Pinterest has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years. It's a great place to find inspiration or discover new things that interest you. You can also share your own content with others who are interested in similar topics.
If you're looking into starting a business online then Pinterest could be just the platform you need to get started. But if you've never joined before, here are some tips on how to join and start making money from Pinterest!
Pinterest is an image-based social networking website where users create collections of images called boards. A board consists of pins (images) which people pin onto their boards. People can repin other peoples' pins as well. The more likes and comments a pin receives, the better, so there are many incentives to pin high quality photos or videos.
You can search through millions of pins by using keywords, hashtags, categories, location, or even specific brands. There are over 700 million active accounts and more than 100 billion monthly views across all devices and browsers. It’s no wonder why Pinterest was named “the fastest growing company ever” by Fortune Magazine last year.
So what does this mean for you? Well, if you have something interesting to sell online, chances are someone will want to buy it and they may already know exactly where to look. They might be searching for ideas themselves, or maybe they'll go straight to your site after seeing your pinned item. Either way, you stand to benefit from having them visit your site because once they land there, you stand a good chance of converting sales leads into profits.
But there is another possibility too - you can partner up with companies like ClickBank and earn commissions when customers purchase products directly from them. This is known as "affiliate" marketing, and although it seems complicated at first, it really isn't if you follow our guide below.
Yes, absolutely! I'm not going to lie though, there are certain conditions that must be met in order for you to succeed. So let's take a closer look at those...
1. Do you Have Enough Traffic To Your Site?
This should come as no surprise but in order to generate traffic to your Pinterest account, you will need to drive traffic to your main website. If you don't currently have any websites set up yet, check out these resources to help you get started.
2. Are You Willing to Work Hard At Building Relationships With Other Users On Pinterest?
The biggest challenge that you will face when trying to build relationships with other users on Pinterest is getting noticed. Just remember to show genuine appreciation for each person who follows you back, likes your posts, and shares your content. In return, you will receive plenty of followers, likes, and shares too. These valuable interactions will prove useful later down the line.
3. Can You Create Content That Pins Look Fantastic On Their Boards?
Creating original content is key to success on Pinterest. Make sure that everything you post looks amazing and professional, especially since you'll be competing against thousands of other talented creators. When creating pins, keep the following guidelines in mind:
· Pin only items that contain direct value for your audience. Don't try to promote anything unrelated to your niche unless it adds value to your community.
· Post pictures that inspire others to action. Let's say you run a blog dedicated to home decorating. Showcase beautiful rooms that would appeal to readers. Include pictures of furniture, décor, accessories, etc.
4. What Type Of Content Should Be Shared On Pinterest?
In general, people prefer short and sweet stories over long form articles. Most Pinterest users won't read an entire article or book review before deciding whether or not to click through. Instead of writing lengthy descriptions of every product you feature, go ahead and write shorter blurbs instead.
5. How Many Items Per Day Should You Plan To Add To Your Board?
There is no hard and fast rule on how often you should add new pins to your boards per day. However, you shouldn't expect to grow your follower list overnight either. In fact, you should aim to increase your daily upload rate gradually rather than expecting a magic number to appear out of nowhere.
6. Does Pinterest Allow You To Promote Products Directly From Your Website Or Blog Posts?
Pinterest doesn't allow affiliates to promote their products directly from inside their profile pages. This means that if you were hoping to promote Clickbank or Commission Junction products via your Pinterest account, you will likely need to wait until you launch your own store on a different platform such as Shopify or WooCommerce.
However, you can still use your existing sites to host free offers and collect email addresses without worrying about being banned. Once you decide to move forward with your own ecommerce venture, you can easily integrate your shop with your Pinterest page through the same payment gateway services used by major retailers.
7. Can You Use Pinterest As An Advertising Tool?
While Pinterest ads aren't allowed on its homepage, you can advertise within individual boards. Simply choose between two options depending on what type of ad you'd like to display:
a. Ads shown above the board title
b. Ad banners placed underneath pins
Advertising on Pinterest works differently compared to advertising elsewhere. While you can target potential clients based on interests, demographics, and locations, you cannot influence the exact time frame during which viewers see your ads. Since you can only pay per impression, you will need to plan carefully in advance.
