How to Make Money on Pinterest

If you’ve been dreaming of sharing your passion and clever ideas this is your chance to shine brightly in 2022. The best part? You don’t even need a website. You just need to join Pinterest as a creator.

Pinterest wants you to build a community around your passion. What’s in it for you? If done well, you can earn money through the Creator’s Rewards. This is how to Make Money on Pinterest.

What are the Creator Rewards?

Pinterest will pay creators for inspiring, actionable content. Pinterest will publish new editorial prompts on a regular basis in the creator hub. Every prompt will outline specific engagement goals, like getting a certain number of clicks, reactions or takes on your Idea Pin. When you meet the engagement goals, you’ll see rewards in your bank account the following month.

Creator Rewards is currently in testing with a small group of creators in the US. Stay up to date on the creator hub for more information. You’ll find the creator hub on your profile page, in the Pinterest app.

 

How Do I Apply for Creator Rewards?

Creator Rewards is currently in testing and is not widely available yet. Eligible creators will be given early access on a rolling basis, so make sure to keep an eye on your creator hub for updates. Once the program is open for applications, eligible creators will see an application button within the creator hub in the Pinterest app. The application will only be available in the app, so make sure you download it if you haven’t already.

When you click on the ‘Creator Hub’ you will see the ‘Earn’ tab as shown below in the image. If you don’t see this tab that means you don’t have access to the creator rewards yet.

What You Need to Know About the Pinterest Creator Code

The first step is to sign the creator code here. Here are a mandatory set of guidelines for all users to follow:

1.Be kind: Ensure content doesn’t insult or put others down
2.Check facts: Make sure information is accurate and factual
3.Be aware of triggers: Practice discretion when it comes to visually sensitive content
4.Practice inclusion: Never intentionally exclude certain groups or communities
5.Do no harm: Make sure any call to action or challenge is safe

Examples of content that goes against the Pinterest Creator Code include:

• Fashion don’ts, what not to wear, etc.
• Stereotypes of other cultures or communities
• Posters that insult public figures
• Unsupported health claims, theories, and/or conspiracies
• Dangerous projects or challenges
• Requests for sensitive information
• Explicit art
• Graphic images
• Before-and-after photos with intent to shame

How to Make Money on Pinterest

1. Make your Idea Pins Shoppable

Tagging products in your Idea Pins makes it easier for people to shop your picks. You can search and tag any product you want to recommend to your audience. You can also tag Idea Pins using affiliate links, so you earn commission when people click through and shop. Pinterest isn’t part of affiliate agreements, so your commission will depend on the terms you’ve set up with external merchants or programs.

NOTE: you can only tag products from your desktop.

FAQ on Producting Tagging

a. How do I access the product tagging feature? 

On iOS, creators can access the product tagging feature through the Stickers module in the Idea Pin create flow. On Android, tap the tag icon above ‘Products’ in the editing tool of Idea Pins. You’ll then have the option to search by the product name or add a product link

At this time, product tagging is only available on mobile and for business accounts in the US and UK regions.

In order for your Amazon associate links to work properly and NOT get that red lettered “sorry” error, you have to create your Amazon links through the Amazon app’s Get link feature ONLY.

1. Make sure you are logged into your Amazon associates account in the Amazon app.

2. Go to the product you would like to tag.

3. Click on the arrow ‘share’ button that is in the top right corner of that product’s image.

4. Click the yellow ‘Copy Associates Link” button when it pops up.

b. What products am I allowed to tag in my Idea Pin? 

Creators can tag any products that exist on Pinterest or create a new product Pin via URL search. For existing product pins, the searchable content will be limited to the product pins for that locale.

c. How many tags can I add? 

You can add up to 5 product tags per page, and up to 20 product tags per Idea Pin.

d. Can I use product tagging to drive traffic to another website? 

No. This tagging functionality is meant for shoppable product pins/product pages only.

e. Can product tags be edited after the Idea Pin has been published?

No, not at this time. Be sure to check the tags before hitting publish!

f. Where can I find analytics on my product tags?

In-app reporting will not be available for now, but Pinterest is working on launching this soon.

g. How do merchants and retailers know that their product has been tagged? 

Merchants will receive email notifications letting them know when their products are tagged. If a merchant prefers not to have their product tagged, they have the option to remove the tagged product from the Idea Pin.

h. Can I use an affiliate link to tag a product?

