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Pinterest Affiliate Marketing: A Beginner's Guide to Monetizing Your Pins

Pinterest is the go-to platform where users discover new ideas, products, and inspiration from around the world. Known for its aesthetic images and visually appealing content, Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, making it unique among social media platforms.

With over 522 million monthly active users in 2024, Pinterest offers immense potential for affiliate marketing and brand promotions. As a powerful tool for driving traffic, it allows brands to showcase products, link to their e-commerce sites, and increase sales conversions. For affiliate marketers, it’s an ideal platform to create pinnable content, tag products with affiliate links, and generate revenue.

Thanks to its high conversion rates, Pinterest enables you to connect with an engaged audience actively searching for ideas and solutions. Whether you're in e-commerce, lifestyle blogging, or promoting digital products, incorporating Pinterest into your affiliate marketing strategy is a game-changer!

Pin Your Affiliate Marketing Strategy

Whether you're a brand or a content creator, Pinterest offers more than just beautiful photos. It’s a powerful platform for boosting brand awareness, driving website traffic, and even earning extra income through affiliate marketing.

In 2024 over 317 million potential users turn to Pinterest in search of inspiration. 46% of weekly pinners have discovered new brands or products on the platform and 85% of weekly pinners have made a purchase based on Pins.      

What Is The Pinterest Affiliate Marketing?

Pinterest Affiliate Marketing is a way to earn money by promoting different products on the platform. It allows you to link your photos to external links that will redirect users to external sites, specific articles, or blog posts. 

Key Attributes for Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

  1. Platform Purpose: A visual discovery platform where users search for inspiration, ideas, and products.
  2. Audience Demographics: Pinterest’s audience skews female, aged 25-54, with a strong interest in DIY projects, fashion, recipes, and home décor.
  3. Traffic Potential: Pins can generate traffic long after posting, making Pinterest unique compared to platforms with fleeting content.

There are two effective ways to leverage this functionality to make money out of your content.

Promoting Your Own Brand

Use Pinterest to drive traffic to your own website. By creating attractive posts or Pins you can get the attention of the users and build brand awareness as long as you get them to purchase your product or service and increase conversions. 

Brands like Shein post promoted pins so users can click on them and get clothes they like while searching for outfit ideas. 

Promoting As A Creator Or Affiliate Marketer

Use Pinterest to drive traffic to third-party websites or brands. By tagging your Pins with affiliate links, you can earn commissions while providing value to users searching for recommendations.

Colleen Jonelle makes outfits herself and links them to her own affiliate links / storefront so she can make money whilst providing fashion and beauty tips. 

Also, be sure to check out our article on how to get brand deals on Pinterest.

How to Get Started with Pinterest Affiliate Marketing 

Pinterest affiliate marketing allows you to share affiliate links for products or services you recommend on the platform. You create Pins featuring those products, and when someone clicks your link to make a purchase or sign up, you earn a commission.

In order to start making money out of Pinterest you are going to need a Pinterest account. 

Step 1: Create Your account

Visit Pinterest's official website (https://www.pinterest.com/) and click on the “Sign Up” button in order to get started. Fill out your personal data such as email, birthdate and create your own password. Optimize your account by making your profile attractive and interesting for the followers you want to attract. Use keywords related to your area of expertise. 

Step 2: Switch To a  Business Account

A business account gives you access to many different metrics that are going to be very useful determining your best strategy. Go to the menu and click the "Business Account” button. This allows you to track views and clicks, identify high-engagement pins, and analyze your followers' demographics for more informed strategies moving forward.

Once you have your Pinterest account set up and are working on content to attract your target audience, it’s essential to know whether to direct them to affiliate links or create your own storefront. Both are effective strategies to earn extra income.

