Tattoo Artists: How To Get More Clients

The popularity of tattoos has grown significantly in recent decades. It wasn’t so long ago that they were a niche interest, yet today you’ll find a significant portion of the population — some 32%, according to Pew Research Center — with at least one. And that number is rising all the time.

This is good news for people who wish to become tattoo artists, as there’s clearly a market for their skills. However, as with most things, competition for customers can be competitive. If you’re not getting as many clients as you’d like, then check out the tips below, which should help. 

Perfect Your Style

You can see why some tattoo artists decide to offer as many different types of tattoos as possible. Their thinking is that the more styles they can do, the greater the number of people who will be interested in their services. However, that’s not really the case. People look for specialty skills when they’re getting something that will last a lifetime. They want to work with an artist who has perfected their style, not who does ten different styles kinda well. Find your style, and nail it. When people want that style of tattoo, they’ll know exactly where to turn. 

Develop Your Digital Profile

The internet will be your best asset when it comes to promoting your services and finding new clients. Many people interested in a tattoo will get in contact with an artist directly having checked out their work on their social media profile, for instance. Post regularly, post flashes, and let people know your availability. If you’re going to advertise online, make sure you set the ad to a specific location (i.e., where you live). You’ll get word-of-mouth referrals, but the internet will certainly be your main source of work if you invest the necessary time and money. 

Upgrade Your Tools

You can’t do excellent work with substandard tools. And in the tattooing world, excellent work has to be your standard. There’s no alternative; every job has to be the best. If you’ve just started out on your tattoo artist journey, then you may need to upgrade your entry-level tools before you begin making a living from your craft. The best tattoo machines will allow you to work quickly and more precisely, and that can only be good for business! If you’re feeling generous, you can hand down your beginner tattoo set to someone else who is looking to become a tattoo artist. 

Look at Roaming Opportunities 

There are a lot of opportunities in the tattooing world. Many studios, for instance, are more than happy to host a tattoo artist from another part of the world when they’re in town, in exchange for a cut of the tattoo cost. In addition to working directly with tattoo studios, you may consider getting in touch with event organizers. Many vintage markets, for instance, employ an onsite tattoo artist in a pop-up shop. Even if you only get a few clients on the day, you may get leads for future clients! 

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