Yes, from affiliate networks and programs like Amazon Associates, ShopStyle Collective, LTK (formerly rewardStyle + LIKEtoKNOW.it ) and Rakuten Advertising. However, please keep in mind that Pinterest is working on including as many affiliate programs. 

i. Do I need to disclose if I’m using an affiliate link? What is the best way to do that?  Can you advise on my requirements to disclose?

Within the Product Tagging flow, there’s a toggle you can use to indicate you are tagging sponsored products.

j. How do I tag products?

Let’s say you have an image that features bedroom decor like the bed, sheets, lampshade, pillows and so on. You can tag these products to make it easier for people to buy these items. If you forgot to tag an old pin no problem, you can go back and tag them.

Product tags are not available on ads. If you promote a Pin that has tagged products in it, it will be converted to a collections ad and the previously tagged products will show up below the product Pin.

How to Tag Your Products While You Upload a New Pin:

• Log into your Pinterest business account
• Click Create in the top-left of your screen, then click Create Pin
• Click the directional arrow up circle icon to create a Pin then select an image from your computer, or drag and drop an image into the uploader
• Add a title, description, alt text and your claimed website as the destination link
• Click anywhere on the image to add a product tag
• Type your product title, product URL or product ID in the search bar below Tag this product to find the relevant product
• Select the product you want to tag the image with
• Repeat steps 5-7 to tag additional products
• Once complete, select Publish immediately or Publish at a later date depending when you want the Pin published.

How to Tag Your Products in Your Old Pins

• Log into your Pinterest business account
• Click one of your Pins to open it
• Click Tag products on the Pin
• Type your product title, product URL or product ID in the search bar below Tag this product to find the relevant product
• Search for up to eight of your products from the search bar and when you’ve found them, click to select
• Click Save products

How to Add Related Products While You Build a Pin

• Log into your Pinterest business account
• Click Create in the top-left of your screen, then click Create Pin
• Click the directional arrow up circle icon to create a Pin then select an image from your computer, or drag and drop an image into the uploader
• Add a title, description, alt text and your claimed website as the destination link
• Click anywhere on the image to add a product tag
• Click Add related products at the bottom of your screen
• Type your product title, product URL or product ID in the search bar below Add related products to find the relevant product
• Select the product you want to add at the bottom of the Pin
• Repeat steps 5-7 to add additional related products
• Once complete, select Publish immediately or Publish at a later date depending when you want the Pin published

How to Add Related Products to Your Existing Pin

• Log into your Pinterest business account
• Click one of your Pins to open it
• Click Tag products on the Pin
• Click Add related products
• Type your product title, product URL or product ID in the search bar below Add related products to find the relevant product
• Search for up to 25 of your products from the search bar and when you’ve found them, click to select
• Click Save products

 

2. Partner with Brands

Since July 2021 Pinterest has had over 90K existing brand partners and they’ve helped over 16 brand and creator partnerships. That means your favorite brand is waiting for you!

You can tag brands you partner with using Pinterest’s paid partnership tool—just make an Idea Pin and tag your brand partner directly in the Pin. Once they approve your tag, you’ll see the brand show up alongside your Idea Pin with a “paid partnership” tag as shown in the image below.

When you use the paid partnership tool, you’ll work directly with the brands you’re partnering with to define payment details.

How to Make Money on Pinterest / FAQ

1.Will Pinterest pay me directly?

Pinterest will pay you directly if you’re part of the Creator Rewards program and your content meets the goal requirements and eligibility criteria. Pinterest does not facilitate payment for other monetization programs like product tagging, affiliate links or brand partnerships. For those programs, you’ll organize payment terms and logistics directly with your brand or affiliate partners.

2. How do I get access to the paid partnership tool?

The paid partnership tool is currently available to creators who participate in Pinterest’s managed creator program. If you’re eligible, you will receive communication from the Pinterest team letting you know how to start using the tool. To use the tool, you’ll need to make an Idea Pin and use the “advanced settings” menu to tag a brand in your Pin.

Here’s the process according to Pinterest:

• deal closes
• creator criteria shared
• creator management sourcing
• brand ranks selects
• creator outreach and offers
• content creation, review and approval
• launch

 

Pinterest Tools to Guide You

1. Get Pinterest’s creator newsletter

Be the first to hear about product launches, emerging trends, and inspiring content ideas.
https://business.pinterest.com/creator-newsletter/

2. Follow the Pinterest creator’s account

3. Pinterest trends

Pinterest Trends shows what people are searching for right now. Use these insights to create timely and relevant content.

