Pinterest is a great platform for finding inspiration and promoting products. Whether you’re a blogger, influencer, or run an online store, Pinterest can help boost your website traffic and revenue.
For businesses selling products, Pinterest can be especially useful for attracting potential customers during their research phase.
No matter if you make content, run an online shop, or want to drive traffic to your blog, Pinterest can help you make money.
If you haven’t started monetizing on Pinterest, now is the ideal time to get started. In this article, we’ll give you the top tips to make the most of Pinterest for your business.
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Can You Make Money on Pinterest?
The answer is yes, especially if you’re a blogger, influencer, or have an eCommerce business. There are several ways to profit on this platform, and your success depends on your business and strategy.
For eCommerce and product-based businesses, Pinterest is a treasure trove for attracting potential customers in their research phase. A staggering 85% of Pinners turn to Pinterest when starting new projects. If your target audience is on Pinterest, chances are they’re ready to buy.
Demographic data shows that 45% of U.S. adults with a yearly household income exceeding $100K actively use Pinterest, and a strong 83% of Pinterest users make purchases based on what they find there. People come for inspiration, making it the perfect place to showcase your products.
Now, if you’re a blogger or influencer, Pinterest can be a game-changer for driving traffic to your website. Instead of thinking of Pinterest as a typical social media site, consider it more as a search engine, similar to Google.
To maximize its potential, combine SEO strategies with eye-catching pins to help Pinners discover your content and click on the link to your site. Once they’re on your website, you can guide them to subscribe to your email list, make purchases, or take any other desired action.
These are just a couple of ways you can make money online using Pinterest. If you’re eager to monetize your Pinterest channel, keep reading for some tried-and-true money-making strategies that you can start using today.
How to Make Money on Pinterest
1. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Pinterest virtual assistants play a crucial role in helping bloggers, social media influencers, and online business owners enhance their Pinterest presence. Here’s what they typically do:
- Create Pins: They design eye-catching pins to attract attention.
- Utilize Tailwind for Scheduling: They use tools like Tailwind to schedule pins for optimal posting times.
- Automate Pinning: They set up processes to automate the pinning of content.
- Conduct Keyword Research: They find the right keywords to improve the discoverability of pins.
- Manage Pinterest Ads: They work with Pinterest Ads Manager to run Promoted Pins, similar to Facebook ads.
- Develop Sales Funnels and Opt-Ins: They help create strategies like sales funnels and opt-in forms to boost conversions.
One of the perks of being a Pinterest virtual assistant is the flexibility it offers. You can choose when and where you work, and the tasks are diverse because you typically serve multiple clients, each with unique Pinterest management needs.
Earnings Potential: Pinterest virtual assistants can earn approximately $500 per client per month. If this interests you, you can learn how to become a Pinterest virtual assistant through courses like Kristin Larsen’s Pinterest Virtual Assistant Course. These courses cover everything mentioned above, plus how to find, secure, and maintain clients.
Would you like to make $500 per month by working with Pinterest? As a Pinterest virtual assistant, you’ll design pins and help business owners leverage Pinterest for business growth. It’s a rewarding opportunity to explore!
2. Use Pinterest to Boost eCommerce Traffic and Sales
Here’s a simple yet effective way to make money with Pinterest: direct traffic to your eCommerce site by pinning your product pages. It’s a powerful strategy to increase sales and generate substantial online traffic. Just remember to connect your Pins with keywords that your ideal customers are searching for to maximize results.
Here’s why Pinterest matters for your eCommerce site:
- 90% of Users Rely on Pinterest for Buying Decisions: People turn to Pinterest to decide what to purchase.
- 78% Value Content from Brands on Pinterest: Users appreciate seeing content from brands they follow on Pinterest.
- 66% Make Purchases Inspired by Pinterest: A significant number of Pinterest users buy products they discover on the platform.
- 33% More Traffic than Facebook: Pinterest drives 33% more traffic to shopping websites compared to Facebook.
