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Pinterest affiliate marketing
Pinterest affiliate marketing means making Pins that link to products and earning a commission when someone buys through your link. You can start without buying products, but income depends on the programme, audience and sales, and is not guaranteed <a href="https://www.printful.com/uk/blog/how-to-make-money-on-pinterest" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Printful</a>.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Choose a topic people search for on Pinterest.
- Make useful Pins about products you recommend.
- Add your affiliate link to each Pin.
- Clearly mark every affiliate Pin as an ad.
- You earn commission only when tracked purchases happen.
- Income is uncertain, so check the rules and records.
Who it suits
Adults who enjoy making useful visual content, can choose a clear topic and are willing to keep creating and testing Pins without expecting quick or guaranteed income.
People use Pinterest to find ideas, products and inspiration. A useful Pin can help someone find a product that suits them; if they buy through your tracked link, the programme may pay you commission.
Step by step
- Choose one useful topic. Pick a specific subject that people use Pinterest to explore, such as home ideas or craft supplies. Choose a topic you can make genuinely helpful Pins about, rather than trying to cover everything. About 30-60 minutes.
- Set up your Pinterest profile. Switch to a Pinterest business account to access analytics tools Awin. Add a short profile description that tells people what your Pins cover. About 30-60 minutes.
- Compare affiliate programmes. Look at programmes such as Awin and Amazon Associates UK Printful. Before applying, check approval conditions, commission rates, cookie windows and whether Pinterest links are allowed. About 1-2 hours.
- Apply and record the rules. Apply to programmes that match your topic and follow their application instructions. Keep a simple record of each programme, product, commission terms and link rules so you can check them later. About 1-3 days, depending on replies.
- Choose products that help your audience. Think about what your intended audience would find useful. Do not recommend a product just because the commission looks attractive; describe it accurately and do not claim you tested it unless you did. About 15-30 minutes per product.
- Make a clear Pin with its link. Create an original image and a useful title, then link the Pin to the relevant product or page using the affiliate link from the programme. Check that the link opens the right page. About 30-60 minutes per Pin at first.
- Mark every affiliate Pin as an ad. Put a prominent “Ad” label at the start of the description so people can recognise the advertising without clicking. UK guidance says “Sponsored,” “Gifted” or “affiliate” alone may not be enough ASA. About 2-5 minutes per Pin.
- Write an accurate description. Explain what the Pin links to and make the description useful on its own. Do not imply that you personally used or tested a product if you have not. About 10-20 minutes per Pin.
- Review results and improve your next Pins. Look at Pinterest analytics and the programme's reports to see which Pins attract attention and which generate tracked sales. Views and clicks do not guarantee a purchase or commission. About 20-30 minutes weekly.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose one topic, set up a Pinterest business account, compare two affiliate programmes, and draft a small batch of clearly labelled Pins for products that genuinely fit your audience.
The money
You do not set the commission rate: the affiliate programme sets it, and rates and cookie windows can vary. Compare the current terms, then track commissions actually confirmed and subtract your own costs; do not treat views or clicks as income.
Example only: if a programme confirms £40 commission in one week and you spend £5 on related costs, £40 - £5 = £35 before any tax. Separately, if another programme confirms €30 and your costs are €4, €30 - €4 = €26 before any tax; these are made-up examples, not forecasts.
The rules
Affiliate marketing is allowed in the UK and Ireland. Follow the platform and programme terms, and clearly label advertising. Check current tax, data protection and programme rules for your circumstances. There is no separate sector licence identified. If you’re unsure, check with the relevant body.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and allowance. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is gross income before expenses. If your trading income is above this, tell HMRC GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles.
- Self Assessment. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the relevant tax year GOV.UK. Ask HMRC if you’re unsure whether you need to register.
- Affiliate ads. Affiliate links are likely to count as advertising. Make sure people can clearly see that your content is an ad. Put a prominent “Ad” label upfront. Both you and the brand can be responsible ASA ASA.
- Data protection fee. Use the ICO’s self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a data protection fee. The ICO lists advertising or marketing another person’s business, goods or services as an example where a fee is required. Affiliate marketing may fall within this example, so use the tool to check how the rules apply to your activity ICO.
- Programme eligibility. Before you apply, check each affiliate programme’s current approval conditions and link rules Awin.
Ireland
- Tax registration. If you’re a PAYE worker, you must register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare the income on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue. Ask Revenue if you’re unsure which applies.
- Self-employed tax. If you’re self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC under self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October Citizens Information.
- Affiliate ads. Clearly label commercial content, including Pins with affiliate links. Irish guidance recommends “#Ad” and says “if in doubt, label it” CCPC.
- Programme eligibility. Before you apply, check each programme’s current approval conditions, commission details and link rules Awin.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Expecting views or clicks to turn into guaranteed sales.
- Choosing products for the commission instead of their usefulness to your audience.
- Forgetting a clear “Ad” label on an affiliate Pin.
- Assuming every programme has the same rates, cookie window or link rules.
- Claiming you tested a product when you have not.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.