How to Post Affiliate Links on Pinterest

You can turn your Pinterest profile into a source of income by using affiliate links, and it's easier than you think. While other platforms can be restrictive, Pinterest’s discover-focused nature makes it an ideal place for recommending products you genuinely love. This guide breaks down exactly how to post affiliate links on Pinterest, from understanding the official rules to creating Pins that connect with your audience and drive clicks.

Why Pinterest Works So Well for Affiliate Marketing

Unlike fast-moving social feeds on Instagram or X, Pinterest acts more like a visual search engine. Users come to the platform actively searching for ideas, inspiration, and solutions to their problems - whether it’s finding the perfect living room decor, a new gluten-free recipe, or an outfit for an upcoming event. This creates a powerful environment for affiliate marketing for a few key reasons:

• High Buyer Intent: Pinners aren't just scrolling to kill time, they are often in discovery or planning mode. When they see a Pin featuring the perfect area rug for their home office, they are much closer to making a purchase than someone who stumbles across an ad in a social feed.
• Long Lifespan of Pins: A post on Facebook or X has a lifespan of hours, maybe a day. A Pin can continue to get discovered and drive traffic for months, or even years, after it's been published. One well-crafted Pin can become a source of passive affiliate income long after you’ve forgotten about it.
• Content is Contextual: On Pinterest, your affiliate link isn't just a random ad. It’s part of a curated board, providing a solution within a larger context. An affiliate link for a specific stand mixer feels natural on a “Beginner Baking Recipes” board, making the recommendation helpful rather than pushy.

The Rules of the Game: What You Must Know Before Starting

Before you start adding links, it’s vital to understand the rules set by Pinterest, your affiliate programs, and legal bodies like the FTC. Ignoring these can get your account suspended or even lead to legal trouble. It's not worth the risk.

1. Pin Away, But Always Disclose

Pinterest is open about allowing affiliate links. Their official stance is positive, but they have one massive requirement: you must disclose your affiliate relationships. This transparency is non-negotiable. Hiding that a link is an affiliate link is against their guidelines and damages the trust you have with your audience.

The best way to disclose is to add a clear and conspicuous label in your Pin description. Simple is best. You can use hashtags or plain text like:

• #affiliate
• #ad
• #sponsored
• #commissionsearned
• (Affiliate Link)

Just make sure it's easy to see and understand. Don't try to bury it at the bottom of a long description or use confusing language.

2. Check Your Affiliate Program's Terms of Service

While Pinterest allows affiliate links, some affiliate programs have their own specific rules about where and how you can share their links. The most notable example is the Amazon Associates Program.

As of late 2022, Amazon's policy changed, making it much more difficult to use their affiliate links directly on Pinterest. While policies can shift, it's generally best practice not to link directly to Amazon products from a Pin. Instead, you would link to a blog post, landing page, or product roundup on your own website where the Amazon affiliate links are located. This sends the Pinterest traffic to *your* property first.

For other programs like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, or RewardStyle (LTK), direct linking is often permitted. But always, always log in to your affiliate dashboard and read their social media sharing policies before you start. A quick check can save you from a major headache down the road.

3. No Cloaking or Shortening Links

Pinterest wants transparency. They prohibit the use of link shorteners like bit.ly or any other service that masks the final destination of the URL. Your affiliate link should lead directly to the product page it describes. Using shorteners to try to hide your affiliate link is a fast track to getting flagged as spam.

Step-by-Step: How to Add Affiliate Links to Your Pins

Ready to get started? Here’s the straightforward process for creating a Pin with your affiliate link properly attached.

Step 1: Choose a Relevant Product

Success with affiliate marketing on any platform comes down to authenticity. Pick products you have used, genuinely love, and that make sense for your niche and your audience. If your Pinterest profile is all about DIY home improvement projects, linking to your favorite power drill is a natural fit. Linking to a random skincare product is not.

Think about the problems your audience faces and find products that solve them. That’s the core of helpful content.

Step 2: Grab Your Unique Affiliate Link

Log in to your affiliate marketing network (e.g., ShareASale, PartnerStack, Awin). Navigate to the merchant's page, find the product you want to promote, and generate your affiliate link. This link contains your unique tracking ID, which is how the company knows to credit you for the sale. Copy this full link - remember, no shorteners!

