How to Make Money from Pinterest (Beginner’s Guide for USA Users)

Pinterest isn’t just a place for inspiration—it’s also a goldmine for people in the USA looking to earn money online. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, a student, or someone looking for side income, Pinterest can help you make serious money.

In this article, you’ll learn:

How Pinterest works

Step-by-step ways to make money

Tools you need to succeed

How much you can earn per month

Realistic tips for long-term success

Let’s dive right in!

What is Pinterest and How Does It Work?

Pinterest is a visual search engine where users (called “Pinners”) discover and save ideas. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest is used to plan purchases.

People go to Pinterest to look for:

Recipes

Fashion tips

DIY home decor

Travel ideas

Online business inspiration

This makes it a perfect place for marketers and creators. If you share content people are already searching for, you can earn money.

Step 1: Set Up a Business Pinterest Account

If you want to make money, you need a Business account, not a personal one. Here’s how:

1. Go to Pinterest Business

2. Click “Sign Up”

3. Enter your email and business name

4. Choose your business category

5. Verify your website (if you have one)

Why it matters: A business account gives you access to analytics, ads, and other tools needed to grow.

Step 2: Pick a Profitable Niche

To succeed, you need to focus on a specific category. Some of the most profitable Pinterest niches include:

Home Decor

Beauty and Makeup

Fashion and Outfit Ideas

Health and Fitness

Food and Recipes

Personal Finance

Parenting Tips

Online Business & Side Hustles

Tip: Don’t pick a niche just because it’s popular. Pick one you love and know about.

Step 3: Create a Blog or Website (Optional but Powerful)

Having a blog connected to your Pinterest account helps you earn money through:

Ads

Affiliate links

Selling your own products or services

You can use free tools like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace to start a blog.

Why it matters: Pinterest drives traffic to blogs more than most other platforms. More traffic = more income.

Step 4: Learn Pinterest SEO

Pinterest is not social media—it’s a search engine. So you need to use keywords in:

Pin titles

Pin descriptions

Board names

Board descriptions

Alt-text (image description)

Use Pinterest’s search bar to find trending keywords.

Example: Type “budget meal ideas” and see what suggestions come up. Use those exact phrases.

Step 5: Create Eye-Catching Pins

You need high-quality vertical images (1000 x 1500 pixels is best) with:

Bold fonts

Bright colors

Easy-to-read text

Clear branding

Use tools like Canva (free) to design beautiful pins.

Pro Tip: Make 2–5 different pins for the same blog post or product to test what performs better.

Step 6: Join Affiliate Programs

You don’t need a product or service to earn money—you can promote someone else’s. That’s called affiliate marketing.

Here’s how it works:

1. You join an affiliate program (Amazon, ShareASale, Impact, etc.)

2. Get your unique affiliate link

3. Share the link on your blog or in your Pinterest pin

4. Earn money every time someone clicks and buys

Best Affiliate Programs for Pinterest Users:

Amazon Associates

Etsy Affiliate Program

ShareASale

RewardStyle

Impact.com

Important: Pinterest now allows affiliate links directly in pins!

Step 7: Grow Your Audience

Consistency is key. Here's how to grow fast:

Post 5–15 pins per day

Create fresh pins (not just re-pinning others)

Join group boards

Engage with followers

Use Pinterest Trends to find hot topics

Use Tailwind (a Pinterest-approved scheduler) to automate pinning and analyze performance.

Step 8: Apply for Ad Networks (When You Have Traffic)

Once your blog gets around 25,000–50,000 monthly page views, you can apply to high-paying ad networks like:

Mediavine

AdThrive

These networks pay $15–$40 per 1,000 views depending on your niche and audience. That’s real money!

Step 9: Sell Your Own Products or Services

Once you build trust, people will want to buy from you. Here are some examples:

E-books (e.g., “100 Healthy Meal Plans”)

Printables (budget trackers, planners)

Courses (like “Pinterest Growth Masterclass”)

Coaching or Consulting

You can sell these using Gumroad, Etsy, or your own website.

Step 10: Use Pinterest to Drive Email Signups

Email marketing helps you build a long-term relationship with your audience. Use Pinterest to drive users to your email opt-in page, offering:

Free checklists

Printables

E-books

Mini-courses

More email subscribers = more sales.

How Much Money Can You Earn from Pinterest Per Month?

Here’s a breakdown of realistic monthly income:

Method Monthly Potential

Affiliate Marketing $100 – $2,000

Ads on Blog $200 – $5,000

Selling Products/Printables $300 – $10,000+

Sponsored Pins $100 – $3,000

Pinterest Management Service $500 – $5,000

Total Potential = Up to $15,000+ per month, depending on traffic, niche, and effort.

Tools You’ll Need

Here are some useful tools to help you succeed:

Canva (for pin design)

Tailwind (for scheduling pins)

Google Analytics (track traffic)

Pinterest Analytics (track pin performance)

Grammarly (write better pin descriptions)

Ubersuggest or Pinterest Trends (find keywords)

Real Example: How Jane Earned $4,500/Month Using Pinterest

Jane, a stay-at-home mom in Texas, started a recipe blog.

She created pins daily and focused on “30-minute dinner recipes.”

After 6 months, her blog reached 80,000 monthly views.

She monetized with Mediavine ads and affiliate links from Amazon.

Result: $4,500 per month in 8 months — with no prior experience.

Final Tips for Pinterest Success

Be patient. Pinterest growth is slow at first but picks up over time.

Focus on quality. One great pin is better than 10 average ones.

Stay consistent. Pin daily, even if it's just 5 pins.

Track your analytics. Learn what works and double down.

Keep learning. Pinterest updates its algorithm often—stay updated.

Conclusion

Pinterest is one of the best platforms for making money in 2025, especially for creators in the USA. Whether you’re starting from zero or already have a blog or product, Pinterest can multiply your results.

Start today. Create value. Stay consistent. And you could be earning hundreds—or even thousands—per month.

Your Pinterest income journey begins now

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