Discover how to monetize your social media in 2025
If you’re only using Pinterest to save recipes or plan your dream home, you’re missing out.
Pinterest isn’t just a pretty place to pin ideas — it’s one of the most underrated traffic sources online right now. And if you’re looking to build a business that doesn’t rely on dancing, being on camera, or chasing followers, Pinterest might be the smartest platform you’re not using yet.
In this post, I’m going to show you five Pinterest side hustles you can start right now — and how people are turning them into real income streams, with some earning $3K, $5K, even $10K per month.
Let’s dive in.
Why Pinterest is a Sleeping Giant
Here’s what most people get wrong about Pinterest:
They think it’s just for DIY crafts, wedding ideas, or dinner recipes. But Pinterest is actually a visual search engine — and unlike TikTok or Instagram, your content has a long shelf life.
Pinterest pins can rank on Google, show up in search results months after they’re posted, and drive traffic to your blog, product, or affiliate links without needing a following.
Think of it as SEO meets social media — with a buyer-focused audience baked in.
1. Affiliate Marketing with Pinterest SEO
This is one of the easiest and most passive side hustles on Pinterest — and no, you don’t need a blog or a storefront to get started.
You can create pins that link directly to affiliate products or blog posts that contain your affiliate links. For example, a pin that says “5 Best Budget Planners for 2025” can link to a blog post or directly to your affiliate page.
If you combine Pinterest SEO with long-tail keywords and niche targeting, your pins can drive traffic (and sales) for months — even years.
Realistic Earnings:
$100 to $1,000/month starting out
$5,000+/month if you build a library of evergreen pins
2. Sell Canva Templates for Teachers, Coaches, or Creators
People are busy — and they’re willing to pay for done-for-you design templates.
Whether it’s classroom worksheets, social media kits, email newsletters, or business planners, Pinterest is a great place to drive traffic to your Gumroad, Etsy, or Shopify store where you sell Canva templates.
Here’s the play:
- Use Canva to create a bundle of niche templates
- Upload them to a digital product platform
- Create Pinterest pins using high-volume keywords
- Schedule and optimize with Tailwind or Pinterest’s own scheduler
This works especially well for targeting specific niches like:
- Teachers looking for classroom resources
- Coaches looking for workbooks
- Small businesses needing social media graphics
3. Design Pinterest Pin Packs and Sell Them
Most small creators struggle to design clickable pins — and they know it.
That’s where you come in.
If you’re decent at design (or even if you’re not — Canva helps), you can create packs of Pinterest pin templates and sell them on Etsy, Creative Market, or your own site. You can also bundle these into upsells with other digital products or use them to launch a mini agency.
Bonus Tip:
Offer custom branding services or pin optimization as an upsell — that’s where the real profit comes in.
4. Become a Pinterest SEO Consultant for Etsy Sellers
Etsy store owners know they need more traffic — but they’re usually overwhelmed or don’t understand Pinterest.
You can offer Pinterest management services where you:
- Design optimized pins
- Write keyword-rich descriptions
- Create a content schedule
- Drive traffic to their Etsy listings
Pinterest is still a top traffic referrer for Etsy, and you can charge a monthly fee for managing a client’s account.
This side hustle can quickly become a full-time gig if you package it well.
5. Curate Viral Pet or Lifestyle Content With Affiliate Links
You don’t have to create original content. You can curate it.
Find royalty-free images or use your own, write up quick captions, and link them to affiliate products (like dog beds, travel gear, or kitchen tools).
Use Pinterest boards to theme your content — and drive affiliate clicks through pins that blend value and product discovery.
It works incredibly well for niches like:
- Pet lovers
- Fitness fanatics
- Home decor addicts
- Minimalist moms
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Relying on random posting — Pinterest is all about strategy and search
- Forgetting to use keywords — Your pin title and description matter just as much as your design
- Sending traffic to weak landing pages — Make sure your blog post, product page, or affiliate offer is optimized to convert
Final Thoughts: Why You Don’t Need to Be an Influencer
Pinterest flips the script on everything you’ve been told about social media.
You don’t need to be charismatic. You don’t need to be a designer. You don’t need to dance or post three times a day.
You just need:
- A valuable offer
- A solid niche
- A strategy built around Pinterest SEO
Whether you want to make your first $100 online or scale to $10K/month, Pinterest can get you there — quietly, consistently, and on your own terms.
Want to Skip the Guesswork?
Grab my free Pinterest Monetization Toolkit or check out the Execution Dashboard if you’re ready to build real income from a platform most people are ignoring.
Let me know which hustle you’re going to try first — or if you want help picking the right one.