What if your side hustle didn’t need a blog, a storefront, or a massive following to start earning? What if the secret to your first affiliate sale was hidden in the scrolls of a visual search engine millions use to plan weddings, redecorate apartments, and find dinner recipes?
Welcome to Pinterest, where attention turns into intention and pins turn into profits.
In this guide, you'll learn how to turn your Pinterest profile into an affiliate sales machine. From setting up your business account to designing scroll stopping pins, we’ll walk step-by-step through the process that’s helping everyday creators earn income with just a few clicks.
Whether you're a total beginner or someone ready to finally make that first sale, this guide is built to get you moving, no fluff, just strategy.
Create a Pinterest Business Account
Before you can sell anything, you need to set the stage. A Pinterest business account isn’t just a formality, it’s your ticket to powerful tools that regular accounts can’t touch.
Why a Business Account Matters
- Pinterest Analytics: Get behind-the-scenes data on which pins perform, where traffic flows, and what people are clicking on.
- Rich Pins: Automatically pull extra info from your site or store to make pins more informative and clickable.
- Ad Tools: Unlock the ability to run paid campaigns when you’re ready to scale.
How to Set It Up (In Under 5 Minutes)
- Go to: business.pinterest.com
- Click: "Join as a business" or convert your existing personal account.
- Add Your Details: Business name, email, website, and focus niche.
- Optimize Your Profile:
Profile Picture: Use a clean logo or friendly headshot.
Display Name: Include keywords like "Budget Finds | Home Decor Deals" to show up in searches.
Bio: Brief, value packed, and keyword-rich.
Website Claiming: Claim your site or landing page to unlock Rich Pins and trackable links.
Setting up your business account is the foundation. Get this right, and Pinterest will know you mean business, and so will your future buyers.
Choose a Profitable Niche
Not all niches are created equal, especially on Pinterest. Some are flooded with hungry buyers. Others? Crickets. So, the goal here is to find the sweet spot where your passion overlaps with proven demand.
Start with What You Love (But Check the Market)
If you’re into fitness, fashion, finance, or food, you’re in luck. Pinterest thrives on lifestyle driven niches that spark inspiration. But even micro-niches like “budget friendly wedding decor” or “eco friendly cleaning hacks” can crush it if demand is strong.
Start by asking:
- What do I enjoy learning or talking about?
- What problems can I help solve?
- What kinds of products would I personally buy or recommend?
Do Quick Market Research Using Pinterest’s Own Tools
Here’s the shortcut to spotting a profitable lane:
- Search the Keyword: Go to Pinterest’s search bar and start typing your niche. Look at the auto-suggestions, it’s Pinterest telling you what real people are actively searching for.
- Explore Related Pins: Click on top pins in that niche. Are they getting repins, saves, comments?
- Use Pinterest Trends: Visit trends.pinterest.com to see what’s heating up. You can compare keywords, spot seasonal spikes, and find breakout ideas before they explode.
The goal isn’t to go ultra viral, it’s to show up for the right people with the right products at the right time.
Find Affiliate Products to Promote
You’ve picked your niche. Now it’s time to find the products that’ll turn those clicks into commissions.
Where to Find Affiliate Programs
These are some of the top platforms that offer affiliate products across every imaginable niche:
- Amazon Associates – Massive selection, great for beginners.
- ShareASale – Ideal for lifestyle bloggers, home, fashion, and decor.
- ClickBank – Digital products with high commission rates.
- Impact , Awin, CJ Affiliate – More advanced networks with premium brands.
- Direct Affiliate Programs – Many companies (like Canva, Tailwind, or ConvertKit) offer their own programs, just scroll to the bottom of their site and look for “Affiliate” or “Partners.”
Pro tip: Sign up for a mix of programs so you can test what converts best.
How to Choose the Right Products
- Relevance is King: Only promote products that make sense in your niche and content.
- Value-Driven: Ask yourself, “Would I share this with a friend?” If not, skip it.
- Problem-Solving: Focus on products that help your audience achieve a goal, fix a problem, or simplify life.
- Visual Appeal: On Pinterest, pretty sells. Choose items that look good in pins and have strong visuals.
The key is not to sell, but to recommend things that genuinely help. When done right, Pinterest doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like inspiration with a link.
Create High Quality Pins
Your pin is the storefront. If it doesn’t look clickable, it won’t get clicked, no matter how good the product behind it is.
Design Like a Pro (Even If You’re Not One)
You don’t need to be a graphic designer. Tools like Canva, Adobe Express, and Snappa make it easy to create stunning pins with drag and drop templates.
