Pinterest Affiliate Marketing: 10 Tips To Make Money Pinning

With over 463 monthly active users…

Pinterest is a massive visual search engine and social media platform rolled into one enticing package.

It’s an excellent platform to start affiliate marketing…

But many ignore it.

Let me share 10 tips on how to earn money with Pinterest affiliate marketing.

What Is Pinterest Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing on Pinterest is a way to leverage the platform to earn commissions by creating Pinterest Pins to promote affiliate offers.

These Pins can be:

• Images
• Videos
• Graphics
• GIFs

You can promote your affiliate offers by adding links to your Pins.

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Users can find your Pins by searching for related keywords. 

Pinterest then displays the most relevant results at the top of the SERP.

Once a user clicks on your Pin…

They can click the destination URL at the bottom to visit your website or affiliate page.

Since 79.5% of Pinterest’s users are women…

It makes Pinterest an excellent platform for affiliates, especially those in women-focused, highly visual affiliate marketing niches such as:

• Beauty
• Fashion
• Home decor
• Arts and crafts
• Household goods
• Health and fitness
• Food and beverage
• Gifts and collectibles

Why Should Affiliates Use Pinterest For Affiliate Marketing?

Pinterest facilitates 5 billion searches every month.

A majority of these searches are by users with disposable income looking to find information and discover new brands and products.

45% of users in the US alone have over $100,000 household income.

Moreover… 

Many Pinterest users are “Super Shoppers” willing to spend 40% more per month than users from other social media platforms.

This makes Pinterest a lucrative platform for affiliate marketing.

Another advantage of Pinterest for affiliates is unlike many social media platforms…

It not only allows but encourages creators to take users outside the platform.

You can add destination URLs to your Pins to steer users to your affiliate marketing content or to your affiliate links directly.

This means you can use Pinterest as your sole traffic source…

Or with other traffic sources like a website or a YouTube channel.

You can also target users on both ends of the affiliate marketing funnel…

Aka, those looking for inspiration and those with their wallets on hand.

Using Pinterest is also completely free, even with a business account.

You get free traffic from a wide base of users interested in your niche.

That said…

You can also promote your Pins to reach a wider audience.

How To Do Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest?

Interested in using Pinterest for affiliate marketing but unsure where to start?

Here are 10 tips on how to do Pinterest affiliate marketing:

1. Research Your Niche And Competitors
2. Set Up A Pinterest Business Account
3. Start Pinning To Your Boards
4. Create Aesthetic, SEO-Optimized Pins
5. Create Different Types of Pins
6. Enable Rich Pins
7. Create Several Pins Per Topic/Product
8. Pin to Group Boards
9. Analyze Pin Performance
10. Promote High-Performing Pins 

1. Research Your Niche And Competitors

Planning a successful affiliate marketing strategy starts with understanding what works for the platform you want to market on.

Think of it this way…

Pinterest and Instagram are both highly visual platforms.

But if you look up a topic like crocheting…

You’ll see that Pinterest is rife with tutorials, whereas Instagram features more carefully styled finished products.

The easiest way to get a glimpse of what works on Pinterest is to look up your top competitors and see what they’re doing.

For instance…

I typed the keyword “crochet” into the search bar and clicked “Profiles.” 

It gave me a preview of the most followed accounts, like Red Heart Yarns, with 324,00 followers.

Here are my immediate observations:

• Consistent branding in the titles and graphics
• Simple graphics to focus the attention on the product photos
• An effective strategy of offering free knitting patterns to promote their yarns 
• Relevant hashtags in their descriptions to improve searchability
• A practical combination of flat-lay and lifestyle photos
• Every Pin links to a post on their website

The combination of these strategies makes for strong, cohesive branding and Pins that get hundreds of thousands of views per month.

2. Set Up A Pinterest Business Account

Using a business account is crucial to be a Pinterest affiliate.

