Pinterest isn’t just a place to find recipes or home ideas — it’s a powerful tool to make real money online.

It’s beginner-friendly, easy to use, and packed with opportunities to grow a business or side hustle.

From blogging and affiliate marketing to selling products and offering services, there are many ways to turn Pinterest into a steady income stream.

If you’re just starting out, focus on growing your traffic first.

Once you build an audience, the money-making options will follow.

With that being said, this guide will help you get the ball rolling on your Pinterest journey!

Step 1: Setting Up for Success

1.1 Create a Pinterest Business Account

To start making money on Pinterest, you’ll need a Business account. Setting one up is free and easy.

You cannot use a personal account if you want to make money — Pinterest’s rules require a Business account for commercial use.

If you already have a personal account, you can convert it into a Business account in just a few steps.

Pinterest will ask for your blog URL during setup, so it’s best to have at least 5–10 blog posts published before you create the account.

A Business account unlocks important tools like Pinterest Analytics. This allows you to track how your pins perform and understand your audience better.

You’ll also get access to advertising options and Rich Pins, which help your content stand out.

Claiming your website through your Business account boosts your credibility and gives you deeper insights into what’s working.

1.2 Optimize Your Pinterest Profile

Your Pinterest profile is your brand’s first impression, so it needs to look professional.

Start by adding a clean, professional photo or a recognizable logo. When setting up your Business account, you can also insert your business name.

Next, write a clear bio that explains who you are and what you offer. Make sure to include keywords that describe your niche. Since Pinterest acts like a search engine, using keywords in your bio helps people find you when they search.

Claiming your website is another important step. Once claimed, you can add your website link to your Pinterest profile and access detailed analytics about your content’s performance.

Claiming your site is simple — you just need to add a small piece of code to your website, even if you aren’t tech-savvy.

Finally, set up Rich Pins. Rich Pins pull extra information from your website and automatically add it to your Pins.

There are three types: Product Pins, Recipe Pins, and Article Pins. Product Pins show live pricing and stock updates. Recipe Pins display ingredients and cooking instructions.

Article Pins show your headline and description. Enabling Rich Pins makes your content look more trustworthy and professional.

1.3 Understand Pinterest SEO Basics

Pinterest isn’t just a social media app — it’s a visual search engine.

People come to Pinterest looking for ideas, solutions, and inspiration, often using the Pinterest search bar or even Google.

That’s why keywords are so important. You need to add them naturally to your profile bio, board names, board descriptions, and individual pins.

This helps Pinterest understand what your content is about and show it to the right people.

Make sure your pin titles and descriptions are clear, short, and keyword-rich.

Pay special attention to the first 30 characters of your pin title, since that’s what users will see first. Use keywords in the alt text too.

Good Pinterest SEO helps your content stay visible longer, drive traffic to your website, and grow your potential for making money.

Step 2: Create High-Quality, Engaging Content

2.1 Design Eye-Catching Pins

Creating beautiful graphics is key to success on Pinterest.

Because Pinterest is a highly visual platform, the quality of your pins can make or break your efforts to drive traffic and make money.

Use a free tool like Canva to design professional-looking pins. Canva offers ready-made Pinterest templates, making it easy even for beginners.

If you’re new to pin design, using pre-made templates in Canva can save you a lot of time and effort.

Make sure your pins follow the ideal style: vertical format with a 2:3 aspect ratio. Use vibrant, high-quality images that grab attention.

Add readable text overlays that explain what viewers will gain by clicking, and use clear calls to action like “Learn More” or “Shop Now.” Focus on creating click-worthy titles and attractive images that inspire users to take action.

Remember, Pinterest users are looking for content that stands out, so invest time into making your pins visually strong and easy to understand at a glance.

2.2 Build Organized, Niche-Specific Boards

Boards on Pinterest act like folders where you organize your pins.

Building niche-specific boards is essential for helping users find your content easily and for signaling to Pinterest what your account is about.

Create boards based on your topics, blog posts, or products.