In both scenarios, you follow these easy steps: 

  • Create a Pin: Upload an eye-catching image or design that represents the product or service.
  • Add the Link: In the "destination URL" field, paste your affiliate link or storefront URL.
  • Write a Description: Include a keyword-rich description with a call-to-action.
  • Publish the Pin: Once saved, your Pin will direct users to the link you’ve added whenever they click on it.

Benefits of Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest Affiliate Marketing benefits are out there to see for everyone who decides to work on the platform. 

Besides the fact that it can be a side job because it´s a great way for earning extra money, here are the main benefits of being an affiliate marketer on the Pin app. 

1. Keeping Your Private Life Private

You can be a content creator on Pinterest without the need to show your face, daily things or routine. You get to keep your private life yours because there is no need to use it as a part of your marketing campaign. 

2. Broader Audience, High Visibility

On Pinterest you post your pins and there´s no need to have lots of followers in order to get lots of views or interaction. In that way, Pinterest algorithm works differently than other social media platforms when you first start by sharing your content with the ones closer to you that are already following your material. On Pinterest you can leave your family, friends and colleagues out if you want to and keep it to yourself and the community you create. 

3. Lasting Evergreen Content

Compared to other social media platforms, Pinterest content has a much longer lifespan. Pots on Instagram or X usually disappear in a few hours, but Pinterest pins can keep driving traffic and engagement for weeks, months or even years.  

4. Beginners Friendly

For anyone starting in the affiliate marketing world, Pinterest is easy to use and it doesn't involve an initial investment on paid ads in order to get results. The platform allows you to upload multiple pins for the same affiliate product, testing different visuals and messages to find what works best for you. 

5. Links Simplicity

Pinterest allows external linking to affiliate links, blogs or platforms. This way makes it easier to navigate and enlighten the path from pins to purchase whilst creating a good community. 

6. Organic Audience & Traffic 

Pinterest users actively search for ideas and solutions. Proper descriptions, pins and hashtags increase discoverability on the platform. With good SEO strategies you don't need ads in order to get people to see your content. Niches like fashion, home decor, fitness, and travel perform exceptionally well, aligning with affiliate marketing opportunities to fulfill the users intent of purchase. 

7. Niche Targeting

Marketers can create boards tailored to specific audiences, such as “Budget-Friendly Travel Gadgets” or “Luxury Home Décor.”

Requirements for Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

To succeed in Pinterest affiliate marketing, you’ll need to meet a few essential requirements to ensure your work is effective and following Pinterest policies. 

1. Disclose Your Affiliate Status

Transparency is crucial in affiliate marketing. Every time you add a link to one of your pins, include a clear description such as “This pin contains affiliate links”. This way you keep aligned with Pinterest guidelines and build trust with your audience. 

2. No link masking

Keeping up with transparency, Pinterest guidelines clearly state that the links can be shortened or disguised so there's no surprises for the users allowing them to clearly see where the links will direct them. Links must remain clear, allowing users to understand the type of promoted content they are engaging with.

Compliance & Guidelines

Pinterest guidelines and rules must be taken into account in order to deliver good affiliate marketing campaigns. The Pinterest platform offers tons of tools to help you manage and analyze your posts in order to successfully achieve your goals. 

Relevance and Value Of Your Content

Find your place of work, niche or area of expertise and start creating pins about it. See how users are searching for what it is you are working with and include that information, doubts, suggestions in your pins. Work with brands, products and services that truly resonate with you and your audience. Keep it authentic. Irrelevant or forced promotions can damage credibility and engagement.

Quality over Quantity

Focus on delivering high quality visually appealing pins to make an impact on your target audience. Although Pinterest does not impose a specific limit on the number of posts per day, engaging in spammy behavior can result in account restrictions. Quality over quantity will help you be focused and aligned with the platform terms. 

Content Safety

Pinterest is a safe place with most of the content being about home decor, beauty, fashion tips and lifestyle. Keep your content friendly or the platform is going to take action against your account. Avoid misleading, harmful or violent pins. Content or accounts that violate the Guidelines may face removal, restricted visibility, or blocked distribution.

