Discover how to monetize your social media in 7 days
If you’re looking for a simple, scalable way to start making money online, Pinterest + AI + affiliate marketing is a powerful combination. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through how to build a Pinterest-based affiliate business using free AI tools like ChatGPT—even if you’re starting from scratch.
You don’t need followers. You don’t need to be a designer. And you definitely don’t need to guess your way through the process. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Business Account
Start by creating a Pinterest Business Account. It’s free and gives you access to critical tools like analytics and trend data that a personal account doesn’t.
This lets you see:
- What pins are performing well
- What topics are trending
- Where your traffic is coming from
Switching from a personal to a business account takes seconds. Once that’s done, you’re ready to move.
Step 2: Choose a Niche (Without Overthinking It)
Don’t waste hours trying to find the “perfect” niche. It doesn’t exist. Every niche is competitive. Just pick one that has a clear audience and buying intent. For this example, we’re using the pet niche, specifically answering questions like “Can dogs eat apples?”
That’s all you need—one question-based niche to build your business around.
Step 3: Use ChatGPT to Find High-Traffic Keywords
Open ChatGPT and ask it to:
“Act as an expert in content marketing. Give me 50 keywords related to [your niche] that have high traffic and low competition.”
Save these keywords in a spreadsheet. You’ll use them to generate Pinterest pins and blog content later. For the pet niche, these might include:
- Can dogs eat bananas?
- Can dogs eat cheese?
- Can dogs eat rice?
This gives you dozens of content ideas immediately.
Step 4: Research Pinterest for Inspiration
Take one of your keywords and plug it into Pinterest. For example: “Can dogs eat bread?”
Look at what’s ranking:
- What pins stand out?
- What colors and styles are being used?
- Are they static images or short videos?
Don’t copy. Just model what’s already working. Save or screenshot pins that grab your attention.
Step 5: Create Scroll-Stopping Pins with AI
Upload the screenshot into ChatGPT and use this prompt:
“Act as an expert in Pinterest pin design. Create a prompt that will give me a vertical Pinterest pin similar to this. Include a keyword placeholder and color hex codes.”
Use AI to generate visuals that reflect the keyword. For example, if the pin is about apples, the image must show apples. You can adjust:
- Headline: “Are Apples Safe for Your Furry Friend?”
- Style: Pet-friendly, hand-drawn, bold
- Colors: Use palettes from sites like ColorPalettes.net
This gives you unique, keyword-relevant pins without needing Canva or Photoshop.
Step 6: Find Affiliate Programs That Fit Your Niche
You don’t need Amazon to make money. Here are alternatives:
- Chewy
- The Farmer’s Dog
- PetPlate
- Ask-a-Vet CPA offers (Earn $22.50+ per lead)
- Pet insurance affiliate networks
These programs pay out per lead or sale and can be promoted through content without needing to be a traditional “pet influencer.”
Step 7: Upload and Schedule Pins
Use Canva (or Tailwind) to upload your AI-generated images, resize them to fit Pinterest, and export as PNG, JPG, or MP4.
Make 10 pins per blog post. Batch them for efficiency. This means:
- 50 blog posts = 500 pins
- 10 pins/day = 300 pins/month
Pinterest rewards consistency and volume.
Step 8: Set Up Your Pinterest Boards for SEO
Pinterest is a search engine. Organize your boards like categories:
- Can Dogs Eat Fruits?
- Healthy Dog Treats
- Pet Nutrition for Beginners
Then, optimize each pin with SEO-friendly:
- Titles
- Descriptions
- Tags
Use ChatGPT to write optimized titles and meta descriptions for each keyword.
Step 9: Avoid Linking Directly to Affiliate Offers
Pinterest doesn’t like raw affiliate links. To protect your account and increase conversions:
- Link pins to blog posts, Medium articles, or YouTube videos
- Place your affiliate links inside those articles
This gives you “double exposure”—Pinterest traffic plus potential Google rankings.
Step 10: Show Up Daily and Be Persistent
Here’s the reality: Most people won’t follow through.
If you publish 10 pins/day for 90 days, that’s 900 chances to rank. A few of those pins will hit, start getting traffic, and drive sales.
The key is consistency. Show up like it’s your job—even if it isn’t yet.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t complicated. You just need to do the work.
- Pick a niche
- Use AI to find keywords
- Create valuable pins and blog posts
- Promote smart affiliate offers
- Be consistent for 90 days
Will everyone who reads this make $5K/month? No. But most won’t even try. And if you do, you’ve already separated yourself from the crowd.
If you want the blueprint, the prompts, and the tools to do this faster, check out the membership or automation kit below.
You know what to do. Now show up and do it.