Here’s what makes a pin pop:
- Vertical format (1000x1500 px or 2:3 ratio): Pinterest favors tall pins in the feed.
- Bold, readable text overlay: Think clear headlines like “5 Kitchen Tools That Save Time”.
- High-contrast colors: Light backgrounds with bold colors catch the eye, avoid overcrowding.
- Clean, aesthetic imagery: Use high quality product photos, lifestyle images, or even mockups.
- Strong CTA: Phrases like “Tap to Learn More,” “Save This List,” or “Grab Yours Today” push users to take action.
Bonus Tip: Create multiple pins for the same product with different designs to test what performs best.
Write SEO Friendly Titles & Descriptions
Pinterest is part search engine, part visual platform. That means keywords matter, big time.
- Titles: Use keywords at the front, like “Best Budget Laptops for Students” instead of “My Favorite Student Picks”.
- Descriptions: Naturally include your keywords 2–3 times while keeping the copy engaging.
- Hashtags: Optional, but if used, stick with 3–5 relevant ones like #budgetfinds or #homedecorideas.
The more aligned your visuals + keywords are with what people are searching, the better chance you have of landing on their boards and in their carts.
Enable Rich Pins
Want your pins to stand out and look legit? Enter: Rich Pins.
What Are Rich Pins (and Why They Matter)?
Rich Pins automatically pull extra data (like product pricing, descriptions, or article titles) straight from your website. That means your pins look more detailed, more dynamic, and more professional, all without extra design work.
Rich Pins boost:
- Credibility: They look more trustworthy to users.
- Engagement: More info = higher likelihood of click-throughs.
- SEO Juice: Pinterest’s algorithm loves pins with metadata.
How to Enable Rich Pins
- Add Meta Tags to Your Site
If you're using WordPress, install a plugin like Yoast SEO to easily add Open Graph metadata. - Validate Your URL
Go to Pinterest’s Rich Pin Validator and enter your link. - Apply Once, Then You’re Set
Once Pinterest approves your Rich Pins, all future pins from your domain will include that juicy extra data automatically.
No blog? No problem. You can link Rich Pins to product landing pages, Shopify stores, or even digital download pages, as long as they include the right metadata.
Add Affiliate Links
This is where pins meet profit. But how you place your affiliate links can make or break your results, and even get your account flagged if you’re not careful.
Two Main Ways to Add Affiliate Links
Direct to Affiliate Pin
- You insert the affiliate URL directly into the pin’s destination link.
- Works best with visually strong products and platforms that allow direct linking (Amazon, some ShareASale merchants).
- Keep it clean and always disclose.
Landing Page or Blog Post First
- Your pin links to your blog, resource page, or product review.
- You embed the affiliate link on that page, allowing you to pre-sell, provide value, and even collect emails.
- Higher conversion potential + better for long term trust.
Pro Tip: Use link shorteners or redirection plugins like Pretty Links (for blogs) to make URLs cleaner. Avoid spammy or suspicious looking links.
Affiliate Compliance = Long-Term Survival
Pinterest is cool with affiliate links, but only if you follow the rules:
- Use Clear Disclosures
Always include something like “#affiliate” or “This post contains affiliate links” in your pin description or landing page. - Read the Fine Print
Some affiliate programs (like Amazon) don’t allow direct linking on platforms like Pinterest. Always double check their TOS.
When in doubt, add a disclaimer and lean toward transparency. It builds trust, and protects your hustle.
Optimize Boards
Boards are more than storage, they’re your storefront shelves. How you organize them affects how often your content gets seen, saved, and shared.
Structure Boards Around Your Niche
Create niche specific boards that reflect the exact problems your audience is trying to solve. For example:
- Instead of “Lifestyle,” create “Minimalist Home Decor Finds” or “Healthy Meals Under 20 Minutes.”
- Have at least 5 – 10 core boards that reflect different content angles of your niche.
The goal? When someone lands on your profile, it’s instantly clear what you’re about, and they’re tempted to follow or dive deeper.
Use Keywords (Everywhere)
Pinterest boards are searchable, so make yours work harder:
- Use keywords in board titles (e.g., “Budget Travel Hacks” instead of “Travel Tips”).
- Add keyword rich descriptions to each board (you can sprinkle in a few hashtags too).
Keep Boards Fresh
- Add new pins weekly, even if you're resharing old content in new designs.
- Reorganize or merge underperforming boards to stay clean and relevant.
