Getting set up with Amazon’s Associates Program is one thing. Figuring out how to post Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest (and stay within the rules!) is where most food bloggers get stuck.
There’s a lot of mixed information out there. Some say you can post affiliate links directly to Pinterest. Others advise against doing this entirely. The reality sits somewhere in between: yes, you can do it, but only if you follow some clear (and sometimes not-so-obvious) guidelines.
We want to help make this all a little clearer by breaking down what you need to know – from setting up your accounts to choosing the right kind of Pins. We’ll also show you how food bloggers are doing this in a more strategic way by sharing recipes on their blog first, then pinning those posts with affiliate links built in. If you’re using a tool like WP Recipe Maker already, this whole thing becomes a lot easier to manage – no extra plugins or messy link tracking needed!
Yes, you can use Amazon Affiliate Links with Pinterest (here’s what changed)
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to post Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest, you’ve probably come across a lot of conflicting advice. Some say it’s against the rules. Others say it’s fine. Thankfully, as of 2024, both platforms have cleared things up.
Amazon’s Program Operating Agreement no longer excludes Pinterest as a traffic source, and Pinterest now officially allows affiliate links in Pins. That means yes – you can share Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest. But you do need to follow a few important rules:
Rule number 1: Disclosure is non-negotiable. Both Pinterest and the FTC require that you let people know your pin contains an affiliate link. Most creators do this by:
Adding hashtags like #ad, #affiliate, or #sponsored in the description.
Including a clear statement like “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases” near the start of the description.
Rule number 2: Original content is expected. Pinterest rewards helpful, unique content. If your account is full of direct Amazon links and product photos, it’s likely to be flagged as spam. That’s why most food bloggers take the blog-first route: create a post on your site, then link to it from Pinterest.
This approach is safer and more effective. It means Pinterest pulls Rich Pin data from your blog, your affiliate links live in context (like inside your recipe), and Amazon sees traffic from your website, not from a social media post.
Important note on Amazon’s Policies: When using Amazon affiliate links, avoid using checkout-adjacent language like “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” in your Pins. Instead, you can use phrasing like “Find it on Amazon” to stay compliant with Amazon’s rules.
Why does blog-first actually work better?
The most reliable way to share Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest – and actually see results – is to use your blog post as the central hub.
Your blog post becomes the home for everything. It provides Pinterest with the Rich Pin metadata it needs (like ingredients, cook time, ratings), offers readers valuable content (such as step-by-step instructions and images), and gives Amazon a compliant source of traffic when someone clicks an affiliate link. For example, a recipe post can serve as a great model for how this works, but the same strategy applies to any blog post where affiliate links are used.
This setup avoids the two biggest issues people run into:
Pinterest flags accounts that only pin product links or reuse Amazon’s images without context.
Amazon’s terms don’t allow affiliate links on just any platform – they expect traffic to come from sites you own and have listed in your Associates dashboard.
With the blog-first strategy, both platforms see what they’re expecting. Pinterest sees a high-quality recipe post. Amazon sees a click from your site. And because readers are already interested when they land on your blog, the 24-hour affiliate cookie kicks in right when they’re most likely to buy.
This workflow is made even easier with WP Recipe Maker, which is particularly helpful for food bloggers. The plugin handles the technical aspects, such as adding the structured data Pinterest requires for Rich Pins and allowing you to insert affiliate links directly into your ingredient or equipment lists. While this example is focused on recipes, the same principles can be applied to any type of blog post where affiliate links are included.
“Helping food bloggers stay compliant with Amazon and Pinterest while still making money is something we take seriously. WP Recipe Maker is built to manage that complexity for you – so you can focus on your content, not the technical setup.”
Before you start: The three non-negotiable requirements
Before adding Amazon affiliate links to Pinterest, there are a few essential things you need to have in place. Without all three of these, you won’t be able to complete the workflow properly or stay within Amazon’s rules. As food blogging is a really common example of this, we’ll use it as the main example throughout this tutorial, but the same principles can be applied to other types of content.
1. An approved Amazon Associates account
You can’t just apply and start sharing links. Amazon needs to approve your application, and they’ll only do that after you’ve made three qualified sales within 180 days. To pass the review, you need to be sending traffic from a site or platform that meets their standards.
But Pinterest alone isn’t enough. Amazon’s official stance is that your content must be original, useful, and publicly accessible, and that means having a proper website. You need to apply using a domain you own and update your account settings to include any social profiles (like your Pinterest account) after you’re approved.
2. A WordPress site or blog where you publish recipes
This is the foundation of the whole setup. Your blog is where your affiliate links will actually live – inside your recipe content, next to your equipment recommendations, and in the metadata that Pinterest pulls in. Without it, you won’t have anywhere for Pinterest to send traffic or for Amazon to see a compliant click source.
