Pinterest is more than just a place to find creative ideas, DIY projects, and fashion inspiration. It’s an underrated platform that offers a massive opportunity for individuals looking to earn money online. With over 450 million active users globally, Pinterest is a powerful visual search engine that can help you grow your brand, promote products, or even drive traffic to a blog.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or have dabbled in Pinterest before, this guide will show you exactly how to monetize your Pinterest account, from setting up your business profile to using effective strategies like affiliate marketing and selling products.
Why Pinterest is a Great Platform for Making Money
Pinterest offers something that many other social media platforms don’t—longevity and high intent. When someone searches for something on Pinterest, they are often looking for ideas to try or products to purchase. In fact, 85% of Pinners say they use Pinterest to plan new projects, and over 55% use it specifically to shop for products. This makes it an ideal platform for creators and entrepreneurs looking to turn their audience into paying customers.
Unlike platforms like Instagram or Facebook, where content quickly gets buried, pins on Pinterest can drive traffic and sales for months or even years after they’re initially published. With the right strategy, Pinterest can become a consistent source of revenue with minimal ongoing effort.
How to Make Money on Pinterest for Beginners
Step 1: Set Up a Business Account on Pinterest
The first step to making money on Pinterest is to set up a business account. Why? A business account provides access to Pinterest analytics, promoted pins, and other tools that are essential for tracking and optimizing your monetization efforts. If you’re already using a personal account, don’t worry—you can easily convert it into a business account by navigating to your account settings.
Actionable Tip: When setting up your business account, choose a username that reflects your niche or business. Use the opportunity to create a professional profile, including a clear description with relevant keywords like “how to make money on Pinterest,” and ensure your profile picture and cover photo are on-brand.
Step 2: Optimize Your Pinterest Profile
Just like with any social platform, first impressions matter. Your Pinterest profile should be optimized to attract the right audience. This includes:
Writing an SEO-friendly bio that highlights what you do and how you can help your audience.
Organizing your boards in a way that reflects your niche. For example, if you are a fashion blogger, create boards for “Summer Outfit Ideas” or “Affordable Fashion Finds.”
Using keywords naturally in board descriptions and pin titles.
Pro Tip: Make sure to add your website or blog link to your profile, as this will help drive traffic to your external site, boosting both visibility and potential income.
Step 3: Create Valuable, Searchable Content
Pinterest is a visual search engine, so creating content that is both valuable and easy to find is key. When creating pins, focus on solving a problem or answering a question your target audience has. For example, if you’re a fitness coach, pin tips on “How to Stay Fit While Traveling” or “Quick 10-Minute Workouts for Busy Moms.”
Use Pinterest SEO to your advantage. Include relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and hashtags. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on text-based searches, Pinterest SEO emphasizes visual content. Make your pins visually engaging with high-quality images, simple text overlays, and appealing designs.
Bonus Tip: Use a tool like Canva to create eye-catching pin designs. Pinterest favors vertical images, so stick to a 2:3 aspect ratio (for example, 1000 x 1500 pixels) to ensure your pins perform well.
Monetization Methods on Pinterest
1. Sell Digital Products on Pinterest
Selling digital products is one of the most efficient ways to monetize your Pinterest presence. Digital products like eBooks, printable, online courses, and templates have no inventory costs and can be delivered instantly, making them ideal for a platform like Pinterest. You can create pins that directly link to your digital products, enticing users with visually appealing mockups or samples.
Pro Tip: Offer a freebie in exchange for an email address (e.g., a downloadable PDF or free course preview), then upsell your premium digital product. This way, you build a list of potential customers while generating sales over time.
2. Promote Sponsored Content
Pinterest is a great place to partner with brands that align with your niche. Sponsored content involves working with a company to create promotional pins or boards that highlight their products or services. This is especially effective if you have a large Pinterest following or a highly engaged audience.
To get started, pitch to brands you admire or join influencer networks like Activate or AspireIQ that connect creators with sponsorship opportunities.
Pro Tip: Ensure that your sponsored content feels genuine and relevant to your audience. Authenticity drives trust and leads to higher engagement and conversions.
3. Create and Sell Pinterest Templates
If you're skilled in graphic design, you can create Pinterest templates that other businesses or influencers can use to enhance their pins. With thousands of entrepreneurs, bloggers, and online businesses leveraging Pinterest for traffic, there's a growing demand for beautifully designed templates.
You can sell these templates on platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, or even directly through your own website. Design various templates suited to different niches—e.g., fashion, food blogging, or travel.
Pro Tip: Create a few free templates as lead magnets to grow your email list or offer them as a bonus with your other digital products.
4. Drive Traffic to Your Blog and Monetize It
One of the most popular ways to make money on Pinterest is by using it to drive traffic to your blog. Once users land on your blog, you can monetize the traffic through several methods such as display ads (Google AdSense, Mediavine), affiliate marketing, or even selling digital products or services directly.
Each time someone clicks through your pin to your blog, there’s an opportunity for you to convert that visitor into a paying customer.
Pro Tip: Make your blog posts Pinterest-friendly by including pinnable images and encouraging readers to save your content to their boards. This creates a ripple effect of traffic that can generate income over time.
