Looking to make money online without a blog or website? Pinterest affiliate marketing is your answer! Promote affiliate products you love on Pinterest and earn commissions when someone buys through your link.
Use platforms like Printify to monetize your Pinterest activity and create a new income stream effortlessly. Let’s learn how to do it!
Key takeaways
- Pinterest as a marketing platform: Pinterest is not just a social media network – it’s a visual search engine with 518 million active users, making it a powerful platform for affiliate marketing.
- High purchase intent: with 85% of users planning projects and 90% making purchase decisions on Pinterest, the platform offers a highly engaged audience for affiliate marketers.
- Monetization opportunities: Pinterest allows direct affiliate linking on multiple pins, making it easier to monetize content without a blog or website.
- Evergreen content: Pinterest pins have a long lifespan, continuing to drive traffic and engagement for months or even years, which is ideal for sustained affiliate income.
- Ease of use: setting up and optimizing a Pinterest account for affiliate marketing is straightforward and requires minimal technical skills.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a visual search engine and social media platform where people discover and save inspiration on various topics.
People use Pinterest to find and share content related to their interests, hobbies, and goals. Additionally, you can monetize Pinterest by connecting it to platforms like Etsy.
But do you know how to make money on Pinterest with affiliate marketing? Let’s explore!
Why use Pinterest for affiliate marketing?
Pinterest is not just a place to find recipes, DIY projects, or home decor ideas. It’s also the perfect social media platform for affiliate marketing that doesn’t require a large initial investment. Here’s why:
- Monthly active users: Pinterest has grown to 518 million monthly active users globally. That’s a 12% increase from the previous year.
- Purchase intent: 85% of Pinterest users use it to plan new projects, highlighting the high purchase intent among its user base. Additionally, 90% of weekly users use Pinterest to make purchase decisions.
- Income demographics: Pinterest remains a platform with a relatively affluent user base, with 1 in 3 Pinterest shoppers having an annual income of $100,000 or more.
- Affiliate links: Pinterest allows users to add affiliate links directly to their pins, making it a user-friendly platform for affiliate marketing compared to others that restrict or ban such practices.
- Pin lifespan: Pinterest’s content remains evergreen, with visually appealing pins continuing to drive traffic and engagement for months or even years after publication.
- Ease of use: Pinterest’s intuitive interface lets users leverage the platform without needing advanced technical skills or significant financial investment.
How to use Pinterest for affiliate marketing
Ready to turn your pins into profits? Follow these steps to get started and learn how to do affiliate marketing on Pinterest.
Step 1: Set up and optimize a Pinterest business account
First, optimize your Pinterest account for affiliate marketing. Here are some things you need to incorporate in your Pinterest strategy:
- Create a business account or convert your personal Pinterest account to a business one. This will give you access to analytics, ads, and other features to help you grow.
- Claim your own website or profile on other social media platforms. This will help drive traffic and increase credibility. Learn how to create a website for your affiliate marketing business on our blog.
- Enable rich pins if you have a website or landing page. Rich pins are enhanced pins that show extra information from your site, such as product prices, ratings, or availability.
- Choose a niche and target audience. Have a clear idea of what topics you want to cover and the type of user you want to reach before posting pins.
- Pinterest SEO (search engine optimization). Optimize your profile name, bio, and photo alt text with relevant keywords that accurately describe your niche and the value you offer. Use Google Analytics for keyword research and identify trending terms.
- Create relevant boards and organize them by categories. Boards are where you save and organize pins. Create boards for topics of interest, use descriptive names and keywords, and choose appropriate categories.
- Follow other accounts in your niche and engage with their content. This will help you get noticed by other users, grow your network, and become a more successful affiliate marketer.
Speaking of niches – check out our Printing Profits podcast episode “To Niche or Not to Niche.”
Step 2: Find and join affiliate programs
The next step in your Pinterest affiliate marketing strategy is to find affiliate programs that suit your niche and audience. Affiliate programs are where you sign up as an affiliate partner for a product or service to get a unique link that tracks your referrals.
Since there isn’t a specific Pinterest affiliate program, look for the following:
- Individual affiliate programs: these are run by the product or service owners. You need to apply directly on their affiliate pages or through an email.
- Affiliate networks: these platforms connect affiliates with multiple merchants or advertisers. Sign up for the network and then apply for individual programs within it.
Some popular individual affiliate programs are:
- Printify Affiliates: earn recurring commissions by introducing Printify to new users. You can earn 5% on every order your referrals make from the Printify Catalog if they register using your unique tracking link. There is no cap on how much you can earn, so refer as much as you want!
- Amazon Associates: promote various products with Amazon affiliate links. It’s a versatile option for reaching a broad audience.
- Bluehost: this is one of the leading web hosting providers in the world. Earn up to $65 for every qualified referral who purchases a hosting plan through your link.
To maximize your earning potential, consider partnering with reputable networks. Here are some of the best affiliate programs for Pinterest:
- Awin: A global affiliate network with over 30,000 advertisers across sectors like retail, telecoms, and gaming, Awin is a powerful platform for affiliate marketers.
- ShareASale: One of the industry’s oldest and most reputable affiliate networks, ShareASale features over 30,000 merchants across various niches, including fashion, home and garden, health and beauty, and more.
- CJ Affiliate: Another well-established affiliate network, CJ Affiliate offers access to the biggest brands across diverse categories such as travel, finance, and education.
To find additional affiliate programs or networks in your niche, use search engines or explore directories such as High Paying Affiliate Programs. We also recommend checking out some affiliate marketing courses.
Before you join any program and start affiliate relationships, read the terms and conditions carefully. Some things you need to check are:
- Commission rates and payment method.
