Pinterest Affiliate Marketing: How It Works for Beginners

How does Pinterest affiliate marketing work? You share helpful content on Pinterest. Someone follows your affiliate link, and you can earn a commission if they make a qualifying purchase. An affiliate link is a special tracking link that connects that referral to you, and the commission comes through the affiliate program.

Pinterest doesn't pay you just because somebody views or saves your pin.

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THE EXAMPLE

A small desk setup. You're helping people make better use of a tiny workspace, and you've found a laptop stand worth recommending.

You create a pin showing how that stand fits into a small desk setup. Someone interested opens your pin, follows the link, and checks out the product. If their purchase qualifies under the program's rules, you earn a commission.

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PICK A TOPIC, THEN FIND A PROGRAM

Choose one clear topic, like small home offices, so your recommendations fit together. Then look for an affiliate program for products that suit it. You can often find an affiliates or partners link on a brand's website.

Before applying, check:

- Whether the program accepts your type of account
- Whether it allows Pinterest traffic
- Whether you can put affiliate links directly on pins
- What earns a commission
- How long after a click a purchase can count

Pinterest allows affiliate content, but the program has its own rules too.

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GENERATE THE REAL LINK

Once approved, generate your affiliate link through the program. Copying a normal product page address won't necessarily track a referral to you.

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TWO ROUTES FOR YOUR PIN

- Where permitted, link directly to the product using your affiliate link
- Or link to a useful article on your website, with affiliate links inside that article

For the desk example, that article could be a guide explaining which stand fits different laptop sizes.

A blog isn't always required, but some programs do require a website.

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SETTING UP YOUR FIRST PIN

Use a free Pinterest business account so you can see your pin analytics. You can start by publishing ordinary unpaid pins.

For the image, use a clear vertical one. 1000 by 1500 pixels is a practical starting size. Use a photo you own, or product images the affiliate program allows you to use.

Show the stand in context with a readable headline, like "laptop stand ideas for a small desk." Give people a useful reason to look closer, and only describe personal experience you've actually had.

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CREATING IT

In the create pin screen, upload your image and add a title and description. Use natural phrases describing the idea, like "small desk setup."

Put your approved destination in the link field, and choose a relevant board such as small home office ideas.

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DISCLOSING IT PROPERLY

Before publishing, make the affiliate relationship obvious.

A practical approach: a readable ad label on the image, plus a clear sentence near the start of the description, like "I earn a commission from qualifying purchases through this link."

Don't hide that disclosure in your profile, or after a long list of hashtags. If you're linking to an article, disclose the relationship there too, near the affiliate links. And follow any extra wording your program requires.

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AFTER YOU PUBLISH

Open the pin and check the link reaches the right destination.

As you create more content, make each pin useful. For this example, you might explain how to check a stand's size or fit it into a narrow workspace.

Avoid repeatedly posting the same affiliate pin, or flooding unrelated boards.

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THE NUMBERS TO WATCH

- Impressions tell you how often your pin appeared on screen
- Outbound clicks tell you when people followed a link away from Pinterest
- Your affiliate dashboard shows tracked sales and commissions, subject to the program's approval rules

Clicks don't guarantee sales, and income isn't guaranteed.

Start with one helpful pin, check the link, and use what you learn to improve the next one.

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FAQ

Does Pinterest pay me for views or saves?
No. Any commission comes from the affiliate program, when someone follows your link and makes a qualifying purchase.

Can I put affiliate links straight on a pin?
Sometimes. Pinterest allows affiliate content, but check whether your specific program permits direct linking and allows Pinterest traffic.

Do I need a blog?
Not always, though some programs require a website.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 — How It Actually Works
0:24 — The Small Desk Example
0:49 — Choosing a Topic & Finding a Program
1:05 — What to Check Before Applying
1:18 — Generating the Real Tracking Link
1:28 — Direct Link vs Your Own Article
1:46 — Your Pinterest Business Account
1:55 — Designing the Pin
2:22 — Title, Description & Board
2:34 — Disclosing It Properly
2:58 — Checking the Link After Publishing
3:15 — Impressions vs Outbound Clicks

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