Pinterest Affiliate Marketing 2026: Your Complete Guide to Earning More

Pinterest users are actively searching for ideas, products, and solutions. That means they’re already in a buying mindset, making it the perfect place to engage in Pinterest affiliate marketing. 

Affiliate marketing lets you monetize content by sharing products that fit naturally with what people are already looking for. Whether it’s the perfect travel backpack, a must-have kitchen gadget, or a game-changing business tool, you can create visually appealing pins to generate passive income without feeling salesy.

But there’s a right way and a wrong way to make money from Pinterest. Spammy, low-effort pins will damage your reputation and put your account at risk of suspension. To actually make money (and keep Pinterest happy), you need a smart, value-driven approach. This article breaks down exactly how to do that, step by step.

What is Pinterest affiliate marketing?

The basic premise of Pinterest is that users can browse content formatted as “pins,” which contain images, videos, and links to a website. They’re then able to save pins to collections to create virtual mood boards or wish lists. 

Pinterest affiliate marketing leverages this type of content environment by promoting products on Pinterest using affiliate links. When someone buys something through your affiliate link, you earn a commission on that purchase.

Pinterest affiliate marketing works differently than promoting on Instagram or TikTok. Users actively search for specific solutions—they’re not passively scrolling. They’re looking for the perfect travel backpack, kitchen organization system, or productivity tool. 

When you share affiliate products that match these searches, you’re connecting people with answers they’re seeking. If there’s a visually appealing niche you’re interested in—travel, home décor, wellness, food, fashion—Pinterest likely has an engaged audience for it.

Why use Pinterest for affiliate marketing?

Pinterest has a massive user base of 570 million monthly active users, representing a 12% year-over-year increase. The platform’s consistent growth creates ongoing opportunities for your affiliate content to reach buyers.

As an affiliate marketer, you can use Pinterest to drive traffic to your affiliate content, whether that’s blog posts, affiliate landing pages, or YouTube videos.

Here’s why Pinterest is an attractive platform for affiliate marketing:

• High buyer intent. People on Pinterest are often in the discovery phase of their buying journey, actively searching for products and ideas. According to Pinterest, 80% of weekly pinners are inspired by the platform’s shopping experience.
• Visual platform. Pinterest’s visual nature allows you to showcase products in a visually engaging way, capturing attention and driving clicks.
• Long shelf life. Unlike other platforms where content disappears quickly, pins can remain visible and drive traffic for months or even years.
• Platform investment in commerce. Pinterest generated its first billion-dollar revenue quarter in Q4 2024, driven by AI-powered shopping features and tools that benefit affiliate marketers. This means the platform is actively improving discovery and conversion tools you can leverage.
• Targeted audience. Pinterest offers robust targeting options, letting you reach specific demographics and interests.

The more people who see your affiliate links, the higher the chance you have of generating affiliate sales and earning commission.

Understanding Pinterest demographics

Understanding who uses Pinterest helps you tailor your affiliate content and product selection.

• Age. Pinterest attracts a broad age range, with Gen Z now representing more than 50% of Pinterest’s user base, making it the largest demographic cohort and fastest-growing group. It’s valuable for affiliates targeting both younger audiences and established shoppers.
• Gender. Pinterest continues attracting users across gender demographics, expanding your potential audience reach.
• Income. Many Pinterest users have high household incomes, making them more likely to purchase high-ticket products and premium services. This demographic skew means affiliate programs with higher price points often perform well on the platform.

💡Looking for new affiliate programs to join? Here are more than 50 high-profit affiliate programs.

11 Pinterest affiliate marketing tips

• Create several pins per post
• Experiment with pin formats
• Enable rich pins
• Schedule pins in advance
• Pin to group boards
• Optimize pins for SEO
• Optimize your Pinterest profile
• Build an email list
• Analyze pin performance
• Promote high-performing pins
• Tag your products

These 11 tactics cover everything from pin creation to performance optimization. Some you can implement immediately; others build value over time. Focus on the fundamentals first—creating quality pins, understanding SEO, and tracking what works—then layer in advanced strategies.

