How to Earn Money on Pinterest Without a Blog: A Guide to Affiliate Marketing with Amazon Links
Pinterest is more than just a platform for inspiration; it’s a powerful tool for generating income, especially through affiliate marketing. You don’t need a blog to earn money on Pinterest—you can earn by sharing affiliate links directly on the platform. This guide will walk you through the steps to start earning money on Pinterest.
While this guide will show you how to make money on Pinterest without a blog, I highly recommend starting a blog. It opens up so many opportunities for you to earn even more money with Pinterest. I’ve got a free course here that walks you step by step on how to set up your blog.
1. Understanding Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest
First, let’s talk about affiliate marketing and why Pinterest is a great platform for it. Affiliate marketing involves promoting products and earning a commission when someone purchases through your unique affiliate link. Pinterest is an excellent platform for affiliate marketing because of its visual nature and its large, engaged audience that’s often ready to shop.
Why Pinterest?
- High Conversion Rates: Pinterest users are often in a shopping mindset, making them more likely to purchase through your links.
- Evergreen Content: Pins can continue to drive traffic and sales long after they’re posted, offering ongoing income potential.
- Wide Audience: With over 400 million monthly active users, Pinterest provides a vast audience for your affiliate promotions.
2. Getting Started with Amazon Affiliate Program
Before you can start earning on Pinterst, you’ll need to join the Amazon Affiliate program. The Amazon Affiliate program, also known as Amazon Associates, is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly affiliate programs to help you earn money on Pinterest and here’s how you can get started:
Related: The manual pinning strategy for Pinterest that boosted my traffic.
Step 1: Sign Up for Amazon Associates
- Visit the Amazon Associates website.
- Sign up with your existing Amazon account or create a new one.
- Fill in your account details, including your preferred website (if you don’t have a blog, you can use your social media profiles or Pinterest account link).
- Choose your niche and the type of products you plan to promote.
Step 2: Get Your Affiliate Links
Once you’re approved, you can start generating affiliate links. Simply search for products you want to promote on Amazon, and use the SiteStripe toolbar to get your unique affiliate link.
Step 3: Create High-Quality Pins
- Design Eye-Catching Pins: Use tools like Canva to create visually appealing pins. Make sure to include an image of the product, and use colors and fonts that align with your branding.
- Add Compelling Descriptions: Write a brief description that includes keywords to improve your pin’s discoverability. Include a call-to-action (CTA) encouraging users to click on your link.
3. Strategies for Promoting Amazon Links on Pinterest
After you get approved, you’ll want to start pinning immediately but to maximize your earnings, it’s essential to promote your affiliate links effectively so here are some strategies:
Focus on Popular Niches
Certain niches perform better on Pinterest. So that means consider focusing on popular categories like home décor, fashion, beauty, fitness, and DIY projects. Align your pins with trending topics to attract more clicks.
Leverage Rich Pins
Rich Pins provide more context about your pins because they show extra information directly on the pin. There are different types of Rich Pins, including product pins that pull pricing and availability directly from the affiliate link. To enable Rich Pins, you’ll need to validate your Pinterest account with your website or a social profile, like your Amazon Associate account.
Join Group Boards
Group boards on Pinterest allow you to collaborate with other users by sharing pins on a collective board. This can significantly increase the visibility of your affiliate links. Look for group boards in your niche and request to join.
Related: Hashtags on Pinterest: Good or Bad in 2024?
Use Keywords Wisely
Pinterest is a search engine, so optimizing your pins for search is crucial. Use relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and hashtags to improve your chances of being discovered.
Pin Consistently
Consistency is key to success on Pinterest. Aim to pin regularly—both your content and repins of others’ content. Tools like Tailwind can help you schedule pins to ensure you maintain a steady presence on the platform.
4. Complying with Amazon and Pinterest Policies
This next part is important so please don’t skip it! When using affiliate links, it’s crucial to comply with both Amazon’s and Pinterest’s policies which are listed below:
Amazon’s Guidelines:
- No Cloaking: Don’t use link shorteners or redirect services that hide the Amazon affiliate link.
- Disclose Affiliate Links: Clearly state that your links are affiliate links, as required by Amazon’s operating agreement and the FTC.
Pinterest’s Guidelines:
- Disclose Paid Partnerships: Pinterest requires that you disclose any paid relationships, including affiliate links. Use hashtags like #ad or #affiliate in your pin descriptions.
- Avoid Spammy Behavior: Pinterest’s algorithms can detect spammy behavior, such as excessive pinning of the same link. Keep your pinning practices natural.
Related: How I got my first affiliate sale in 2 days using Pinterest!
5. Tracking and Optimizing Your Performance
To ensure you’re getting the most out of your affiliate marketing efforts on Pinterest, it’s important to track your performance and make data-driven decisions:
Use Pinterest Analytics
Pinterest provides insights into how your pins are performing. Monitor metrics like impressions, clicks, and saves to identify which pins are driving the most traffic.
Monitor Amazon Reports
Amazon Associates provides detailed reports on your earnings, clicks, and conversion rates. Regularly review these reports to understand which products and strategies are most profitable.
A/B Test Your Pins
Experiment with different pin designs, descriptions, and keywords to see what resonates best with your audience. A/B testing can help you refine your approach for better results.
6. Scaling Your Pinterest Affiliate Marketing
Finally, as you start seeing results, consider scaling your efforts:
Create Multiple Pins for the Same Product
Different pins can appeal to different segments of your audience. Create several pins for the same product, each with a unique design or angle.
Diversify Your Affiliate Programs
While Amazon is a great starting point, consider joining other affiliate programs that offer products related to your niche. This diversification can increase your income potential.
Having a blog can significantly amplify your earnings on Pinterest by providing a dedicated space to share more in-depth content, which can drive higher engagement and conversions. With a blog, you can create detailed product reviews, tutorials, and listicles that incorporate affiliate links, giving your Pinterest audience a reason to visit your site and explore more of your recommendations. Additionally, a blog enhances your credibility, allowing you to build a loyal following that trusts your advice, leading to increased clicks and sales from your Pinterest traffic. I’ve got a completely free step-by-step guide here if you want to check it out!
