Jan 14, 2023 3:04:25 PM | Start a Business How to Make Money on Pinterest: Everything You Need to Know

Learn how to make money on Pinterest with our 5 ideas, plus get tips to make the most of your Pinterest account.

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Okay, so you’re interested in learning how to make money on Pinterest. Good thing that we're here to help you! Keep on reading to discover 5 different ways to make money on Pinterest and to get some tips on how to create a successful Pinterest strategy.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is where you go when you want to get organized, get inspired, or just procrastinate for hours on end.

Okay, seriously now. Pinterest is a visually-driven social media platform that allows users to discover and save ideas for various topics such as fashion, home decor, food, and more. With over 250 million active users, it has become a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to reach a large audience and generate revenue.

Photo shows phone screen with the Pinterest icon. There are 2 notifications on the Pinterest app. Photo illustrates article on how to make money on Pinterest.

Why make money on Pinterest?

Before we get into how to make money on Pinterest, here are some of the reasons why you should be looking at Pinterest as a place to earn money online:

  1. It has a large audience, with over 250 million active users for businesses to reach. Businesses can use Pinterest to promote their products or services to a large number of people, which can help increase traffic and sales. Additionally, Pinterest's audience is highly engaged, which means that users are more likely to take action when they see a product or service that interests them.
  2. It’s a visually-driven platform and it’s perfect for businesses that sell visually appealing products such as fashion, home decor, and food. This means that businesses can use high-quality images and videos to showcase their products and services, which can lead to increased engagement and sales. Additionally, Pinterest's visual search feature allows users to discover products and services through images, which can help increase the visibility of a business.
  3. It’s got several shopping and advertising features like buyable and promoted pins, shopping ads, and catalogs, which allow businesses to promote their products and create a better shopping experience for users on Pinterest. Pinterest also lets businesses tag products in their pins, which makes it easier for users to find and purchase products. You can also target your ads to specific audiences based on demographics, interests and behaviors, which can increase the chances of the ads being seen by users who are likely to be interested in your products or services.
  4. It’s super flexible when it comes to monetization. You can monetize your account through sponsored content, affiliate links, e-commerce, services, or sponsored posts. This flexibility allows you to find the best way to monetize your account based on your niche, audience and interests.

How many followers do you need to make money on Pinterest?

Picture illustrates article about how to make money on Pinterest. Picture shows a person's hands on a table-like surface, holding a smartphone. The phone screen shows the Pinterest log in page in the app.

If you’re thinking about how to make money on Pinterest, you might be wondering: how many followers do I need to be successful? Is it even achievable?

The number of followers a person has on Pinterest can play a role in their ability to make money on the platform. Generally, the more followers you have, the more potential you have to make money through sponsored posts or affiliate marketing. It’s important to note, though, that the quality of your followers is also important. A smaller number of engaged and targeted followers may be more valuable than a larger number of inactive or unengaged followers.

A person with a large number of followers can work with brands to create sponsored content or use affiliate links to earn a commission on sales made through their posts. These opportunities are often more readily available to those with a large and engaged following. Having a large following can also make it easier for a person to grow their blog or business by increasing their visibility on the platform.

But Pinterest is also a very niche-specific platform, so even a person with a smaller following, but in a niche that is highly sought-after by brands, can still make a considerable amount of money on the platform.

5 ways to make money on Pinterest

Okay, so let’s cut to the chase. You’re here to find out how to make money on Pinterest, so we’ve listed 5 different ways you can monetize your Pinterest account.

Ready?

1. Create sponsored pins

One of the most popular ideas on how to make money on Pinterest is sponsored pins. If you already own a business and want to use the platform to promote it, you can pay to have your pins promoted to a larger number of Pinterest users, which can lead to increased traffic and sales.

To get started with sponsored pins, you will need to have a Pinterest business account. Once you have it all set up, you can apply for the Pinterest Ads and start creating sponsored pins.

When creating sponsored pins, it's important to ensure that they are visually appealing and that the content is relevant to your target audience. Additionally, you should use keywords in the pin's description and hashtags to increase the chances of it appearing in search results. But don't forget: Pinterest is a visual search engine, and sponsored pins can be targeted to specific demographics, interests and behaviors, which allows you to reach a highly-targeted audience.

