Can You Do Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest?

::

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most popular ways to earn passive income online, and social media platforms are playing a huge role in this growth. One platform that often gets overlooked but has immense potential is Pinterest. With over 450 million active users and a visually-driven interface, Pinterest is more than just a digital pinboard—it’s a powerful marketing tool. But the big question is: Can you do affiliate marketing on Pinterest?

The short answer: Yes, you absolutely can.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing involves promoting a product or service and earning a commission for each sale or action made through your unique referral link. You don’t need to create a product—you just help sell it through content, traffic, and strategy.

Why Pinterest Is Great for Affiliate Marketing

Pinterest is unique compared to other platforms like Instagram or TikTok. It acts more like a search engine than a traditional social network. Users come to Pinterest with intent—they’re looking for inspiration, solutions, and products. That makes them highly valuable leads.

Here’s why Pinterest is ideal for affiliate marketers:

• High user intent (people are planning purchases)

• Evergreen traffic (pins last a long time)

• Visual discovery (perfect for product promotion)

• Links allowed (you can directly link to affiliate URLs)

How to Do Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest

1. Choose a Niche

Pick a niche that’s popular on Pinterest and aligns with your interests—like fashion, home decor, fitness, travel, or personal finance.

2. Sign Up for Affiliate Programs

You can use affiliate networks like:

• Amazon Associates

• ShareASale

• Impact

• CJ Affiliate

• ClickBank

Or direct programs from brands you love.

3. Create High-Quality Pins

Use tools like Canva to design eye-catching pins that include:

• Clear text overlays

• Attention-grabbing images

• Branding (if you have a blog or page)

4. Add Affiliate Links

When creating a pin, add your affiliate link in the “Destination Link” field. If you’re shortening the link, make sure it’s still traceable and allowed.

Tip: Use a disclosure like “#affiliate” or “#ad” to stay FTC-compliant.

5. Optimize for Search

Include keywords in your:

• Pin title

• Description

• Alt text

• Board titles

Pinterest SEO is a game changer.

6. Track and Analyze

Use Pinterest Analytics or tools like Google Analytics to see what’s working and double down on those strategies.

Pinterest’s Policy on Affiliate Links

Pinterest does allow affiliate links, but with some guidelines:

• No spammy behaviour (don’t flood the platform with low-quality pins)

• Use disclosures (like #ad or #affiliate)

• Don’t mislead users with your content or links

Following Pinterest’s Community Guidelines is crucial to avoid getting banned.

Pro Tip: Combine Pinterest With a Blog or Landing Page

While direct affiliate linking is allowed, sending users to a blog post or product review page can:

• Boost trust

• Improve conversions

• Help you build an email list

This hybrid approach increases your long-term affiliate marketing success.

Pinterest is a goldmine for affiliate marketers when used strategically. It’s not just about pinning pretty pictures—it’s about understanding your audience, creating value, and optimising for visibility.

So yes, you can do affiliate marketing on Pinterest—and you should seriously consider it as part of your strategy.