Want to earn a full-time income from your blog? Or become a Pinterest marketing superstar? Then you’ll want to follow Malena Permentier.
Over the last four years, the successful blogger and Pinterest expert has transformed her online presence into a bona fide blogging business. After starting her career with a law degree and transitioning to marketing, Malena eventually found her stride in blogging and content creation. Today, in addition to her blog, Malena has a diversified digital portfolio, which includes a TikTok channel and a range of educational digital products — and earns her five figures a month.
Through her TikTok, Malena shares her blogging expertise with a following over 50K strong. There, she opens up to her audience about her blogging journey, and shares tips on finding blog content ideas, using Pinterest to drive blog traffic, and choosing a blogging platform.
We sat down with Malena to discuss her journey from freelance marketer to full-time creator, as well as her actionable tips to earn the most from your blog and expand your digital offering.
You started your career with a law degree, transitioned into marketing, and then became a creator. What motivated you to change careers and how did that journey unfold?
When I began working a regular office job after graduating, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I knew I’d be much more productive and enjoy my work more if I could set my own schedule.
I discovered platforms like Upwork, where people were freelancing, and started reaching out to see if anyone could connect me with copywriting jobs. That’s how I began working in marketing, where I gained a lot of skills that later helped me build my blog into the business it is today.
After freelancing for a few years, though, I realized it wasn’t ideal either. Instead of having one boss, I had many! I was getting overworked and felt like there had to be something better.
In November 2020, I decided to start a blog after watching a YouTube video about someone making great money from blogging. As soon as my blog income matched my freelance income, I quit freelancing to focus on my blog, full-time.
Then, in July 2023, I decided to try TikTok. I started posting videos on how I built my blog, used Pinterest for traffic, and monetized it. People loved the content, and that’s when I got the idea for my first digital product.
I started by selling my top five high-converting Pinterest templates so people could drive more traffic to their own blogs. The response was fantastic, which motivated me to create even more digital products for bloggers who want to grow their businesses.
Moving to New York City is a big step! What prompted the change and how has the transition impacted your work as a creator?
When I was 25, I visited New York City for the first time, and that visit confirmed what I already knew: I was going to live here one day — even though I had no idea how I was going to make it work.
A big part of what motivated me to build an online business was the desire to be location-independent. I wanted the freedom to choose where I live. My blog and business allow me to do that, which is why I love them so much.
Living in New York has inspired me to take my business and my future even more seriously. This city pushes you to grow — and I love that.
I also moved to NYC to attend acting school, which is something I can now finally afford. Pursuing creative endeavours motivates me to be as efficient as possible in my work because there are only so many hours in a day.
How has your background in marketing influenced the strategies you use today to build a successful blog and teach Pinterest growth?
My background in marketing helped me connect the dots for building a successful blog. It made things like keyword research and writing blog posts feel less daunting. But, after starting my blog, I quickly realized that I didn’t know as much as I thought!
As I began learning how to use Pinterest to drive traffic, I discovered a real passion for analyzing algorithms. Testing things out and finding patterns in the algorithm was exciting and helped me develop a strong foundation. That interest motivated me to master those skills.
You’ve grown your blog to the point of earning five figures a month. Could you walk us through the key steps that led to that level of success?
The biggest mindset shift that helped me grow my blog was focusing more on what works and less on what doesn’t.
For example, when I first started the blog, I wanted to cover a wide range of topics. But when I noticed that some topics weren’t getting any views, I stopped covering them.
When I saw that certain topics were popular, I doubled down on those. As soon as I stopped stubbornly pursuing ideas that weren’t working, my growth accelerated.
A big part of my blog’s success has come from learning to use Pinterest effectively — it’s incredibly powerful for driving traffic. I teach all my strategies in my Viral Pinterest Strategies course.
I also began diversifying my business at the right time. Once my blog was doing well, I started building an audience on TikTok, posting videos on blogging and Pinterest traffic strategies. This helped me transition naturally into selling digital products, as my audience was already engaged with these topics.
What were the first steps you took to monetize your blog and how did you scale from there to create multiple income streams?
My first step was to explore ways to monetize my blog through Amazon Associates. I knew that would likely be the easiest way to start making money — and I was right.
Next, I focused on reaching 50,000 sessions within a 30-day period, which is the requirement to work with a full-service ad agency for displaying ads on your blog. Knowing I needed to reach that target helped me concentrate on creating content that worked and relinquish what didn’t.
About a year and a half after starting my blog, I signed with Mediavine and that was a turning point. I could feel my life changing and my business growing!
