How To Do Affiliate Marketing With Pinterest

Introduction.

Affiliate marketing has become a great way to earn money online, and if you’re not leveraging Pinterest for it yet, you might be missing out on a goldmine.

Pinterest isn’t just for planning weddings, finding recipes, or gathering home decor ideas—it’s a massive traffic driver with over 460 million active users each month.

But how exactly can you use Pinterest to build a successful affiliate marketing business? And what’s the best approach to get started, especially if you’re new to it?

In this guide, I’ll walk through the ins and outs of doing affiliate marketing on Pinterest—whether you’re a beginner or looking to optimize your current strategies.

What is Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest?

Affiliate marketing is a simple concept: you promote a product or service, and when someone purchases through your referral link, you earn a commission.

Pinterest, with its visual-first platform, is ideal for affiliate marketing because people use it specifically to discover new ideas, products, and services.

When you pair Pinterest’s “discovery” nature with affiliate links, the potential for conversions can be massive.

Think of Pinterest as a visual search engine. People aren’t just scrolling aimlessly—they’re actively searching for things they want to buy, learn about, or incorporate into their lives.

So, if you create the right content, you can seamlessly introduce them to products they’re already looking for.

How Can I Do Affiliate Marketing With Pinterest?

1. Create or Optimize Your Pinterest Business Account

First things first, you’ll want to have a Pinterest Business account. Not only does this unlock features like Pinterest Analytics, but it’s also essential for credibility and for Pinterest to push your content to more people.

If you’re already using a personal account, you can easily switch to a business account under your settings.

2. Find a Niche

Having a specific niche can make or break your Pinterest affiliate marketing efforts. Instead of promoting every affiliate product under the sun, focus on a niche that you are passionate about or knowledgeable in.

Whether it’s fitness gear, eco-friendly products, or digital marketing tools, sticking to one area helps build a targeted audience who trusts your recommendations.

3. Choose Affiliate Programs

When selecting affiliate programs to promote on Pinterest, go for products that align with your niche. Popular affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and Rakuten Marketing offer a wide range of brands and products to choose from.

Ensure that the programs you join offer quality products with competitive commissions. Don’t forget to check if the brand has a good reputation—after all, you’re associating your Pinterest account with their products.

4. Create High-Quality, Pinnable Content

Pinterest is a highly visual platform, so creating beautiful, attention-grabbing pins is essential. Use tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to design your pins.

Remember, Pinterest favors vertical images (1000 x 1500 px) with bold text overlays and vibrant images that stand out in people’s feeds.

Your pin’s description should include relevant keywords because, as mentioned earlier, Pinterest functions like a search engine. This way, when users search for something related to your niche, your content has a higher chance of popping up.

5. Insert Affiliate Links

Once you’ve designed a great pin, you’ll want to link it directly to your affiliate product. Pinterest allows direct affiliate links, but be sure to disclose that your pin contains an affiliate link (use #affiliate in the pin description).

Alternatively, you can create a blog post or landing page that contains the affiliate link and direct Pinterest users there.

Direct linking is great for quick commissions, but driving traffic to a blog or landing page can be more effective in building trust and driving long-term sales.

6. Engage with Your Audience and Pinterest Algorithm

Pinterest’s algorithm rewards engagement, so it’s important to interact with your audience. Reply to comments on your pins, join group boards related to your niche, and engage with other users’ content.

This tells Pinterest that you’re an active, valuable part of the community, and in turn, Pinterest will show your pins to more users.

Additionally, keep an eye on your Pinterest Analytics to track which pins are performing well. Focus on replicating that success by creating similar pins, updating the less-performing ones, or testing out new designs.

7. Stay Within Pinterest’s Guidelines

Pinterest does allow affiliate links, but there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. Always be transparent about your affiliate relationship and avoid spamming users with irrelevant or low-quality content.

Following the rules not only builds trust but ensures you won’t get banned or penalized by the platform.

Pros and Cons of Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest

Pros:

Massive User Base: With millions of active monthly users, Pinterest offers a high potential for traffic, and a lot of that traffic is ready to buy.
Visual Nature: Pinterest is all about visuals, which makes it easier to promote affiliate products. If your pins stand out, they can get thousands of impressions in no time.
SEO Benefits: Pinterest pins can rank on Google as well, giving you a chance to double your exposure by optimizing for both platforms.
Longer Pin Lifespan: Unlike Instagram or Facebook posts, Pinterest pins have a long shelf life and can drive traffic for months, or even years, after being published.
Passive Income: Once your pins are live and start gaining traction, they can keep driving affiliate sales without constant effort.

Cons:

Steep Learning Curve: It takes time to master Pinterest SEO and understand what types of content work best.
Time-Intensive: Regular pin creation and optimization are crucial to maintaining traffic, and this can be time-consuming.
Direct Linking Can Be Hit or Miss: While Pinterest allows affiliate links, not all affiliate programs permit direct linking from social platforms. Plus, direct links may convert less than links placed in a well-written blog post.
Algorithm Changes: Like all platforms, Pinterest updates its algorithm from time to time, which can affect how your content is seen.