With 85% of weekly users making purchases from their pinned content, Pinterest is not just a source of inspiration—it’s a prime platform for monetization.
So, how do you make money on Pinterest? The first step is signing up and consistently creating visually appealing, engaging content. But that’s only the beginning.
In this blog, we’ll dive into nine proven strategies to transform Pinterest into a powerful revenue stream, helping you tap into its potential as a highly effective platform for earning money.
How to make money on Pinterest
While it doesn’t offer direct payments to creators like other social media platforms, there are still many highly effective strategies on how to monetize Pinterest for regular and passive income.
Here are nine key strategies.
1. Affiliate Marketing
According to Pinterest, 80% of its weekly users have discovered a new brand or product on the platform, and 40% of US Pinners have a household income exceeding $150,000.
Pinterest reports that 80% of its weekly users discover new brands or products on the platform, and additionally, 40% of U.S. Pinners have household incomes exceeding $150,000. These statistics underscore the immense potential Pinterest offers for affiliate marketing. Therefore, it is a highly effective way to generate income. By incorporating affiliate links directly into your Pins, you can earn commissions from affiliate partners whenever someone clicks your link and makes a purchase. Consequently, Pinterest has become a valuable platform for those looking to profit from affiliate marketing.
How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest:
- Join Affiliate Programs Relevant to Your Niche
Success in affiliate marketing depends heavily on targeting the right audience with products and services that align with their interests. Joining affiliate programs that are a good fit for your niche significantly increases the chances of driving engagement and conversions. The more relevant the product, the more likely users will click through and make a purchase, ultimately boosting your earnings. - Optimize Your Pins for Affiliate Marketing
To attract users and encourage clicks, ensure your Pins are visually appealing and feature compelling, keyword-rich descriptions. Include clear calls to action (CTAs) that motivate users to click on the affiliate link. Pairing your optimized Pin with high-quality content, such as product reviews or tutorials, can also increase your credibility and drive more traffic. - Adhere to Pinterest’s Guidelines for Affiliate Marketing
While affiliate marketing is allowed on Pinterest, it’s crucial to follow the platform’s guidelines. Transparency is key: always disclose that your Pins contain affiliate links to maintain trust with your audience. Avoid spammy behaviour, such as excessive pinning of the same affiliate link or using misleading descriptions, as this could lead to account suspension or restrictions. - Set Up a Pinterest Business Account
In order to do affiliate marketing on Pinterest, you’ll need to set up a business account. If you’re currently using a personal profile, you can easily convert it into a business account for free. A business account offers essential features such as analytics, which allow you to track the performance of your Pins and optimize your strategy based on engagement metrics.
By selecting relevant affiliate programs, optimizing your Pins, and following Pinterest’s guidelines, you can effectively make money through affiliate marketing on the platform.
2. Create Sponsored Content
Another lucrative way to make money on Pinterest is through sponsored content. Creators and influencers who have a significant following can secure partnerships with brands looking to promote their products on the platform. These partnerships typically involve the creation of custom Pins that highlight the brand’s products or services in a relatable and authentic way.
Why Sponsored Content Works:
Custom content often outperforms traditional ads when it comes to engaging consumers. Sponsored posts feel more personal and genuine, making them more appealing to Pinterest users, who value authentic recommendations. As a result, sponsorship opportunities for creators and influencers are expanding rapidly, as brands seek out content that resonates more deeply with their target audience.
Transparency is crucial for maintaining a loyal and engaged audience. To keep your followers informed and ensure they trust your recommendations, it’s essential to use Pinterest’s paid partnership tool. This feature allows you to tag the sponsoring brand directly in your post, clearly indicating that the content is part of a collaboration. By being open about these partnerships, you build credibility with your audience while also staying compliant with Pinterest’s policies.
Why Do Brands Pay Creators for Promotion on Pinterest?