Once, I read that you shouldn’t start another business until your first one is profitable. I don’t remember who said it, but I took it to heart. After signing my first blog with Mediavine, I started a second one, which is now also with Mediavine. After that, I launched a third blog.
Starting a TikTok account was another key step in diversifying my business, although I didn’t fully realize it at the time. It made transitioning into selling digital products feel natural.
You teach other creators how to leverage Pinterest and blogging. How did you identify Pinterest as a key platform for traffic and revenue growth? And what was the aha moment when you realized its potential?
Before starting my blog, I’d been using Pinterest for years to get inspiration for everything — fashion, outfits, home decor, cooking, you name it. My big aha moment was realizing that, as a blogger, I could use Pinterest as a powerful marketing tool to drive traffic to my blog.
When I started my blog, I knew I wanted to try generating traffic from both Google and Pinterest. After a few months of posting, I noticed it was much faster and easier to get traffic from Pinterest than from Google.
At the time, Google experts criticized “Pinterest-only” traffic strategies, saying Pinterest traffic wasn’t consistent and that Google would always be a superior source. However, I found the opposite to be true. Many of my blog posts from years ago still drive significant traffic from the same Pinterest pins today.
I started trusting Pinterest traffic more when I signed with Mediavine and saw my traffic growing steadily. I also focused on learning everything about the Pinterest algorithm and used those insights to my advantage.
As a content creator with a strong business focus, how do you approach digital product creation? What were some of the first products you launched, and how have they evolved over time?
When I first started posting videos on TikTok, I received a lot of questions like “how do I make Pinterest pins in Canva?” or “what is the best way to find keywords?” Those questions led me to create two digital products: 5 Viral Pinterest Pin Templates and 152 Profitable Seasonal Keyword Ideas.
The questions I get from my audience give me a great sense of what they need help with. All my digital products have been very feedback-driven based on my TikTok audience’s needs.
This year, I finally launched my Viral Pinterest Strategies Ebook Course, where I teach people how to use Pinterest to drive traffic to their blogs.
My approach to creating digital products hasn’t changed much, but I think I’m more efficient now because I understand the infrastructure of making and selling digital products.
How do you balance the technical aspects of running a blog — like SEO and monetization — with creating content that truly resonates with your audience?
All my content is based on keyword research, which usually helps ensure I can monetize the post because people are actively searching for those keywords on Google or Pinterest.
However, when I first started, I struggled to strike the right balance. I was more inclined to write about topics I personally found interesting.
Now, everything I create is informed by keyword research, which really takes the guesswork out of content creation.
What has been the biggest challenge in building a sustainable business through your blog and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was not giving up in the first year and a half! It’s really hard to keep going when you don’t see immediate results.
My blog’s growth has been unusual. It went from barely performing to growing very quickly about a year and a half in. Since then, the main challenge has been making the right decisions around scaling and hiring.
I believe the key is taking small, steady steps, which makes scaling much less overwhelming. For example, I started building a TikTok audience, an email list, and a YouTube channel, all of which have contributed to my business’s growth. Launching two additional blogs has also been great for expanding the business.
What advice would you give to creators looking to transition from hobby blogging to earning a full-time income, especially using platforms like Pinterest?
My first piece of advice for moving from a hobby blog to a full-time income blog is to review your content. Are certain posts already getting views? Look into which types of posts are gaining traction — this is valuable information.
Next, do keyword research on Pinterest by searching for topics you’re writing about to see which types of pins are performing well. Pinterest Trends is also a great tool for generating new blog post ideas.
Pinterest is especially beneficial for visual niches. If your blog niche is visual, you’re in a good position. If it’s not visual, it can be more challenging to drive traffic, though some non-visual niches — like personal finance and motherhood topics — can also do well on Pinterest.
Finally, I’d recommend investing in a Pinterest course (from a trusted source) as soon as possible. I initially tried to figure everything out on my own, which wasted a lot of time.
A course won’t teach you everything about building a successful blog, but it will help you establish a strong foundation, allowing you to continue learning and growing from there.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Photo: Courtesy of Malena Permentier
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Further reading
- What Is a Creator Educator? (And How To Become One)
- Beyond Influencing: Why Creator Educators Are Making Bank
- How To Create a Blog Business Plan (+ Free Template)
- How To Sell Digital Products Online: A 6-Step Launch Checklist
- How To Make Passive Income Selling Digital Products
- 9 Best Examples of Digital Products Created on The Leap
