If you’ve ever wanted to make money online without creating a ton of new products or managing inventory, affiliate marketing is a great place to start. Amazon’s affiliate and influencer programs allow you to earn commissions by sharing links to products people already shop for. Combine that with Pinterest—the ultimate search engine for inspiration and shopping—and you have a system that can generate income for years with pins you create once.
This guide will walk you through the exact process I use, step by step. I’ll also share tips for beginners so you can avoid common mistakes and get started faster.
Step 1: Set Up Amazon Associates or Amazon Influencer
Amazon offers two powerful programs that let you earn money by recommending products, and understanding the difference between them will help you choose the right starting point for your journey.
Apply for both here: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com
Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
The Amazon Associates program is the traditional affiliate program that has helped thousands of bloggers, influencers, and content creators monetize their recommendations. This program works by providing you with unique affiliate links for individual products that you want to share with your audience.
When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission that varies by product category. The beauty of this program is its simplicity—you don’t need a massive following to get started, making it perfect for beginners who want to test the waters of affiliate marketing.
One important requirement to keep in mind is that you must generate at least three qualifying sales within 180 days of approval. If you don’t meet this threshold, Amazon will close your account, but don’t worry—you can always reapply once you’re ready with a better strategy.
Amazon Influencer Program
The Amazon Influencer Program takes things a step further by giving you your own customizable Amazon storefront. This isn’t just a collection of links—it’s a personalized shopping destination where you can create themed idea lists, upload photos and videos of products you love, and build a curated shopping experience for your followers.
The program allows you to create shoppable posts directly within Amazon’s ecosystem, which can be incredibly powerful for building trust and authority. Your followers can browse your entire storefront, discovering products they might not have found otherwise, which increases your earning potential beyond single-product recommendations.
To qualify for the Influencer Program, you’ll typically need an established social media presence on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Facebook. Amazon reviews your follower count and engagement rates, though they don’t publish specific numbers—even micro-influencers with engaged audiences often get approved.
TIP: Apply to both programs if you qualify! Start with Associates to get your feet wet and build momentum, then add the Influencer Program for more sophisticated content options and the ability to create curated storefronts that can become passive income generators.
Step 2: Set Up Your Amazon Influencer Storefront
Once you receive that exciting approval email for the Amazon Influencer Program, it’s time to transform your storefront from a blank canvas into a compelling shopping destination. Your storefront is essentially your own mini-boutique within Amazon, and setting it up strategically can significantly impact your earning potential.
Start by creating idea lists that resonate with your audience and reflect your expertise or interests. These could be seasonal collections like “Summer Outfit Inspiration” or “Cozy Fall Home Essentials,” or they could be more evergreen categories like “Kitchen Favorites” or “Work From Home Must-Haves.” Each list should tell a story and provide value beyond just random product recommendations.
Visual content is crucial for your storefront’s success, so invest time in uploading high-quality photos or videos of products you genuinely use and love. These don’t have to be professional photoshoots—authentic, lifestyle shots often perform better because they help shoppers visualize how products fit into real life.
As you build your storefront, think about organization from your visitor’s perspective. Create clear categories that make it easy for people to find what they’re looking for, whether they arrive seeking specific recommendations or just want to browse for inspiration.
Consider using Canva to create styled collages or graphics that showcase multiple products in an aesthetically pleasing way. These visuals can do double duty—use them on your Amazon storefront and repurpose them for Pinterest pins, creating a cohesive brand experience across platforms.
TIP: Keep your storefront organized with intuitive categories and update it regularly with seasonal content. Think of it as your personal boutique inside Amazon—the more curated and thoughtful it appears, the more likely visitors are to trust your recommendations and make purchases.
Step 3: Create a Pinterest Business Account
Pinterest is where your affiliate marketing strategy really comes to life, serving as the traffic engine that drives potential customers to your Amazon recommendations. Unlike other social platforms that focus on real-time updates, Pinterest functions more like a visual search engine where your content can generate traffic for months or even years after posting.