8. Will You Need To Register And Set Up A Business Account Before Starting Any Projects?
No matter which method you choose to market your goods and services online, you'll need to register with an established marketplace provider. Popular choices include ClickBank, ShareASale, and CommissionJunction. Each offer unique benefits including affiliate tracking tools and commission rates.
9. Which Marketplace Provider Works Best For Me?
All three providers mentioned above have excellent customer support teams and work closely together to ensure that everyone gets along. You can sign up for an account today at any of the 3 partners listed above.
With a little bit of effort and dedication, you can begin building a successful business on Pinterest. Remember to focus on producing great content and promoting your pins actively. If done correctly, you will soon notice an influx of visitors joining your boards, followed by increased revenue coming in from affiliate clicks and purchases.
Once you feel ready, consider adding additional channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, Tumblr, and Reddit to expand your reach further and attract more targeted traffic. Finally, remember to update your profiles regularly so that you remain top of mind for your ideal clientele.
10. What Kind Of Analytics Tools Are Available To Help Track My Progress?
Analytics software is crucial for tracking results and gauging progress. Some of the most popular analytics tools include Google Analytics, HubSpot, and CrazyEgg. All provide detailed reports that break down visitor behavior and conversion data by various metrics. Keep close tabs on these statistics throughout the course of your campaign and tweak your strategy accordingly.
11. Where Can I Find More Information About Pinterest Marketing Strategies?
We recommend reading the official Pinterest blog for helpful information regarding Pinterest strategies. Additionally, you can browse through several Pinterest guides available online to learn more about Pinterest basics. Lastly, our friends at ClickFunnels offer lots of guidance on how to successfully implement Pinterest campaigns.
12. Does Pinterest Restrict The Amount Of Money That I Can Earn Through Affiliate Programs?
As far as we know, Pinterest does not restrict earnings made through affiliate programs. You can therefore continue earning substantial amounts of cash while sharing relevant and engaging content on the platform.
13. Why Isn't Anyone Talking About Pinterest Marketing?
Possibly because it's relatively unknown among internet surfers. Only 1% of US adults claim to be regular Pinterest users according to a 2015 study conducted by Pew Research Center. Another survey found that most Americans didn't understand how to navigate Pinterest properly and couldn't recall a single thing that they had pinned.
14. How Long Does It Take To See Results After Setting Up A New Campaign?
Since Pinterest operates under strict algorithms, it takes time for new campaigns to gain traction and produce positive results. According to research by BrightLocal, average ROI periods range between 30 days and 60 days.
15. What Happens If I Get Banned By Pinterest?
If you violate any of the terms outlined in their Terms & Conditions section, you risk losing access to your Pinterest account permanently.
16. Should I Start Off With One Product Then Expand Later On?
Not necessarily. Consider starting small and slowly expanding your offerings over time. You can always revisit the idea of launching a second project when you feel confident enough to handle the added pressure of multiple projects simultaneously.
17. How Much Time Would You Recommend Spending On Pinterest?
Based on our experience, we suggest dedicating around 10 hours per week to managing your Pinterest presence. Depending on the size of your current network, dedicate 20%-30% of your total time towards promoting content, interacting with followers, and generating qualified traffic.
18. How Often Should I Update My Profile?
Pinterest is one of those social media platforms that's been around forever but just recently exploded into mainstream popularity. It has a unique way of connecting users with content. The site allows anyone to post pictures and videos online which are then organized by other users who "pin" them onto their own boards.
The platform is often compared to Instagram -- as both allow people to create visual stories, connect with others through photos and video clips, and share inspirational ideas or products they like. While these comparisons aren't entirely accurate (as there are some key differences between the two), it's clear Pinterest has found its niche among digital creatives looking to find inspiration.
