How to Make Money on Pinterest in 2025 [From $62 to Over $5k a Month!]

Back in January 2016, I was a busy mom juggling a demanding full-time job and craving more time with my family. My dream of working from home—whether through blogging, content creation, or an online business—felt impossibly distant.

Yet, I believed everyone deserved the chance to pursue passion projects while achieving personal and financial freedom. Determined to make this a reality, I launched a blog, with the hope of eventually transitioning it into a full-time career.

It wasn’t simple—blogging proved far more challenging than I had anticipated. It demanded long nights, marketing savvy, and relentless persistence—even when it felt like no one was reading it.

I’ll be honest: there were countless moments when I nearly quit, but my determination to become a successful solopreneur prevailed. Just six months in, I earned my first income (a modest $62) from blogging. Though it was a small milestone, it proved that I could monetize my passion. Over time, my earnings grew from two figures to a consistent four-figure monthly income.

Last year alone, I made over $60K through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing—all while working from home, which still feels surreal to me at times!

My experience has shown me that it is possible to ditch—or at least drastically reduce—dependence on a traditional day job. However, I never suggest quitting your job until your side hustle truly begins to pay off.

So if you’re reading this while feeling overwhelmed, juggling a day job, or simply needing extra income, trust me—it’s absolutely possible. For me, Pinterest became one of the biggest game changers. Below, I’ll walk you through the strategies I used to monetize my online presence—primarily through Pinterest—so you can follow the same path.

How to Make Money On Pinterest In 2025

At first, Pinterest appeared to be just a platform for recipes and wedding inspiration. However, the truth is that it’s a powerful visual search engine where people actively seek products, ideas, and solutions. In other words, they are already in the mindset to buy or at least explore. This readiness to purchase makes Pinterest a treasure trove for entrepreneurs, bloggers, and e-commerce stores.

If you find yourself stuck in a loop of self-doubt—thinking, “I’m not a designer,” “I don’t have enough followers,” or “I have zero time to manage another platform”—I completely understand. That was exactly how I felt in 2016. I want to show you that it is absolutely possible to break free from the monotony of your 9-to-5 and earn money doing what truly lights you up.

Let me share the 10 proven ways I’ve learned to generate income using Pinterest. I’ll include personal tips, success stories, and best practices that you can replicate:

1. Sell Products on Pinterest

Early in my blogging journey, I discovered that Pinterest users love visual content. When I partnered with a small brand for a sponsored post, I realized just how eager people were to click from a pin to a store page. That’s when I understood that anyone with a product—digital or physical—that solves a pain point can significantly expand their audience through Pinterest.

Tips for Success:

1. Set up a Pinterest Business Account – This unlocks valuable analytics for tracking outbound clicks, impressions, and the performance of your best boards.
2. Design High-Quality Pins – Use vertical images with a 2:3 ratio, incorporate bright, bold text overlays, and include relevant keywords.
3. Create Boards – For instance, boards like “Cozy Living Room Ideas” or “Budget-Friendly Decor” make it easy for users to discover exactly what they’re looking for.
4. Stay Consistent – Continue pinning to the most relevant boards for SEO purposes. Aim to pin 10–15 times daily using keyword-rich titles and descriptions, along with 3–5 hashtags.
5. Leverage Viral Pins (Must!) – If a pin gains traction, create more pins with a similar style to amplify its reach.
6. Start Selling Your Own Products or Services: Once you notice what works, start offering your own products (printables, mini-guides, checklists, templates, courses, etc.) or services by integrating them into your trending content.
7. Run Targeted Ads – Boost your viral content to increase the reach, build your mailing list, and attract more audience (potential buyers).

2. Drive Pinterest Traffic to Your Website

Just as a traditional wall Pinboard displays notes, pictures, or reminders, Pinterest serves as a digital space where you can post pins—essentially images linked to your content.

When users browse Pinterest and come across your pins, they can click on them to be redirected to a specific blog post or a product page on your e-commerce store. By driving traffic to your website, you could earn anywhere from $5 to $80 for every 1,000 page views, depending on the ad network, the type of ad, your niche, and various other metrics.

I started by pinning blog posts about passive income ideas to boost my earnings, and to my surprise, the traffic surged. Soon, my blog was receiving daily pageviews in the hundreds, which eventually translated into thousands.

How to Do It:

• Compelling Pin Design: Create eye-catching images that promise a clear benefit—think “Quick Income Ideas,” “Time-Saving Hacks,” or “DIY Home Office Makeover.”
• Pinterest SEO: Incorporate relevant keywords in pin titles and descriptions so your content appears in search results.
• Join Group Boards: Participating in group boards within your niche can expose your pins to a broader audience.

