What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a visual search engine where people can discover new ideas, save inspiration, and buy products.
Instead of scrolling through text, people browse pins that link to blogs, websites, or online stores.
With 570 million monthly users, it’s a goldmine for creators, brands, and affiliate marketers looking to drive traffic, expand their audience, and promote their products.
10 ways to make money on Pinterest
Ready to start making money on Pinterest? These 10 ways to help you succeed.
1. Become an affiliate marketer
If you’ve ever recommended your favorite coffee mug or cozy hoodie to a friend, you’ve already become an affiliate marketer. The difference is: with Pinterest affiliate marketing , you get paid when a user clicks on your pin and makes a purchase .
Here’s how it works:
- Choose a field you like. Think home décor, beauty, technology products, or environmental discoveries.
- Sign up for an affiliate program . Try Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Printify affiliate programs .
- Capture your unique affiliate links and add them to your PIN description, or link your PIN directly to your product. Add a paid partner label to ensure transparency.
- Set up your pin . Use eye-catching images, helpful tips, and interesting titles.
You will earn a commission when someone clicks on your pin and makes a purchase.
2. Open an on-demand printing shop
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your whimsical designs on mugs, tote bags, or even dog bandanas, print-on-demand is the perfect option. It’s one of the easiest ways to make money on Pinterest – no warehousing, inventory, design skills, or upfront costs required.
Here’s how to do it:
- Choose a niche market. The more specific (and interesting) your niche market, the better. For example, retro astrology merchandise, fun plant-themed parenting designs, or game-themed quotes.
- Set up a printing account. Sign up for free and browse over 1,300 customizable products – from clothing and home décor to games, mugs and more.
- Design something epic. Product creators can bring your vision to life using free tools like Printify . No design degree required, just your creativity.
- Open your store. Open a store on platforms like Shopify or Etsy and connect it to your Printify account for automated order fulfillment.
- Pin it and you’ll win. Create Pinterest boards and pins to showcase your products. Use relevant keywords, write clever pin descriptions, and link directly to your store.
Once someone makes a purchase, Printify handles all the printing, packaging, and shipping. You collect the profit – no boxes, no pressure.
Read more
Learn how to run an on-demand printing business and explore POD statistics to gain insights into best-selling products, colors, and designs.
3. Create sponsored content
Sponsored content is like posting your favorite content and getting paid. Once your Pinterest account gains followers, brands may pay you to feature their products and add them to your Pinterest, just like Instagram or TikTok .
- How to get started? Build an engaging profile, publish quality content, and engage with your community to enrich your Pinterest profile.
It all comes down to audience engagement—brands get involved when your audience trusts your taste.
Adding a paid partner tag helps maintain legitimacy, but otherwise it’s simple— you create content, publish it, and get paid . Popular areas for sponsored content include beauty, travel, food, home décor, and wellness.
4. Place ads on Pinterest
If you want to expand your influence, Pinterest ads can help boost your Pinterest profile . Instead of waiting for organic traffic , you can pay to quickly present your content to the right audience.
- First, create a free business account to unlock Pinterest Ads Administrator.
- Choose your goal , such as more clicks, more website traffic, or more sales.
- Create compelling pins , target them by keywords, interests, or demographics, and then launch your advertising campaign.
You can promote anything—e-commerce products, blog posts, services, affiliate links , even digital downloads. And there’s more? Pinterest’s shopping ads let you tag products directly so followers can click and buy instantly.
Small suggestion
Delve into Pinterest statistics for inspiration. Based on real insights and analysis, brainstorm and come up with niche, design, or business ideas.
5. Join the group discussion board
Think of Pinterest group boards as collaborative mood boards, where multiple creators share pins around similar themes.
Joining a subcommittee is like getting a fast pass to a larger audience—you can share your content with people other than those who follow your personal account.
Here’s how to do it:
- Search for group bulletin boards on Pinterest.
- Find a board or niche area that aligns with your brand , such as home decor, food, travel, or a side business.
- You can apply to join by sending a message to the forum owner (usually in the forum description).
Once you join, you can create PINs that attract users to scroll through and link back to your website, products, or services. The more people click on your PIN, the more traffic, sales, or affiliate revenue you’ll earn—all without spending a penny on advertising.
6. Drive traffic to your website
With millions of users searching for ideas every week, Pinterest is one of the easiest ways to drive traffic directly to your website, blog, or online store.
How does this generate revenue? It’s simple—you monetize the traffic you drive from Pinterest to your website. For example:
- If you have a blog , you can make money through advertising or affiliate links .
- If you sell products or services, you can link to your e-commerce platform.