4. Audience insights

Audience insights show what your current and potential followers are engaging with. This helps you plan your content.

5. Get discovered with Idea Pins

Idea Pins are the best way to bring your ideas to life—with video, music, stickers, tagging and more. Anytime you make an Idea Pin, you can encourage people to create their own take and build a community around your shared passions.

Idea Pins are discoverable across +Pinterest, so your creative ideas get maximum visibility. Get inspired by these Idea Pins from other creators, and make sure to follow Pinterest’s creative best practices.

6. Pinterest Comment Moderation Tools

Pinterest is introducing new tools and features designed to provide a positive experience for both users and content creators, including:

• Positivity Reminders for users to adhere to Pinterest’s guidelines and reconsider potentially offensive comments before posting.
• Moderation Tools for Creators including comment removal and keyword filtering.
• Featured comments which allow users to pin up to three comments within the comment feed to highlight positive feedback.
• New Spam Prevention Signals using machine learning to detect and remove bad comments.

 

7. Join the US Pinterest Creator Community

This is a closed space for members of the Creator Community program to exchange best practices, gather ideas and inspiration for content creation and share feedback directly with the Pinterest team. To stay in the Creator Community program, you must be creating at least one Idea Pin per month. Join here.

If You Want to Make More Money on Pinterest You Need to Create Idea Pins

1. Create and edit your content right in the app

2. Customize Idea Pins with video, music controls and interactive stickers

Make it visually immersive. Keep your audience engaged and immersed in the content with royalty-free music, video, stickers, @mentions and product tagging.

3. Use Pinterest’s creative tools partners for added flair

4. Tag products to make your Idea Pins shoppable

5. Share the right details

Idea Pins help people go from inspiration to action, whether you’re sharing a recipe, outfit, travel guide or helpful tip. Pinners love that they can find all the elements of an idea right on the Pin, without ever having to leave the app.

Don’t hide helpful details behind links, as people might not click—and then they won’t be able to act on your idea. Instead, include details like ingredients and instructions right on your Idea Pin. People will swipe through different pages to dive deeper.

6. How to make money on Pinterest/ Think video first

Video’s great for telling a story, showing how to do something or talking to your viewers. Start with a video on the first page—it will stand out. Also, make sure that any videos in your Idea Pin have text overlay, since people might view your Pin with their audio off. Your Idea Pins can house up to 60 seconds of video per page, so make sure your content shines with sight, sound, and motion!

7. Show your authentic personality

With any great idea, the more people who engage and build on it, the better.

Give people a chance to get to know the creator behind the idea by narrating your Pin or even showing your face. Use your Idea Pin to drive interactions with your audience, like encouraging follows and saves or engaging with comments and responses. The more your audience engages with your content, the more it’ll be seen by others looking for ideas like yours. For optimal organic distribution, make sure your content is authentic and not overly promotional.

8. Make your own content

Pinterest tools make it easier for you to publish directly from within the Pinterest app. You can use special tools for video recording, editing, stickers, special effects, and filters. Make sure to create original Pins directly within Pinterest— don’t just upload content from somewhere else. Content that’s clearly watermarked or repurposed doesn’t perform well with people who are on Pinterest looking for new, original ideas. And of course, only use content that you have permission to use.

9. Triple check

Idea Pins are meant to feel more authentic and straight-from-your-phone. That said, here are a few things to keep in mind before you publish a new Pin:

• Check your borders. Are the edges of the screen covered? If not, pinch the screen to resize.
• Is the lighting the best it can be? Natural light does wonders.
• Do the videos and images in your Idea Pin fit together style-wise? If not, filters help.
• Make sure to cover design basics: high-resolution images, no typos, no blurry videos, etc.

How to Make Money on Pinterest/ Summary

Key takeaways: 

• pin consistently
• create content that’s authentic to you with a point of view that’s your own
• use tools available to make it as immersive and engaging as possible

There is no doubt that businesses on Pinterest need to embrace Idea Pins. Unfortunately, they’re not clickable meaning you won’t get that traffic. Bummer. If you’ve been leveraging Pinterest for your business for a few years, you must create a new Pinterest strategy in 2022 because Pinterest is changing their programs and models. If you fail to change you risk falling behind your competition. Contact me for a free 20-minute discovery call to make sure you are in sync with Pinterest’s new changes and not wasting your time.
I hope you have a great beginning in 2022!