5. Offer Pinterest Management Services
Pinterest management is a booming business, as many brands and bloggers struggle to manage their accounts effectively. If you’ve mastered Pinterest strategies, you can offer your skills as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant (VA) or Social Media Manager. Services include creating pins, scheduling content, optimizing profiles, and growing follower counts.
Charge clients a monthly fee for managing their Pinterest accounts, offering a valuable service while building a recurring income stream.
Pro Tip: Use your own Pinterest profile as a portfolio to demonstrate your expertise and attract potential clients.
6. Sell Physical Products
Pinterest is often referred to as a "visual shopping platform," with a high number of users looking for products to buy. If you have a store selling physical products—whether through Shopify, Etsy, or another e-commerce platform—you can use Pinterest to promote and sell them.
Pinterest offers features like Shop the Look pins and Product Pins that allow users to see detailed product information and pricing directly within the pin.
Pro Tip: If you have an e-commerce store, make sure to connect it to Pinterest’s Catalog feature so that your products are automatically updated in real-time.
7. Use Pinterest for Lead Generation
Pinterest can be a great tool for generating leads for your business, especially if you’re a service provider. By creating content that showcases your expertise—such as tips, tutorials, or case studies—you can drive traffic to your landing page, where potential clients can sign up for your newsletter or inquire about your services.
For example, if you’re a fitness coach, you can use Pinterest to share workout tips or meal plans, then direct users to sign up for a consultation or your online coaching program.
Pro Tip: Use a tool like ConvertKit or Mailchimp to collect leads and nurture them through an email marketing funnel, eventually converting them into paying customers.
8. Sell Pinterest Courses or Coaching Services
If you’ve mastered Pinterest marketing, you can monetize your knowledge by creating a Pinterest course or offering one-on-one coaching. Many people are eager to learn how to use Pinterest effectively for their businesses, and courses are a scalable way to share your expertise.
You can sell your course on platforms like Teachable or Udemy, or even offer private coaching sessions for those looking for more personalized guidance.
Pro Tip: Bundle your course with additional resources, such as templates, checklists, or exclusive group access, to offer more value and increase your earnings.
9. Monetize Pinterest Traffic with Display Ads
If you’ve been using Pinterest to drive significant traffic to your website or blog, one of the simplest ways to monetize it is through display ads. Ad networks like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or AdThrive allow you to place ads on your site, generating passive income every time a visitor views or clicks on an ad.
The more traffic Pinterest drives to your blog, the more potential you have to earn through these ads. Many bloggers report that Pinterest is their highest source of traffic, making it a valuable platform for ad-based revenue.
Pro Tip: To increase your ad revenue, focus on creating long-form, high-quality blog posts that keep visitors on your site longer, thereby increasing ad impressions.
10. Launch a Pinterest Affiliate Store
Similar to traditional affiliate marketing, launching a Pinterest Affiliate Store involves curating a collection of products from different brands and promoting them via pins. You don’t have to manage inventory or shipping since your store will consist entirely of affiliate links.
Each pin in your store can promote a specific product with your affiliate link embedded in the pin’s description. When someone purchases the product through your link, you earn a commission.
Pro Tip: Create theme-based boards like "Best Travel Gear" or "Home Office Must-Haves" to group similar products together, making it easier for your audience to discover and shop your recommendations.
Tips for Success on Pinterest
Stay Consistent and Pin Regularly
Pinterest rewards consistency. Pinning regularly—ideally 10-15 pins per day—helps keep your content fresh and your audience engaged. Use a scheduling tool like Tailwind to streamline the process, so you don’t need to manually pin every day.
Leverage Pinterest Analytics
Pinterest provides detailed analytics on your pin performance, audience engagement, and traffic. Use these insights to optimize your content and refine your strategy. For example, if you notice certain pins perform better than others, focus on creating similar content in the future.
Conclusion: Start Earning Money on Pinterest Today
Pinterest provides endless opportunities for those looking to make money online, whether you're interested in affiliate marketing, selling products, or driving traffic to your blog. The key is to stay consistent, provide valuable content, and optimize your profile for searchability. By applying the strategies discussed in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to monetizing Pinterest and building a sustainable income stream.
FAQs on Make Money From Pinterest
Q: Can I make money on Pinterest without a website?
Yes, through affiliate marketing and sponsored content, you can earn without a website by linking directly to products or working with brands.
Q: How many followers do I need to start making money on Pinterest?
You don’t need a specific number of followers. Focus on high-quality pins that drive traffic or conversions, even with a small audience.
Q: Can I use Pinterest to promote my existing online business?
Yes, Pinterest is perfect for promoting physical products, digital goods, or services, and it boosts traffic with proper Pinterest SEO.
Q: What types of products sell best on Pinterest?
Aesthetic, visual products like home decor, fashion, beauty items, and digital products (planners, templates) perform well.
Q: How can I use Pinterest to grow my email list?
Offer free downloads (eBooks, checklists) in pins that link to a landing page where users can sign up with their email.
Q: How can I track the effectiveness of my monetization strategies on Pinterest?
Use Pinterest Analytics and tracking links from affiliate programs or e-commerce platforms to measure performance and conversions.
Q: Are there any rules for using affiliate links on Pinterest?
Yes, always disclose affiliate links in your pin description and ensure compliance with Pinterest’s and the affiliate program’s rules.