Picture shows a person's hands over a wooden table. The person is holding a tablet with the Pinterest app home screen open. There are donuts, notebooks and juice bottles scattered around the table. This image helps illustrate the blog post on how to make money on Pinterest.

2. Invest in Pinterest affiliate marketing

Another way to make money on Pinterest is through affiliate marketing. This is when you include a unique affiliate link in your pins and earn a commission when someone (in this case, Pinterest users) makes a purchase through your link.

Pinterest affiliate marketing can be an excellent way for you to make money online or for your business to generate additional revenue without having to invest in advertising. Additionally, affiliate marketing allows businesses to tap into a larger audience and increase their visibility.

It is important to find an affiliate program that aligns with your niche or the topics you post about on Pinterest. There are many affiliate networks such as ShareASale that you can join and start promoting products.

When promoting affiliate products, be transparent with your audience and disclose that you are using direct affiliate links. Also, you should only promote products that you have personally used and can vouch for. This will help build trust with your audience and increase the chances of them making a purchase through your affiliate link.

3. Sell products to Pinterest users

This third suggestion on how to make money on Pinterest may sound obvious, but we can’t leave it off our list: Pinterest can also be used to boost traffic to your online store. If you already have a business selling products, you can use Pinterest to showcase your products and drive traffic to your website. Additionally, you can create a shopping experience by adding buyable pins, which allow users to purchase products directly from Pinterest.

When selling products on Pinterest, it's important to use high-quality photos of your products and provide detailed and compelling product descriptions. You should also use keywords in the pin's description and hashtags to increase the chances of it appearing in search results. If you have an ecommerce, you can also use Pinterest's Shopping Ads to promote your products and reach a larger audience.

Photo shows a person holding a smartphone over a table, aiming the camera at the objects on the table. There is a potted plant, a coffee mug and some stationery on the table. This picture alludes to the importance of product photography when learning how to make money on Pinterest.

4. Work with brand partnerships

Brand partnerships are another way to make money on Pinterest. Influencer marketing has become increasingly popular on Pinterest, as it allows businesses to reach a large audience through influencers in their niche. Additionally, influencer marketing can also help businesses establish credibility and trust, which can lead to increased customer loyalty.

The first step is to establish yourself as a Pinterest creator. You can create Pinterest boards of your own or join group boards, you can promote a blog post you wrote or simply focus on posting eye-catching pins… Pretty cool, huh?

As your following grows and you become an influencer in your niche, you can start working with brands to create sponsored content or collaborate on a product line. You can reach out to brands that align with your niche and offer your services or contact influencer marketing agencies that can help connect you with brands.

If you decide to become a Pinterest creator and work with brands, make sure the content is relevant to your audience and that the brand aligns with your values. You should also disclose any sponsored content and follow your country’s guidelines for sponsored content.

5. Offer Pinterest marketing services

Lastly, you can earn money by teaching other people how to make money on Pinterest. Well, by offering services such as social media management or content creation to businesses, more specifically.

As you gain experience and knowledge of Pinterest, you can help businesses increase their presence and engagement on the platform. This can lead to more opportunities to work with brands and generate revenue.

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Tips to make money on Pinterest

Now that you have 5 suggestions on how to make money on Pinterest, we’re giving you some tips to help you monetize Pinterest and make the most of your Pinterest profile.

1. Create a Pinterest business account

Creating a business account on Pinterest is a simple and straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Go to business.pinterest.com and click the "Sign Up" button.
  2. Enter your email address and choose a password.
  3. Fill out the basic information about your business, such as your business name, website, and location to create a Pinterest account for your business.
  4. Verify your website by adding a small piece of code to your website's HTML or using a plugin if you are using platforms like WordPress.
  5. Select the categories that best describe your business and the types of content you will be sharing on Pinterest.
  6. Set up your profile by adding a profile picture, bio, and information about your business.
  7. Create boards and start pinning content relevant to your business.

