How to Make Money Pinning on Pinterest: A Genuine, Helpful Guide

Are you wondering whether you can turn your love for Pinterest into real income? The answer is YES! Whether you’re a total beginner or looking to take your side hustle to the next level, Pinterest offers powerful opportunities to earn by sharing, curating, and pinning valuable content. Here’s a transparent, step-by-step guide designed to help you—no fluff, just practical advice and helpful strategies.


1. Affiliate Marketing: Earn Commissions From Your Pins

Affiliate marketing means sharing products or services you like, with special links (affiliate links) that pay you a commission every time someone makes a purchase through your pin. The key is to:

  • Join affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, ShareASale, Shopify Collabs, LTK, Awin, and others).
  • Create pins that naturally showcase useful or desirable products.
  • Disclose affiliate relationships (use Pinterest’s disclosure tools and hashtags like #ad or #affiliate), so you follow the rules.

Success tip: Niche down! Choose products for a focused audience (e.g., home decor, wellness, tech, books) and build trust by sharing honest recommendations.


2. Drive Traffic to Your Blog, Online Store, or Digital Products

Pinterest is a visual search engine—pinners actively seek out ideas, solutions, and products. You can use it to:

  • Share pins linked to your blog posts, Shopify store, Etsy listings, or Gumroad/Teachable pages.
  • Create attractive pin graphics with Canva or Photoshop that stand out in feeds.
  • Use strong keywords in your descriptions for better Pinterest SEO.
  • Every click from Pinterest to your site is a chance for sales, affiliate commissions, ad revenue, or newsletter signups.

Success tip: The more useful, visually appealing, and on-trend your pins, the more repins and clicks you’ll get. Consistency is key—schedule regular posts with tools like Tailwind or Pinterest’s own scheduler.


3. Partner With Brands or Offer Sponsored Pins

When you grow your Pinterest following, brands may pay you to pin their products or content.

  • Sponsored posts are usually one-off payments for sharing about a brand, product, or event.
  • Maintain your authentic style and post quality—audiences trust helpful, organic content over pure ads.

Success tip: Reach out to brands in your niche, or join influencer platforms that connect creators to paid opportunities.


4. Join and Leverage Pinterest Group Boards

Group boards are collaborative spaces where multiple people pin on one topic. If you participate in popular group boards:

  • Your content reaches new audiences, multiplying clicks and engagement.
  • You can invite others to collaborate or build your own board in your niche.

Success tip: Always follow group board rules, pin relevant and high-quality content, and engage with other contributors.


5. Grow Your Audience—Get Paid as a Pinterest Manager

Businesses, bloggers, and even busy creators may hire you to manage their Pinterest accounts—pinning, designing graphics, optimizing boards, and growing followers.

  • Pinterest managers often earn a monthly fee or contract as freelancers—this can become a reliable income stream as your experience grows.

Success tip: Build your own profile as a “Pinterest expert” and network in freelancer groups or platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.


Keys to Pinterest Monetization:

  • Switch to a Pinterest Business Account for analytics, ads, and access to brand opportunities.
  • SEO matters on Pinterest—find trending keywords in your niche and use them naturally.
  • Offer true value: solve a problem, answer questions, or inspire your audience with every pin.
  • Track performance with analytics, and tweak your strategy to grow your reach and results.
  • Follow Pinterest guidelines to avoid getting flagged or blocked (no spammy or misleading pins).

There’s no magic formula—just smart, consistent effort and genuine help for your followers. Whether you’re recommending products, promoting your own content, or partnering with brands, Pinterest can become a real source of income if you treat it authentically and strategically.

Thank you for reading!