3. A Pinterest Business account
You’ll also need to set up (or convert to) a Pinterest Business account. This takes about five minutes and unlocks access to Pinterest Analytics, audience insights, and other tools you’ll want if you’re planning to grow traffic and income from your pins.
If you’re missing any of these, it’s worth pausing now and sorting them first. Many creators run into frustrating roadblocks mid-setup, like getting rejected by Amazon for not having a proper blog or having links pulled for missing disclosures. Save yourself the hassle by laying the groundwork properly – trust us, it’ll save you time and effort in the long run!
Pinterest optimization: Turn recipe cards into Rich Pins
One of the easiest ways to make your Pins stand out (and keep your Amazon and Pinterest accounts happy!) is by linking to a recipe post that uses Pinterest Rich Pins. If you’re using WP Recipe Maker, you don’t have to set anything up manually.
WP Recipe Maker automatically adds the structured data Pinterest needs. As long as Rich Pins are enabled in your plugin settings (they are by default), Pinterest will recognize your recipe metadata and show it directly in the feed. That means your Pin won’t just be an image – it can also display things like cook time, ingredients, and star ratings right below the image. This is what makes your Pins look professional and informative at a glance.
From there, the affiliate links stay exactly where they belong: on your blog. WP Recipe Maker keeps things clean by separating your product links (like kitchen tools) from the Pin itself. The Pin links to your blog post, which contains the equipment section with properly disclosed affiliate links.
You can also use WP Recipe Maker’s premium feature, “Pin Recipe” button, to make things even easier. It can be added anywhere in your recipe card, and you can customize the vertical Pinterest image and preload the description – something like “Get the recipe + see my favorite kitchen tools #affiliate” – to keep things compliant and click-worthy.
Disclosure done right: Building trust while staying compliant
As we’ve already touched on, clear disclosure is so important – not just to stay within Pinterest and Amazon’s terms, but to build trust with your readers.
On Pinterest, the simplest way to do this is by using natural, direct language in your description. For example:
“Homemade pasta with my favorite pasta maker linked in the recipe #affiliate #amazonfinds.” It sounds personal and helpful, while also ticking all the FTC boxes.
Over on your blog, WP Recipe Maker makes things straightforward. The plugin provides a clear space near your equipment section to include a short affiliate disclaimer, right where readers are already looking for product information. No extra styling or plugin needed!
Being transparent doesn’t just keep your accounts safe – it also improves conversions. Readers are more likely to click when they know exactly what to expect, and they trust recommendations from bloggers who are upfront about how they earn.
Just avoid common mistakes like hiding your disclosure at the bottom of the post or using vague phrases like “commissioned links.” Stick with simple tags like #ad or #affiliate, and you’ll be covered!
Quick steps to your first monetized pin
Start with a recipe you love.
Open WP Recipe Maker and add your recipe as usual. Under the Equipment section, include 2–3 tools you genuinely use and recommend – like a sheet pan, blender, or pasta maker.
Add your Amazon affiliate links.
WP Recipe Maker integrates directly with the Amazon Product Advertising API, making it the easiest and most reliable way to add affiliate links to your recipes. Once connected, you can pull in product details, prices, and images straight from Amazon while staying compliant with their guidelines.
Display product images.
In the Template Editor, set the Recipe Equipment block to use the Images or Grid display style. This will show the product photo in your recipe card, which is more eye-catching than just text links.
Check that Rich Pins are enabled.
Go to Settings → Social Sharing in WP Recipe Maker. Rich Pins are turned on by default, so you’re likely already set. Pinterest will now pull structured data from your recipe post automatically.
Publish and create your Pin.
Once your post is live, click your own Pin Recipe button. Use a vertical Pinterest-optimized image and write a clear, enticing description – something like “Get the full recipe + my favorite kitchen tools #affiliate.”
Link to your blog post, not Amazon.
Your pin should go to your recipe URL. This keeps your Amazon and Pinterest accounts compliant while giving readers access to both the recipe and your disclosed equipment links.
Turn your Pinterest traffic into affiliate income
You now know how to post Amazon affiliate links on Pinterest in a way that’s smart, compliant, and actually earns you something back. The blog-first strategy keeps both Pinterest and Amazon happy – and makes your content more useful for readers, too.
WP Recipe Maker makes this simple to set up and easy to scale. It handles the behind-the-scenes tasks like Rich Pin data, affiliate link management (a premium feature), and Pinterest-friendly formatting, so you can focus on sharing great recipes.
Next, select one of your top-performing recipes, add 2–3 equipment links that you genuinely recommend, and follow the workflow we just covered to create your first monetized Pin.
As your recipe collection grows, so do your opportunities to earn. Every new post presents another opportunity to drive Pinterest traffic and Amazon commissions, all managed in one place.
