After months of trial and error, I discovered that Pinterest is not just a visual search engine—it’s a goldmine for affiliate marketers like me.
I started my Pinterest affiliate marketing journey two years ago with zero followers. Today, I generate over $2,000 monthly in passive income. The secret? Pinterest users are in shopping mode! A whopping 75% of weekly users are always shopping, and half of them view the platform as an actual shopping site.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to tap into Pinterest’s 340 million users (which is growing 10.6% year-over-year) to build your own affiliate marketing income stream—even if you’re a complete beginner.
What is Pinterest Affiliate Marketing?
Pinterest affiliate marketing is the process of promoting affiliate products through Pinterest pins and boards, earning a commission when someone makes a purchase through your unique affiliate links.
Unlike other social platforms, Pinterest functions more like a visual search engine where users actively look for ideas, products, and solutions—making it perfect for affiliate marketing.
Here’s why Pinterest stands out for affiliate marketers:
- Users have high purchase intent (75% of weekly users are shopping)
- Content has a longer lifespan than on other platforms
- It drives significant traffic to external websites
- The platform welcomes affiliate links (with proper disclosure)
How to Start Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest (Step-by-Step)
1. Set Up a Business Pinterest Account
First things first—you need a Pinterest business account. If you already have a personal account, you can easily convert it.
Why a business account? It gives you access to:
- Pinterest Analytics
- Rich Pins
- Audience insights
- The ability to run ads (when you’re ready)
To set up your account:
- Go to Pinterest and click “Create Business Account”
- Fill in your details and business information
- Connect your website (if you have one)
- Set up your profile with a professional photo and keyword-rich bio
2. Choose a Profitable Niche for Pinterest Affiliate Marketing
The key to success is selecting a niche that aligns with Pinterest’s demographics and shopping behavior. Based on 2025 data, Pinterest has:
- A significant female user base
- 20% of users aged 18-24
- 18.5% of users aged 25-34
- 26.1 million Gen Z users (4.7% of the platform’s total)
Some of the most profitable Pinterest affiliate marketing niches include:
- Home decor and organization
- Fashion and accessories
- Beauty products
- Fitness and wellness
- Mom and baby products
- Wedding planning
- Financial planning
- Travel accessories
I recommend selecting a niche you’re personally interested in, as creating authentic content will be much easier.
3. Join the Best Pinterest Affiliate Programs
Now for the exciting part—finding affiliate programs to join! Here are some of the best Pinterest affiliate programs in 2025:
- Amazon Associates: Perfect for beginners with millions of products
- ShareASale: Features over 4,800 merchants across various niches
- Etsy Affiliate Program: Great for handmade and unique products
- Wayfair: Excellent for home decor and furniture
- Target Affiliate Program: Wide range of products with good commission rates
- Shopify Affiliate Program: High commissions ($58 per paid account)
When selecting affiliate programs, I look for:
- Commission rates (higher is better)
- Cookie duration (longer gives you more time to earn)
- Product quality and relevance to my audience
- Payment terms and thresholds
4. Create Pinterest Boards Strategically
Your boards are the foundation of your Pinterest affiliate marketing strategy. I organize mine like this:
- Create 8-10 main boards related to your niche
- Name boards with searchable terms people actually use
- Write keyword-rich descriptions for each board
- Set cover images that look cohesive and professional
- Pin consistently to each board (both your pins and others’)
For example, if you’re in the home decor niche, your boards might include:
- Small Space Organization Ideas
- Budget-Friendly Home Makeovers
- Cozy Bedroom Inspiration
- Kitchen Storage Solutions
- Bathroom Design Trends 2025
5. Design Pins That Convert
The visual nature of Pinterest means your pin design can make or break your affiliate marketing success. After testing hundreds of pins, I’ve found these elements work best:
- Vertical format (2:3 ratio, 1000×1500 pixels is ideal)
- Clear, readable text on the image
- High-quality photos that showcase the product
- Consistent branding elements (colors, fonts, style)
- A clear call-to-action (“Shop Now,” “Learn How,” etc.)
Tools I use for creating pins:
- Canva (free and premium templates)
- Adobe Express
- PicMonkey
- Over
6. Write Compelling Pin Descriptions
Your pin description is crucial for SEO and conversions. I structure mine like this:
- Start with a hook or question
- Describe the benefit of the product
- Include a clear call-to-action
- Add 3-5 relevant hashtags
- Disclose that it’s an affiliate link (this is required!)
Example: “Struggling with small kitchen storage? This under-cabinet organizer doubled my space in minutes! Perfect for apartments and small homes. Click to see how it transformed my kitchen. #kitchenorganization #smallspaceliving #storagesolutions [affiliate link]”
7. Set Up a Pinterest Marketing Strategy
Consistency is key to Pinterest success. My weekly strategy includes:
- Creating 5-7 new pins for affiliate products
- Pinning 20-30 times total (including others’ content)
- Analyzing which pins perform best
- Repinning top performers to different boards
- Joining and contributing to group boards
The best times to pin according to my analytics:
- Early morning (5-7 AM)
- Lunch hours (12-2 PM)
- Late evening (8-11 PM)
Utilize Pinterest Rich Pins
Rich Pins automatically sync information from your website to your pins. For affiliate marketing, Article Rich Pins work best as they display your blog post title and description, making your pins more informative and clickable.
Join Pinterest Group Boards
Group boards can exponentially increase your reach. I found my first boards through:
- PinGroupie
- Facebook groups for Pinterest marketers
- Reaching out to board owners directly
Tip: Only join relevant boards with engaged followers and clear posting rules.
Create Multiple Pins for the Same Affiliate Product
I create 3-5 different pins for each affiliate product, testing:
- Different images
- Various headlines
- Color schemes
- Call-to-action phrases
This helps me identify what resonates best with my audience.
Track Your Pinterest Affiliate Marketing Performance
I track these metrics weekly:
- Click-through rates
- Conversion rates by product
- Top-performing pins
- Revenue by affiliate program
Tools I use:
- Pinterest Analytics
- Google Analytics
- Bit.ly for link tracking
- Spreadsheets for revenue tracking
Common Pinterest Affiliate Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
In my journey, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Learn from them:
- Dropping affiliate links without context: Always provide value first
- Ignoring Pinterest’s affiliate disclosure requirements: Always disclose
- Inconsistent pinning: Set a schedule and stick to it
- Promoting too many products: Focus on quality over quantity
- Using poor quality images: Invest in good visuals
- Not tracking performance: Data helps you