If you’ve ever thought about diving into affiliate marketing on Pinterest, now’s the perfect time! Not only is Pinterest brimming with untapped potential, but surprisingly few people are actively monetizing on the platform.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience, this summary of Charlie Chang’s 22-minute tutorial, Pinterest Affiliate Marketing for Beginners, will walk you through everything you need to start making money with Pinterest.
Originally published to cover everything from setting up a Pinterest business account to finding high-paying affiliate programs and creating eye-catching pins, we’ve distilled Charlie’s key insights so you can jumpstart a profitable Pinterest strategy today.
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Step 1: Setting Up Your Pinterest Business Account
Getting started with Pinterest as a business tool is simple. First, head over to Pinterest and create a free business account. If you already have a personal account, you can easily convert it into a business account by following a few steps. Choose the option to “Drive traffic to your site” when asked about your business goals. Then, you’ll gain access to the business hub, where you can create pins, ads, and monitor analytics to track your progress.
Step 2: Picking the Right Niche
The key to success on Pinterest is choosing a niche that people are actively searching for. Using Pinterest’s Audience Insights tool, you can find popular categories like art, entertainment, home decor, and more. You want to select a niche that resonates with you but also has the potential to earn income. For instance, “make money online” is a profitable niche where people consistently look for resources and tips.
Once you’ve chosen a niche, find popular Pinterest accounts in that category. Check out their boards, pins, and style to get an idea of what’s working well. This research will provide inspiration for your own approach and help you understand the tone and visual style that attract followers.
Step 3: Finding High-Paying Affiliate Programs
Finding affiliate programs that offer good commissions is crucial. Some of the most popular platforms for affiliate marketing include ShareASale, PartnerStack, Impact Radius, and Amazon Associates. For digital products, commission rates can be particularly high—sometimes as much as 50% per sale, thanks to their low overhead.
When you’re just starting out, you might not get accepted into every program, but as you build your profile and following, it will become easier. Amazon Associates is a great starting point because of its vast product range. However, digital products generally yield higher returns, so if possible, aim to promote these alongside physical products.
Step 4: Creating Eye-Catching Pins
Pinterest is highly visual, so your pins need to grab attention. Think big fonts, bold colors, and clear, catchy messages. Each pin should be easy to read and enticing. Remember, the goal is to get people to click through to your website or affiliate link.
To create pins, Canva is an excellent (and free!) tool with customizable templates specifically for Pinterest. Canva allows you to add stock images, videos, and even animation to your pins, helping them stand out even more. For video pins, you can export your creations in MP4 format, adding an extra layer of engagement.
Step 5: Building a Website for Your Affiliate Links
While it’s possible to link directly to an affiliate product, Pinterest doesn’t encourage it and may even ban accounts for overuse. Instead, it’s much better to direct users to your own website. This gives you a chance to provide real value, which boosts your credibility and increases the likelihood that visitors will use your affiliate links.
Hostinger is a great, budget-friendly option for building your website, with plans starting at just $3 to $4 a month. Hostinger also offers an AI writing tool, which can help you create content quickly. Use your website to post articles and in-depth guides that can funnel Pinterest traffic to affiliate products. Adding value through a well-written blog post makes a stronger impact than a simple pin description ever could.
Step 6: Optimizing Your Pinterest Profile
Your Pinterest profile needs to showcase your brand clearly. Choose a quality profile photo and use relevant keywords in your name to boost search visibility (e.g., “Make Money Online with Side Hustles”). This helps users instantly know what to expect from your content.
Next, create a strong bio, telling your story and building trust with your audience. You can also use a banner image to make your profile visually appealing. Aim to have multiple boards (ideally 5 to 15), each with at least 20 pins. This not only organizes your content but also makes it easy for users to browse and engage.
Step 7: Posting Content Consistently
Pinterest rewards consistency, so make a habit of posting regularly. The best boards are filled with a mix of your own pins and repurposed content from other creators (with credit). This increases the value of your boards and boosts the chances of people following and engaging with your content.
Why Pinterest Affiliate Marketing is Effective
The biggest advantage of Pinterest is that it’s a powerful, underused search engine. While many are focused on Google, TikTok, and Instagram, Pinterest offers a unique opportunity for reaching audiences with specific intent. If someone is searching for “best candles for small apartments,” they’re likely to click on a link to buy. As a creator, this means you’re connecting with people who already have purchase intent—a huge advantage in affiliate marketing.
Pinterest’s relative lack of saturation in many niches means that with quality content and strategy, you can reach and influence a larger audience without the high competition seen on other platforms.
Getting Started Today
Starting a Pinterest affiliate marketing business doesn’t require a big investment—just some time and effort. Take advantage of the tools, templates, and strategies shared here to get your profile up and running. Whether you’re aiming to build passive income or launch a side hustle, Pinterest is a fantastic, low-competition platform to explore.
So what are you waiting for? Get started on Pinterest today and build something that not only earns money but provides real value to your audience.
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