- Creators Deliver Authentic, Relatable Messages
One of the biggest reasons brands partner with creators on Pinterest is the ability to deliver a more personal and authentic message compared to traditional advertising. When a creator promotes a product, it often feels more like a genuine recommendation, which can be more impactful than a typical ad campaign. - Higher Levels of Trust from Followers
Consumers are more likely to trust recommendations from creators they follow and admire. This trust increases the likelihood of users engaging with the product and, ultimately, making a purchase. As a result, brands see a boost in their credibility when their products are endorsed by well-known creators. - Improved Interaction Rates and Visibility
Sponsored content from creators often achieves higher interaction rates than standard ads. The personal touch added by creators—combined with Pinterest’s visual appeal—leads to better engagement and greater brand visibility. This increased interaction makes brand promotions more effective, as users are more likely to save, click, or share the sponsored Pin. - Cost-Effectiveness Compared to Traditional Ads
For many brands, working with creators is more cost-effective than investing in large-scale advertising campaigns. Sponsored posts by influencers allow brands to reach highly targeted audiences without the high overhead of traditional advertising, providing better return on investment (ROI) for marketing efforts.
3. Run Pinterest Ads
Using Pinterest ads is an effective strategy to boost your eCommerce site’s visibility. Not only do they drive traffic directly to your products or services, but they also help you connect with a targeted audience. Whether you’re promoting a product, service, or blog content, Pinterest ads allow you to reach users based on their interests, demographics, or search keywords. As a result, it becomes easier to connect with potential buyers. Additionally, the Pinterest Ads Manager provides a user-friendly platform to promote your Pins, increasing exposure across feeds and search results.
Furthermore, Pinterest ads blend seamlessly into the user experience, resembling regular Pins but benefiting from strategic placement for greater visibility. This positioning significantly increases the likelihood of attracting clicks and engagement from potential customers. To get started, you’ll need to set up a Pinterest business account if you haven’t already.
Key Aspects of Running Pinterest Ads:
Ad Formats
Pinterest offers a variety of ad formats to suit different types of content and marketing goals:
- Carousel Ads: Feature multiple images in one ad, ideal for showcasing various product angles or telling a story.
- Collections Ads: Display a variety of products, making it easier for users to explore your offerings within one ad unit.
- Video Ads: Capture attention with engaging video content, perfect for demonstrating how a product works or telling your brand’s story visually.
- Idea Ads: Multi-page ads that allow for deeper engagement, perfect for showcasing tutorials, step-by-step guides, or detailed product features.
Choosing the right format will depend on your campaign goals and the type of content that best highlights your offerings.
Campaign Goals
Pinterest ads let you run campaigns tailored to your specific business objectives:
- Awareness: Focus on expanding your reach and increasing impressions to build brand awareness.
- Consideration: Target users who are more likely to engage with your Pins, driving clicks or interactions.
- Conversions: Aim to generate sales, sign-ups, or other meaningful actions by encouraging users to take the next step.
Selecting the appropriate campaign goal is crucial for ensuring your ads align with the outcomes you want to achieve, whether it’s raising awareness or driving purchases.
Bidding and Budgeting
When setting up your ads, you can decide how much you want to spend and how you want to pay:
- Cost Per Impression (CPM): Ideal for increasing visibility and reach.
- Cost Per Video View (CPV): Best for video ads where you want users to engage with the content.
You can adjust your budget and bids while the campaign is running, giving you control over your spending as you monitor performance.
Targeting Options
Pinterest provides a range of targeting tools to help you reach the right audience:
- Target users based on their interests, demographics, and keywords, ensuring your ads appear to people who are more likely to be interested in your products or services.
- Use customer lists to retarget users who have previously interacted with your brand or to expand your reach to similar audiences.
- Leverage Pinterest’s automated targeting tools to find new potential buyers based on user behaviour and platform trends.
These precise targeting options make it easier to connect with relevant audiences and maximize the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Analytics and Measurement
Track your ad performance using Pinterest’s built-in analytics tools or partner with third-party measurement solutions. Key metrics to monitor include:
- Impressions: How many times is your ad shown?
- Clicks: The number of users who clicked on your ad.
- Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Measure how much revenue your ads are generating compared to your ad spend.
Monitoring these metrics helps you assess the success of your campaign and make adjustments to improve performance.