Result: With consistent pinning, I now generate over $3K per month solely from Mediavine ad income—without even counting affiliate commissions or sponsored content.

3. Earn Affiliate Commissions

I still remember the thrill of seeing my first affiliate income: a modest $62. Although it may have seemed small at the time, it confirmed that I could make money by recommending products I genuinely used and loved. On my best months, my affiliate income even matches my ad income. Here’s the most recent screenshot of my earnings from one of the companies I have genuinely trusted (and recommend) for years.

Key Steps:

• Choose Products You Believe In: Authenticity is key. When you are genuinely excited about a product, service, or app, it shows in your writing.
• Create Pin-Worthy Posts: Write detailed “Top 5” or “How-To” style posts or listicles, then design enticing pins that lead to them.
• Always Disclose: Transparency builds trust—and it’s also legally required.

Potential:  If one of your pins goes viral, you could see hundreds—or even thousands—in commissions. 

4. Sell Print-on-Demand (POD) Products

With POD, there’s no need to manage inventory or handle shipping. Simply design a product (such as T-shirts, mugs, caps, or tote bags), partner with a POD service like Printify or Printful, and share pins that link to your listings on your Pinterest account.

My Experience: Although my primary focus is blogging, I tested POD by creating simple, text-based designs for mugs and T-shirts centered on trending topics. The pins showcasing these products gained decent traction, and even made a few sales without running ads! 

The best part? No shipping or packaging is required on your end!

Hot Tip: Take advantage of trends, holidays, and popular cultures to create designs that resonate with a wide audience in your niche.

5. Become a Pinterest VA (Earn a Full-Time Income Working Part-Time!)

Noticing how many bloggers struggled with Pinterest marketing, I briefly offered Pinterest VA services, which included researching keywords, creating boards, designing pins, and scheduling them.

For a while, I managed three clients at $300 each per month—an easy $900 for tasks I could complete on weekends or after my day job. The best part is that as you start driving more traffic and demonstrating great results, you can charge even higher fees.

What It Entails:

• Pin Creation: Craft visually appealing templates using tools like Canva or Photoshop.
• Keyword & Board Optimization: Ensure that your boards and pins rank well in relevant searches.
• Analytics: Analyze pin performance and adjust your strategies accordingly—whether that means refining your pin designs, altering your pinning schedule, or tweaking keywords.

Earnings Potential: I know Pinterest VAs who have replaced their 9-to-5 by landing just five clients at a basic package rate of $500/month each. That’s a comfortable $2,500 monthly from a part-time commitment, with some earning up to $10K per month.

Sign up for this exclusive FREE training with Kristen Larsen, which covers eight Pinterest VA skills worth $300–$1,000 each. Learn how to land your first client and get paid!

6. Join the Pinterest Inclusion Fund

The Pinterest Creator Fund, now rebranded as the Pinterest Inclusion Fund, is currently in its fourth cycle. Although I haven’t personally participated, I’ve seen fellow creators—especially those from underrepresented communities—receive grants of up to $25K to improve their content, along with priceless access to Pinterest consultants.

What It Involves:

• Financial & Educational Support: Gain access to tools and mentorship to refine your Pinterest strategy.
• Application Cycles: The program is currently closed for applications but reopens periodically. Signing up for Pinterest newsletters can help you stay informed.

7. Create Paid Partnership Pins

A highly effective way to earn substantial compensation is by engaging in paid partnerships. This involves posting promoted or sponsored pins on your boards where you highlight specific products from various brands, driving attention and potential sales on their behalf.

To attract these opportunities, it’s typically necessary to be an influencer within a specific niche. Brands seek individuals who have a strong presence and can influence their audience’s purchasing decisions.

Fortunately, you don’t need millions of followers to secure sponsorships. Many brands are interested in micro-influencers with a dedicated and engaged community—even if their follower count isn’t extraordinarily high.

Blogging within a particular niche helps you build expertise and a loyal audience, which in turn increases your appeal to potential sponsors.

For example, I once partnered with InVideo AI—a video generation tool. They paid me a flat fee to write a step-by-step guide on creating videos using their tool and to design a social media campaign (including Pinterest pins) to market the post. Since my blog targets side-hustle enthusiasts, it was a perfect fit—and the campaign converted really well.

Who It’s For:

• Micro-influencers or niche bloggers with a loyal audience.
• Individuals who can offer genuine, honest endorsements.

Pay Range: Smaller sponsorship deals might pay between $100–$500 per mention, while larger collaborations can exceed $1,000 per campaign if you demonstrate effective marketing results.