This gives you access to several helpful features:

• Pinterest business hub: This gives you an overview of your ads and analytics. It also gives you access to other Pinterest business resources. 
• Pinterest create: This lets you create Product Pins, quick ads, and campaigns. It also allows you to create and schedule Pins in bulk. Additionally… It gives you access to Pinterest’s keyword tool to optimize your Pins for the SERP.
• Pinterest advertising: You can create, review, and edit your ads and access your ad history and analytics.
• Pinterest analytics: This free feature helps you understand your audience’s behavior, identify high-performing content types, and more.

Creating (or converting to) a business account is free and easy.

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3. Start Pinning To Your Boards

Think of Pinterest boards as folders that house Pins of a certain category.

Your boards must have a central topic and be general enough to accommodate various Pins.

As soon as you create an account…

You need to create your boards and start pinning existing content.

It will start driving traffic to your profile while you take the time to create your first Pins.

It also creates this feeling of community and makes you seen as a genuine sharer of ideas instead of straight-up salesy.

You can slowly remove these Pins from your boards once they get steady traffic and you’ve populated them with your own content. 

4. Create Aesthetic, SEO-Optimized Pins

Pinterest pins need to be both visually appealing and practical. 

You need to:

• Use high-quality images and videos: You can source product photos on the internet or use the ones provided by your affiliate program. That said… I don’t recommend using their done-for-you graphics as they’re rarely designed for Pinterest.
• Use text overlays: Keep it short and sweet. Give viewers a compelling reason to click on your Pin. Here are a couple of examples of click-worthy Pins:
• Use the right tools: You don’t need to create complex graphics with Photoshop. In fact… The simpler, the better when it comes to Pinterest Pins. You can quickly create stunning Pins even with a free Canva account and little creative skills. 
• Optimize for SEO: Pinterest is a search engine which means usual SEO practices apply. Use Pinterest Ads to find high-ranking keywords and use these keywords in the Pin title and description. Add relevant hashtags. Use a strong CTA to get people to click your destination URL. 

5. Create Different Types of Pins

Pinterest allows creators to create various types of Pins.

Each type is suited for a specific purpose:

Standard Pins

Standard Pins are great for teasing information and encouraging users to visit your website to learn more about something.

In fact… They’re specifically designed to take users outside the platform.

Just look at the examples above:

The graphics give users an idea of what they can expect to learn and the destination URL sends them to a corresponding blog post — typically a product review or a listicle. 

Recommended Specifications: 

• 2:3 aspect ratio or 1000 x 1500 pixels
• PNG or JPEG format

Video Pins

Video Pins are great for product demonstrations and tutorials.

You can use music, stickers, and transitions in addition to text overlays to give your audience a more interactive experience and showcase your affiliate products.

Recommended Specifications:

• 2:3 or 9:16 aspect ratio (1000 x 1500 pixels or 1080 x 1920 pixels)
• MP4, M4V, or MOV format
• Four seconds to 15 minutes long

Idea pins

This relatively new feature lets you combine images and videos (up to 20 pages of content) into a single Pin.

You can add voiceovers, GIFs, and other interactive elements to engage your audience.

But… I recommend using a video as your opening frame to draw the viewer’s attention amidst a sea of static Pins.

The main drawback is you can’t add a destination URL. 

You’ll need to either announce your affiliate link in your video or put it up as a comment.

Recommended Specifications:

• 9:16 aspect ratio or 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Images: PNG, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, or WEBP format
• Videos: MP4, M4V, or MOV format

Product Pins

This type of Pin lets you upload a product image as is and add your affiliate link as the destination URL. 

This is a great way to leverage high-buying intent searchers.

It’s also an excellent option for affiliate marketing without a website since you can link directly to the product page.

You’ll need to use your phone to add a product tag to your Pin so you can add your affiliate link.

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6. Enable Rich Pins

This is another new addition to Pinterest features for business accounts.

It syncs your Pin to its destination URL so it can show up-to-date information, including:

• Article headline and description
• Product pricing and availability

The Pin automatically reflects any changes in whichever website it’s linked to so you don’t have to make these updates manually.

To enable Rich Pins:

1. Add rich meta tags to the destination page.
2. Use the Rich Pins Validator to ensure your tags are correctly uploaded.
3. Select which option you used to add the tags (e.g. HTML, oEmbed, Shopify)
4. Click “Apply Now” and wait 24 hours for approval.