By utilizing these ad formats, targeting options, and measurement tools, you can craft a Pinterest ad strategy that effectively promotes your products and services, drives traffic, and helps you achieve your eCommerce goals.
4. Drive Traffic to Your Website
To drive more traffic to your website and increase conversions through Pinterest, creating Pins that link directly to key destinations like your sales page, blog, or online store is crucial. By doing so, you attract visitors who are already interested in what you offer. Incorporating high-ranking keywords and clear, engaging descriptions will help ensure that more users discover and interact with your content.
Here are some actionable tips to help you drive traffic and start generating revenue on Pinterest:
Create Multiple Pins for Each Blog Post
Don’t limit yourself to just one Pin per blog post. Instead, create multiple variations of Pins, each with different titles, descriptions, and images. This gives you more chances to appeal to a broader audience and appear in a wider range of search results. Ensure all your Pins are optimized for relevant keywords by using catchy titles and clear, well-researched descriptions. By using visually distinct images for each Pin, you also increase engagement and clickthrough rates as different designs resonate with different users.
Leverage Pinterest Trends for Keyword Research
Pinterest Trends is a powerful tool for conducting keyword research and staying current with what’s popular among Pinterest users. You can use it to identify trending search terms and topics that align with your niche or business. By integrating these trending keywords into your Pin titles, descriptions, and hashtags, you increase the chances of your content being discovered by users actively searching for related topics. This keyword strategy not only helps your Pins rank higher in searches but also boosts organic traffic to your content.
Utilize Rich Pins for Better Visibility
Rich Pins enhances your visibility by automatically pulling important metadata from your website. This includes your blog post’s title, description, and author information. The additional information helps your Pins stand out in users’ feeds, making them more appealing by providing context upfront.
There are various types of Rich Pins, such as products, recipes, and articles. Choose the type that best aligns with your content. Rich Pins also boost your trustworthiness and professionalism by creating a consistent connection between your Pins and your website.
5. List on the Pinterest Catalog
Listing your products on Pinterest through the Pinterest catalog allows you to upload your product inventory and create shoppable Pins. This enables users to browse and purchase your merchandise directly on the platform.
This seamless integration makes it easier for users to discover your products and increases the chances of converting views into sales. You can also run promoted Pins to remind users of products they’ve already viewed, effectively boosting conversion rates.
Steps to Start Selling on Pinterest:
To begin selling on Pinterest, you’ll need a business account. This unlocks essential features such as access to Pinterest Ads Manager, analytics, and the ability to upload your product catalog. Once your business account is set up, consider applying for Pinterest’s Verified Merchant Program. This program adds a verification badge to your profile, increasing trust and credibility with your audience and providing additional tools for promoting your products.
By uploading your product feed via the Pinterest catalog, you automatically generate shoppable Pins for each item. These Pins make it easy for users to discover and purchase your products while browsing their feed or searching for related content. Each product pin includes details such as pricing and availability and links directly to your website, simplifying the purchasing process.
To boost your product visibility, run Catalog Sales Campaigns that promote specific products to your target audience. These campaigns allow you to reach users who have already shown interest in your products by visiting your website or engaging with previous Pins. You can also use Conversion Campaigns to encourage actions like adding items to a cart or completing a sale, driving more concrete results.
Make it easy for customers to complete their purchases by using ad formats with direct links that take users straight to your product pages. A smooth checkout experience is essential for reducing friction and ensuring users follow through with their purchase decisions.
Track the success of your Pinterest efforts using Pinterest Analytics and Conversion Insights. These tools help you monitor key performance metrics such as impressions, clicks, conversions, and sales. By enabling the Pinterest tag and Conversions API, you can track on-site actions and connect them directly to your Pinterest campaigns.
Start Your Print on demand store with Pinterest
6. Join Group Boards
Joining and participating in group boards is a great strategy for beginners looking to start making money on Pinterest. Group boards allow multiple members to create and share Pins, offering the potential to reach a broader audience beyond your own followers. This can help amplify your content, drive more traffic to your website or eCommerce store, and establish you as a valuable part of the Pinterest community.
By contributing to active, well-moderated group boards within your niche, you can grow your profile, increase engagement, and ultimately drive more visitors to your website, products, or affiliate links.