If you run an online shop, you can leverage Pinterest much like bloggers do. This involves creating appealing pins to promote new products, curating boards for various styles or themes, conducting keyword research, and more.
You can even create Promoted Pins, which resemble regular pins but function as Pinterest’s equivalent of Facebook ads. You can optimize these Promoted Pins to achieve different objectives such as increasing website traffic, enhancing brand awareness, or driving app installs.
You have the option to place ads in browse mode or search mode. In search mode, you select keywords that users need to search for to see your ads, making it a valuable placement to target people actively seeking your product or similar ones.
3. Sell Your Products on Pinterest
Do you know that you can sell your products right on Pinterest? We do this using a special type of Pin called “Product Pins.” These Pins are designed to showcase your product with all the important details, making them easily shoppable. They include info like the product’s price, availability, title, and description, all pulled from your online shop.
Here’s why Product Pins are awesome:
Up-to-Date Info: Product Pins ensure your potential customers always see the latest info about your products.
Effortless Shopping: They make shopping on Pinterest a breeze because customers can make purchases without leaving the platform.
Now, there are two types of Product Pins you should know about:
Catalog Product Pins: These are automatically generated when Pinterest adds an e-Commerce business’s product catalog. They usually have a square format and display a picture from the shop’s product listing on their website.
Optimized Product Pins: These are created and posted manually. Here, you have more control. You can optimize them for things like image quality, size, SEO (search engine optimization), and other best practices for product pins.
You might hear Product Pins referred to as “Pinterest Buyable Pins” or “Shoppable Pins.”
To get started with Product Pins, the first step is to apply to become a certified retailer on Pinterest. Once you’re approved, you can start creating and sharing these awesome Product Pins to boost your sales and make money right on Pinterest.
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to become a verified merchant on Pinterest:
4. Drive Traffic to Your Blog
Here’s a fantastic way to make money using Pinterest: increase the traffic to your blog. If you’re already making money through advertising on your blog, Pinterest can be a game-changer. In fact, managing and ranking for keywords is often easier on Pinterest than on Google.
Pinterest has evolved into a massive platform that enables bloggers to reach millions of people online every year. While some may mistake it for just another social media platform like Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest offers a much more powerful way for bloggers to monetize their content.
Think about how you likely found this article by searching “how to make money on Pinterest” on Google. Well, the same thing happens on Pinterest. It’s not just a social network; it’s a visual search engine.
Pinterest users love discovering new ideas and products. If you create valuable content that aligns with the keywords your potential audience is searching for, you can tap into that search traffic on Pinterest.
Here’s How to Boost Your Web Traffic through Pinterest:
Start a Blog: We suggest Wealthy Affiliate because it offers step-by-step blogging tutorials and free hosting, making it easy to create a professional website. The best part? You can start with a free account and have your website up and running in no time.
Choose a Blogging Niche: Focus on a specific niche like food, personal finance, fashion, etc.
Create Content: Write and publish posts on your blog, and monetize them with ads, affiliate products, or sponsored placements.
Set Up a Pinterest Account: Create an account on Pinterest.
Create Pins for Your Blog Posts: Design engaging images that represent your blog posts effectively.
Share on Pinterest: Post these images on Pinterest.
This is the basic process, but there’s more to it, of course. When a Pinterest user searches for something related to your blog post, they can discover your Pin, click on it, and ultimately see your ads or purchase products from you. That’s how you make money through Pinterest by driving traffic to your blog.
5. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing isn’t just for blogs; you can also dive into it on Pinterest by sharing direct affiliate links. When you share your affiliate link on Pinterest and someone makes a purchase through it, you earn a commission. Let’s dive into the details:
Affiliate marketing involves partnering with companies to promote their products or services. They provide you with a unique link (known as an affiliate link), which you incorporate into your posts or pins. When someone clicks on that link and completes a purchase, you receive a commission. This action is called a conversion.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest:
- Find Affiliate Programs: Look for affiliate programs through networks like ShareASale, FlexOffers, and more.