In this article, we'll look at how you can leverage Pinterest as an effective tool for your business' growth. And while most of us will probably never become millionaires thanks to our time spent pinning, being able to build a profitable business from something so simple as sharing images could still prove useful.
We've already looked at how you can set up shop on Amazon using Pinterest. But if you're not interested in selling physical goods on the site, consider taking advantage of another form of Pinterest-based commerce. With the help of affiliate networks such as Clickbank, ShareAsale, CJ Affiliate, and Shopify, you can earn commissions simply by promoting other businesses. This includes everything from beauty and fashion brands, to fitness trainers, photographers, and even home improvement stores.
If you have any questions about how to get started with Pinterest affiliate marketing, feel free to ask below!
Before getting too far ahead of ourselves, let's talk about why you'd want to promote someone else's product on Pinterest instead of creating your own. After all, why would you bother when almost everyone does it anyway? Well, here are three main reasons why you should take the effort to promote others stuff:
It helps you increase exposure. By posting relevant links to the creators products, you're helping to spread awareness about their brand. As more people see your pins, they may be encouraged to check out the creator's page themselves.
You earn extra revenue. When you refer new customers to someone else's store, you receive a commission whenever they buy anything. On top of that, you don't have to worry about setting up payment processing infrastructure yourself. You can choose from multiple affiliate networks that handle all aspects of payments.
Your audience receives value. Letting your fans know where they can purchase related items gives them a reason to come back to your account regularly. They won't mind visiting again and again because they know they'll always learn something new.
Now that we've covered the basics, it's important to understand some of the different types of pins you might encounter. Here are some common terms you'll hear mentioned during your research process:
Pin - A single image that appears next to your profile name. People can comment on each other's Pins without leaving a message.
Repin - Similar to Pin, only repins also include comments. Repinning is seen as positive feedback, whereas Pinning is viewed negatively.
Board - An individual board contains various categories of Pins. For example, you might find Beauty & Fashion, Food & Drink, Home Decor, etc. Within each category, you'll find subcategories based on specific style preferences.
Collaborative Board - Collaborative Boards contain Pins created by multiple authors. These posts appear alongside each author's username on the board itself.
Profile - Your personal profile is similar to a regular website. Visitors can leave comments, follow you, and view your latest activity.
What this means for you is that you'll likely see several different kinds of Pins throughout your day browsing Pinterest. Some will link to websites, some will reference products, and some will feature services. To keep things simple, focus on finding Pins that link directly to a particular merchant's webpage. Once you find a good match, click on the link and add the item to your cart. Then, once you complete checkout, you'll automatically be redirected to the seller's page. From there, you can begin earning commissions for referring new sales.
With over 100 million active monthly users, Pinterest is becoming increasingly popular. That said, you shouldn't expect to rack up large numbers of followers overnight. In fact, you may find it difficult to gain traction until you reach certain milestones. If you haven't heard before, you'll first need 10,000 followers before you can join ClickBank's affiliate network. However, if you work hard enough, you may eventually reach 20,000 followers within six months.
Once you hit 30,000 followers, you'll be eligible to enroll in ShareAsale's affiliate program. At 50,000 followers, you can join CJ Affiliate and claim your spot in the network. Finally, after reaching 200,000 followers, you'll be allowed to sign up for Shopify's affiliate program.
Keep in mind though that you'll need to meet additional requirements depending on which affiliate company you decide to go with. Each requires different levels of engagement to qualify for inclusion. So, if you plan to pursue Pinterest affiliate marketing full time, you'll need to spend time researching companies that accept affiliates with lower follower counts.
While it may seem daunting to jump right into affiliate marketing, there are actually plenty of resources available to guide you along the path. First, you should familiarize yourself with the basic principles behind affiliate marketing. There are five steps included in every promotion campaign:
Build trust - Show visitors why they should trust you by providing valuable information.
Create demand - Offer quality products and services that solve real problems.
Connect buyers with sellers - Make sure potential clients know exactly where they can shop and buy products.
