If you’re a tattoo artist, you’ve correctly chosen the absolute best social media platform for promoting your business. Instagram is a purely visual tool, and its users are all about exploring new aesthetics.
Instagram can definitely help you promote your business and reach more clients. Here are some tips for doing it right:
1. Use only clean, sharp images.
You run a tattoo business – you know the importance of cleanliness and precision! Don’t give your potential clients the wrong impression. Make sure your images have a clean or soft-focus background, bright lighting, and sharp focus. And remember, just because you’re working in a tattoo studio doesn’t mean your photos all have to be taken in the chair! Check out users sashaunisex and dotstolines for a fresh take on tattoo photography.
2. Add a watermark.
This way, if your image gets reposted by a blog-type account like art_motive, you’ll give people even more ways to find you.
It can be a little more discreet, if you prefer…
3. Tag smartly.
Add strong, relevant hashtags on your posts so that people browsing Instagram can find you. Emphasis on relevant! If you start adding dozens of random tags like “amazing”, you’ll start to look spammy and desperate. Check Tags for Likes to find popular keywords in the tattoo or art industry. Popular artist Kami Czapiga uses tags relevant to his specific style…
…and other artists like Peter Aurisch throw on fun tags like “plantsarefriends” that get their artwork viewed in different circles.
4. Show off your process.
If people are digging your tattoos, they’ll also love seeing how you work. Throw up some works in progress!
And don’t be afraid to post some shots from your life, your inspiration and your workplace – these can all help shape your image and brand.
5. Give a shoutout!
Unless you can get your clients to come back in for a photoshoot, most of your images are going to be of raw, red skin. Solution? Re-post your client’s instagrams of their new tattoos in action! This is a great way to show them your appreciation, and they’ll be happy to get the exposure.
If you work with other artists like photographers, illustrators or videographers, make sure to give them shoutouts too. Artists got to have each other’s back… and they might do you a favor by giving you a shoutout back.
6. Boost your following.
Use Archie as your personal PR assistant – this tool will follow real users, like images, and leave authentic comments on other people’s posts based on the parameters and themes you select. Because you have a niche focus, this tool will work especially well for you.
7. Complete your profile.
It would be a shame for all that hard work to go to waste because you forgot to fill in your profile! Make sure to add your location, contact information, and a link to your website. If you have a hashtag for your brand, pop that in too!
8. Explore other social media.
Ok – we know you’re here to learn about Instagram, but if you’re reading this post you’re probably looking for new ways to expand your internet presence, period. Have you considered Pinterest? The name might bring to mind a lot of flowery DIY home decorating projects, but Pinterest has expanded hugely and is now used successfully by all different kinds of professionals. There are some big advantages to this platform – for example, if one of your pins gets popular, it can get repinned over and over again, expanding its lifetime on the internet indefinitely. To start strong with a big following or give a huge bump to your existing followers, try the Pinterest bot Autopin, an excellent service similar to Archie.
Start for free today.