Only Account

You should operate only one Pinterest account. That account should be your authentic presence on Pinterest. Don't re-pin your content through other fake ones in order to get more interactions because that goes against Pinterest Guidelines. 

Effective Pinterest Affiliate Marketing Strategies

There are many things you can try on Pinterest in order to get your community started and your affiliate links and commissions going. Here are the main steps you should follow in order to start making money out of Pinterest!

Step 1: Create High-Quality, Engaging Content

Pinterest is an aesthetic app. Visually appealing content rules it all so make sure your content is naturally appealing to your target audience. 

Visual Design

Use the format of vertical pins (2:3 aspect ratio) with eye-catching images. Design high quality pins by adding clear, readable text overlays to grab attention. Simple design tools like Canva or CapCut can be really handy and help you make your content more engaging and visually appealing. Opt for high-resolution visuals that align with your audience’s preferences.

How Courtney Uses Pinterest Affiliate Marketing to Showcase Vibrant Fashion

Courtney is a fashion influencer known for her unique colorful style. She uses a profile username that addresses directly her niche “Color me Courtney", in her bio stands out her invitation to live a life more colorfully and all her posts present various vibrant colours on different daily outfits.  

Types of Content

There are different types of pins you can create on Pinterest to interact with your audience. 

Informative Pins

On many occasions people go to Pinterest for information. Create infographics to provide the information they seek in an easy, good looking way. 

This is a great example of the online retailer that used this image to explain the different types of beans and coffee roasts. 

Video Pins

Most pins are static images, but don’t forget you can also upload video pins! Mixing in video is a great way to make your posts pop and grab attention in a crowded feed. Videos let you showcase your product in a way that a single image just can’t. 

In the example below, we’re shown how to properly use a Mount Lani Guasha stone, and we're provided with a link to the website if we want to purchase one.

Catalogs Pins

Create a well-organized catalog with categorized products that link directly to your website’s product pages, making it easier for shoppers to navigate and make purchases. Showcasing products through clear and simple images and organizing your Pinterest boards into product categories helps users find what they need faster and easier. 

Cindy Batchelor collaborates with brands to showcase products directly within her Pins, enhancing user engagement and driving traffic to featured items.

Product in Action Pins

Real-life scenarios to show how a product is being used and highlight its features, benefits, and functionality. They help users visualize how the product fits into their lives, making it more appealing.

The Pin below is showing how you can add this exclusive peeler to your kitchen and make cooking easier, and a little bit funnier too. 

Seasonality Pins

These Pins are tied to seasonal trends, holidays, or events. They leverage timely themes to drive engagement and sales by aligning with what users are actively searching for during that time.

Christmas cookies are one of the most searched items during November and December, as everyone looks to contribute their share to the festive table.

Step 2. Optimize Pins for Pinterest SEO

Find the space you want to work in and research the best keywords and content for your target audience. Create a list of the things people in your niche of work are looking for and find ways to connect those searches with the products or services you are working with. 

Keyword Research

Use the Pinterest search bar to find trends and topics users are looking for. Explore how they are asking for what they want and try to add those words into your pins and descriptions. You can target long-tail keywords such as “best kitchen gadgets for small spaces” to see what comes up and then figure out a way to make your content appear next time. 

Explore the main searches and find the best way to communicate your affiliate products to boost your commissions. 

Descriptions And Titles

Don't forget that Pinterest works like a search engine. Don´t play attention only to the quality of your images, your titles and descriptions are just as important. Write keyword-rich descriptions and include relevant hashtags such as “Discover the best kitchen gadgets to save time and space! #KitchenHacks #CookingTips.”

Rich Pins

You can use Rich Pins in order to directly provide additional context and information like pricing or availability on particular pins. These pins are often used to display details like product prices, availability, and descriptions, making your content more informative. 

