Spoiler alert: Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and home decor. It’s a hidden goldmine—and I had no idea how I could monetize it for myself until I stumbled on it by accident.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I plan on going from zero to earning my first $500 on Pinterest—without being an influencer, without a massive following, and with absolutely no design background. If you’re curious how people make real money pinning pictures, you’re in the right place.
The Moment I Realized Pinterest Could Pay My Bills
It started pre-pandemic. I was working my 9-5 but my industry is notoriously boom or bust. I started to become obsessed with needing a side hustle—fast. I started my era of dabbling in side hustles. Fashion Blog? Tried it. Quotes page? Digital marketing, faceless digital marketing, UGC content for faceless brands. I’ve dabbled in it all, but nothing lit a spark in me. I’ve always loved the idea of starting a blog and writing about side hustles, personal finance and frugal living. My blog had great content, but no traffic.
Then I read about how bloggers were getting thousands of pageviews from Pinterest. I was skeptical. Wasn’t Pinterest just for moms and DIYers?
Nope.
Now in this day and age there are so many AI tools out there to help you create and pin content, blogging and generating traffic in this day and age has never been more streamlined, so I’ve decided to give blogging a go.
Why Pinterest Is Perfect for Beginners (Even With No Experience)
Here’s why Pinterest is a goldmine if you’re just starting:
- It’s a visual search engine, not social media—so pins live longer and keep working for you.
- You don’t need followers to get traffic.
- Most Pinterest users are actively searching for solutions, making it great for monetization.
Whether you want to drive traffic to a blog, sell printables, or promote affiliate products, Pinterest gives you a stage—even if no one knows your name.
How I Monetized My Pinterest Account
Here’s what worked for me—and what I recommend if you’re starting from scratch:
1. I Started a Simple Blog
You don’t need a blog to make money on Pinterest, but it helps big time.
I used Hostinger to set up a WordPress blog for under $3/month. I chose a niche I loved (Side Hustles), wrote 10 solid posts, and linked them to my Pinterest pins.
When Pinterest traffic started flowing in, I added:
- Affiliate links to tools I genuinely use (like cashback apps and budget planners)
- Display ads I added the mediavine grow plugin – once you have the minimum traffic requirements you can apply for mediavine journey.
This combo—ads + affiliate links—my goal is to earn my first $500 in 90 days.
2. I Focused on Pinterest SEO
Yes, Pinterest has SEO too.
I learned to:
- Use keywords in pin titles and descriptions
- Write blog post titles like “10 Budget Hacks That Saved Me $1,000”
- Create vertical pins (1000×1500 px) using free Canva templates
My pins started ranking, and even one viral pin could bring in 500–1,000+ visits daily.
What If You Don’t Want to Start a Blog?
You can still make money on Pinterest without one. Here are a few options I’ve tested or seen others succeed with:
Direct Affiliate Links
You can post pins that link directly to affiliate products (check platform rules first). One of my friends made $200 in her first month pinning products from Etsy.
Pinterest Virtual Assistant
I’ve seen people earn $25–$50/hour managing Pinterest accounts for bloggers and business owners. If you’re good at design or scheduling content, this is a great gig.
Sell Digital Products
I now sell budget planners and digital templates through Etsy and drive traffic with Pinterest. It’s passive income at its best.
The Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
- I didn’t pin consistently. Pinterest rewards regular activity—batch schedule with Tailwind or Pinterest’s native scheduler.
- I copied other people’s pins. It’s fine to be inspired, but originality and quality stand out.
- I ignored analytics. Pinterest analytics showed me which pins were winners—and which flopped. Don’t skip this.
What I’d Do If I Had to Start From Zero Today
- Choose a niche I care about (money, health, crafts, etc.)
- Start a simple blog or Etsy store
- Create 10 high-quality pins in Canva
- Use Pinterest SEO to get found
- Monetize with affiliate links, ads, or products
This strategy works—and I’m going to prove that I can make consistent income this way.
Final Thoughts: You Can Make Money on Pinterest
I won’t pretend it’s magic or overnight success. But with consistency and the right strategy, Pinterest has become one of the most powerful tools in my online business toolbox.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain curious, take the first step. Start a blog, open an Etsy shop, create that first pin. Your future self will thank you.📌 Ready to make your first dollar on Pinterest? Drop a comment or question below—I’m happy to help!
