How to Earn Money on Pinterest?

How to Earn Money on Pinterest: Real Strategies, Tips, and Actionable Examples

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Andrej Fedek

Pinterest isn’t just a collection of pretty pictures. It’s a visual search engine where people plan purchases, organize ideas, and discover new brands. That makes it a perfect platform for monetizing content for creators, bloggers, and business owners. This guide will walk you through how to earn money on Pinterest using real examples, practical tips, and proven strategies — even if you’re just starting out.

1. Set Up a Pinterest Business Account

You need a Pinterest Business Account to access analytics, ads, and Rich Pins. It’s free and essential if you’re serious about learning how to earn money on Pinterest.

➡️ Action: Visit business.pinterest.com to get started and claim your website.

2. Monetize with Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest supports direct affiliate links. Join networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Impact and create pins that promote those products.

💡 Example: Make a pin for “Top 5 Work-From-Home Tools” and link each item with your affiliate URL.

🛠 Tool Tip: Use Canva to design engaging pins and Bitly to track clicks.

3. Drive Traffic to a Blog

Many creators earn through display ads and in-content affiliate links. This method is ideal if you’re wondering how to earn money on Pinterest passively.

💡 Example: A travel blog post titled “10 Must-Have Travel Gadgets” can gain thousands of views from a single viral pin.

🔁 Strategy: Create 3–5 pin designs per blog post for maximum reach.

4. Sell Products: Digital or Physical

Pinterest users love planning — which makes it ideal for selling planners, templates, crafts, and courses.

💡 Example: A fitness coach sells workout guides through pins titled “7-Day Home Workout Challenge – Downloadable PDF!”

🛍 Where to sell: Etsy, Shopify, Gumroad, or your own website.

5. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant

If you’ve mastered pin design and scheduling, offer Pinterest VA services to bloggers or eCommerce brands.

💡 Example: Freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork charge $300–$1500/month for managing Pinterest accounts.

🛠 Tool: Tailwind pin scheduler for scheduling and analytics.

6. Use Pinterest Creator Rewards (if available)

Some users get paid for high-performing Idea Pins. While this program is still limited, it’s worth exploring as Pinterest expands monetization tools.

📌 Stay updated via the Pinterest Creator Hub.

7. Sell Pinterest Templates or Services

Design Canva templates, sell them via Gumroad, and promote them through Pinterest itself. This method is a popular way to teach others how to earn money on Pinterest.

💡 Example: “25 Viral Canva Pin Templates – Boost Your Blog Traffic!” linked to a paid bundle.

8. Leverage Pinterest Ads

If you have a profitable product or blog funnel, scale it with Pinterest Ads.

📌 Start small ($5–10/day), and test different pins for CTR and conversions.

9. Join Group Boards and Communities

Group boards help grow your reach faster. Tailwind Communities are another great way to amplify your pins.

📌 Search “[your niche] group board invite” on Google to join relevant boards.

10. Stay Consistent with Pinning

Pinterest loves consistency. Post 5–10 times per day using a mix of your content and repins from others.

🛠 Recommended Tool: Tailwind (for automated pin scheduling).

Top Questions Answered: How to Make Money on Pinterest


1. How to make money on Pinterest for beginners

If you’re starting out, making money on Pinterest begins with creating a business account and choosing a niche like fashion, DIY, or digital products. Beginners can start by sharing visually engaging pins that link to affiliate products, Etsy shops, or blog posts. As traffic grows, so does your income potential, making this an excellent entry point into online earning.

2. How many followers do you need on Pinterest to make money

Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest doesn’t require a massive follower count to generate income. Because it functions more like a search engine than a social platform, your pins can go viral and bring traffic even with zero followers. Monetization depends more on engagement, SEO-optimized pins, and strategic linking than follower count.

3. Can you make money on Pinterest by posting pictures

You can earn by posting visually compelling images that link to monetized destinations like affiliate products, blogs, or online stores. Each pin acts as a clickable ad — if done right, can convert viewers into buyers or readers. Even simple lifestyle or product images, if optimized, can lead to consistent income.

4. How to make money on Pinterest affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular methods of earning money on Pinterest. You sign up for affiliate programs, create engaging pins for the products, and embed your unique links. When users click through and make a purchase, you earn a commission. Using tools like Canva and keyword-rich descriptions increases visibility and click-through rates.

5. How much does Pinterest pay for 1 million views

Pinterest itself doesn’t pay per view like YouTube does, but if you get 1 million views, your earnings come from the actions people take—clicks on affiliate links, product purchases, or blog visits. Some users have earned hundreds or even thousands of dollars from viral pins that drive high-converting traffic.

6. Pinterest creator fund

The Pinterest Creator Fund was launched to support underrepresented creators by offering financial backing, resources, and exposure. While it’s still in limited rollout and not available globally, accepted creators can receive money and brand opportunities in exchange for high-quality content aligned with Pinterest’s goals.

7. How to make money online

Pinterest is just one of many platforms to make money online. Whether you’re selling digital products, freelancing, blogging, or running an online store, Pinterest can amplify your reach. It acts as a free traffic generator that fuels other income streams like affiliate marketing, ad revenue, or product sales.

8. How does Pinterest make money

Pinterest earns money primarily through advertising. Brands pay to promote pins that show up in search results or home feeds, targeting specific audiences. These ads blend seamlessly with organic content, making them effective. Pinterest also partners with eCommerce platforms and benefits from product integrations and data-driven insights.

9. Pinterest, what is it?

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine where users save and share ideas on everything from home décor to side hustles. With SEO-like searchability and evergreen content potential, it’s a powerful tool for creators and marketers aiming to monetize content through traffic, product sales, or affiliate income.

10. How to make money on Pinterest

There are multiple ways to make money on Pinterest, including affiliate marketing, blog traffic, selling digital products, running Pinterest VA services, and even joining creator rewards programs (where available). The key is to create visually appealing, keyword-optimized pins that drive action — whether that’s a sale, a sign-up, or a page visit.

FAQ: How to Earn Money on Pinterest

Q1: Can you earn money on Pinterest without a blog?
Yes! You can use affiliate links directly in pins or sell digital products via platforms like Etsy or Gumroad.

Q2: How long does it take to make money on Pinterest?
It depends on your strategy and niche, but most users see traction after 3–6 months of consistent pinning.

Q3: What’s the best way to start earning?
Affiliate marketing and promoting Etsy or Gumroad products are the easiest ways to start.

Q4: Do I need a lot of followers?
No! Pinterest works like a search engine, so optimized pins can go viral even with few followers.

Q5: What should I avoid?
Don’t spam. Avoid generic pins with no value or misleading affiliate links. Always disclose affiliations.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to earn money on Pinterest starts with shifting your mindset: it’s not social media, it’s a visual search engine. Whether you’re a blogger, freelancer, or seller, the platform offers sustainable income opportunities if you commit to a strategy and stay consistent.