7. Create Several Pins Per Topic/Product

More Pins mean more chances of users seeing your content and more chances of promoting your affiliate links.

For example…

You can create multiple Pins leading to the same blog post using slightly varied graphics and keywords for each Pin.

You can also use different product images to create several Product Pins leading to the same affiliate link.

There’s no limit on how many Pins can link to the same URL.

But… I recommend starting with five to 10 Pins per link.

8. Pin to Group Boards

I highly recommend adding your Pins not only to your boards but to other people’s boards as well whenever possible.

These group boards are designed specifically for multiple users to share content and foster a community within the niche.

This can help affiliates like you increase brand awareness by tapping another account’s audience and sharing your content with them.

Think of it like guest posting.

You need to follow the board creator’s rules.

This can include following the creator or restrictions on adding affiliate links.

To find and join group boards:

1. Type your keyword in the search bar.
2. Filter results to “Boards.”
3. Find boards with multiple profile images.

Alternatively…

You can use tools like PinGroupie to find Pinterest boards that accept contributors.

Simply type in your keyword in the search engine and click “Request to Join” to filter results.

9. Analyze Pin Performance

Pinterest comes with built-in tools for business accounts to track their performance.

You can track different factors including:

• Impressions
• Engagement
• Audience
• Top Pins
• Top Boards

Use these insights to your advantage.

I recommend reviewing your analytics monthly to track which kinds of Pins and topics get the most engagement and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

Couple this with Google Analytics to see how your Pinterest audience interacts with your website.

For example…

• What actions did they take during their time on your site?
• Which page/s did they visit?
• How many of them clicked your affiliate links?
• Which products did they buy?

10. Promote High-Performing Pins 

Just like any search engine…

Many users look to Pinterest for product information with the intent to purchase.

This makes Pinterest a good avenue for paid advertising. 

Here’s why:

• 50% of Pinterest users have purchased after seeing a Pinterest ad
• Pinterest shows a 2x higher return on ad spend compared to social media platforms
• Pinterest’s advertising reach in 2023 increased to 99.8 million users in the US alone

You don’t even need to take a huge risk by creating an ad from scratch.

Instead…

You can promote existing Pins that are already performing well. 

These Pins also keep getting organic reach after you stop spending.

Pros and Cons of Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest can be a powerful avenue for affiliates in visual niches to promote their affiliate links.

Here are the benefits of using Pinterest for affiliate marketing:

• Evergreen content: Pinterest Pins remain visible for years, provided users are still searching for related keywords. 
• Free traffic: Joining Pinterest is free. So is sharing content. You can get massive, consistent traffic if your content is optimized for relevant keywords. 
• SEO-focused: Visibility on Pinterest is less about having the most followers and more about using the right keywords.
• Link-friendly: Sharing website and affiliate links on Pinterest is not only allowed but encouraged. 
• Easy to create content: Pinterest focuses on quality visuals and simple graphics. You don’t need to show your face or use complex tools like Photoshop to create great Pins.
• Time-efficient: Compared to a TikTok video that can take hours to shoot and is only visible for a few days… Pinterest is a more time-efficient way to create affiliate content.
• Can be used on its own: You can successfully do affiliate marketing on Pinterest without other social media platforms.

That said…

There are also some drawbacks to doing affiliate marketing with Pinterest.

Mainly:

• Selective demographic: Most of Pinterest’s user base is women. This means niches targeted towards men won’t perform well. 
• Reliant on visuals: This means digital products like tools, software, and virtual courses can be difficult to advertise. 

Pinterest Rules on Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest allows affiliate links.

However…

You need to follow their community rules when sharing links:

• Disclose affiliate links: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires affiliates always to disclose affiliate links. You can use words like “sponsored” and “affiliate” in your description. You can also use symbols like [aff], [ad], and [spon] or hashtags like #paidlink, #sponsored, and #affiliatelink.
• No link cloaking: Pinterest penalizes Pins with cloaked, shortened, or prettified links by placing them at the bottom of SERPs. According to Pinterest, “Pinners should be able to anticipate where your link will take them reasonably.”

Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Pinterest

Here are my top 5 recommendations for affiliate networks and programs that are ideal for Pinterest:

Amazon Associates

Amazon is a massive hub of consumer goods in just about any niche.

What I like about Amazon is it lets you earn a commission on the customer’s total cart instead of just the product you’re promoting.

Given that most products that do well on Pinterest are low-ticket, like this $13.99 glass jar that’s a must-have for aesthetic pantries…

Commissions from these additional purchases can significantly pad your income.

Wayfair (Through CJ)

Wayfair is a one-stop shop for household goods like home decor, lighting, and outdoor furniture.

The audience for these types of products on Pinterest is massive.

“Home decor ideas” was searched over 1 billion times this month alone.

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These products aren’t exactly cheap, either.

I found this decorative statue that costs $27,000 and way more expensive products on Wayfair’s website.

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They also offer a decent 7% commission.

You must sign up with their third-party partner, Commission Junction (CJ).

This will also give you access to other big brands like Lowes, Office Depot, and GoPro.  

Sephora

Over 20 million Pinterest users are interested in hair and makeup-related topics.

This makes it one of the biggest niches on the platform.

And… It makes affiliate marketing with Sephora a highly profitable business opportunity. 

It’s the best place to get high-quality beauty products from almost 340 brands, including:

• Dior
• Fenty Beauty
• Anastasia Beverly Hills
• Sephora’s own product line

They offer a 5% commission per sale. 

…Not bad, considering some platforms offer as little as 1%.

The only drawback is the short 24-hour cookie duration.

Etsy (Through Awin)

Pinterest and Etsy are a match made in heaven.

People go on Pinterest for arts and crafts inspiration…

And on Etsy to buy custom crafts from both big and small sellers.

Awin lets you capitalize on this by letting you promote hundreds of thousands of Etsy products…

Along with goods from 13,000 other merchants, including:

• AliExpress
• Gymshark
• Under Armour

Rakuten Marketing

Rakuten Marketing isn’t the biggest affiliate program, with “only” 1,000+ merchants.

But… Among these merchants are billion-dollar brands like:

• Walmart
• Macy’s
• Best Buy

The massive selection of consumer goods from these three merchants presents a lucrative opportunity regardless of your chosen niche.

Pinterest Affiliate Marketing Examples

Check out these successful Pinterest affiliates:

My Chic Obsession

Carolyn shares style tips and timeless outfits on her Pinterest page, which gets over 10 million monthly views.

Her page has nearly 170,000 followers, and her website gets nearly 250,000 monthly visits.

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Temptalia

Temptalia is a self-proclaimed makeup and beauty addict.

She has over 144,000 followers on Pinterest, and her page gets almost 10 million monthly views.

Her website temptalia.com gets over 1.3 million visits monthly.

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Unexpectedly Domestic

Unexpectedly Domestic is a Pinterest page dedicated to all things domestic, including organizing ideas, cleaning hacks, frugal living tips, and homemaking.

The page currently has 95,000 followers and gets over 10 million monthly visitors.

On the other hand…

Their website gets a little over 170,000 visits from the US every month.

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Your Art Path

Your Art Path is an art blog that shares reviews of art supplies, tutorials, and art inspiration.

They have over 81,000 followers and get 8.1 million views every month.

Meanwhile…

Their website gets almost 350,000 visits per month.

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Lantern Lane Designs

Lantern Lane Designs posts about DIY home decor and budget-friendly home decorating.

They have 50,000+ followers and get over 10 million monthly views.

Their website got 81,000 visits this month from the US alone.

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Pinterest Affiliate Marketing (FAQs)

To Sum Up

Affiliate marketing on Pinterest can be highly lucrative.

Its users are eager to buy and have the spending capital to match.

You need the right strategy.

This includes:

• Creating different types of Pins
• Optimizing Pins for SEO
• Promoting high-performing Pins

Go on… Take the risk.

Not that there’s much of a risk.

After all… It only takes a minute to create a Pin. 

And it’s free.