Setting Up Your Account
You have two options for getting started with Pinterest business features. If you already have a personal Pinterest account with boards and followers, you can convert it to a business account while keeping all your existing content and connections. Alternatively, starting fresh with a new business account gives you a clean slate to build a focused, niche-specific presence from day one.
To convert your personal account, you’ll find the option by following Edit Profile > Account Management > Convert Account
Optimizing Your Profile
Your profile is often the first impression potential followers get, so make it count with a clear, professional profile photo that represents your brand or niche. Whether it’s a headshot, logo, or lifestyle image, ensure it’s high-quality and instantly recognizable when it appears as a small thumbnail next to your pins.
Write a keyword-rich bio that clearly explains what your account offers and who it serves. Instead of just saying “I love home decor,” try something more specific like “Helping you create a cozy home on a budget with affordable Amazon finds and DIY inspiration.” This not only tells visitors what to expect but also helps Pinterest understand and categorize your content.
Transparency builds trust, so add a disclaimer in your bio stating that you’re part of the Amazon Associates Program. This satisfies disclosure requirements and sets honest expectations with your audience from the start—people appreciate knowing when affiliate links are involved.
Building Your Board Strategy
Create boards that align with the content you’ll be sharing, but think beyond just product categories. Boards like “Affordable Home Decor,” “Travel Essentials,” or “Gift Ideas Under $50” work well because they combine product focus with user intent and search keywords.
The key to looking authentic on Pinterest is variety—don’t fill your account exclusively with your own affiliate pins. Follow the 80/20 rule by pinning 80% of content from other creators and 20% of your own affiliate content, which helps you appear as a valuable curator rather than someone just pushing products.
TIP: Pinterest rewards accounts that provide inspiration and value, so focus on creating mood boards, styled outfits, and room designs rather than just posting plain product images. Think “lifestyle magazine” rather than “product catalog” when planning your content strategy.
Step 4: Create Pins in Canva
Creating visually stunning pins is where your creative skills shine and where you can really differentiate yourself from others in the Amazon affiliate space. Canva has become the go-to tool for Pinterest creators because it makes professional-looking design accessible to everyone, regardless of design experience.
Getting Started with Canva
While Canva’s free version provides plenty of templates and tools to create beautiful pins, investing in Canva Pro can be a game-changer for affiliate marketers. The background remover tool alone saves hours of editing time and allows you to create those clean, professional product collages that perform so well on Pinterest.
Start by setting up your pin dimensions at 1080 x 1920 pixels, which is the optimal size for Pinterest’s current algorithm. This 9:16 aspect ratio takes up more real estate in users’ feeds, increasing the likelihood of engagement and clicks.
Sourcing and Arranging Images
You can save product images directly from Amazon listings. If you own the products, consider taking your own styled photos to add authenticity and help you stand out from others promoting the same items.
Upload your images to Canva and experiment with different arrangements. The goal is to create something that stops the scroll and makes people want to learn more.
Adding Text That Converts
Adding a headline to your pin will add an extra layer of SEO to your content. It immediately tells viewers what your pin is about before they read the description. Use SEO-friendly keywords in your text, but make them enticing—”Cozy Fall Outfit Ideas Under $50″ performs better than just “Fall Sweaters” because it combines keywords with a specific benefit.
Choose fonts that are easy to read at small sizes, and ensure there’s enough contrast between your text and background. Adding a subtle drop shadow or outline to text can make it pop against busy backgrounds without overwhelming the design.
Streamlining Your Workflow
Connect your Canva account directly to Pinterest to streamline uploading, though some creators prefer downloading pins and uploading manually to have more control over descriptions and tags. Either way, batch creation is your friend—when you’re in a creative flow, make multiple versions of each pin with different text, colors, or arrangements.
TIP: Create at least 3-5 different pin designs for each product or collection you’re promoting. Different designs appeal to different people, and Pinterest’s algorithm favors fresh content, so having variations lets you repin the same products without looking repetitive.