Step 3: Create an Attractive, High-Quality Pin

Your Pin’s design is what will stop a user from scrolling past. You don't need to be a professional graphic designer, but you do need to follow a few best practices for creating engaging Pins:

• Use a Vertical Format: Pinterest is a vertical, mobile-first platform. Your Pins should always be in a portrait orientation. A 2:3 aspect ratio (like 1000 x 1500 pixels) is the recommended standard.
• Use High-Quality Images or Video: Whether you're using a product photo from the merchant or your own custom photography, make sure it’s bright, clear, and high-resolution. Grainy or dark images will get ignored. Video Pins and Idea Pins are fantastic for showcasing products in action.
• Add a Text Overlay: Most Pinners scroll quickly. A text overlay with clear, bold font instantly tells them what your Pin is about. Instead of just showing a picture of a bookshelf, add text like "5 Smart Ways to Organize a Small Home Office" or "The Best Minimalist Bookshelf Under $100."
• Subtly Brand Your Pins: Add your logo or website URL at the bottom of your Pin. This helps build brand recognition and prevents others from stealing your content.

Step 4: Write an SEO-Friendly and Helpful Description

The Pin description is where you seal the deal. It gives users context and helps your Pin get discovered in Pinterest search. Your description should be:

• Keyword-Rich: Think about what words someone would use to search for your Pin. If you're promoting a reusable coffee cup, include terms like "eco-friendly coffee mug," "sustainable travel tumbler," or "gifts for coffee lovers."
• Helpful and Descriptive: Don't just say "Buy this now!" Explain why this product is a great find. What problem does it solve? What makes it unique? Paint a picture of how it will benefit the user.
• Clear on the Disclosure: This is where you add your #affiliatelink, #ad, or other disclosure text. Be upfront and honest.

Example Pin Description:

“Searching for the perfect storage solution for your craft supplies? This rolling utility cart is a total game-changer for staying organized! It fits in small spaces and holds everything from yarn to paint. Click through to see all the available colors. #homeorganization #craftroom #storagesolutions #ad”

Step 5: Add Your Link and Publish

This is the final and easiest step. When you create your Pin, you’ll see a field called “Destination Link” or "Website link." This is where you paste your full, un-shortened affiliate link.

Double-check your Pin design, double-check your description for your disclosure, and then publish it to a relevant board. That’s it! Your affiliate pin is now live and ready to be discovered.

Advanced Strategies to Boost Your Affiliate Success on Pinterest

Just adding links isn't enough. To make this a reliable income stream, you need a thoughtful strategy.

Build Niche-Specific Boards

Don't just Pin everything to one giant board. Create a variety of focused, niche boards. If you're a food blogger, you might have boards for "Easy Weeknight Dinners," "Healthy Holiday Baking," and "Gluten-Free Desserts." This helps your audience find exactly what they’re looking for and encourages them to follow specific boards, not just your profile.

Focus on Value First, Selling Second

Your Pinterest profile should be a resource, not a sales catalog. Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of your content should be genuinely helpful, inspiring, or educational, with no direct sales pitch. The other 20% can be your affiliate content. This builds trust and keeps your audience engaged. When you do recommend a product, it feels more like a genuine tip from a trusted source rather than another ad.

Keep Your Content Fresh

While old Pins have a long shelf life, Pinterest's algorithm also loves new content. "Fresh Pins" are simply new images or videos that link to a URL that has already been shared on Pinterest. You can promote the same affiliate product multiple times by creating a few different Pin designs for it. Test different headlines, imagery, and text overlays to see what resonates most with your audience. This keeps your content from feeling repetitive and gives you more chances to be seen.

Final Thoughts

Successfully using affiliate links on Pinterest is about striking a balance. It means following the rules, focusing on being a genuine resource for your audience, and creating beautiful, helpful content that solves a problem. Approach it as an opportunity to share things you love, and you’ll build a community that happily supports you in return.

As your strategy grows, keeping your content flow consistent across multiple boards and platforms can become a real challenge. That's why we built Postbase. We wanted to give creators and marketers a simple, visual calendar to plan and schedule Pins alongside their content for Instagram, TikTok, and more. Being able to see everything in one place saves hours and lets you get back to creating Pins people can’t wait to click on.