- If you want email registration , you can offer free downloads as the main attraction for users, and then sell via email.
Here’s how to do it:
- Create PIN charts and boards that link directly to your website pages or blog posts.
- Use relevant keywords in your Pin description to make yourself appear in Pinterest search results.
- Pin it to your Pinterest profile and share it on group boards to reach a wider audience.
Once a user enters your website through your Pin, your content, products, or offers will do the rest – that’s how you convert Pinterest traffic into actual revenue.
Read more
Explore the best blogging platforms and ways to make money through blogging .
7. Listed in the Pinterest directory
Want your products to appear directly in Pinterest search results? Use the Pinterest Catalog – quickly get product tags and shopping ads. Ideal for online brands looking to generate passive income and sales.
Here’s how it works:
- Connect your online store to Pinterest and upload your product information using the following methods (best used on Shopify and other e-commerce platforms).
- Pinterest automatically converts your products into shoppable pins .
This way, potential customers will discover your products as they search or scroll through their browsers. They click, they shop, and you make money—it’s that simple.
8. Participate in the Pinterest Inclusivity Fund
Pinterest values the diversity of its creator community, and the Inclusion Fund was established to support this. It supports programs for underrepresented creators , providing them with resources, cash grants, and even one-on-one mentoring.
How do you join?
- Check the Pinterest Creators Hub or Funding page for open applications (they usually run in cycles).
- Submit your Pinterest account , stories, and niches.
- If your application is successful, you will receive exclusive tools , guidance, and sometimes paid opportunities to collaborate with brands.
This could lead to sponsored posts, brand deals, or product-tagged performances , allowing you to monetize by creating content for a wider audience. It’s a fantastic growth opportunity and a great way to make your creativity profitable.
9. Selling Pinterest templates
Not everyone is a design genius, but everyone on Pinterest wants their pins to be visually appealing . That’s why selling Pinterest templates is big business.
Here’s how to do it:
- Use design tools like Canva or Adobe Express to create customizable pin templates. For example, bold text overlays, product mockups, or popular quote layouts.
- Sell your templates on Etsy or on your own website.
- Use your own Pinterest account to create a Pin to promote your templates.
Your target buyers include bloggers, coaches, small businesses, and e-commerce platforms looking to enhance their Pinterest profile. You earn revenue every time someone purchases your template pack—no shipping or inventory costs.
Read more
How to sell digital products on Etsy , Amazon , and Shopify .
10. Become a Pinterest virtual assistant
Yes, being a Pinterest assistant is a real job—and in high demand. Many brands, bloggers, and influencers want to grow their Pinterest accounts but don’t have the time to create pins, manage boards, or run ads.
Here are some ways you can offer help (and get paid):
- Design a visually appealing pin.
- Write the relevant pin description.
- After using tools like Tailwind to arrange posts .
- Managing business accounts and group committees.
- Analysis of Pinterest tracking successful.
Find performances on Fiverr , Upwork, or Facebook groups, or offer services directly to creators and brands. Most Pinterest virtual assistants charge a monthly commission—so you can earn not only a one-time income but also a cumulative income.
Small suggestion
Explore other creative jobs and ways to make money online .
11 Tips for Making Money on Pinterest
If you want to turn Pinterest into a real source of income, simply posting beautiful pictures isn’t enough— you need a strategy . Here are some actionable steps to help you expand your audience, increase engagement, and successfully turn your efforts into revenue.
1. Switch to a business account
Creating a Pinterest business account will bring you real benefits. Access advanced analytics , run ads, and promote your brand using product hashtags.
In addition, you can join a verified merchant program , which makes your products easier to find in search results.
2. Optimize your profile
Treat your Pinterest profile like a storefront. Use your branding or high-quality photos, write a bio with relevant keywords, and add links to your website or e-commerce platform. Clearly define the value you offer to your visitors.
3. Use a rich selection of pins
Rich pin images automatically pull in additional details from your website – such as prices, stock availability, or article titles. This makes your pin images look more polished and increases shopper trust by maintaining credibility and current relevance.
4. Master Pinterest SEO
Pinterest is more than just a social media platform; it’s also a visual search engine. This means you need to think like a customer and understand their intent.
- Use keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and board names to increase visibility.
Trending tools such as Semrush , Google Trends, or Pinterest’s own can help you pinpoint exactly what your audience is searching for.
5. Continuously publish Pin charts
Pinterest favors creators who update regularly. Post new pins daily or weekly, rather than updating suddenly, and use the scheduling tool, likes, to stay consistent. The more content you post, the more Pinterest’s algorithm rewards you, pushing your content to more people.