1. Create several pins per post

For each affiliate marketing post you create, generate several pins containing that affiliate link. The more affiliate pins you have, the more opportunities you have for audience engagement, which can include saves, clicks, video views, comments, and follows. The threshold of good engagement typically starts at 1%.

You can search for pins on Pinterest by keyword or phrase. Take a look at the search results for your industry or niche. Chances are, there’s a range of visual content on display, from black and white photos to colorful graphics.

Kelsey Bang, co-owner of Walls Need Love, says you need to answer the following questions: What are the trends? What are people pinning and wanting to put in their home? 

“At the end of the day, Pinterest is a discovery platform,” Kelsey explains in a Shopify Masters interview. “It’s an inspirational platform, so you go there because you are looking for some sort of solution or inspiration for whatever project or outfit or whatever it is.”

“You can use the multiple-pin strategy as an opportunity to go after a wider variety of keywords,” adds finance affiliate marketer R.J. Weiss. “If you have a post on making money, you could create a pin optimized for many related keywords that match the search intent of making money—for example, side hustle, earning extra cash. This can all be driven back to a single page on your site.”

There’s no rule on how many affiliate pins you can create for a single piece of content or link. The key to a successful pin is a high-quality graphic that will stand out from the crowd. 

Read: 30+ Side Hustles for Stay-At-Home Parents to Make Money

Try experimenting with different pin templates, including:

• Vertical and horizontal images
• Black and white photos, as well as ones with color
• Stock imagery and graphics
• Text-heavy and visually focused content

Creating new pins can be time consuming. Bryan Maniotakis, owner of Minimal Goods, which curates minimally designed home and office products, is one affiliate marketer using automation to speed up the process.

“I’m currently using an automation tool to automatically generate a Pinterest banner whenever it detects a new article on my site,” Bryan says. “Overall, it saves me a ton of time every single month because I no longer have to generate these Pinterest assets manually.”

2. Experiment with pin formats

Try creating various types of pins, such as infographics, videos, and carousel pins. This diversity can help you reach a broader audience and keep your content fresh.

Here’s when to use each pin format:

• Static image pins. Product showcases, before/after comparisons, and curated collections where one strong visual tells the story
• Video pins. Tutorials, product demonstrations, unboxing experiences, and any content where movement adds value
• Idea pins. Multistep processes, styling guides, seasonal roundups, holiday gift guides, and narrative content that benefits from multiple pages
• Carousel pins. Product comparisons, feature breakdowns, and collections where users benefit from swiping through options

3. Enable rich pins

Rich pins automatically pull data from your website, making it easier for users to make informed decisions.

As the name suggests, rich pins are more descriptive than standard images you’ll see on Pinterest. They show extra information in the pin description, including product pricing and availability, often attracting more attention on a crowded feed as a result.

Enable rich pins for:

• Products. Show up-to-date pricing and availability in your rich pin.
• Recipes. Show cooking time, rating, ingredients, and serving sizes in your rich pin.
• Articles. Show the headline, description, and author in your rich pin.

The process for creating and enabling rich pins only needs to be completed once. After you’re set up, all future eligible pins will become rich pins.

4. Schedule pins in advance

One time-saving Pinterest affiliate marketing tip is to schedule pins in advance. Automation apps like Tailwind, Later, and Hootsuite allow you to set a custom schedule, add new content to your queue, then automatically add pins to your board.

5. Pin to group boards

Not all Pinterest boards have to be an individual’s mood board. Group boards exist to help multiple users share content on one board. A natural byproduct of this community-style board is greater audience reach, because users promote pins to each other’s audiences.

You can find relevant niche boards your affiliate products fall into using tools like Pingroupie. Then, read group board descriptions for guidance on how to become a contributor. At the very least, many ask you to follow the creator of the board.

You’ll also find terms for posting new content to a new group board. Some group board admins don’t allow users to promote affiliate links directly to product pages, but you can work around this by using blog content or a YouTube video as your landing page link.

6. Optimize for SEO

Pinterest is effectively a visual search engine, which means you should optimize your profile to reach existing and potential buyers when they are actively searching.