Step 5: Post Your Pins on Pinterest
Now that you have beautiful pins ready to share, understanding Pinterest’s posting options and best practices will maximize your reach and earning potential. The platform offers different pin formats, each with unique advantages for affiliate marketers.
Regular Pins
Regular pins are the traditional Pinterest format and remain highly effective for affiliate marketing. These work best when you’re linking to your Amazon storefront or a specific idea list rather than individual products, as they allow you to showcase multiple items while keeping things simple.
The process is straightforward—upload your carefully crafted image, write an SEO-optimized title that includes relevant keywords, and craft a description that provides value while naturally incorporating your affiliate disclosure. Then paste your link in the destination URL field, and you’re ready to publish.
Remember that regular pins can be saved to multiple boards over time, extending their reach. Start by pinning to your most relevant board, then save to other related boards over the following weeks to maintain momentum without appearing spammy.
Idea Pins (The Affiliate Sweet Spot)
Idea Pins have become incredibly powerful for affiliate marketers because they allow you to tag multiple products directly within a single pin. Unlike regular pins that can only link to one URL, Idea Pins let you tag up to 24 products, dramatically increasing your earning potential per pin.
Start by uploading your image or collage, then craft a keyword-rich title that captures attention and ranks well in search. Your description should provide value—share styling tips, explain why you love these products, or describe how they solve a common problem. Include 2-3 relevant hashtags like #AmazonFinds, #AmazonAffiliate, or niche-specific tags like #CozySeason or #HomeOrganization.
Using Amazon’s Site Stripe Tool
Amazon’s Site Stripe is your best friend for getting proper affiliate links quickly. When you’re logged into your Associates account and browsing Amazon, the Site Stripe toolbar appears at the top of every page. Simply click “Get Link,” choose “Text” or “Short Link,” and copy your unique affiliate URL.
To download the SiteStripe add-on to your browser, navigate from your Amazon Associates home page to the three line menu on the right, Tools > SiteStripe
For Idea Pins, you’ll use the tag items option to add each product link individually. Make sure to toggle the affiliate link option ON—this is crucial for proper disclosure and ensures you get credit for any sales. While you can tag up to 24 products, keeping it to 10 or fewer often performs better as it doesn’t overwhelm viewers.
Cross-Platform Optimization
If you’re also posting to your Amazon Influencer storefront, resize the same image to 536 x 696 pixels to maintain visual consistency across platforms. This cohesive branding helps build recognition and trust as people encounter your content in different places.
TIP: Test different posting times and track your analytics to find when your audience is most active. While Pinterest isn’t as time-sensitive as other social platforms, posting when your audience is online can give your pins an initial boost that helps them gain traction in the algorithm.
Step 6: Stay Consistent & Grow
This is the make-or-break stage where many aspiring affiliate marketers give up, but consistency is truly the secret sauce that transforms Pinterest from a hobby into a reliable income stream. Understanding that success on Pinterest is a marathon, not a sprint, will help you maintain realistic expectations and stay motivated during the building phase.
Developing a Sustainable Posting Schedule
Commit to posting regularly, aiming for at least 3-5 new pins per week to maintain momentum with Pinterest’s algorithm. This doesn’t mean you need to create entirely new content every day—you can create variations of successful pins, reshare to different boards, or batch-create content during productive sessions.
Quality always trumps quantity on Pinterest, so it’s better to post three exceptional pins per week than daily mediocre content. Your pins are working for you 24/7 once published, so investing time in creating high-quality content pays dividends for months or even years to come.
Building a Natural-Looking Account
Mix your affiliate pins with non-affiliate content to create a balanced, valuable presence on Pinterest. Share DIY tutorials, inspirational quotes related to your niche, or helpful tips that don’t include product links—this positions you as a helpful curator rather than someone solely focused on commissions.
Actively engage with the Pinterest community by repinning other creators’ content that aligns with your niche. This not only makes your account look more natural but also helps you stay current with trends and potentially builds relationships with other creators who might share your content in return.
