What many people don’t realize is that Pinterest is one of the most underrated income-generating platforms out there. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest users come to the platform with purpose—they’re actively searching for ideas, solutions, and products.
And that’s exactly where you can step in.
Whether you’re a blogger, digital product seller, affiliate marketer, or side hustler, this guide will break down real, proven strategies to help you make money from Pinterest—step by step.
🚀 Why Pinterest Deserves Your Attention
Let’s start with the numbers:
- 482+ million monthly active users (as of 2025)
- Over 80% use it to make purchasing decisions
- Pins are evergreen—they can go viral months after posting
Unlike other platforms that bury your content within hours, Pinterest is built more like Google—it’s a visual search engine. That means if you master keyword placement and pin design, your content can drive traffic and sales on autopilot.
Here’s a guide to real ways people are making money on Pinterest today, plus how you can do the same—even as a beginner.
🎯 1. Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest: The Easiest Way for Beginners to Start
If you don’t have your own product to sell (yet), affiliate marketing is hands-down the simplest way to start making money on Pinterest. It doesn’t require any upfront investment, you don’t need to deal with customer service, and you don’t have to handle shipping or stock. All you do is promote someone else’s product—and when someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
Here’s how it works:
1. You sign up for affiliate programs like:- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale
- ClickBank
- Impact
- Digistore24
- Or direct brand affiliate programs (many brands offer this!)
What makes this work on Pinterest:
- Pinterest is a visual search engine, so your pins should be eye-catching and vertical (1000x1500px is ideal). Use text overlays to clearly show what the product is or what problem it solves.
- Make sure to add a strong call-to-action (like “Shop now” or “See it in action”) directly on the pin.
- Always disclose your affiliate relationship by adding #ad or #affiliate in your description—it builds trust and keeps you within the rules.
Example:
Let’s say you’re promoting a productivity planner on Amazon. You can design a pin that says:
📌 “This Planner Changed the Way I Organize My Life – Under $15!”
Link it with your affiliate URL, and every time someone clicks and buys, you earn a small percentage. Multiply this with multiple pins and products, and it can turn into a steady stream of passive income.
Why this works so well:
People come to Pinterest with buying intent. They’re searching for solutions, not just scrolling for entertainment—so if your product pin meets their need, they’re far more likely to click and buy.
🛍️ 2. Drive Traffic to Your Blog or Online Store
If you already have a blog, an Etsy shop, or even a digital product you sell, Pinterest can become your top traffic source—without paying for ads.
The best part? Pinterest users are actively looking for ideas, solutions, or products. That means they’re much more likely to click on your pin, visit your site, and even make a purchase compared to other platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
How to make it work:
Let’s say you run a blog about personal finance. You can create pins for blog posts like:
- “10 Easy Budgeting Hacks That Actually Work”
- “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months (Without Cutting Coffee)”
- “Best Free Budget Planners You Can Download Today”
Each of these pins links directly to your blog post—and once they’re out there, they can keep driving traffic for months or even years if optimized well.
If you sell digital products (like Notion templates, meal planners, or resume kits), you can create pins that showcase:
- What problem your product solves
- What it looks like
- Who it’s for
For example, a pin that says:
📝 “Printable Meal Planner for Busy Moms – Organize Your Week in 5 Minutes”
can send targeted traffic to your Etsy or Gumroad page with buyer intent.
Tips to grow your traffic using Pinterest:
- Use search-friendly titles on your pins like “Budgeting for Beginners” or “Easy Side Hustles for Teens”—these are phrases people actually type in.
- Don’t forget to include keywords in your pin descriptions and board titles too.
- Create at least 2–3 pins for each blog post or product, testing different headlines and styles.
- Use a scheduler like Tailwind to pin consistently without burning out.
Why this strategy works long-term:
Unlike social media platforms where your post disappears after a day, Pinterest pins can keep gaining traction for months. It’s like SEO—but visual.
So the more quality pins you put out there, the more steady traffic you’ll get back to your blog or store—without constantly creating new content.
💾 3. Sell Digital Products (Even If You’re a Beginner)
You don’t need to be a designer or tech wizard to make money selling digital downloads. In fact, if you’ve ever created a checklist, planner, journal, or simple Excel sheet—you already have something valuable to sell.
Popular digital products on Pinterest include:
- Printable wall art
- Meal planners
- Notion or Canva templates
- Budget trackers
- Daily journals
- Instagram post templates
- Vision board kits
Here’s how to start:
1. Choose a problem your product solves.2. Upload it to Etsy, Gumroad, Payhip, or Shopify.
3. Create pins that highlight the benefit.
“Save 5+ Hours a Week with This Easy-to-Use Meal Planner”
or
“Printable Daily To-Do List for Overwhelmed Students”
4. Link the pin to your product page.
Pro tip: You can repurpose one product with different pin styles, colors, or target audiences. For example, your daily planner could have versions for students, moms, or entrepreneurs—with different pins for each!
👩💻 4. Offer Pinterest Management Services (Great for Freelancers)
If you’re good at Pinterest or even just willing to learn, you can make money helping others grow their presence on the platform. Many bloggers, small businesses, Etsy sellers, and coaches don’t understand Pinterest—or they just don’t have time to manage it. That’s where you come in.