Provide customer support - Help customers resolve issues quickly and efficiently.
Measure results - Measure success by tracking conversions, sales, and profits.
These tips apply regardless of whether you are trying to sell physical merchandise or digital downloads. However, if you plan to market products that require shipping, you'll need to ensure your followers have easy access to your PayPal account.
Finally, you must take a proactive approach towards building relationships with your community. Engaging with your followers will benefit you in the long run. Not only will you boost traffic to your own profile, but you'll also earn the respect of others.
Yes, you absolutely can use Pinterest for affiliate marketing. All you need to do is provide high-quality content relating to your preferred topic/niche. When you write articles, think about how readers will interact with your posts. Do they enjoy reading about travel destinations? Or do they prefer learning about food and cooking techniques? Whatever type of content you produce, try to stay true to your target audience's interests.
For example, if you love photography and writing, consider starting a blog focused on either subject matter. You can then monetize your efforts by signing up with affiliate networks that pay you per referral. Just remember to maintain a professional tone and avoid spamming your followers with promotional material unrelated to your chosen field.
Lastly, don't forget to optimize your profiles. Take the time to properly tag your pins with keywords related to your niche. Also, ensure you update your status frequently. Doing so makes it easier for followers to locate your content. Plus, you can easily track how well your campaigns perform by logging into your dashboard.
Want to learn more about Pinterest affiliate marketing? Check out our list of the best Pinterest affiliate programs.
Pinterest has been around since 2010 but its popularity exploded after Facebook banned all third-party advertising due to privacy concerns. The site allows users to share photos with their friends and family so that they can find new ideas for decorating rooms, shopping online, cooking recipes, and more.
Today, there are over 400 million monthly active accounts on Pinterest and over 2 billion pins per month! So if Pinterest isn't your thing, don't worry because here's another great way to market products without being obnoxious. It's called affiliate marketing.
If you're just starting out as an affiliate marketer then this article will help you understand how to get started by learning from some of the top experts in the field. Once you learn these tips you'll be able to start making money using Pinterest as well as other social media platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Let's take a look at each platform separately below.
Yes! In fact, Pinterest might be one of the most lucrative places to promote products right now. According to Statista, 77% of American adults use Pinterest every day. This is compared to only 60% who use Google+, 54% who use Snapchat, and 49% who use Reddit. The reason why Pinterest works so well for affiliate marketing is because people tend to pin things they want to buy (or have already bought) rather than scrolling through pages of content trying to decide which product looks interesting.
The key to success on Pinterest is finding products that interest your audience. If you're looking for inspiration, check out our list of 50+ Pinterest boards curated specifically for affiliate marketers. These boards cover everything from home décor, fashion, entertainment, food, fitness, health & wellness, beauty, DIY projects, parenting, and many others. You could also try searching hashtags related to specific niche markets such as #home improvement or #DIY.
Another tip would be to join groups where members ask questions and provide feedback for each other. For example, if you see someone asking a question regarding a particular product or service, consider answering them instead of simply leaving a comment. People love when brands respond directly to customer needs, especially when those responses come via email. And remember, everyone loves free stuff.
Instagram is primarily used for photo sharing while Pinterest is better suited for visual content. Both offer excellent opportunities to drive traffic back to sales sites, however, they have different strengths and weaknesses. Here are some pros and cons to keep in mind before deciding whether or not you should focus solely on one network versus both networks.
Pros of focusing on Instagram:
Less competition. Only 1/3rd of Americans use Pinterest daily whereas 80% of U.S. adults use Instagram daily according to Pew Research Center. Also, Instagram is owned by Facebook, which means that advertisers have access to a huge amount of data about user behavior. Because Instagram doesn't allow ads on posts, you won't run into any issues with ad blockers.
Great engagement metrics. While Pinterest does collect some useful information about its users, like demographics, interests, etc., Instagram collects even more detailed stats about individual customers including age, location, gender, education level, occupation, relationship status, and hobbies. This makes tracking analytics easier.