Mastering Pinterest SEO
Remember that Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, so keyword optimization is crucial for long-term success. Research trending keywords in your niche using Pinterest’s search bar suggestions, and naturally incorporate these into your pin titles, descriptions, and board names.
Stay updated on seasonal trends and plan content accordingly—pinning fall content in July or holiday gift guides in September positions you to catch the wave when search volume peaks. Pinterest users often plan months ahead, so being early with seasonal content is actually an advantage.
Tracking Progress and Adapting
Use Pinterest Analytics to understand what’s working and what isn’t, paying attention to which pins get the most saves, clicks, and outbound clicks. This data is gold for refining your strategy—double down on what works and adjust or eliminate what doesn’t resonate with your audience.
Be patient with the process, as pins often take 3-6 months to gain significant traction in Pinterest’s algorithm. What seems like a slow start often turns into exponential growth as your older pins continue generating traffic while you add new content to the mix.
TIP: Don’t expect overnight success, but do expect compound results over time. Think of each pin as an employee that works for you indefinitely—the more quality “employees” you add to your Pinterest account, the more passive income potential you create for the future.
Amazon & Pinterest Policies
Understanding and following the platform policies isn’t just about avoiding account suspension—it’s about building a sustainable, trustworthy business that serves your audience well. Both Amazon and Pinterest have specific guidelines for affiliate marketing that you need to follow religiously.
Disclosure Requirements
Always disclose your affiliate relationship clearly in your Pinterest bio and within individual pin descriptions. A simple statement like “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases” satisfies legal requirements and builds trust with your audience. Transparency isn’t just required—it actually increases conversions because people appreciate honesty.
Maintaining Account Health
Avoid the temptation to spam Pinterest with only affiliate pins, even when you’re eager to maximize earnings. Pinterest’s algorithm can detect and penalize accounts that appear overly promotional, which can drastically reduce your reach. Maintain a healthy balance of affiliate and non-affiliate content to keep your account in good standing.
Following Amazon’s Guidelines
Amazon has specific rules about where and how you can use affiliate links. You cannot send affiliate links via email, use them in paid advertising campaigns, or post them in certain restricted contexts. However, Pinterest is fully approved for affiliate link usage, making it one of the best platforms for Amazon Associates to build their business.
Remember that Amazon regularly audits accounts, and violations can result in immediate termination without warning. Stay updated on their Operating Agreement and follow best practices to protect your income stream—it’s much easier to maintain compliance than to try to get reinstated after a violation.
TIP: When in doubt, err on the side of over-disclosure and conservative practices. It’s better to be extra careful with compliance than to risk losing your account and the passive income you’ve worked hard to build.
Final Thoughts
This method isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but it is one of the simplest ways to start earning passive income online. By combining Amazon’s programs with Pinterest’s search traffic, you can create pins once and continue to get clicks and commissions for months to come.
The beauty of this system lies in its simplicity and scalability. You don’t need to handle inventory, process payments, or deal with customer service—Amazon handles all of that while you focus on creating helpful, inspiring content that connects people with products they’ll love. Every pin you create becomes a potential income generator that works around the clock, whether you’re sleeping, on vacation, or working on your next project.
Stay consistent, focus on quality, and remember—it’s better to grow slow and steady than to burn out or risk having your account shut down for spammy behavior. The creators who succeed long-term are those who view this as building a valuable resource for their audience rather than just chasing quick commissions.
Remember that every successful affiliate marketer started exactly where you are now. The difference between those who succeed and those who give up often comes down to persistence, patience, and a willingness to keep learning and adapting. Your first sale might take weeks, but once you crack the code for your niche, the potential for growth is limitless.
Start small, stay consistent, and let the power of compound effort work in your favor. Before you know it, you’ll wake up to commission notifications from pins you created months ago—and that’s when you’ll truly understand the power of passive income through Amazon affiliate marketing on Pinterest.