How To Become A Pinterest Creator (and Get Paid!) - Loud Money Moves (2024)

The new buzzword being tossed around these social media streets is the word ‘creator,’ and it seems everyone wants to be one these days. Well, the good news is that anyone can become a creator no matter your age or background.

On Pinterest, creators create pins that inspire and build community.

But how does one go from simply being a ‘creator’ that creates free content on the site, to being a Pinterest creator that gets paid?

Well, as a paid creator on Pinterest myself, I’m going to share with you how I get paid to pin, as well as other ways to earn on Pinterest.

What Does It Mean to be a Creator on Pinterest?

To summarize this best, in the words of Pinterest:

“ Creators on Pinterest are people who create original content to build a community and inspire others with their ideas. Anyone who creates content on the platform can be a creator.”

– Pinterest

Since just about anyone can become a creator, it takes a bit more effort to become a creator that gets paid to pin.

Steps to Become a Pinterest Creator

To get started as a Pinterest creator, simply follow the below next steps.

The way you go about this first step is going to be one of the most important pieces to getting paid by Pinterest.

Open a Pinterest Creator Account

You have two choices when it comes to opening a Pinterest account. One is to open a personal account, and the other is to have a Pinterest business account.

Pinterest Personal Account

A personal account will allow you to create boards, pins, do re-pins and engage with other users. Mainly this type of account is good for people interested in using the social media platform for fun and for finding inspiring ideas and content.

With a personal account, you’ll only be able to create certain types of pins, such as static pins and Idea pins.

Pinterest Business Account

A business account will allow you to do the same as a personal account, but you’ll have more options open to you for creating on the site, as well as have access to Pinterest analytics.

The analytics feature is important for creators that want to better understand which pins are performing well, and how that’s leading to making money on Pinterest.

In order to earn a paycheck directly from Pinterest, you’ll need to be a creator with a Pinterest Business account.

If you’re serious about making money on Pinterest, then I would recommend opening a Pinterest business account.

Agree to the Creator Code

The Pinterest Creator Code is a code of conduct that Pinterest expects creators to follow. It is a commitment to lead with kindness when creating content and interacting with other users on the site. As a positive online space, Pinterest expects all creators to take this oath of kindness and adhere to it.

Create Inspiring Content

The fastest way to get paid on Pinterest is to create inspiring content that moves users to take action. The pins that perform the best are visually appealing, tell a good story and make people want to learn more.

These pins can be tutorials, product demonstrations, advice or more. The pins can be created in 3 different formats.

Standard Pins

Standard pins are high quality, vertical images that pop out in people’s feeds. Pinterest recommends these be a 2:3 aspect ratio.

Video Pins

Video pins are just as they sound. They are motion-based pins that lead with a clear hook and capture your audience’s attention within the first few seconds.

Idea Pins

Idea Pins are a Pinterest creator’s newest tool. They are multi-page canvas that can be made up of images and videos and share an original idea.

Monetize Your Content

Once you’ve started to create pins, you can begin to monetize your content.

There are no shortage of ways to go about doing this as a Pinterest creator. So let’s go over a few ways to get started and where to find more information on each specific monetization tactic.

Pinterest Creator Fund

The Pinterest Creator fund awards you $25,000 in the form of a cash grant, ad credits, and an equipment stipend. In order to become eligible to apply, you must have a Pinterest business account and have created Idea Pins before.

This fund is paid out directly by Pinterest and is geared towards creators in underrepresented communities. You can read more about it in my Pinterest Creator Fund breakdown.

Pinterest Creator Rewards

Pinterest Creator Rewards is an invite only program that pays Pinterest creators monthly bonus rewards for creating inspiring and engaging Idea pins. Invitation into the program also requires you to have a business account and be 18 years of age or older.

I was fortunate enough to be invited into the program a few short months ago. So far, I’ve earned $2,336. Read more about the Pinterest Creator Rewards program.

Pinterest Affiliate Marketing

You can also choose to monetize your content by pinning affiliate links on Pinterest.

Affiliate marketing is a referral based online business model where you earn a commission for referring others to a product or service. It’s a model used by some of the biggest companies in the world to drive sales including Amazon, Sephora, Walmart and Target.

Additionally, there are ways to do affiliate marketing on Pinterest without a blog, or with a blog. In either case, the affiliate program pays you out commissions, not Pinterest.

You’ll also have plenty of creator tools at your disposal. These tools will help you become a better Pinterest Creator, and ideally earn you more money.

Creator Hub

The Creator Hub will allow you to stay up-to-date with the latest creator news, see your analytics and find monetization opportunities open to you. You can access the creator hub on your Pinterest profile from your mobile phone.

Pinterest Trends

Pinterest trends are exactly what it sounds like. This data will show you exactly what people are searching for right now, so you can create relevant and timely content.

Audience Trends

Audience trends will give you insight into what a particular audience or demographic is engaging with on Pinterest. For niche specific creators, this is an invaluable tool for creating relevant content for your audience.

Learn from Top Pinterest Creators

What better way to learn than to see what some of the top Pinterest Creators are doing!

Pinterest created a special series called ‘Creators Crushing It,’ where they highlight successful creators through a series of episodes. Creators share how they are building their audience through inspired content, as well as share tips to help other creators find success on Pinterest.

You can catch the episodes on this Pinterest board.

Final Thoughts

If you are serious about becoming a paid Pinterest Creator, then I would highly recommend opening a Pinterest business account. This type of account will open up many opportunities for you to monetize your content on Pinterest and earn more money on the site.

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