- Create Pins with Affiliate Links: Once you have affiliate partnerships, design pins that include these affiliate links in the text.
Crucial Tips for Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest:
- Review Affiliate Policies: Not all companies allow their affiliate links on Pinterest, so check with the company’s affiliate manager and review your contract’s rules.
- Image Usage: Some companies prohibit the use of their images when creating pins, even for affiliates (e.g., Amazon).
- Transparency: Pinterest encourages transparency; avoid masking or shortening affiliate links. Be open about your affiliate relationship.
- Disclosure: It’s essential to disclose your affiliate relationship, as required by the FTC. You can easily do this by adding #affiliate or #affiliatelink in your pin description.
If you’re keen on learning more about affiliate marketing, whether on Pinterest or your blog, consider checking out Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s course, “Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing.” Michelle consistently earns around $50,000 per month from affiliate marketing alone, all while maintaining her integrity.
Affiliate marketing on Pinterest is a legitimate way to make money while sharing products or services you genuinely endorse.
6. Join the Pinterest Creator Fund
Pinterest launched the Creator Fund in 2021 to empower creators to expand and monetize their content on the platform. Here’s how it works:
- Cohorts Open Quarterly: The Creator Fund accepts new participants on a quarterly basis.
- Exclusive Brand Partnerships: Participants gain access to unique brand collaborations.
- Tools and Resources: Creators receive support, tools, and resources from the Pinterest team to enhance their reach and impact.
The Pinterest Creator Fund is a program designed to offer financial and educational assistance to selected Pinterest creators who come from underrepresented groups. It’s a fantastic opportunity for these creators to produce content and monetize it on Pinterest.
If you don’t meet the requirements for the Creator Fund, you can still explore the Creator Rewards program. This initiative allows creators to earn money by crafting original Idea Pins based on prompts provided by Pinterest.
7. Sponsored Content
Creating sponsored content on Pinterest is a smart way to earn income.
Sponsored content happens when a Pinterest user collaborates directly with a brand to craft pins that showcase the company’s products or services. This can take various forms, such as featuring “10 creative uses for Coca-Cola cans” or highlighting “5 amazing Airbnb getaways.”
Pinterest offers a lucrative space for influencer marketing. Content creators can partner with brands to design sponsored content exclusively for Pinterest. Moreover, they can negotiate higher rates for sharing their sponsored blog and social media content from other platforms with their Pinterest followers.
To make money through joint promotions on Pinterest, you need a thriving account and the ability to create outstanding pins. This involves:
- Concept: Develop a captivating idea for the pin.
- Photography: Use eye-catching and high-quality imagery.
- Brand Integration: Seamlessly incorporate the brand within the pin.
- Pin Design: Craft visually appealing pins.
Pinterest now has a branded partnership tool that lets creators easily reveal and label branded content to their followers. You can access it in the “Advanced settings” section of the Pinterest Idea pin builder on mobile.
Here’s what it looks like.
8. Try Pinterest Ads to Reach New Users
If you have an online business, Pinterest ads can significantly enhance your visibility and help you connect with potential buyers. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how to make the most of Pinterest ads:
Pinterest ads are designed to look like regular pins, but they are strategically placed to ensure they reach your target audience effectively. They can appear in various places, including the home feed and search results, where your potential customers are likely to discover them.
Here’re the steps to get started with Pinterest Ads:
Create a Business Account: To run ads on Pinterest, you’ll need a business account. If you don’t have one, you can easily convert your personal account into a business one or create a new business account from scratch.
Access Ads Manager: Once you have your business account set up, head to the Ads Manager. This is your hub for managing your Pinterest ad campaigns.
Create a Campaign: Within Ads Manager, you can create campaigns tailored to your specific goals. You can choose objectives like increasing website visits, driving engagement, or promoting specific products.
Set Up Ad Groups: Each campaign can contain one or more ad groups. Ad groups allow you to organize your ads by targeting criteria, budget, and schedule. This level of organization helps you fine-tune your ad strategy.
