How to Do Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest

Pinterest is much more than a place to find recipes and home decor ideas, it's a powerful visual search engine that can drive serious traffic and generate income through affiliate marketing. This guide will show you exactly how to get started, from setting up your profile for success to creating Pins that convert visitors into buyers. We'll cover finding the right products, understanding Pinterest's rules, and building a strategy that feels authentic and effective.

What is Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest?

In simple terms, affiliate marketing on Pinterest involves sharing products or services you love using unique, trackable links (called affiliate links) on your Pins. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission at no extra cost to them. Think of yourself as a trusted curator. You find amazing things your audience would love, show them how cool they are through beautiful Pins, and provide an easy way for them to buy if they're interested.

The magic of Pinterest is that users actively search for inspiration and solutions. They're often in a buying mindset, looking for a new outfit, a piece of furniture, or the perfect gift. By strategically placing your affiliate links in front of this ready-to-act audience, you can build a sustainable income stream powered by your great taste.

Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Profile for Success

Your Pinterest profile is your digital storefront. It needs to look professional, clearly communicate your niche, and be optimized to attract the right followers.

Convert to an Expert Account

If you haven't already, switch your personal account to a free Pinterest Expert Account (formerly a "business" account). This unlocks a ton of essential features, including:

• Pinterest Analytics: See which Pins and boards are performing best, what your audience is interested in, and who is seeing your content.
• Claim Your Website: This links your blog or website to your Pinterest profile, which can help your Pins get more visibility.
• Access to Pin Formats: Use different formats like Video Pins and Idea Pins more effectively.

To convert your account, go to Account Settings and select "Convert to an expert account." Setting up can sometimes feel a bit confusing with recent changes to the Pinterest setup process. Pinterest also refers to professional or creator accounts as “expert accounts" to represent a wide array of users - brands like IKEA or The New York Times, solo content producers from TikTok and YouTube, and online retailers on shopping platforms such as Shopify or Etsy are all called “experts.”

Optimize Your Bio and Boards

Your profile is prime real estate. Make it count.

• Profile Picture: Use a clear, high-quality headshot or a clean brand logo. People connect with faces, so a friendly photo often works best for creators and bloggers.
• Name and Bio: Use keywords in your display name and bio that describe what you're about. Instead of just "Jane Smith," try "Jane Smith | Sustainable Living & Home Goods." Your bio should tell visitors exactly what kind of value you provide and who you serve.
• Relevant Boards: Create at least 10-15 boards focused tightly on your niche. Give them keyword-rich titles (e.g., "Minimalist Home Office Decor" instead of "Work Stuff") and write detailed descriptions brimming with related keywords to help Pinterest understand what your boards are about.

Step 2: Find and Join Reputable Affiliate Programs

Now for the fun part: finding products to promote. The best affiliate products are ones you genuinely use and believe in. Authenticity sells better than anything else. Your passion will come through in your Pin designs and descriptions, building trust with your audience.

Where to Find Affiliate Programs

Some companies host their own programs, while others use massive networks that bring thousands of brands together under one roof. Here are a few great places to start:

• ShareASale: Home to thousands of merchants in niches like fashion, home goods, gardening, and eco-friendly products. Brands like Wayfair, Minted, and Lulus use this network.
• CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction): One of the oldest and largest networks, featuring major brands like Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, and Zappos.
• Amazon Associates: This is the go-to for many beginners because Amazon sells almost everything. Commissions are lower, but its massive product catalog and high conversion rates can make up for it. Note: Pay close attention to Amazon's policies, as they are very specific about where and how you can share their links. As of now, direct linking to Amazon from Pinterest is challenging. However, linking Amazon product pages from your blog and Pinterest is an effective strategy we do recommend.
• Rakuten Advertising: Another large network with premium brands like Macy's, Lego, and Walmart.
• Independent Programs: Don't overlook smaller brands you love! Many brands, particularly in the creative and wellness spaces, run their own affiliate programs. Check the footer of their website for a link that says "Affiliates," "Partners," or "Ambassadors."

When applying to programs, be professional. Mention your niche, your Pinterest profile, and how you plan to promote their products. Brands are looking for partners who will represent them well.

Step 3: Create Pins That Grab Attention and Drive Clicks

On Pinterest, visual appeal is everything. Your Pins have to stand out in a sea of beautiful imagery. You don't need to be a graphic designer, but you do need to follow a few best practices.

The Anatomy of a High-Converting Pin

• Vertical Format: The ideal Pin size is a 2:3 aspect ratio, like 1000 x 1500 pixels. Vertical Pins take up more screen space and perform significantly better.
• High-Quality Imagery: Use crisp, clear, and lifestyle-oriented photos. Avoid overly stocky images. Your audience wants to see products in a real-world context.
• Text Overlay: Add bold, easy-to-read text on the Pin itself. This should be a compelling headline that provides a solution or sparks curiosity. For example, "5 Ways to Style a Small Entryway" or "The Coziest Throw Blanket You Need for Fall."
• Subtle Branding: Add your logo or website URL at the bottom of each Pin. This builds brand recognition and can discourage content theft.
• Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Both your Pin image and description should tell the user what to do next. Use phrases like "Shop the look," "Click to learn more," or "Get the tutorial."