For example, if you blog about money tips, you could have boards titled “Budgeting Tips,” “Saving Money Ideas,” or “Side Hustles for Beginners.”

If you sell products, create separate boards for different product categories, like “Necklaces,” “Earrings,” or “Bracelets.”

Start with at least 5–10 boards that are closely related to your niche.

This gives you enough space to organize your content and helps Pinterest understand what topics you cover.

Use targeted keywords in your board titles and descriptions. Keep your board names short, clear, and filled with relevant search terms.

Since Pinterest works like a search engine, strong keywords help your boards and pins show up in search results.

2.3 Post Consistently and Strategically

Consistency is critical for success on Pinterest. Pinterest rewards users who pin regularly, so aim to pin daily if possible.

In the beginning, you can pin manually to learn the process. Over time, you may want to use a tool like Tailwind to schedule your pins.

Tailwind allows you to set up pins in advance and post them at peak times when more users are online.

You can even try their 30-day free trial to see how it fits your workflow.

Pinning daily, even just once per day, helps keep your account active and builds momentum.

This is especially important when you’re just starting and don’t have many posts yet.

For content ideas, use Pinterest Trends.

This tool shows you what topics are trending on Pinterest in real time. You can select your country to see data relevant to your audience.

Using Pinterest Trends can help you create content that’s timely, popular, and more likely to be shared.

Step 3: Proven Strategies to Make Money on Pinterest

3.1 Start a Blog and Drive Traffic to It

Blogging is one of the most effective ways to make money with Pinterest.

By creating valuable blog posts and promoting them through your pins, you can drive steady traffic to your website.

The more visitors you attract, the more you can earn through ads, affiliate sales, and product sales.

High-quality, engaging pins that link to useful content can increase your site visitors and your income.

Quick guide to starting a blog:

Start by choosing a niche you’re passionate about and that’s popular on Pinterest, like lifestyle, travel, DIY, finance, or health.

Invest in a reliable hosting service and build a self-hosted website.

Self-hosted sites open up more monetization options, like ads and selling products.

Set up your blog correctly to avoid mistakes later.

It’s recommended to publish 5–10 strong blog posts before focusing heavily on Pinterest.

How blog traffic leads to money:

As your traffic grows, you can earn through display ads (like AdSense or Mediavine), affiliate links placed inside your posts, or by selling digital products and services.

Every visitor increases your potential income.

3.2 Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest

Affiliate marketing is another smart way to make money.

You promote products and earn a commission when people buy through your unique link.

How to add affiliate links to pins:

Pinterest currently allows direct affiliate links.

Create a beautiful pin and place your affiliate link in the pin’s URL field.

Always disclose that your pin includes an affiliate link. Add #ad, #sponsored, or simply mention “affiliate” in the description.

Avoid using URL shorteners that hide the true link.

How to promote affiliate products naturally:

Instead of just posting a link, create content that shows how the product helps solve a problem.

You can link directly to the product or to a blog post that includes the affiliate link.

For better results, focus on promoting products you truly believe in and match your audience’s needs.

3.3 Sell Your Own Products or Services

Pinterest is a powerful tool to promote and sell both digital and physical products.

Sell digital products like templates, eBooks, or courses:

If you’re creative, you can sell printables, planners, templates, e-books, or online courses.

Design visually appealing pins that link straight to your product pages or Etsy shop.

Using Rich Pins, especially Product Pins, makes your listings stand out with real-time information.

Promote physical products through your eCommerce shop:

If you sell items like clothing, jewelry, or home goods, set up a Pinterest Shop or link to your Shopify or Etsy store.

Organize your products into well-labeled boards and create attractive, keyword-rich pins to drive traffic and sales.

3.4 Offer Pinterest Services

Many businesses need help managing their Pinterest accounts.

Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant:

Offer services like pin creation, account management, keyword research, and scheduling content.

Beginners can earn around $25–$35 per hour, while experienced VAs make up to $100 per hour.

Build a portfolio by managing your own Pinterest account first, then start reaching out to clients.

Offer Pinterest account management, pin design, or strategy consulting:

You can create custom pins, run Pinterest audits, or offer full Pinterest management packages.

