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10 ways I actually make money on Pinterest
Pinterest isn’t my biggest income stream, but it’s one of my most consistent — from a workflow that takes about an hour a day. Here’s how I actually use it, and the ten ways it earns for me.
The tools I use
Some of the links below are affiliate links — if you sign up or buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever share tools I actually use.
Pinclicks
Pinterest keyword research — I check real search demand before I build anything.
Tailwind
Schedules my pins to drip out automatically, so the account stays active without me.
Lasso
Turns plain affiliate links into clean product boxes that build trust and lift clicks.
If you only take four things from this
Every pin points to a post
Traffic lands on a blog post that earns ad revenue and affiliate income — not a dead-end pin.
Stack the streams
Ads plus affiliates plus timing on one post. Three income streams from one piece of content.
Batch, then schedule
Ten to twenty pins per post, loaded up and dripped out. Active every day without touching it.
Let the data decide
Check what’s working each morning and lean in. Analytics tell you which ideas people actually want.
The 10 ways I earn from pins
Different methods, one engine: a pin sends traffic to a post, and the post does the earning.
Blog ad revenue
Every pin points to a post. When someone clicks, on-site ads earn — whether or not they buy.
In-post affiliate links
My favorite. Write a post that solves a problem, embed links naturally, and let Pinterest send the traffic.
Product roundups
Pinterest users compare. Pull the top items in a category, add links, and point several pins at the one post.
Inspiration-first posts
Deliver the idea people searched for, then weave in the products that make it happen. Useful first, sales second.
Direct affiliate pins
Occasionally and carefully. If it looks native to Pinterest it’s fine; spamming one link across dozens of pins isn’t.
Q4 seasonality
Build fall and holiday content early. Pins published in October keep earning through the whole season.
Batch your pins
Ten to twenty variations per post in one session, then schedule them to drip out over weeks.
Analytics-driven decisions
Check what’s working each morning, double down on what spikes, and refine the headline or image on what stalls.
AI & automation tools
Research, draft, design, schedule, and manage links faster — so more pins circulate in less time.
Stack the streams
Ads, affiliates, and timing on one post. Three income streams from one piece of content — that’s the leverage.
Ready to build the whole system?
The Pinterest Power Stack walks you through the batch-and-schedule workflow I use for every post, plus the exact tools that keep it running.
Get the Pinterest Power Stack →“I don’t treat Pinterest like a hustle. I treat it like a system.“— Lori Ballen
Get the free Pinterest guide
The 6-step Pinterest affiliate income workflow I use — start with data, build the post, batch the pins, and monetize on the blog. Drop your email and it’s yours.
The Pinterest Power Stack
My step-by-step system for turning a single blog post into multiple traffic-generating micro-posts — the exact workflow I use to turn one post into weeks of pins.
- One blog post, many pins and micro-posts
- The batch-and-schedule workflow, laid out
- Use my tools or your own — scale at your pace
Loved this? Pin it.
Hover the image and tap the Pinterest Save button to keep these ten ways on one of your boards — and find your way back anytime.
Ready to turn one blog post into a compounding Pinterest system?
Not ready to buy yet? Grab the free guide above, or get Letters from Lori for more field notes.
Hey there! Just a quick heads-up: some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (including through the Amazon Associates program), at no extra cost to you. Occasionally, products featured here are gifted by brands.
I also use AI tools to help research and create content for you! While I love sharing strategies to help you succeed, please remember that everyone's journey is unique—individual results vary, and there are no guarantees. Thanks so much for stopping by!