How to Maximize the Value of Group Boards:
To get the most out of group boards, it’s important to join ones that are active and highly engaging. You can identify these boards by researching influencers or competitors in your niche and checking which group boards they belong to. You can also use tools like PinGroupie to search for boards with high follower counts and strong engagement metrics. Joining these well-performing boards increases your chances of getting your content in front of more users.
When contributing to group boards, take a slow-and-steady approach. Pin high-quality, relevant content regularly without overwhelming the board with too many Pins at once. Engage with other members Pins by liking, commenting, or saving them to your own boards. This helps build trust and credibility with the board’s moderators and members, making it more likely that your content will be well-received. Additionally, consistent engagement improves your visibility on the board, attracting more views and clicks to your Pins.
To ensure you get the most out of group boards, it’s important to track and evaluate their effectiveness. Keep a spreadsheet of the boards you’ve joined. Include key metrics like the follower-to-pin ratio, the number of repins your content receives, and the traffic these boards drive to your site.
By regularly reviewing this data, you can identify which boards deliver the best results. Focus your efforts on contributing to the boards that offer the most value. If a group board is underperforming, consider shifting your focus to higher-performing boards. You may also want to adjust the type of content you share.
Benefits of Group Board Participation:
- Broader Audience Reach: Group boards allow you to tap into an audience beyond your direct followers, increasing your content’s exposure.
- Niche Targeting: By joining boards that are relevant to your niche, you can ensure that your Pins are reaching people who are more likely to engage with and act on your content.
- Community Building: Participating in group boards fosters a sense of community and helps you establish connections with other Pinterest users, influencers, and potential collaborators.
- Increased Traffic and Engagement: Active participation in well-chosen group boards can result in more traffic to your profile, website, or store, and help boost your engagement rates over time.
By strategically selecting, contributing to, and tracking group boards, you can effectively grow your Pinterest presence, increase traffic, and ultimately start monetizing your efforts on the platform.
7. Participate in the Pinterest Inclusion Fund
The Pinterest Inclusion Fund is a transformative six-week program designed to empower and uplift individuals from underrepresented communities. It offers the resources, guidance, and opportunities needed to succeed on the platform.
This initiative assists creators, small businesses, and agencies in growing their presence on Pinterest. It also explores ways to monetize their content and maximize their impact.
Program Highlights
Participants in the Pinterest Inclusion Fund benefit from expert mentorship. Industry professionals provide personalized guidance tailored to each participant’s niche. In addition to mentorship, they receive dedicated sessions on Pinterest best practices. These sessions cover topics such as increasing engagement, optimizing content, and leveraging Pinterest’s advertising tools for growth.
The program offers a robust suite of resources to help participants thrive. This includes cash grants to support content creation, ad credits to boost visibility, and access to virtual learning sessions. These sessions cover everything from strategic pinning to using Pinterest’s business analytics.
A key component of the program is the opportunity to build a supportive network with other creators. Community-building initiatives are designed to foster collaboration and shared growth.
Who Can Apply?
The Pinterest Inclusion Fund is specifically open to small merchants, independent publishers, and creator agencies that either serve or are owned by individuals from underrepresented communities. This includes minority-owned businesses, creators from diverse backgrounds, and content agencies that advocate for underrepresented voices. If you are passionate about your craft and fit within these parameters, this program could be a valuable opportunity to elevate your presence on Pinterest.
How to Apply
The Inclusion Fund operates on a quarterly basis, with specific application periods throughout the year. For 2024, the next application window is open from September 16-25, and the best part—it’s free to apply. Pinterest encourages creators from all eligible communities to seize the opportunity, with the goal of diversifying the platform and empowering creators with meaningful support.
What Participants Receive
Participants gain access to a variety of valuable resources designed to enhance their content creation journey:
- Cash Grants: Direct funding to support your creative projects.
- Ad Credits: Resources to promote your content and increase visibility.
- Virtual Learning: Educational sessions covering strategic content creation, engagement optimization, and analytics.
- Community Networking: The chance to connect with other like-minded creators and share insights, tips, and experiences.