Cons of focusing on Instagram:
Limited reach. Although Instagram boasts a worldwide audience of 500 million, the majority of its users live outside of North America.
Fewer potential opportunities. With less than half the number of daily active users as Pinterest, there aren't nearly as many opportunities to earn commissions.
No real incentive program. There is no official affiliate program available for Instagram, although you may be able to set up your own affiliate link within the app itself. However, unless you're running a big brand, it probably wouldn't bring in enough revenue to justify the effort anyway.
Pros of focusing on Pinterest:
Higher conversion rates. According to HubSpot, 60% of Pinterest users click on sponsored links vs. 33% on Instagram. Another study found that 81% of Pinners visit retailers' websites after following a link from Pinterest vs. 64% of Instagrammers.
More targeted visitors. As mentioned earlier, 75% of Pinterest users are women between 18 - 34 years old. This demographic tends to spend more than men and is often interested in makeup, fashion, jewelry, and home goods.
Highly engaged audiences. Studies have shown that 92% of Pinner's view images multiple times vs. 70% of Instagrammers. Additionally, 90% of Pinterest users return frequently to the same board, meaning that it's easy to build loyalty among loyal fans.
Higher average order values (AOV). A recent report showed that the median value of a purchase made on Pinterest was $79.99, almost twice the median value of purchases made on Instagram ($39.90).
Cons of focusing on Pinterest:
Lower CPMs. When comparing similar campaigns across the two platforms, the cost per thousand impressions (CPM) on Pinterest is significantly lower than Instagram.
Larger competitors. Pinterest currently ranks behind Instagram in terms of overall numbers of users, but it still competes with several large companies like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Sephora, and Home Depot.
It depends...
Many people believe that having lots of followers on Pinterest is necessary to become successful. But, the reality is that you don't necessarily need thousands of followers to generate significant results. Some studies show that having fewer followers actually increases conversions. This makes sense because the smaller the community the greater the chances of getting noticed.
However, if you're targeting a very small niche, having a larger follower base may boost your visibility and increase the chance of generating leads. On the flip side, if you're promoting a niche product that appeals mostly to older males, having a massive following on Pinterest may not work too well.
To begin with, choose products that appeal to your target audience. Remember that people go to Pinterest to discover items they either already own or plan to acquire in the near future. They typically don't care about purchasing something they've never seen or heard of before. Therefore, make sure that you pick products that match the preferences of your ideal buyer persona.
Once you've chosen your product(s), create compelling descriptions that include keywords relevant to your niche. Make sure to add call-to-actions with clear instructions on how buyers can contact you. Next, post high quality pictures of your products along with short descriptions explaining what they are and why they're worth buying. Finally, follow the best practices outlined above to optimize your profile page so that search engines recognize you as an authority figure in your industry.
In addition to writing blog articles, creating videos, setting up webinars, and hosting ebooks, you can also leverage Pinterest for selling digital downloads. Just think of it as a bonus channel for driving extra traffic to your website. To attract attention, you can host giveaways, discounts, contests, and promotions. Your goal is to give away products that are highly valuable to your target audience.
When it comes time to promote your offers, Pinterest provides several tools that make it super simple. First, you can easily share your content with your audience. Second, you can connect your account to popular apps like Evernote, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and Instapaper. Third, you can schedule automatic pins based on certain events such as birthdays, holidays, milestones, and anniversaries. Lastly, you can send direct messages to followers inviting them to download exclusive deals.
Affiliates can sign up for paid plans ranging anywhere from $50-$100 depending upon the type of services provided. Plus, you'll receive additional compensation when referring new affiliates.
If you'd prefer to sell physical products, you can opt to partner with ClickBank or Payhip. Each company specializes in offering various types of products from software to books to clothing and more. Check out the complete guide to becoming an affiliate marketer on ClickBank for details on signing up and choosing your first product.
You can also sell your own course, eBook, video series, audio book, membership site, or anything else that you can turn into a digital download for sale on Clickbank.com.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.