program offers valuable insights, mentorship from industry experts, and resources to help you fully leverage Pinterest’s marketing tools.
The best part? If accepted, you’ll receive a cash grant and ad credits to boost your reach.
The Pinterest Inclusion Fund is designed for small businesses, independent publishers, and boutique creator agencies owned by or focused on minorities. If you belong to an underrepresented group—such as people of colour, individuals with disabilities, or members of the LGBTQ+ community—this program could be a perfect fit.
How to Make Money on Pinterest: FAQs
How long does it take to start earning money on Pinterest?
The timeline for earning money on Pinterest varies depending on your strategy and efforts. Some creators start seeing results within a few months, while others may take longer. Success depends on factors like how consistently you post, the quality of your pins, and how well you optimize your content for search.
What is the average income for Pinterest creators?
Earnings vary widely. Some make a few hundred dollars monthly, while top creators earn between $2,000 and $15,000 monthly from partnerships and affiliate marketing.
How can I build a loyal following on Pinterest?
To build a loyal following on Pinterest, post consistently to keep your audience engaged. Create high-quality pins that are visually appealing and aligned with your niche. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and interacting with others in your Pinterest community. Lastly, use Pinterest SEO by including relevant keywords in your pin descriptions to make your content easier to discover.
What are the best practices for Pinterest SEO?
To improve your Pinterest SEO, use relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and board games to help users find your content. Optimize your profile by making sure your bio and board names clearly reflect your niche. Create rich pins, which pull additional information from your website and make your content more searchable. Pin consistently to show Pinterest that your account is active, and add alt text to your images to improve accessibility and searchability.
How can I measure the success of my Pinterest monetization efforts?
You can measure the success of your Pinterest monetization efforts by tracking key metrics like traffic, engagement, conversions, and revenue. Use Pinterest Analytics and tools like Google Analytics to see how much traffic Pinterest drives to your website or blog. Monitor engagement metrics such as re-pins, clicks, and comments to gauge interest in your content. Track conversions if you’re using affiliate links or selling products to see how many people are completing purchases. Finally, keep an eye on your overall revenue to assess whether your earnings are increasing over time.
Schedule Your Pinterest Content with Plann
Pinterest provides a wide range of tools and features that enable you to make sales on the platform. The best part about making money on Pinterest is that whether you have a website or not, there is a way for you to generate income.
Now that you know the nine ways of making money on Pinterest, it’s time to act upon this information and build your Pinterest profile and content strategy.
Sign up for a free Plann Plus account today and schedule your pins in advance.
