Curious about how to make money on Pinterest without a blog? If your Google search has led you to this post, you probably have an online gig of some kind. Do you have affiliate links to share? Have you created some digital products that you just know your target audience would love if you could only get them into their hands? Maybe you are panicking because you don’t feel ready or able to launch a blog right now. So, will Pinterest outbound clicks even do any good for your business? Or maybe you are just hoping Pinterest can somehow provide you with a passive income stream. Well, good news! No matter what brought you here, I can help!
Can you get paid to be on Pinterest?
Maybe you are just testing the waters right now and trying to figure out if Pinterest is a good way to make extra money. Let me tell you that yes, you can make money posting Pins on Pinterest! Pinterest gives you:
- A free social media platform to use
- Visual search engine technology
- A pool of445 million peoplethat you can market to
Now, Pinterest will not pay you directly for money-making programs like product or brand tagging, affiliate links, or brand partnerships (we will get to that stuff shortly). What Pinterest DOES do is give you the platform to share these links and tags.
So, Pinterest is a perfect place to launch an online business even without a blog. In this post, I’m going to convince you that your Pinterest account really is the easiest way to get products in front of an audience! Follow along and learn how to use Pinterest to make passive income a reality for your small business, blog or no blog.
How many Pinterest followers do you need to get paid?
You don’t technically need a specific number of followers on Pinterest to make money. Of course, having more followers helps you increase your reach, engagement, and credibility on the platform. So the more followers the better, even if there isn’t an actual recommended number! The more fresh, new, and regularly posted content you produce the more you can hope to grow your following to a level where it begins to work for you.
Do I need a blog to make money on Pinterest?
I know you’re reading this and thinking that I must be crazy, but hear me out. Itispossible (and not that difficult!) to monetize Pinterest without a blog!
Blogging and publishing new content on a regular basis is great, but let’s face it – you’re busy running your business! Dealing with customers, creating new products, balancing the books, etc. takes time. You’ve got a million balls in the air. Who has the time to keep up with blogging on top of all of that?
I hear you.
Luckily, I have some tips and tricks to share with you to help you with your Pinterest marketing, no blog required.
Read on to find out my workarounds for how to gain traction on Pinterest, gain visibility, get in front of your ideal customer,andwiden your potential audience base through organic social media marketing efforts.
Post Attention-Getting Pins
The only way to make money on Pinterest is with Pins. With me so far? Sure, there are different strategies regarding how to use them. But the reality is that if no one is looking at your Pins, it doesn’t matter what your ultimate plan is!
As a first step, make sure you have a Pinterest business account. It is also worth learning a little bit about how to create a winning Pin description and how to leverage Pinterest SEO to your advantage too.
To learn more, you can visit the post I wrote all about how to read your Pinterest Analytics. It includes information on using keyword research to reach as many Pinterest followers as possible too. In short, do everything you can to create Pins that people want to look at and post them to relevant boards.
Fresh Content Wins
Pinterest as a platform is ahugefan of fresh content. Publishing new content on a regular, consistent schedule is one of the easiest “hacks” that Pinterest will reward with more visibility. Pinterest loves new content because that’s what keeps its audience happy. This could mean new Pins uploaded in the platform, new products, or new blog posts. That’s why you often hear Pinterest marketers going on about new blog content for Pinterest! It’s also probably why you think you NEED a blog to make money.
In-App Native Content: Static/IMAGE Pins & Video Pins
Just because you don’t have a blog doesn’t mean you can’t create fresh content within the Pinterest platform. Use the Pinterest in-app native content creation tools to put out valuable, useful and engaging content for your audience with static Pins and video Pins.
Video Pins are a great way for you to share your ideas in an interactive format. Use short-form videos to highlight features of your new product or product category. Or, share a how-to tutorial or different ways to style a product – the options are limitless!
Video Pins are a brilliant option for powerful storytelling. As humans, we are naturally drawn to the humanization of others. That’s why we love influencers and content creators who use storytelling to share things in a very organic way. This could mean telling the story of how something provided a solution or changed their life, for example.
Video Pins can truly capture the essence of the person behind the business (and we all know sales are about relationships!). Static Pin or video Pin, what’s most important is that your content is helpful and creates connection and engagement.
Jump on External Content Vehicles
Creating content within Pinterest is great, but that’s not quite enough to boost your Pinterest marketing efforts. The idea behind a Pin is that it is a VEHICLE for sharing your message. For many people on Pinterest, this vehicle is their blog. But if you don’t blog frequently, what are your other content vehicles? Hint: Get creative (within best practices guidelines, obviously) andthink outside Pinterest!