6. Add a “Save” button to your website.
When you add Pinterest save buttons to your website, you turn every visitor into a potential brand advocate. These buttons allow people to save your content directly to their carts. The more saves, the higher the exposure, and ultimately, the higher the sales.
7. Track your analytics
Don’t just pinpoint the best outcome—examine your Pinterest Analytics to see which methods are working. Here’s a simple guide:
Impression – How many people saw your pin?
- High? That means Pinterest is showing your content.
- Low? Try better keywords or visuals.
Storage – How many people have saved your pin to their charts?
- Many? That’s great. Saving money is like getting a free promotion.
- Rarely used? Make your pins more useful or inspiring.
Click count – How many people have visited your website or store.
- High? That’s the target! Clicks mean traffic, and traffic brings more revenue.
- Low? Make sure your PIN links to the correct page and has a clear call to action.
Participation rate – the overall level of interaction among people
- High engagement? Great. High engagement means Pinterest likes your content too.
- Low? Try a new format or test different pin ideas.
Track, adjust, and repeat to achieve the best results.
8. Utilize seasonal trends
Pinterest users plan ahead, sometimes even months in advance for holidays or events. Use Pinterest Trends to discover what’s trending in your area and schedule your pins early .
- For example, start releasing Halloween ideas in August, or holiday gift guides in October. Seasonal planning helps you stay relevant and attract more traffic.
Expert advice
With Printify’s e-commerce calendar , we’ve highlighted all the important dates so you can increase discoverability with timely promotions.
9. Test different pin formats
Don’t put all your pins in one basket. Try still images, videos, creative pins , and even a carousel. to see what your audience likes.
Videos are perfect for teaching or product demonstrations, while creative pins are ideal for storytelling. Test formats can help you discover new ways to engage and convert.
10. Cross-promote your Pins
Think beyond Pinterest: Share your Pin charts in Instagram Stories, Facebook groups, or email newsletters. Don’t forget to add a Pinterest link to your website footer or blog posts.
The more places you promote your content on Pinterest, the more opportunities people have to find , share , and click – bringing you more traffic.
11. Be sincere and helpful.
Pinterest users come here for inspiration, not ads. Posting a pin image solves a problem , teaches something new , or sparks an idea . When your content is genuinely useful, it builds trust and drives more clicks, saves, and ultimately, sales.
Sincerity is better than aggressiveness—focus on connecting first, then on promotion.
How to monetize through Pinterest: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a business account to make money on Pinterest?
Yes . A Pinterest Business account gives you access to important tools such as analytics, product links, and advertising. It also allows creators to join the Verified Merchant program. If you’re serious about monetizing through Pinterest, registering a Business account is a must.
How many Pinterest followers do you need to make money?
You don’t need thousands of followers to start making money. Pinterest is a search platform, not just a social news feed. If you create engaging pins, optimize links, and reach the right audience, you can leverage Pinterest traffic to drive sales or commissions, even if your brand doesn’t have a large following.
What is Pinterest primarily used for?
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where people find inspiration, videos, products, and ideas. Many people use it to curate events, decorate their homes, shop, and develop their brands.
For creators and businesses, Pinterest is the perfect place to reach an audience and increase visibility through pins and links.
Can you make money from Pinterest?
Of course. Pinterest offers a variety of monetization tools for creators and businesses. You can link to affiliate products, sell your own goods, run ads, or use platform features such as hashtags.
Whether you’re promoting your brand or sharing helpful videos, Pinterest can help you reach shoppers who are actively looking for new ideas.
How can I make money through Pinterest without a blog?
Creators can directly link to affiliate products, promote the Etsy store, sell digital downloadable content, or manage Pinterest business accounts for others.
You don’t need a blog to monetize on Pinterest. With the right brand strategy, you can use Pinterest as a sales-driven platform without writing any blog posts.
How many monthly page views does Pinterest need to generate income?
While there are n’t specific figures, the higher your monthly pageviews, the greater your chances of earning money, whether through Pinterest affiliate marketing or brand collaborations . Generally speaking, a few thousand engaged viewers is a good number to start making money.
Pinterest Deep Dive: Start Earning Today!
Pinterest is more than just an inspiration platform; it’s a powerful tool for creators and brands to build real businesses and make money.
Whether you’re recommending products through Pin, creating engaging videos, or helping others expand their influence, the platform offers endless ways to make money.
Want to profit without worrying about upfront costs or logistics? Then open your own on-demand print shop! Print transforms your creative designs into products and sells them directly on Pinterest .