Since its launch in 2021, the program has accepted over 150 participants. While Pinterest does not disclose the exact number of participants accepted each cycle, the impact is significant—last year’s cohort saw an impressive 124% growth in engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program.
8. Sell Pinterest Templates
A great way to make money on Pinterest, especially if you have graphic design skills, is by creating and selling Pinterest templates. Bloggers, small business owners, and content creators are always looking for pre-designed, customizable templates to save time and maintain a consistent visual brand.
Design eye-catching templates for Pinterest Pins, boards, or Idea Pins with high-quality images, smart layouts, and appealing design elements. You can sell these templates on platforms like Etsy or through your own website. Offering beautiful, user-friendly designs allows you to create a steady income stream as more users seek professional-looking content to enhance their Pinterest presence.
9. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Becoming a Pinterest virtual assistant is a great way to earn money by helping businesses and social media influencers grow their presence on the platform. Virtual assistants handle a range of tasks. These include creating and scheduling Pins, optimizing profiles, conducting keyword research, and monitoring analytics to boost performance.
With the rising demand for Pinterest marketing, many online business owners are eager to invest in expert help. They want to drive traffic and boost sales. If you have strong marketing skills and enjoy flexible, remote work, this role could be ideal for you.
How to Make Money on Pinterest for Beginners
Earn money on Pinterest by building a strong profile and creating engaging, visually appealing Pins. Focus on a niche you’re passionate about and consistently post content that provides value to your audience.
Once you gain more followers and increase engagement, start exploring monetization options like affiliate marketing or joining group boards to increase visibility. Over time, as your Pinterest account grows, it’s also possible to attract sponsored content deals, turning Pinterest into a steady source of income.
How to Get Paid on Pinterest: The Basics
To maximize your earnings on Pinterest, it’s essential to start by mastering the basics:
1. Pinterest Pins: These are crucial for generating income.
- Standard Pins allow users to shop directly from Pinterest.
- Video Pins showcase products with engaging videos.
- Idea Pins offer multi-page tutorials or inspiration.
- Rich Pins provide detailed information, such as pricing and product descriptions.
- Carousel Pins display multiple images within one post, ideal for highlighting different product angles or features.
2. Pinterest Boards: Organize your Pins into themed collections, making it easier for followers or potential customers to discover relevant content.
3. Pinterest SEO: Optimizing your content can significantly improve its ranking in Pinterest search results, leading to increased traffic and potential earnings. Incorporate relevant keywords in your Pin descriptions, board titles, and profile to boost visibility.
Utilize tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and eRank to uncover the most popular keywords in your niche and gain insights for optimizing your Pinterest strategy.
Do You Need a Pinterest Business Account?
Yes, having a Pinterest business account is crucial if you’re serious about making money on the platform. Unlike personal accounts, a business account gives you access to essential tools like Pinterest Analytics, which allows you to track the performance of your Pins and monitor audience engagement. You can also run Pinterest Ads to reach a broader audience and promote your products or services. Additionally, a business account enables Rich Pins, which automatically syncs extra information like product details, recipes, or articles.
Setting up a business account is free and straightforward, making it the first step toward monetizing your Pinterest presence.
How Many Followers Do You Need to Make Money on Pinterest?
There isn’t a specific number of followers needed to start making money on Pinterest. Some creators begin monetizing with as few as 1,000 followers. However, the key factor is having an engaged and loyal audience. Brands and advertisers often prioritize engagement over follower count. Therefore, it’s more important to focus on creating high-quality, targeted content that resonates with your niche.
As your audience engagement increases, so will opportunities for affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and other income streams. This growth can occur even with a smaller follower base.
Final Thoughts: 9 Different Ways to Make Money on Pinterest
Whether you’re interested in affiliate marketing, creating sponsored content, running ads, or listing products in Pinterest’s product catalog, this visual search engine offers a wide range of opportunities to generate income.
Take advantage of the strategies we’ve covered in this blog to learn how to make money on Pinterest. Additionally, consider partnering with Printify to sell custom merchandise featuring your own designs, opening up another profitable avenue to monetize your creativity on the platform.