If you want to build up your Pinterest presence without a blog, you have to start tapping into external content vehicles. Your Pins can provide a direct line to your website or another channel for your brand such as Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. These can take the place of a blog post in your Pins.
Ask yourself:
- What are your other forms of reaching a new audience?
- How else are you communicating what you do with your audience?
- Where else is content related to your business being shared?
- What other social media platforms are you active on, and where are you sharing content?
It’s true that your Pinterest marketing will thrive when you feed it new valuable information. But you don’t have to be a full-time blogger to have content that Pinterest loves! By considering other avenues of reaching your ideal audience, you can unlock a treasure trove of new valuable information you could be sharing on Pinterest. By using a little creativity and thinking outside the box, youcankeep Pinterest happy with fresh content and use Pinterest for marketing without a blog!
8 Things To Create Pins For That Aren’t Blog Posts
OK. You’ve been so patient! I bet you’re wondering if I’m going to stop asking you to think and give you some concrete examples of how to leverage Pins without an actual blog. You can create Pins for SO many things other than blog posts! Here are 8 of them to get you started (and I bet you already have many of these ready to go!):
- Landing pages on your website: Link people to landing pages for your product listings, product categories, or to influencers or other websites that your content is featured on.
- Webinar registration pages: Hosting a webinar? Running some online courses? This can be an opportunity to showcase your offerings with a Pin (or several!).
- Lead magnets opt-in pages: I bet you have some freebies for your audience. Why not Pin those? It’s a win-win when they get some useful free content and you get them to opt in! And again, you get more engagement and views, which are valuable in their own way.
- FAQs: People are always going to have questions, and often the same ones keep coming up. Create a Pin for your FAQs so people get the answers they need! And of course, by answering FAQs you also generate interest in your brand and encourage people to visit your website or store.
- Instagram posts: There’s no rule that says you can’t repurpose content from other platforms. If you’re already creating content for Instagram or Pinterest, you can create a Pin for that too! Keep driving that traffic elsewhere!
- Podcast episodes: Do you have a podcast? Have you been a guest on someone else’s podcast? Promote that content with a Pin and boost your visibility.
- YouTube or video content: Pinterest loves video content. So, why not reuse snippets from your YouTube videos for Pins? This will drive traffic to your Youtube channel and get you more views and hopefully more subscribers too!
- Tutorials / how-tos / teaching guides: These are great for creating video Pins that are useful and valuable. And, you can link to a more detailed explanation too! The more you can set yourself up as an expert in your field of interest, the better chance you have of people taking your advice and purchasing your products!
But How Do I Actually Make Money on Pinterest?
Till now, we have talked primarily about how to increase your online presence using your Pins to drive traffic to other places for views, likes, and subscriptions. But are there ways to use your Pinterest presence to make money without a blog? Yes, and three come to mind.
Affiliate Marketing
I have written an entire post on how to make the world of affiliate marketing work for you. You can read it right here for more information. In a nutshell, making money using direct affiliate links can be done without a blog. This entails partnering with Pinterest-approved brands and joining their affiliate networks. Keep in mind that very select partners are approved for direct affiliate links on Pinterest. Make sure you choose one that is approved. For example, you can use affiliate programs offered by Amazon Associates, ShopStyle, Wayfair, and Nordstrom. Research products you know about and are interested in and see if they have an affiliate program. Once you are accepted, they will give you direct affiliate links that you will include in your Pinterest keyword rich Pin descriptions. I also recommend that you tag brand partners on Pinterest, which of course is great for influencers. If you are promoting a single product, you can also put that direct affiliate link in the Destination URL of the Pin for people to click through that way.
In this scenario, you will partner with brands that you can promote authentically and in line with your target audience’s vibe and values. Put together a media kit that includes your Pinterest profile and sample content. This way, you are ready to approach the perfect brand when it presents itself. Once you find a brand that agrees to work with you, use your Pinterest presence to promote it. Simply tag your brand partner in your Pins (using the paid partnership tool) according to the deal you work out directly with them. You will get paid every time someone purchases the product you are promoting. If you want to get serious about affiliate marketing on Pinterest, you can check out my detailed workshop here.
Digital products
Creation and selling of digital products is another topic I wrote an entire post about that you should really check out! In short, making money on Pinterest by selling digital products is a great way to use your Pinterest platform to make money. If you are a Pinterest content creator but you’re not using your account to sell digital products and services, you’re missing out! Do you know what I mean when I say “digital products”? Sometimes people get stuck thinking computer software programs and the like are the best examples of this revenue stream opportunity. That just isn’t so! My favourite platforms for selling digital products online are Stan Store, ThriveCart and Shopify (these are affiliate links friends!).