To accomplish this, use search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, like using keywords with purchase intent and rich pins, which automatically pull metadata so your pins stay up to date. This can help increase traffic and user engagement, build brand awareness, and strengthen audience loyalty because your pins provide current and helpful information.

The Pinterest algorithm also connects pins with keywords. So, start by finding keywords that your target audience searches for. There are several keyword tools to help you carry out keyword research—some are even free. Try free versions of Ahrefs, Moz Keyword Explorer, or Keywords Everywhere.

Growth marketing consultant Matt Lally, founder of MattyAds, shares how he discovers lucrative Pinterest keywords.

“Sign in to Pinterest Ads and find keywords that have between 10,000 and 100,000 monthly volume,” says Matt. “You want to use the main keywords often in your Pinboard, as well as in your pin creatives.”

Matt suggests taking your keyword and searching it on Pinterest. “Find what style of content ranks well and produce four to six separate variations,” he says.

Once you have your keywords, focus on several areas to help successfully implement your Pinterest SEO, including:

• Pinterest profile. Include relevant keywords that tie into the overall theme of your content within your Pinterest account bio. If you’re promoting health supplements, for example, include terms like “women’s health” in your account description.
• Pin description. Get more granular with the keywords on each individual pin. If you’re sharing a pin for a tutorial on how to tie shoelaces, for example, use the “how to” keyword in your pin description.
• Board description. Boards are more specific than a profile but not as targeted as a pin. Use middle-ground keywords in your board title and description, such as “shoe tutorials” or “women’s health tips.”
  

Focus on keywords with between 10,000 and 100,000 monthly search volume on Pinterest. These hit the sweet spot: enough traffic to matter, but not so competitive that new accounts can’t gain traction. 

💡Tip: Use Pinterest Trends to identify seasonal opportunities months in advance, then create content aligned with upcoming search peaks.

7. Optimize your Pinterest profile

A well-optimized Pinterest profile can positively impact the visibility and reach of your pins. Try these profile enhancements:

• Choose a searchable username: Make sure your Pinterest username is easy to remember and relevant to your niche. Include related keywords if possible.
• Write a keyword-rich bio: Craft a concise bio that accurately describes your brand or niche and includes relevant keywords.
• Create relevant boards: Organize your pins into specific boards that align with your niche and target audience. Use clear and descriptive board names.
• Enable Pinterest shopping: If you also sell products online, enable Pinterest Shopping to allow users to purchase directly from your pins.

🛍️ Connect your Shopify store to quickly publish product pins and streamline customers’ shopping experiences.

8. Build an email list

Monica Lent, founder of Affilimate, finds Pinterest can be tough for affiliate marketers, because people use the platform aspirationally.

“Most pinners aren’t looking to solve an immediate problem and make a purchase to do so,” says Monica. “They’re planning for the future—long past the expiration date of your affiliate cookie.”

Monica says the best affiliate marketing strategy for Pinterest is to capture readers’ email addresses. “That way, you can promote affiliate products through drip email campaigns that take the time to educate readers and warm them up to your offer,” she says.

The simplest way to build an email list is to include an email opt-in form on your landing page. Invite Pinterest visitors to join your mailing list by giving an incentive—such as a content-centered lead magnet, discount code, or another perk or freebie. Then, build an email campaign that continues to nurture that relationship.

9. Analyze pin performance

The key to successful Pinterest affiliate marketing is understanding what makes your pins perform well.

Use Pinterest’s built-in data tool, Pinterest Analytics , to review your monthly performance. Assess your best pins, user interactions, and topics of interest to your primary audience to gain insights about how to improve.

Follow these affiliate metrics to monitor your content:

Engagement metrics

Keep an eye on metrics such as impressions, clicks, and saves. These engagement metrics help you understand what content resonates—or doesn’t—with your target audience.

Click-through rate

Monitor the click-through rates (CTR) of your pins. This metric indicates how many users saw your content and then took your desired action (visiting your affiliate partner). 

You may find some of your pins are better at attracting attention, while others do a better job of persuading users to click. What percentage of people see your pin and click it? Do specific pins get more clicks? Do pins with an endorsement from a well-known blogger or influencer drive more traffic than those without?