Experienced users can even offer consulting services or teach Pinterest marketing through courses, webinars, or coaching.

3.5 Partner with Brands

Once you build a strong Pinterest presence, brands may want to collaborate with you.

How to attract brand deals:

Focus on growing an engaged audience by posting high-quality, niche-focused content.

An active, focused account is more appealing to potential partners.

Ways to collaborate:

You can create sponsored pins, manage entire promoted boards, or run promotional campaigns for brands.

Always disclose paid partnerships using Pinterest’s tools and clear labeling like #sponsored.

Stay authentic and provide value to your audience even when working with brands.

3.6 Join the Pinterest Creator Fund (U.S.-based opportunity)

Pinterest’s Creator Fund supports underrepresented creators by offering grants, mentorship, and industry resources.

Overview and eligibility:

Creators can receive up to $25,000 in funding through cash, ad credits, or equipment.

Eligibility typically requires having between 750–10,000 followers.

The fund focuses on supporting creators from marginalized communities.

How to apply and maximize your earnings:

The Creator Fund opens quarterly. Stay updated for application windows.

Joining can lead to bigger brand partnerships, more traffic, and higher earnings over time.

Step 4: Advanced Ways to Boost Your Pinterest Earnings

4.1 Use Pinterest Ads to Promote Your Pins

Pinterest Ads can help you reach more people and drive more sales.

Running ads is a smart way to boost traffic to your website, products, or services.

Basics of setting up your first ad campaign:

First, you need a Pinterest Business Account to access Ads Manager.

From there, you can create a campaign and an ad group. Pinterest offers different ad formats like Promoted Pins and Shopping Ads.

To get better results, post original pins often, use Pinterest’s targeting tools, and monitor your ad performance closely.

Invest in professional visuals and strong copy. Keep pin titles under 100 characters and descriptions under 500 characters for best results.

Track metrics like impressions, clicks, and saves to see what’s working — and adjust your strategy if needed.

When Pinterest ads make sense for your goals:

Pinterest Ads are especially useful if you’re selling digital products, physical goods, or high-converting affiliate offers.

They can get your pins placed in home feeds, category feeds, and search results, helping you get noticed.

With so many users ready to shop on Pinterest, ads can be a great investment for boosting your traffic and sales.

4.2 Create Shoppable Idea Pins

Idea Pins are Pinterest’s version of stories — but they don’t disappear after 24 hours.

They give you a dynamic way to engage users and boost your visibility.

How to tag products directly in Idea Pins:

When creating an Idea Pin, you can tag products you recommend. This allows viewers to shop directly from your content.

You can tag affiliate links too, earning a commission when someone clicks and buys.

If you collaborate with brands, you can use Pinterest’s Paid Partnership tool to tag them in your Idea Pins.

Why Idea Pins are crucial for Pinterest growth:

Idea Pins stay on Pinterest longer, encourage comments and conversations, and can lead to more followers and engagement.

Creators who use Idea Pins see a big increase in their reach, and Pinterest has made them a core part of their growth strategy.

If you’re serious about growing and monetizing on Pinterest, Idea Pins are a must.

4.3 Build and Monetize Your Email List

Building an email list through Pinterest can be a powerful way to make steady income.

Drive Pinterest traffic to lead magnets:

You can drive Pinterest traffic to your website and offer a freebie (like an eBook, checklist, or guide) in exchange for an email sign-up.

Many businesses grow large email lists by promoting valuable freebies through their Pinterest pins.

Nurture email subscribers with affiliate offers and products:

Once people join your list, you can share valuable content, product recommendations, and affiliate offers.

Pinterest users are ready to buy if you offer something that solves their problems.

You can sell both low-cost products and higher-ticket courses to your engaged subscribers, turning your email list into a major income stream.

Step 5: Track, Analyze, and Refine

5.1 Use Pinterest Analytics

Tracking your performance on Pinterest is key if you want to grow and earn more.

With a Pinterest Business account, you get access to Pinterest Analytics, a powerful tool that shows how your content is performing.