How Victoria Leverages Pinterest for Affiliate Marketing in Beauty and Fashion

Victoria is a beauty influencer that works with different brands for personal care and fashion. In her bio she uses keywords like “latest trends”, “make-up”, “skin” and “hair” to get the attention of followers into skincare and beauty tips.  

Step 3. Place Affiliate Links Strategically h3

Choose affiliate products that align with your niche and audience to ensure relevance and engagement. 

You can choose between direct links, those that lead users straight to product pages with affiliate tracking, or indirect links, those that route users through a blog or landing page for added context and better conversions.

With tools like Bit.ly or Pretty Links you can shorten your affiliate links for a cleaner appearance and keep the aesthetic of your content at the top. 

How To Leverage Pinterest Affiliate Marketing While Giving Tips and Recommendations Every Girl Wants

Girls Findz is a profile that explores beauty and makeup tips for girls one pin at a time. They share tips and product recommendations with the proper links so that anyone interested can make a purchase and add that item to their own routines. 

Step 4. Maintain Consistency

Post, post and keep posting to keep your content fresh and visible. Create an organized schedule to follow and post consistently to grow your audience. Try different styles and formats and stick to those that work best for you. 

Besides your own pins,  engage with other users' content using repins, comments and likes.  

You can also share your content on other social media platforms in order to expand your presence from Pinterest to wherever you want. This way you´ll get more chances to get more people to know you and your recommendations.  

You can also use scheduling tools like Tailwind to plan and automate your pins. 

How Gia Benefits from Pinterest Affiliate Marketing While Giving Glow Up Beauty Tips

Gia is a lifestyle influencer that not only shares her skin, makeup and hair routine, she also shares fashion advice and her journey becoming a Pinterest affiliate marketer. She´s very well organised and keeps her content clean and appealing. She has her own website linked to her profile so more people can get to see what she does and recommends. 

Tracking And Improving Performance

Use Pinterest Analytics to monitor the performance of your pins by tracking impressions, clicks, and saves to identify what resonates most with your audience. Always pay attention to keywords to naturally make your pins easier to find.

Continuously refine your strategy by creating more content that aligns with what performs well, ensuring consistent engagement and growth. 

Pinterest Analytics

You can go to the official site (https://analytics.pinterest.com/) and find all the information you need regarding your audience insights, platform presence and best pins. 

Affiliates metrics

To measure the effectiveness of your affiliate marketing strategy there are a number of metrics that can be tracked to understand how your content is doing and what can be done to improve. 

Clicks

Monitor how many users are clicking on your affiliate links. Explore their behaviour and try to use it as a guidance for upcoming content. 

Conversions

Track the number of clicks on your pins / links that actually went all the way up to a sign up or sale. This way you´ll get to see how many of your users are determined and willing to follow your recommendations. 

Click Through Rate (CTR)

Measure the effectiveness of your pin visuals and descriptions in driving traffic.

Return Of Investment (ROI)

Review your pins to see which ones worked best and give you more money on commissions to get a clearer idea of what content is working better. 

Once you do that, compare the amount of money at the beginning and the resources an time creating the pins with your latest earnings to see how effective your campaign was in terms of money. 

Top Affiliate Networks for Pinterest

To find the best affiliate programs in your niche, start with a quick Google search to explore top options tailored to your audience. Beyond your specific niche, consider well-known and trusted marketplaces like Amazon Associates, Impact, and Awin. These platforms are highly reliable, offer a wide range of products to promote, and cater to various audiences. 

When selecting an affiliate program, consider factors such as commission rates, cookie duration, product relevance to your audience, and the support provided by the network. Diversifying your affiliate partnerships can enhance your earning potential and provide valuable resources for your audience.

Make sure you find Affiliate Programs and Networks that align with your content strategy. 

Top 5 Tools For Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

As a Pinterest creator you can find multiple sites, apps or tools to help you create, manage and track your content. Here are the top 5 allies you need to have for Pinterest affiliate marketer success!