8. Become a Pinterest Coach

Becoming a Pinterest coach not only elevates your own expertise but also helps your clients succeed—leading to greater financial rewards for you both.

One of the most impactful ways to provide value is by designing courses tailored specifically for e-commerce business owners. These courses can explore various strategies for showcasing products effectively on Pinterest.

Another key component of coaching is offering strategies for growing Pinterest followers. You can share insights on engaging users through interactive and visually captivating content, as well as the importance of consistency in posting.

Additionally, paid webinars are an excellent way to deliver in-depth training sessions to people worldwide, allowing them the flexibility to learn from the comfort of their own homes.

After achieving consistent four-figure monthly income, fellow bloggers kept asking how I grew my blog traffic. That’s when I decided to turn my expertise into 1:1 coaching calls (many of which I initially offered for free).

What You Offer:

• Workshops & Paid Webinars: Teach how to design pins and adopt an effective Pinterest strategy.
• Courses: Dive into Pinterest SEO, follower growth tactics, and various monetization methods.

Profit Potential: You can start by pricing your courses or coaching sessions at around $47. Over time, this can add a significant revenue stream to your overall Pinterest income.

9. Become a Pinterest Ads Expert

Not every brand or blogger understands how to leverage Pinterest Ads effectively. Mastering this skill can make you invaluable—and well compensated.

Responsibilities:

• Crafting Visual Ads: Create crisp images paired with concise copy and clear calls to action.
• Targeting: Use interest, keyword, and demographic targeting to reach the right audience.
• Optimization: Analyze conversions, tweak campaigns, and report results to improve performance.

High-Value Skill: I’ve seen Pinterest ads experts charge over $1,000 per advertising campaign—especially when they deliver measurable ROI.

10. Sell Customizable Pinterest Pin Templates

Many bloggers and small business owners want attractive pins but often lack the time or design skills to create them. Selling editable templates (compatible with Canva or Photoshop) fills that gap perfectly.

How I’ve Used It:

While I haven’t delved deeply into this niche, I know of others who have created “budget-friendly blogger pin” templates on Etsy or Shopify. These templates can be sold directly on Pinterest or via your own website. You might even consider a subscription model—bundling 10 pins and offering a new bundle on a $15 monthly recurring plan. It was a sweet reminder that digital products can generate passive income.

Tips:

• Unique Styles: Offer templates in minimalistic, trendy, bold, vintage, or holiday-themed styles.
• Clear Usage Instructions: Ensure buyers can easily plug in their own images and text.

My Core Tips for Pinterest Success

• Use a Business Account: This unlocks essential analytics and Rich Pins, allowing you to monitor what resonates with your audience.
• Stay on Top of Pinterest’s Algorithm: As Pinterest evolves, so should your strategies. Keep an eye on new features like Idea Pins, different pin formats, or updated ad formats.
• SEO is Your Friend: Incorporate relevant keywords into pin descriptions, titles, and board names. Don’t rely solely on hashtags.
• Experiment with Different Pin Layouts: Some of my best results have come from pins featuring light backgrounds with bright text overlays. Don’t be afraid to A/B test your designs.
• Never Stop Learning: Follow Pinterest’s business blog, join Pinterest marketing groups, and continuously refine your strategies.

FAQs: How to Make Money On Pinterest

1. Can You Get Paid Directly on Pinterest?
While there are programs like the Inclusion Fund and occasional Creator Rewards, the bulk of your income typically comes indirectly—from traffic, ads, affiliate or product sales, and sponsorships.

2. Is Passive Income Possible?
Absolutely. Once your pins rank well, they can generate traffic and commissions for months without extra effort.

3. How Many Views Do I Need to Start Earning?
There isn’t a fixed number. Even a small, engaged audience can yield solid earnings if you target them well and build a mailing list.

4. How Do I Grow My Followers?
Consistent posting, optimized pins with the right keywords, and well-curated boards all contribute to organic growth—no fancy hacks required.

Final Thoughts!

With the right strategies, persistence, and a dash of creativity, you can transform Pinterest into your main revenue driver. If you follow these steps, remain consistent, and keep learning, you can build a fulfilling and profitable online enterprise.

If you’re ready to dive into blogging or selling on Pinterest, I’ve created an entire step-by-step guide to launching a professional blog—because it all starts with a solid foundation, and Pinterest can amplify your success to heights you never imagined.

So go ahead—pin your heart out. You might just wake up one day to find that your side hustle has blossomed into a thriving business, liberating you from the daily grind just as it did for me.

Ready to start? Let’s get pinning!