Key metrics to track:

Focus on important stats like saves, clicks, and outbound traffic.

• Saves show how often users save your pins to their boards, which boosts their reach.
• Clicks show how many users clicked on your pin to learn more.
• Outbound traffic measures how many visitors clicked through to your blog, website, or shop.

How to find what’s working and create more of it:

Look closely at your top-performing pins. What style, keywords, or topics do they have in common?

Use that data to guide your future content. Focus on creating more pins similar to your best performers.

Understanding what resonates with your audience helps you improve your strategy and create pins that drive even better results.

Analyzing your analytics regularly lets you make smarter, data-driven choices that help you grow faster.

5.2 Refine Your Pinterest Strategy

Success on Pinterest doesn’t happen by accident.

It takes ongoing testing and fine-tuning.

Update underperforming pins:

If you notice some pins aren’t performing well, it’s important to adjust your approach.

In short, you need to analyze what’s not working and improve it.

You can redesign pins, update descriptions, swap out keywords, or adjust where and how you post them.

Experiment with different styles, keywords, and times:

Keep trying new pin designs, text overlays, and calls-to-action.

Test different keywords in your pin titles and descriptions to find the ones that attract more engagement.

Try posting at different times to see when your audience is most active.

Tweak your strategies often, stay flexible, and be willing to shift when needed.

The more you experiment and refine, the better your chances of building a strong Pinterest presence that brings real earnings.

Final Words

Pinterest offers many beginner-friendly ways to make money, whether through affiliate marketing, selling products, offering services, or driving traffic to a blog.

Pick one strategy that fits your goals. Stay consistent. Over time, your efforts can turn Pinterest into a real income stream!

FAQs

How many followers do you need to make money on Pinterest?

You don’t need a lot of followers to start making money on Pinterest.

While having thousands of followers can help, even 1,000 engaged followers can be enough if you focus on quality content and strong engagement.

Success depends more on how many people click your pins and visit your blog, shop, or affiliate links, not just your follower count.

Driving traffic and building a targeted audience matter more than having a huge number of followers.

Can you make money on Pinterest without a blog?

Yes, you can make money on Pinterest without a blog.

While having a blog can open more income opportunities, you can still earn by:

• Using affiliate links directly on your pins
• Selling your own products through online shops like Etsy or Shopify
• Offering Pinterest Virtual Assistant services
• Selling Pinterest templates, quizzes, or courses
• Becoming a Pinterest consultant
• Partnering with brands for sponsored content

However, having a blog gives you more control and helps diversify your income streams if Pinterest’s algorithms change.

Does Pinterest pay you directly?

No, Pinterest does not pay users directly for pinning or using the platform.

You make money by creating content that leads users to your blog, store, or landing page, where you earn through ads, affiliate commissions, or sales.

Pinterest does offer opportunities like:

• Tagging affiliate products in Idea Pins
• Using the paid partnership tool for collaborations
• Applying for the Pinterest Creator Fund (grants, not direct pin payments)

But in general, Pinterest is a traffic tool, not a direct income source.

Other online platforms to make money if you love Pinterest?

If you enjoy using Pinterest, many other platforms can help you make money, often alongside your Pinterest efforts:

• Blogging Platforms: WordPress (self-hosted) is great for blogging and earning through ads and affiliates.
• Ad Networks: Google AdSense, Mediavine, and AdThrive help you earn money from blog traffic.
• Affiliate Networks: Amazon Associates, ShareASale, Etsy Affiliates, Impact, Rakuten, RewardStyle, and FlexOffers.
• E-commerce Sites: Shopify and Etsy to sell physical or digital products.
• Freelance Platforms: Fiverr for selling Pinterest-related services like pin design or account management.
• Content Creation Tools: Canva for making pins or products to sell.
• YouTube: Earn money through ads, affiliate marketing, and selling products.
• Survey Sites: Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Inbox Dollars for small, quick earnings.
• Selling Images: Shutterstock if you’re into photography.
• Course Platforms: Use learning management systems to sell your online courses.