Once your business account is set up, you can start using Pinterest to promote your business, drive traffic to your website and connect with customers. Some additional steps you can take to make the most of your Pinterest business account include:

  • Creating boards that align with your business and niche
  • Creating visually appealing pins with high-quality images and engaging descriptions
  • Engaging with your followers by replying to comments and messages
  • Utilizing Pinterest's advertising features to reach a larger audience
  • Tracking your analytics to see how your account and content is performing

In order to be eligible for monetization opportunities on Pinterest, you must comply with the terms of service, which includes the requirement of having a business account, disclose any sponsored content, and follow the platform's guidelines for advertising.

2. Build a solid Pinterest marketing strategy

If you’re serious about learning how to make money on Pinterest, it's important to have a clear and effective marketing strategy in place. Here are some tips on how to create a successful Pinterest strategy:

Define your target audience

The first step in creating a marketing strategy for Pinterest is to define your target audience. Consider factors such as demographics, interests and behaviors when determining who your target audience is. This will help you create content and campaigns that are more likely to resonate with your audience.

Establish your brand

Your brand is the personality and image of your business. It's important to establish a consistent brand image across all platforms, including Pinterest. This includes using the same logo, color scheme, and messaging across all platforms. Additionally, create boards that align with your brand and niche, this way you can create a consistent visual experience for your audience.

Create visually appealing pins

Pinterest is a visually-driven platform, so it's important to create pins that are visually striking and high-quality. This includes using high-resolution images and creating pins that are engaging and easy to read. Additionally, include detailed descriptions of your products or services and use keywords that will help your pins show up in search results.

Use Pinterest's advertising features

Pinterest offers a variety of advertising features such as promoted pins, shopping ads, and video ads. These features can help you reach a larger audience and make money on Pinterest. When creating ads, make sure to target your ads to the right audience and use professional images that will catch their attention.

Optimize your boards and pins for search

Pinterest is a search engine, so it's important to optimize your boards and pins for search. This includes using relevant keywords in your board and pin titles, descriptions and tags. Use hashtags to make your content more discoverable through the Pinterest search bar, and do some keyword research to make sure you use the right keywords in your profile and boards.

Photo shows a person holding a smartphone by a window. The phone screen shows the Pinterest App page on the App Store. This picture is part of the article on how to make money on Instagram.

Engage with your audience

Engaging with your audience is a vital aspect of any social media platform. Respond to comments and messages and ask for feedback. Besides, consider hosting a contest or giveaway to increase engagement and generate buzz about your business.

Use rich pins

Rich pins are pins that include extra info like prices, availability and reviews. These pins can help increase sales and conversions. There are different types of rich pins available, such as product, recipe and article pins.

Collaborate with other Pinners

Collaborating with other Pinners can help increase your reach and exposure. Reach out to other Pinners in your niche and see if you can collaborate on a board or campaign.

Schedule your pins

You don’t have to post as soon as you create pins. To maximize your reach and engagement, it's important to schedule your pins at the right time. This means posting when your audience is most active and engaged. Use a scheduling tool to automate your pinning schedule so you can focus on creating content.

Track your analytics

Finally, it's important to track your performance to see how your Pinterest account and content are performing. Check out Pinterest Analytics to track your reach, engagement and revenue. Use this information to adjust your strategy on how to make money on Pinterest and make changes as needed.

Photo shows a person sitting at a table, in front of a tablet, a calculator and some sheets of paper. Both the tablet and the sheets show different colored graphs. This photo helps illustrate the importance of tracking performance when learning how to make money on Pinterest.

 

Creating a marketing strategy for Pinterest requires a combination of creativity and data-driven approach. By following these steps, you can build a strategy that will help you tap into your target audience, increase engagement and, of course, make money on Pinterest.

How to make money on Pinterest: conclusion

This is the basics of how to make money on Pinterest, but there are many different options beyond what we suggested here. Pinterest is a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to reach a large audience and earn money. By following the strategies outlined in this article, you can start making money on Pinterest and turn your passion into a profitable business.

And remember that creating high-quality content, engaging with your audience and following Pinterest's guidelines for monetization will increase your chances of success on the platform, regardless of the path you decide to take.

Time to take your Pinterest account off the ground!

Shoplazza Content Team

Written by: Shoplazza Content Team

The Shoplazza Content Team writes about all things ecommerce, whether it's building an online store, planning the perfect marketing strategy or turning to amazing businesses for inspiration.