Conversions

Use the dashboard provided by your affiliate partner or platform to track conversions from your Pinterest traffic. Understanding which pins drive sales can help you optimize your future content. To do this, you’ll need to ensure your affiliate links have unique tracking codes.

Pay close attention to your conversion rate on items you heavily promoted with minimal product sales, or items you’ve not promoted with high conversion rates.

The best analytics in the world mean little if you’re not prepared to act on your findings. Based on your analysis, adjust your content strategy to focus on what works best. Experiment with different types of content, keywords, and posting times to improve your results.

Pinterest Analytics shows four key metrics that matter for affiliates:

• Impressions. How many times Pinterest showed your pin.
• Saves. How many users bookmarked your pin to their own boards (strong intent signal).
• Clicks. How many users clicked through to your destination URL.
• Outbound clicks. Specifically tracks clicks that leave Pinterest (most relevant for affiliate tracking).

Focus on outbound click rate and saves. These indicate both immediate intent (outbound clicks) and future potential (saves for later purchase).

"Every single day, we are tracking visitors and conversion rate, how different pages are performing, and how different sources of traffic are performing so whenever we make a change, we’re able to look back at every day prior to that and see what our benchmark was and how that change affected it,” says Mary Rose Sutton, brand manager at Knixteen, in a Shopify Masters interview.

10. Promote high-performing pins

Improve your marketing efforts by buying ads on Pinterest. 

According to Pinterest , the best performing ads on the platform often:

• Feature high-resolution, vertical images
• Center your brand
• Have reliable links
• Contain clear copy

Promoting high-performing pins together with organic pins can drive more traffic and grow your audience. Use sponsored pins to promote an affiliate link directly or drive users back to your affiliate marketing content.

11. Tag your products

Pinterest has built-in shopping features that let you tag products directly in your pins, making it easier for people to buy without extra clicks. And when you’re doing affiliate marketing, every extra click between someone and a sale lowers the chances of earning a commission.

So, instead of sending users off to a random blog post and hoping they find your affiliate link, you put the product right in front of them. 

But don’t just tag for the sake of it. Make sure your content still adds value. Show how the product fits into real life, create a mini tutorial, a styling guide, or a “best of” roundup. The more useful your pin, the more likely people are to click and buy.

Most importantly, always disclose your affiliate links. Pinterest wants transparency, and so do your followers. A quick “This post contains affiliate links” keeps you in the clear and builds trust with your audience while maintaining FTC compliance.

Here’s how to tag products in your pins: 

• Use a business account. You’ll need a Pinterest business account to access product tagging features; if needed, switch to your personal Pinterest account in settings.
• Create an Idea pin. To make an Idea pin, simply upload your images or videos as usual. 
• Tap the sticker icon. Tap the sticker button on the editing screen, then choose “Product Tag.”
• Search for the right product. If the brand has a Pinterest catalog, search for the product directly or select “Use a Link” and paste your affiliate link.
• Adjust the placement. Move the tag around on your pin so it’s easy to spot without covering important visuals.
• Add context. Explain why you love the product and how it helps your audience in the pin description.
• Publish and disclose. Always include a short disclosure like, “This post contains affiliate links” to stay compliant.

That’s it! Now, when people tap your Idea pin, they can shop directly from it.

Best practices for Pinterest affiliate marketing

To become an expert in affiliate marketing on Pinterest, follow these best practices and get pinning:

• Disclose affiliate links. Clearly disclose your affiliate relationships by using hashtags like #affiliate or #sponsored in your pin descriptions. 
• Focus on value: Prioritize providing value to your audience by sharing helpful, informative, and inspiring Pinterest content.
• Stay consistent: Pin consistently to keep your content fresh and engage your followers. Use scheduling tools to plan your pin posting in advance.
• Test and refine: Continuously experiment with different pin formats, descriptions, and targeting options to find what resonates best with your audience.

Choosing the right affiliate programs for Pinterest

Not all affiliate programs perform equally well on Pinterest. Visual products with strong margins and broad appeal generate the most consistent results.