If you are an expert on something, write a tutorial or e-book! If you are an artist, create digital prints. Templates are also a perfect digital product for Pinterest marketing. If you are a virtual assistant, could you create email or newsletter templates to make it easier for your clients to get started on their own? Is there a printable idea that your customer base would love to have in their hands?
Honestly, there has never been a better time than right now to use Pinterest to promote your digital products. The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in everyone’s plans, and we’ve all had to pivot quickly to get everything online and virtual. A lot of businesses adapted by re-imagining their offerings as digital products, but are still struggling to get them in front of their audience. That’s where Pinterest can act as a digital productsales funnel. It’s also a way to diversify your business. We’ve all heard the advice of not keeping all your eggs in one basket, and that applies to business as well. Having digital products on offer in your business helps you stay prepared for changes in the market.
Perhaps you’re thinking, sure, Pinterest works for crafters, foodies, people doing DIY projects and home decor, and beauty and fashion bloggers. But that’s not my business. Digital products don’t belong on Pinterest. Right? Wrong! It’s true that there aren’t a lot of businesses promoting their digital products on Pinterest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find success doing it. Remember: anything that can be digitized and solves a problem, offers a solution, or inspires people can be sold as a digital product. The possibilities are endless; all you have to do is figure out what digital products are right for your business and Pinterest community.
Create an online shop
Since you can’t sell directly on Pinterest, you need somewhere else to offer these digital offerings or other products. Your website, Shopify, or Etsy are great places to start. Do some research and figure out what works best for you. This is just another way to give people an option to connect with you outside of a blog.
What do you do now?
So, now that you’ve decided to use your Pins to start marketing yourself on Pinterest (without a blog!), what do you do? Want to know how to scale up your Pinterest sales funnel to get more eyes on your digital products or links? Want to dramatically shortcut your path to more leads and conversions from Pinterest?
Join my email list to get weekly Pinterest marketing tips, tutorials and resources to help you leverage Pinterest.
Be Authentic
No matter what blog-free Pinterest strategy you attempt, remember that you need to keep your customer at the center of your marketing efforts. It is easy to think everything is about our products or services and focus our efforts on pushing out content related to that. However, a lot of people are coming to Pinterest for inspiration and they’re in adifferent stage of their customer journeythan the purchasing phase. They want to engage with Pinterest in a lifestyle manner, and we need to give them content that fits. It’s not so much “Here’s the product – buy it!”, but rather showcasing the lifestyle element of what you have to offer, how it can be used, and how it fits into people’s lives.
When it comes to leveling up your Pinterest marketing without a blog, the most important thing is to think outside the box. How can you help people and inspire them? How can you and your customer aspire together to the next big thing? As Pinterest itself recommends, think like a Pinner! What do typical Pinterest users want or need? What do they search for and what topics do they research? And ultimately, how can you fill that gap?
But Seriously, Get a Blog
I know that I have spent a lot of time in this post telling you that you don’t need a blog to make money on Pinterest. And that is TRUE. However, if you are serious about using Pinterest to make money you need to at least consider starting a blog. If you google, “How do beginners make money on Pinterest?”, one of the top answers is going to be “Start a blog”. So you just cannot ignore the topic entirely.
Blogs are a good idea for a couple of reasons. As I have pointed out here and in other posts, people are only going to engage with you and consider trusting you enough to purchase your products if they feel they know you. A blog where you share your story and heart is the perfect place to help people do this. As previously mentioned, Pinterest LOVES fresh content, so producing a new blog post regularly and creating Pins to go along with it can be the best way to keep Pinterest happy and keep showing your content to a wide audience. And really, if you’re selling on Pinterest then you consider yourself an expert on SOMETHING. Go one step further and write about it!
Blogs are also income generators all on their own! Pinterest can help drive traffic there that will earn you advertising dollars, for example. So, while it is not impossible to make money on Pinterest without a blog, I strongly suggest you check out the possibility of diversifying yourself just this little bit more.
Looking To Harness The Potential of Pinterest? Join My Email List
Marketing with Pinterest is wonderful for brand awareness and discoverability. But as Pinterest continues to evolve and change, it’s important to keep up with what’s new and relevant. Hop onto my email list to gain access to my regular tips and strategies for using Pinterest marketing to grow your business and create more freedom in your business.
Happy Pinning!