- Cookie duration, which is the length of time after someone clicks on your link where you will still get credit for the sale.
- Approval process and requirements.
- Rules and restrictions regarding promotion methods.
Step 3: Create and share pins with affiliate links
Create multiple pins with direct affiliate links and share them on your account. Pins are the images or videos you upload or save on the Pinterest platform.
Here are some tips for creating effective pins for affiliate marketing:
- Try different pin templates, including color vs black-and-white images, vertical and horizontal images, or text vs image-focused pins.
- Use high-quality images or videos showcasing the affiliate products or services in an attractive way.
- Use text overlays or captions highlighting the benefits and features of the product or service.
- Make sure your pin details – including the title and descriptions – are optimized with relevant keywords that Pinterest visitors and your target audience commonly search for.
- Use relevant hashtags in your pin description related to your niche or topic.
- Use a call to action (CTA) in your pin description that encourages people to click on your link.
Follow these steps to share pins with affiliate links on Pinterest:
- Copy your affiliate link from the program or network dashboard.
- Go to Pinterest and click on the plus icon at the top-right corner.
- Click Create Pin.
- Upload your image or video.
- Paste your affiliate link in the destination (URL) field.
- Add your pin title, description, hashtags, and CTA.
- Choose a board where you want to save your pin.
- Click Publish.
Alternatively, affiliate marketers can use tools like Tailwind or Adobe Photoshop to create pins with affiliate links that are visually appealing and professional-looking.
Try Pinterest Idea Pins. These dynamic pins feature videos or multiple images and function similarly to other social media platforms, like Instagram stories or TikTok short videos.
Step 4: Add disclosures and follow Pinterest’s guidelines
Disclosures are statements informing the audience that you’re using an affiliate link and that you may earn a commission through affiliate sales.
These are required by FTC law and most affiliate programs – including Amazon – as part of their policies.
Here are some ways people add disclosures on Pinterest:
- Use straightforward language like “affiliate link,” “paid link,” “affiliate content,” or “sponsored.”
- Place the disclosure before or near the link – not at the end of the description.
- Use hashtags such as #affiliatelink, #paidlink, and #sponsored.
- Add symbols such as [aff], [ad], or [spon].
Here are some Pinterest affiliate marketing examples with disclosures:
“Looking for a cozy blanket for winter? Check out this one from Printify [aff]. It’s super soft, warm, and comes in different sizes and colors.”
“Want to start your own blog in 2024? Here’s how I did it with Bluehost #paidlink. They offer fast, reliable, and affordable web hosting services.”
Other guidelines to follow when doing affiliate marketing on Pinterest are:
- Don’t spam. Avoid sharing too many pins with the same link or too many pins in general.
- Don’t mislead. Steer clear of false claims or deceptive images.
- Don’t promote prohibited products. These include adult content, gambling, and drugs.
- Don’t use link-shortening tools or redirects like cloaking, as Pinterest may block your pins or suspend your account.
Step 5: Grow your traffic and income
Focus on growing your traffic and income. Consistently share high-quality, valuable content to attract and engage your audience.
Monitor your performance using Pinterest Analytics to understand which of your Pinterest pin images are performing well and why.
Consider leveraging Pinterest ads to boost brand awareness, reach, and engagement. Remember, the key to growing your traffic and income on Pinterest is consistency, creativity, and user engagement.
Start affiliate marketing through Pinterest with Printify
Using Printify for affiliate partnerships provides a dynamic and profitable avenue to monetize your Pinterest audience.
Set up an affiliate account and promote Printify to your audience of budding entrepreneurs. Talk about how starting a POD business empowers them to become their own boss – no startup costs necessary.
Showcase Printify’s Product Creator (previously known as Mockup Generator) to demonstrate how anyone can start a POD business, regardless of their niche or experience.
Once your referrals sign up to Printify using the unique links on your Pinterest boards, you’ll earn a 5% commission on every sale they make. The best part? There’s no earnings or referrals cap, so the sky’s the limit!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use direct affiliate links on Pinterest. However, it’s essential to clearly disclose this in your pin description to comply with FTC regulations and Pinterest’s guidelines.
While there’s no fixed limit on affiliate pins you can share, it’s important to avoid spamming. Excessive sharing of the same link, or too many pins in general, may lead to your account being flagged or suspended.
Absolutely. In fact, creating your own unique pins is essential for a successful Pinterest marketing strategy. By focusing on creating eye-catching pins, you can tailor your content specifically to your audience, greatly increasing the chances of your pins getting noticed and driving more engagement.
Yes, you can promote products from multiple affiliate sites on your Pinterest profile. However, always ensure the products you promote align with your audience’s interests to maintain engagement and trust.
Yes, join group boards to share affiliate links – it can be an effective way to reach a larger audience. However, follow the specific rules of each group board and add relevant disclosures to maintain transparency.
Pinterest ads can be a great way to boost the visibility of your affiliate pins. However, be mindful of providing genuine, valuable affiliate marketing content to your audience, not just promotional material.
Several popular networks suitable for Pinterest affiliate marketing include Amazon Associates, ShareASale, ClickBank, and CJ Affiliate. The Printify Affiliate Program is also a good option if your audience is interested in entrepreneurship and selling customizable merchandise.
Harnessing the power of Pinterest for affiliate marketing
Pinterest and affiliate links are a match made in digital marketing heaven. The platform’s visual nature, combined with its users’ high intent to purchase, creates a profitable environment for affiliates to thrive.
For Printify affiliates, it’s an opportunity to maximize earnings and inspire people to level up their business by selling custom-printed products. Ready to embark on a successful affiliate marketing journey? Start pinning today!