How to Legally Disclose Your Affiliate Relationship

Transparency is mandatory. Both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. and Pinterest itself require you to disclose that you're using affiliate links. It’s about building trust with your audience and staying on the right side of the law.

Simply add a clear disclosure in your Pin description. Hashtags like #ad, #sponsored, or #affiliate are commonly used and widely understood. You could also write a sentence like, "This Pin includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase." The important thing is that it's obvious to the average person.

Step 4: A Smart Pinning Strategy for Affiliate Links

Pinterest is cracking down on spammy behavior, so how you share your affiliate links matters. Bombarding your followers with hundreds of low-quality, direct-linked Pins is a surefire way to get your account suspended.

Types of Affiliate Pins

You have a couple of primary options for sharing your affiliate products:

1. Direct Linking: This is where you put your affiliate link directly into the destination URL field on a Standard Pin. When a user clicks, they go straight to the product page. This can be effective for straightforward product promotions, but use it sparingly to avoid appearing spammy. Some affiliate programs don't allow it, so always check their terms.
2. The Indirect Method (Highly Recommended): This is the superior long-term strategy. Instead of linking directly to a product, you link to your *own* content where the affiliate links live. This could be a blog post ("10 Must-Have Gadgets for Your Home Office"), a gift guide ("The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies"), or a product review.

Why is the indirect method better?

• It provides more value. You're not just selling a product, you're offering your expertise, curating a list, or solving a problem. This builds immense trust.
• It's great for SEO. Blog posts can rank on Google, bringing you an additional source of traffic.
• You control the experience. On your own site, you can include multiple affiliate links, share more details, and capture email subscribers.
• It's future-proof. If an affiliate program changes its rules or a product is discontinued, you can simply update the links on your one blog post instead of tracking down dozens of individual Pins.

Step 5: Master Keywords to Drive Organic Traffic

Remember that Pinterest is a search engine. To get your affiliate Pins seen, you must use keywords just like you would on Google. When a user types a search query - like "boho living room ideas" - Pinterest serves up the most relevant Pins. You want your Pins to be at the top of that list.

How to Find and Use Keywords

1. Use the Pinterest Search Bar: Type in a broad topic related to your niche (e.g., "skincare"). Pinterest will suggest related search terms below the bar, like "skincare routine," "skincare for acne," or "skincare organization." These are exactly what people are searching for!
2. Look at Competing Pins: See what keywords successful Pins in your niche are using in their titles and descriptions. Don't copy, but use it for inspiration.
3. Sprinkle Keywords Everywhere: Place your target keywords in your:
   • Pin titles
   • Pin descriptions (write natural-sounding sentences, don't just list keywords)
   • Board titles
   • Board descriptions

Consistent, keyword-optimized pinning signals to Pinterest that you're an authority in your topic, and it will start showing your content to more people over time.

Step 6: Track, Analyze, and Adjust Your Strategy

Affiliate marketing on Pinterest isn't a "set it and forget it" task. To maximize your earnings, you need to pay attention to your data.

Check Your Pinterest Analytics

Regularly visit your Pinterest Analytics dashboard. Look at things like:

• Impressions: How many times your Pins were seen.
• Outbound Clicks: How many times people clicked through to a URL from your Pin. This is your most important metric for affiliate marketing.
• Saves: How many times people saved your Pin to one of their boards. This indicates your content is resonating.

Identify your top-performing Pins and figure out why they're so popular. Is it the headline? The imagery? The topic? Create more Pins in that style for other relevant products.

Monitor Your Affiliate Dashboard

Log in to your affiliate network dashboards (like ShareASale or CJ) to see which specific products are generating clicks and sales. If a particular product is a runaway hit, create a whole series of Pins about it, showing it in different contexts or highlighting different features.

Final Thoughts

Doing affiliate marketing on Pinterest successfully boils down to a few core principles: providing genuine value, understanding your audience, creating beautiful and helpful content, and consistently applying a smart, keyword-driven strategy. It takes time to build momentum, but with a well-planned approach, you can turn your Pinterest account into a powerful source of passive income.

Maintaining that essential consistency can be a challenge when you're managing multiple social platforms at once. That's why we built Postbase. I wanted a modern, reliable scheduling tool that made planning content across all channels - including Pinterest - feel simple and organized instead of chaotic. With a visual calendar, you can map out your entire content strategy from one dashboard, ensuring your affiliate content is posted on schedule without any last-minute scrambling or having to manually publish everything.