1.Canva

A user-friendly graphic design tool perfect for creating eye-catching Pins. This tool helps creators to design professional-looking pins easily and faster. It offers Pinterest-specific templates and customization options for fonts, colors, and images.

You can create your account for free (https://www.canva.com/) and start creating your visual identity. 

2. CapCut

Similar to Canva but with videos. A free video editing tool that simplifies the process of creating short videos / ads. This tool helps creators create outstanding videos to get your audience attention. 

You can create an account for free (https://www.capcut.com/login) and start editing videos for your Pinterest followers today! 

3. Tailwind

A scheduling and analytics tool for Pinterest. This tool helps creators to organize and keep track of all your content. Schedule Pins, figure out the best times to post, and analyze engagement so you can tweak your strategy. 

You can create an account for free (https://www.tailwindapp.com/) and start monitoring your content in a friendly way!

4. Pinterest Trends

Best for finding trending topics and optimizing content for Pinterest SEO. This tool helps creators identify trending topics, keywords, and seasonal ideas relevant to their niche. 

You can create an account for free (https://trends.pinterest.com/) and ensure your content aligns with what users are actively searching for!

5. Bitly

Best for shortening and tracking affiliate links or URLs. This tool helps creators make links more presentable for Pin descriptions and provides insights into click-through rates. 

You can create your account for free (https://bitly.com/) and start managing your links in a proper way.

Best Practices for Affiliate Marketing with Pinterest

To make the most of your Pinterest affiliate marketing strategy there are a few key best practices to keep in mind. 

Whether you're just starting your Pinterest path or looking to refine your approach, these simple yet effective strategies can help you navigate the platform, increase engagement, and boost your earnings. 

1. Calendar Your Content

Scheduling Pins lets you reach your audience at optimal times cultivate brand awareness. Create multiple pins and post them everyday so you increase your chances of reaching your target audience.

2. Think of Pinterest as a search engine

Pinterest functions more like Google than other social media platforms. People go to Pinterest to explore ideas, get inspired, and discover products. The main objective is to search and find not to see what your friends are up to. This can lead to long-term exposure, attracting people who are actively looking for specific products or services. 

3. Connect With Your Audience

Find opportunities to interact with your audience. Answer comments, likes and shares and keep the conversation going in order to get the feeling of a community to keep your audience engaged. Engagement is key to building a loyal following. 

4. Find Your Marketing Tools

Make your work easier and more effective by using the right marketing tools. Don’t hesitate to do your research and find the best tools that fit your business, helping you optimize your content and improve your results.

5. Monitoring & measuring

Check the results your content generates. Compare different types of pins with one another and find which type works best for you and your content. Understanding what drives engagement will help you connect more effectively with users who are ready to purchase, ultimately increasing your earnings through affiliate links.

6. Avoid overpromoting

While Pinterest allows you to promote multiple affiliate links at the same time, doing it a lot can result in a negative effect. The key is to find an organic way to incorporate those links into your content so your audience values. Finding the right balance helps you build trust with your audience, ensuring they stay engaged and return for more product recommendations.

Final Insights On Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest is more than a platform for inspiration—it's a game-changer for affiliate marketing. With its visually driven interface, massive user base, and high engagement rates, Pinterest offers endless opportunities to promote products, drive traffic, and boost revenue. 

By creating compelling Pins, leveraging tools like Canva and Tailwind, and following best practices, you can turn your Pins into profits. 

Whether you’re promoting your own brand or affiliate products, Pinterest is the ultimate platform to grow your online presence and maximize earnings.

FAQs
Can you do affiliate marketing on Pinterest without a website?
How do I disclose affiliate links on Pinterest?
What are the best niches for affiliate marketing on Pinterest?
How often should I pin affiliate content on Pinterest?
Are there any restrictions on the types of affiliate products I can promote on Pinterest?

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