Pinterest, often perceived as a visual discovery platform for DIY projects, recipes, and lifestyle inspiration, is also a powerful tool for generating significant income. With its highly engaged user base and focus on visual content, Pinterest has become a lucrative platform for entrepreneurs, bloggers, and small businesses. By leveraging its potential, you can turn your Pinterest activity into a steady stream of revenue—earning as much as $7,000 per month or more. Below are 12 strategies to help you get started.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosures.
1. Affiliate Marketing with Pinterest
One of the most straightforward ways to earn money on Pinterest is through affiliate marketing. This involves promoting products or services and earning a commission when someone makes a purchase through your unique affiliate link. To get started:
- Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or ClickBank.
- Create visually appealing pins with your affiliate links embedded in the description.
- Ensure the content is informative or inspirational, so it doesn’t come across as overly promotional.
Pro Tip: Use Pinterest’s search feature to find popular keywords in your niche. This ensures that your pins reach more users interested in the products you’re promoting.
2. Drive Traffic to Your Blog or Website
Pinterest is one of the best platforms for driving traffic to a blog or website. Many bloggers use it as their primary traffic source, which in turn leads to revenue through ad clicks, sponsored content, or product sales.
You can create a content-based website or a blog with bluehost at a mere cost of $2.95 per month. I have been using pinterest to drive traffic to my two blogs since 2018 and it forms a huge source of my monthly income. Pinterest is simply the best source of traffic you can get as a blogger.
- Create eye-catching pins that link directly to your blog posts.
- Use keyword-rich descriptions to optimize your pins for Pinterest SEO.
- Focus on creating valuable and shareable content that encourages users to repin your pins, thus expanding your reach.
Monetization Path: As your blog traffic grows, you can apply for advertising programs like Google AdSense or Ezoic, which pay based on the number of page views and clicks your ads generate.
3. Offer Pinterest Management Services
If you’ve mastered the art of Pinterest marketing, you can offer your expertise to businesses and influencers. Many small businesses and content creators struggle with maintaining a Pinterest presence but realize its importance for driving traffic and sales.
- Create a portfolio showcasing your Pinterest success stories.
- Offer services like Pinterest account setup, optimization, pin creation, and strategy consultation.
Income Potential: Pinterest managers typically charge between $500 and $2,000 per month per client, and with a handful of clients, you can easily hit your income target.
4. Sell Pinterest Templates
If you’re skilled at graphic design, selling Pinterest templates can be a highly profitable side hustle. Many businesses and bloggers don’t have the time or skill set to create visually appealing pins, but they’re willing to purchase professionally designed templates.
- Use design platforms like Canva to create customizable templates.
- Sell them on websites like Etsy, Gumroad, or Creative Market.
- Promote your templates via Pinterest by showcasing them on your own account with links to the sales page.
Scalability: Once your template designs are set, they become a passive income stream. You can continue earning as long as they’re available for purchase.
5. Create and Sell Digital Products
Pinterest is a fantastic platform for selling digital products such as printables, eBooks, online courses, or design assets. You can leverage the platform’s visual focus to promote your offerings to a broad audience.
- Pin images that represent your digital products and include links to your sales page.
- Use keyword optimization to ensure your products are discoverable.
Pro Tip: Niche down your offerings (e.g., digital planners for entrepreneurs) to target a specific audience. The more targeted your product, the more likely you are to make consistent sales.
6. Sponsored Content
Once you’ve built a significant Pinterest following, brands may approach you to create sponsored content. This can take the form of product reviews, tutorials, or simply promoting their brand through your pins.
- Focus on creating a strong and engaged following.
- Reach out to brands in your niche to offer promotional services.
Earnings Potential: Depending on your following and engagement rate, brands typically pay between $100 and $500 per sponsored pin. With several sponsorship deals in place, this revenue can add up quickly.
7. Offer Pinterest Courses or Webinars
If you’re an expert in Pinterest marketing or a related niche, consider teaching others through online courses or webinars. Pinterest users are often looking for ways to improve their own Pinterest marketing efforts, and you can provide valuable education.
- Use platforms like Teachable, Udemy, or Kajabi to host your courses.
- Promote your courses on Pinterest by creating informative pins with links to the course sales page.
Additional Tip: Offer free mini-courses or webinars as a lead magnet to attract more students and grow your mailing list, which you can monetize later.
8. Become a Virtual Assistant Specializing in Pinterest
Many entrepreneurs and bloggers need help managing their Pinterest accounts but can’t afford full-time staff. Offering virtual assistant services that focus on Pinterest can be a great way to earn money.
- Services can include pin scheduling, keyword research, graphic design, and account optimization.
- Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are great places to list your services and find clients.
Average Income: Pinterest virtual assistants typically charge between $20 and $50 per hour, and with consistent work, it’s possible to earn $7k per month.
9. Monetize a Pinterest-Focused Blog
Start a blog focused solely on Pinterest marketing tips, design strategies, or success stories. You can monetize this blog through affiliate marketing, selling digital products, or ad revenue.
- Use Pinterest to drive traffic to your blog.
- Optimize your content for SEO to rank higher on Google.
Revenue Growth: Over time, as your blog traffic grows, you can earn a steady income through ad networks like Mediavine, where bloggers often make thousands of dollars each month.
10. Sell Print-on-Demand Products
Pinterest is a great platform for promoting custom-designed products like t-shirts, mugs, and posters. With print-on-demand services like Redbubble, Printful, or Zazzle, you don’t need to manage inventory or shipping.
- Create appealing mockups of your products and pin them to Pinterest.
- Drive traffic to your print-on-demand store by linking to the product pages.
Scalability: Once set up, this business model requires little maintenance and can generate passive income from consistent sales.
11. Leverage Pinterest Ads
Pinterest Ads can be an excellent tool for amplifying your reach. By promoting your products, affiliate offers, or content through Pinterest’s paid advertising system, you can reach a targeted audience more effectively.
- Start small with a daily budget to test which ads perform best.
- Use Pinterest’s targeting options to reach users by interests, demographics, and keywords.
Earnings Potential: With a strong Pinterest Ads strategy, you can scale your business quickly, driving more traffic and sales to your website or affiliate products.
12. Run a Pinterest Group Board
Group boards on Pinterest allow multiple users to contribute pins to the same board, creating a collaborative and high-traffic space. If you own a successful group board with a large following, you can charge others to join or contribute.
- Start by creating a niche-focused group board that attracts your target audience.
- Promote it through social media, email newsletters, and other channels to build its following.
Monetization: Charge businesses or bloggers a monthly fee to be part of your group board, giving them access to your engaged audience and helping them increase their reach.
Final Thoughts
Earning $7,000 per month with Pinterest is entirely achievable, but it requires dedication, creativity, and strategy. Whether you’re diving into affiliate marketing, offering services, or selling products, the key is to focus on creating valuable and visually appealing content that resonates with Pinterest users. By using a combination of the strategies mentioned above, you can create multiple streams of income, allowing you to reach your financial goals in no time.
Start small, experiment with different approaches, and continually refine your tactics as you learn what works best for your audience. With time, Pinterest can become a powerful tool for not only earning an income but also building a sustainable and scalable business.