Design Your Pins: Now comes the creative part. You’ll craft visually appealing pins that align with your campaign objectives. This includes selecting eye-catching images, writing compelling ad copy, and adding any necessary details such as pricing or product descriptions.
Define Target Audience: Pinterest offers robust targeting options, allowing you to reach users based on factors like demographics, interests, and behaviors. Define your ideal audience to ensure your ads are seen by the right people.
Set Budget and Schedule: Decide on your ad budget and schedule. You can choose between daily or lifetime budgets and set start and end dates for your campaigns.
Launch Your Ads: Once you’ve configured all the details, it’s time to launch your Pinterest ads. They will start appearing in your selected placements, reaching potential customers who are interested in what you have to offer.
9. Share Your Pinterest Expertise
Once you’ve mastered the Pinterest money-making techniques we’ve discussed earlier, it’s time to turn your Pinterest expertise into income.
If you’ve successfully partnered with brands or achieved impressive results with Pinterest, others will be eager to learn your secrets.
You can monetize your Pinterest expertise in various ways, such as by offering online courses, writing ebooks, providing coaching sessions, and more.
Consider creating successful Pinterest campaigns for different clients and then sharing your knowledge with others who want to achieve similar success.
Having a blog or online presence can be instrumental in sharing your journey and connecting with people interested in learning from your Pinterest experiences.
9 Best Tips for Earning More Money on Pinterest
Here’re some tips to help you earn more money on the platform:
1. Use a Business Account
As a small business selling handmade jewelry, switching to a business account on Pinterest allows you to access valuable analytics. You can see which pins are performing well, helping you tailor your content to your audience’s preferences and increase sales.
2. Create Eye-Catching Pins
Imagine you’re a food blogger. Instead of just sharing a recipe, design a visually appealing pin with a mouthwatering image of the finished dish. Add text overlay with a catchy title like “Quick and Delicious Pasta Recipe.” This pin is more likely to capture users’ attention and encourage them to click.
3. Master Pin Descriptions
Example: If you run a travel blog, don’t just describe your pin as “Beach Vacation.” Instead, use keywords like “Exotic Beach Getaway in Bali: Top Travel Tips” to help your pin appear in relevant search results.
4. Be Transparent About Partnerships
If you’re sharing a pin about a product you’re promoting as an affiliate, add a clear disclosure in the pin’s text, like “#affiliate.” This transparency builds trust with your audience, and they appreciate your honesty.
5. Engage with Other Pinners
Suppose you have a DIY crafting blog. Engage with fellow crafters by repinning their unique craft ideas, leaving thoughtful comments on their pins, and following their profiles. This interaction builds a sense of community and encourages others to engage with your content as well.
6. Schedule Pins with Tailwind
If you’re running a fashion blog, you can use Tailwind to schedule pins showcasing the latest fashion trends for the upcoming season. This ensures your content is consistently shared, even when you’re not actively posting, increasing your visibility and audience engagement.
7. Create a Press or Media Kit
Let’s say you’re a fitness influencer, your media kit can include a brief bio about your fitness journey, a list of services such as workout programs and personalized coaching, your impressive following and engagement statistics, and a portfolio of successful fitness campaigns you’ve conducted.
8. Follow Pinterest’s Guidelines
Pinterest’s guidelines ensure a positive user experience. Avoid practices like spammy pinning or misleading descriptions. Instead, focus on creating valuable and authentic content that aligns with their policies.
9. Stay Informed About Platform Changes
Pinterest may introduce new features, such as Story Pins or video content. Stay informed and adapt your strategy accordingly. If you notice video pins gaining popularity, consider incorporating them into your content to reach a wider audience.
Final Thoughts
Pinterest offers great money-making potential.
You can either create your own business by starting a blog and using Pinterest to expand your audience
Or, you can help existing business owners as a Pinterest virtual assistant to boost their Pinterest presence and income. The choice is yours!
Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.