- Monitor board level analytics to see what topics are pulling weight, and which ones need a makeover.
Your boards should feel like curated playlists: intentional, valuable, and binge-worthy.
Promote Your Pins
Creating a pin is just the beginning. Now it’s time to get it seen. Visibility = clicks = commissions.
Start with Organic Promotion
Pinterest rewards consistency, not just virality. So here’s how to organically build momentum:
- Pin Daily (or Use a Scheduler): Tools like Tailwind help you automate and space out your pins, keeping your account active without burnout.
- Pin to Multiple Boards: Share each pin to all relevant boards over time. Just don’t spam, space it out naturally.
- Join Group Boards: These are collaborative spaces where others can see and repin your content. Use sites like PinGroupie to find active ones in your niche.
- Leverage Fresh Pins: Pinterest loves new designs. Even if the link stays the same, switch up the layout, image, or copy every time you repost.
Level Up with Pinterest Ads
Got a small budget? Pinterest Ads can stretch it far.
- Start with Promoted Pins: Boost your top-performing organic pins for even more reach.
- Target Smart: Use interest targeting, keywords, and demographics to reach your ideal customer.
- Watch the ROI: Start low, like $5 – $10 per day, and scale what converts.
Repurpose on Other Platforms
Don’t let your designs collect dust. Share them on:
- Instagram Stories (with a swipe-up or link-in-bio CTA)
- Facebook Groups relevant to your niche
- Twitter/X or Threads with product context
- Even LinkedIn if your niche is career, biz, or personal development
One pin, many platforms = more chances to convert.
Track Performance
If you're not tracking, you're just guessing. Pinterest gives you the dashboard, it's your job to use it like a pro.
Use Pinterest Analytics to Watch What’s Working
Inside your business dashboard, pay attention to:
- Impressions – Are your pins being seen?
- Saves – Is your content resonating enough to be kept?
- Clicks – Are people actually landing on your links?
- Outbound Link CTR – Your golden metric. This shows intent to buy or learn more.
Identify patterns:
- Which pin designs are getting the most engagement?
- Which boards are driving the most traffic?
- What topics or products seem to get ignored?
Tweak + Repeat
- Double down on winners: Repin, redesign, or boost high performers.
- Test everything: Try different colors, headlines, or CTAs.
- Cut what’s dead weight: Archive underperforming pins and boards to keep your account fresh and focused.
📊 Pro Tip: Track affiliate clicks and conversions on your end too, using tools like Pretty Links , Bitly, or your affiliate dashboard. This helps you connect Pinterest insights with real revenue.
Tips for Success
You’ve got the steps, but what separates random pins from real profit is the mindset and habits you bring to the platform. Here’s how to stand out, sell smart, and stay in the game.
1. Deliver Value First, Always
Pinterest users don’t come to be sold, they come to solve problems and spark ideas. So give before you ask.
- Create pins that teach, inspire, or guide.
- Think mini blog posts in pin form: “5 Ways to Budget Better,” “Top Tools for Side Hustles,” “How to Style One Dress Three Ways.”
- Integrate affiliate links naturally, like recommendations from a trusted friend.
When your content helps people, the clicks, and conversions, follow.
2. Be Consistent, Not Perfect
You don’t need to go viral. You just need to show up.
- Pin daily or weekly, batch content and schedule it out using Tailwind or Pinterest’s native scheduler.
- Refresh old content with new designs or angles.
- Build a content calendar around seasonal trends, Pinterest loves holiday, event, and “new year” content.
Consistency builds authority. Over time, your pins become evergreen money makers.
3. Build Trust & Community
Even on Pinterest, trust matters. Users remember creators who feel real.
- Be transparent with affiliate disclosures.
- Respond to comments or messages on your pins.
- Share stories behind your recommendations, why you picked a product, how you use it, what changed for you.
Real people convert better than faceless profiles.
Resources
Here’s your toolkit to help you learn, grow, and earn faster with affiliate marketing on Pinterest.
Design + Pin Creation
- Canva – Design scroll-stopping pins fast.
- Snappa – Quick graphics with templates.
- Tailwind – Schedule pins, loop content, join Tribes.
- Pinterest Trends – Spot trending keywords before they blow up.
Affiliate Platforms
Tracking & Analytics
- Pinterest Business Analytics
- Pretty Links – Clean link tracking (great for blogs).
- Bitly – Track clicks on affiliate links.
Download the free [ Pinterest Affiliate Sale Starter Checklist ]
and follow the exact steps to land your first sale.