What does a Pinterest manager or VA do?
- Set up and optimize Pinterest business profiles
- Design scroll-stopping pins
- Write keyword-rich titles and descriptions
- Schedule content consistently using Tailwind or Pinterest’s native scheduler
- Analyze data (what’s working, what’s not)
Even if you’re a beginner, you can start by offering basic pin design services. As you gain confidence, you can charge more and offer full account management.
How to get started:
1. Learn the basics.2. Create sample pins and a mock portfolio.
3. Start offering your services.
You can:
- List your gig on Fiverr or Upwork
- Join Facebook groups for bloggers or Etsy sellers
- DM creators who need help (many don’t even know Pinterest is an option)
Realistic earning potential:
Newbies might charge $100–200/month per client. More experienced Pinterest managers earn $500+ per month per client. Some turn it into full-time income by handling multiple accounts.
Why this works:
Pinterest is a long-term platform—so many clients want consistent help. If you can bring traffic or even just save them time, you’re instantly valuable.
👕 5. Make Money with Print-on-Demand (No Inventory Needed)
You don’t need a warehouse or packaging supplies to start a product-based business. With print-on-demand (POD), you upload designs to platforms like:
- Redbubble
- TeePublic
- Zazzle
- Printify (connected to Etsy or Shopify)
When someone orders a product (shirt, mug, tote bag, poster), the platform prints and ships it. You get paid.
Pinterest is perfect for promoting POD products. Why?
Because it’s visual. People love seeing aesthetic mugs, funny tees, or motivational posters—and they click when it matches their vibe.
Steps to get started:
1. Choose a niche with a clear vibe.- Cottagecore aesthetic
- Funny introvert quotes
- Mental health positivity
- Retro/Y2K designs
- Minimalist home decor
Use Canva, Procreate, or AI tools like Kittl to create your designs. Mock them up using tools like Placeit.
3. Create pins that show the product in action.
Use lifestyle mockups, close-ups, and bold text overlays.
Example: “Introvert Energy – Funny Mug for Your Desk”
or
“Minimalist Poster for Calm Living Room Vibes”
4. Link directly to the product listing.
One viral pin can drive hundreds of views and multiple sales—without spending on ads.
Extra tip: Combine this with trends you spot on Pinterest. If “mental health quotes” are trending, design around that theme!
🎯 6. Monetize as a Pinterest Creator (Brand Collabs & Paid Partnerships)
If you’re comfortable creating content (especially Idea Pins or Story-style Pins), you can get paid directly by brands to feature their products or services on Pinterest.
Now, Pinterest doesn’t have a built-in creator fund anymore—but brands are still paying Pinterest creators, especially in niches like:
- Home decor
- DIY & crafts
- Wellness & fitness
- Fashion & beauty
- Finance tips
- Productivity & digital planning
Here’s how to start making money as a Pinterest creator:
1. Pick a focused content niche.- “Frugal Living & Budget Planning”
- “Neutral Home Aesthetic DIYs”
- “Self-Care Routines for Burnt-Out Millennials”
2. Start publishing high-quality Idea Pins.
These are like Instagram Stories, but they stay live forever. Show step-by-step tutorials, list tips, or do voiceovers. Think:
- “3 Budget Tips That Saved Me $200 This Month”
- “How to Make a Boho Gallery Wall Under $50”
Pinterest’s algorithm LOVES consistency and searchability. Even if you don’t have a huge following, consistent quality pins in one niche can help you stand out.
2. Pitch to brands or sign up on influencer platforms.
Once your content starts getting traction, pitch brands whose products fit your vibe. Or join creator marketplaces like:
- Influence.co
- AspireIQ
- Pinterest’s own “Collab” tool (if available in your region)
Money potential?
Many micro-creators with 5k–10k monthly views are earning $100–$500+ per sponsored Idea Pin. Bigger creators can earn thousands per campaign.
Bonus Tip: Add your Pinterest creator stats to your media kit. Even if your blog or Instagram is small, showing that your pins get 10k+ views a month makes you way more appealing to sponsors.
🧠 Quick Recap – Which Pinterest Side Hustle Is Right for You?
| Strategy | Skill Level | Monetization Type |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate Marketing | Beginner | Passive commissions |
| Driving Blog Traffic | Beginner | Ad revenue, affiliate, digital products |
| Selling Digital Products | Beginner to Intermediate | Etsy, Gumroad sales |
| Pinterest Management VA | Intermediate | Service-based income |
| Print-on-Demand | Beginner | Product-based passive income |
| Pinterest Creator | Intermediate | Paid collabs & sponsorships |
📝 Final Thoughts
Pinterest isn’t just a place for recipes and wedding planning anymore. It’s a visual search engine—and that means opportunity for creators, side hustlers, and digital entrepreneurs.
You don’t need to be an influencer. You don’t need 10,000 followers.
You just need to solve a problem, share value, and show up consistently.
If you’re tired of social platforms that burn you out or offer no returns—Pinterest might just be your new favorite hustle spot. 💼💡
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