Affiliate marketing is a superb way to make money simply by sharing affiliate products you use and like. And Pinterest is a fairyland for affiliate marketers where dreams can actually come true. As a social media platform with 522 million monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide, global Pinterest users and 76% female audience, Pinterest’s enticing visual appearance makes is a heaven for affiliate marketers. So, what is Pinterest affiliate marketing, and why are digital marketing experts recommending it to new businesses?
If you're an affiliate marketer, in this detailed guide, I'll tell you all about making money on Pinterest by building an affiliate network.
What Makes Pinterest a Great Marketing Tool for Affiliate Marketing?
45% of pinner who use Pinterest for their business are earning at least $100,000. If this data isn’t enough to convince you to join Pinterest, here are the top three reasons why I find Pinterest useful for direct affiliate marketing:
1. A fantastic search engine
Unlike other social networking sites, Pinterest is a visual search engine where people look for inspirations on various niches. As it is immensely popular among people of different age groups, establishing your presence on Pinterest is mandatory. That’s where your target audience are, and it is high time you woo them with your affiliate marketing skills.
2. Takes less time
Writing reviews/ blog posts and recording tutorials work well but take a lot of time. On the contrary, becoming an affiliate marketer on Pinterest is not a complicated process. The platform gives you an opportunity to recommend products to people by adding your affiliate links. You only need eye-catching pins to grab people’s attention.
3. An extra stream of income
If you are already using Facebook and Twitter for sharing Amazon affiliate links, Pinterest will be a new, exciting playground for you. All you have to do is create Pinterest pins that are visually appealing and increase your number of followers. After that, it will be easy for you to promote products that your dedicated followers will be interested in purchasing.
Can You Make Money on Pinterest If You Join an Affiliate Program?
Now that you have learned why you should be on Pinterest, the next question is: How can you monetize your Pinterest account? To make good money, you should join the best Pinterest affiliate programs. Before that, you must figure out a niche that aligns with your areas of interest. Some of the most popular categories that people browse on Pinterest are art, home, beauty, health, hobbies, clothing, accessories, sporting goods, entertainment, and footwear.
Choosing high-paying Pinterest affiliate programs is as important as finalizing your niche. And then you have to make your pins rank higher by adding relevant keywords to your high-quality pins. Each time people use affiliate links shared by you, you will make money, Now, scroll down to take a look at the steps delineating the best strategies to share an affiliate link on Pinterest.
11 Steps to Commence Using Pinterest for Affiliate Marketing
For someone who hasn’t used Pinterest before, it’s natural to feel confused about where to begin. So, if you are wondering how to make money on Pinterest, here are some steps you can follow:
1. Upload affiliate pins
To make money in Pinterest through affiliate marketing, click on the + sign in the top right corner of the homepage. Some brands provide ready-made pins to many affiliate marketers, and then you won’t have to showcase your creativity. In other cases, you are free to create pins on your own.
Pro Tip:
Note that Pinterest does not approve of redirects. So, you might be penalized if you do not create affiliate links yourself.
2. Choose the right boards
How will your affiliate marketing campaign on Pinterest be successful if you don’t keep your boards organized? Your pins will not create a long-lasting impact if you don’t attach them to the right boards. So, you have to search for boards with similar descriptions and titles as the keywords you use.
Also, don’t delete old boards but archive them if they aren’t relevant anymore. Then they won’t clutter your profile, but your followers can still access them.
3. Create boards before you start pinning
As tempting as it is, refrain from uploading pins immediately. It is crucial to have keyword-rich and relevant descriptions for each board. The pins should have catchy titles so that your content can rank. Just like Google, Pinterest believes in delivering fresh content that benefits users. Hence, understand Pinterest algorithm and upload your Pinterest posts to relevant boards instead of a generic board.
4. Hunt for popular keywords
It may seem tricky at first, but over time you will become adept at using the right Pinterest keywords research. Keep in mind that Pinterest appreciates thoughtful and unique content. Therefore, if you are respectful of Pinterest policies, it will reward you by showing your content to more people.
And when it comes to hunting for keywords, third-party tools are also available to facilitate your search. Just remember that most people looking for ideas on Pinterest prefer to use simple words and therefore, you must integrate those terms in your title and description.
5. Automate your pins
If you have chosen affiliate marketing as an additional source of income, maintaining a business account manually can be exhausting. Moreover, you have to be patient to get the desired results. Most newbies tend to give up as results take time to show up.
What if I told you that you can skip this tiresome activity by scheduling your pins? Automating your pins is possible by using advanced tools and this way, your account will stay updated all the time without time-taking manual monitoring.
6. Take email marketing seriously
Venturing into the world of email marketing can be profitable for you. You can encourage your visitors to purchase affiliate products via newsletters, free resources, etc. Once you have gathered many emails, you can market directly to your existing list. Try this personalized style of marketing and you won’t regret it.
7. Promote your pins
Pinning dedicatedly is necessary but ensuring your pins reach your target audience is no less important. So, you must take advertising seriously to get remarkable results. You can also opt for paid promotion as it is affordable and delivers great results quickly. In short, prioritize both organic advertising and Pinterest ads.
As explained already, sharing content daily may not suffice. You must make your affiliate links accessible to as many people as possible on different social platforms. So, do not shy away from sharing your pins on Instagram, Facebook, and blogs.
As social media sites are crowded with creators, the competition is high at the moment. This explains why you should double your efforts if you want your pins to reap results quickly.
9. Refrain from link cloaking
The practice of hiding an affiliate link or shortening the affiliate ID is called link cloaking. When people cannot see the ID, they will have no clue about the amount you can generate as commission. Pinterest finds this shady and therefore, it does not allow shortened links. So, disclose affiliate links on your Pinterest boards. This point is clearly mentioned on advertising guidelines of Pinterest and so, you should not violate this rule.
10. Post high-quality pins
Pinterest is all about sharing and viewing images. So, using boring or cheap photos will not compel people to follow you. Instead, use original photos that are eye-catching to make people notice your pins. Always keep in mind that the quality of your content is of utmost importance, and it will influence the conversion rates.
11. Assess how your pins are performing
Pinterest will provide analytics to all your pins to let you know which ones are working and which ones failed to invite any traffic to your affiliate products. You must see which pins your Pinterest visitors liked the most. Acquaint yourself with Pinterest SEO and Pinterest analytics. Then upgrade your Pinterest affiliate marketing strategy from time to time.
Wrapping Up
So, with a little bit of creativity, a good eye, and some unique products to advertise, anyone can leverage Pinterest and drive affiliate sales. And I have already shared the most effective tips and tricks to help you generate passive income on Pinterest. So, what are you waiting for? Start sharing affiliate links from your Pinterest business account and there's nothing you'll enjoy more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How to start with Pinterest affiliate marketing?
To become an affiliate marketer and use Pinterest to drive sales, the first thing that you need is a business account on Pinterest. Then you can share affiliate links to promote affiliate products. If you succeed in attracting the right audience, you will earn commission from the brands you promote.
Q. What are the best products to promote on Pinterest?
To choose the best products that you should finalize for Pinterest marketing, spend some time on research. Real estate, home décor, cooking, and fashion are four trending niches on Pinterest that its women audience like to view and purchase.