Choose affiliate programs based on these Pinterest-specific factors:

• Visual appeal. Products that photograph well and inspire saves perform better than abstract services or digital products.
• Price point alignment. Pinterest’s high-income demographic responds well to premium products, but competition is lower in mid-range categories.
• Commission structure. Look for programs offering 15% to 30% commissions or high-value payouts ($50 or more per sale) to offset Pinterest’s longer purchase consideration window.
• Cookie duration. Longer cookie windows (30 to 90 days) accommodate Pinterest’s planning-oriented user behavior better than 24-hour cookies.

Popular affiliate networks for Pinterest

Major affiliate networks compatible with Pinterest include ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Impact, and Rakuten. Each network provides access to thousands of merchants across different categories, with commission rates varying by individual merchant agreements.

Finding the right programs

When evaluating Pinterest affiliate programs, review each network’s specific terms of service for social media usage requirements and link formatting guidelines.

Match your program selection to your content strength. If you create strong educational content, for example, higher-ticket items with longer sales cycles can work. If you focus on impulse purchases and gift guides, prioritize visual products with immediate appeal.

Setting realistic earnings expectations

Pinterest affiliate marketing can generate meaningful income, but understanding timelines and earnings potential prevents frustration.

How Pinterest affiliate earnings actually work

Your monthly affiliate income on Pinterest depends on four variables:

• Monthly pin impressions
• Click-through rate (CTR) from impression to your landing page
• Conversion rate from visitor to sale
• Average commission per sale

Here’s a calculation framework to help you manage expectations for potential earnings with Pinterest affiliate marketing.

These numbers are not guaranteed results—they’re simply here to illustrate how potential performance metrics could translate into earnings.

Scenario 1: New Pinterest account (zero to six months)

• Monthly impressions: 50,000
• CTR to landing page: 0.5% = 250 clicks
• Conversion rate: 1% = 2.5 sales
• Average commission: $15
• Potential monthly earnings: $37.50

Scenario 2: Established account (six to 18 months)

• Monthly impressions: 500,000
• CTR to landing page: 1% = 5,000 clicks
• Conversion rate: 2% = 100 sales
• Average commission: $20
• Potential monthly earnings: $2,000

Scenario 3: Mature account (18 or more months)

• Monthly impressions: 2,000,000
• CTR to landing page: 1.5% = 30,000 clicks
• Conversion rate: 2.5% = 750 sales
• Average commission: $25
• Potential monthly earnings: $18,750

Timeline expectations

Most Pinterest affiliate marketers experience this progression:

• Months 1–3: Minimal traffic while Pinterest’s algorithm evaluates your content quality and relevance. Focus on learning pin design and keyword optimization, not revenue.
• Months 4–8: Traffic accelerates as older pins gain traction. First consistent commissions can appear at this point. 
• Months 9–18: Compounding effect kicks in—both old and new pins drive traffic toward affiliate links.
• Months 18+: Mature accounts benefit from accumulated pins, established authority, and refined conversion optimization.

The 60- to 90-day window before first meaningful commissions reflects Pinterest’s unique behavior: users save pins for later, search queries remain active for months, and purchase decisions happen weeks after initial discovery.

What affects your specific results

Your Pinterest affiliate income progression speed depends on:

• Niche competition. Saturated categories (general home décor, fashion) take longer to gain traction than specific niches (minimalist desk setups, capsule wardrobe systems) because competition for those broader terms are fierce.
• Content quality. Professional-looking pins with clear value propositions outperform amateur graphics regardless of niche.
• Keyword strategy. Targeting keywords with 10,000 to 100,000 monthly search volume is a good sweet spot versus competing for high-volume generic terms.
• Landing page optimization. Affiliates who send traffic to helpful blog content—for example, product reviews or comparison articles featuring your opinion—provide more value to visitors than those using direct affiliate links to branded product pages.

Expect to invest five to 10 hours weekly during the first six months: 

• Three to four hours creating pins 
• Two to three hours on keyword research and performance analysis
• One to two hours optimizing landing pages or blog content

💡Remember: Pinterest affiliate marketing rewards patience and consistency more than quick tactics.