Last Updated on July 23, 2026
Want to know how to make money with Pinterest without spending a cent on ads or chasing followers?
I’ve been doing Pinterest marketing for over 10 years, and it’s totally possible.
In this video, I share the 2 best organic ways to monetize Pinterest: affiliate marketing and selling your own products/services.
Plus, I reveal the common mistakes keeping most people from results and give you a simple 3-step starter plan.
Resources Mentioned In The Video
✔️ Master Pinterest Marketing In 1 Day + Automation Workflow
✔️ Affiliate Programs Free To Join:
Benable | Stay22 (if you sign up through this link, you’ll receive $100 after 100 bookings | Travelpayouts | Amazon
✔️ 💌 My free Soul-Led Business Insider:
Content
Why Pinterest Is Different (And Why It Works For Making Money)
The most important thing to know is that Pinterest is a visual search engine, not social media.
No trolls, no need to have followers, or the pressure to engage.
Pinterest users are ready to buy solutions they discover visually.
With organic strategies, you can turn those searches into a steady income. You don’t need to spend money on ads, just smart pinning and an automation workflow that works year-round.
The Big Mistakes Most People Make (From Real Audits)
Here’s what I see most people get wrong about Pinterest marketing:
Many jump on Pinterest, slap a couple of pins on random boards, treat it like social media, and wonder why it never works or why they don’t get results.
This is exactly what I see when clients book my Pinterest account audit: no optimization, no strategy, no clear niche, pins that are invisible in search.
Pinterest works very differently than Instagram or TikTok.
You’re not posting for today, you’re building assets that work for months and years.
Strategy #1: Affiliate Marketing (Done Right)
Don’t slap direct affiliate links under products like others recommend. Not every link is allowed on Pinterest, and it misses the real power.
Instead, send traffic to your own page with real value: in-depth reviews, comparisons, curated lists, extra tips.
There are great affiliate platforms besides Amazon where you can earn commissions. I’ll share my favorites:
Why your own website matters: Don’t build on rented land. Direct affiliate links mean that if products disappear or commissions change, you lose out.
Pinterest is a long-term game. Pins have an average lifespan of 13 months, some of mine that are six years old still drive traffic. Your own site lets you swap links anytime.
Users save for inspiration, click months later, trust your expertise, buy, and you earn passive commissions.
Strategy #2: Sell Your Own Products & Services (My Favorite)
The next way, which I think is the best, is selling your own products and services.
Shift to what you know best: courses, templates, audits, consulting, digital products, physical products.
Create pins showing quick wins, client results, topic tips that lead to your offers.
My recommendation: Master Pinterest Marketing in 1 Day
What it includes:
– Exact spreadsheets and templates I use
– Step-by-step batching + scheduling for my three accounts
– How to find keywords people actually search for free (no paid tool needed)
– Account, board, and pin optimization setup
– AI prompt for pin titles and descriptions: Add your keywords and generate strategic Pinterest titles and descriptions tailored to your niche and goal, whether that’s traffic, product sales, or affiliate clicks, using buyer psychology to improve engagement.
Because if you don’t optimize your account, boards, and pins, no one will find them.
Your 3-Step Action Plan to Get Started
- Step 1: Switch to/set up a Pinterest business account + pick one clear niche.
- Step 2: Update profile + 5-10 boards with keywords your ideal client searches.
- Step 3: Create + upload 5 keyword-rich pins pointing to one offer/content piece.
This puts you ahead of 90% of Pinterest users instantly.
The Honest Timeline + Final Tip
I want to be honest: It takes time to see results (3-6 months typically), but they last much longer than other platforms.
Final tip: Start today with a free business account, find 10 niche keywords, batch 5 optimized pins. Use my Pinterest workflow to make it effortless.
Want to learn more about Pinterest marketing? Here are all my free resources and guides in one place:
Pinterest marketing tips for beginners, and if you want to revamp your account
All the best,
Christina Leutner ✨
Pinterest marketing and content creation expert, author of Soul-Led
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