Did you know that the tattoo industry sees over $1 billion in annual revenue? This only grew due to the ongoing global pandemic. If you aim to become a tattoo artist, now is the time to do so!
Of course, due to the pandemic and the rise of online transactions, it’s a smarter idea to sell your tattoo designs online. Now you can continue working even without a high-end tattoo shop.
Not sure where to start or what to do? Fortunately, there are multiple avenues available. Discover how to sell tattoo designs online and more with our list of tips below:
Highlight Your Expertise
Taking a professional course should be on your list of priorities. You need a license in most states to be able to run a tattoo shop, after all. Don’t forget that there are thousands of shops in the country, both brick-and-mortar and online.
You need to prove you know what you’re doing.
The best way to achieve this is to take an online tattoo artist course first. This will put you on top of the pedestal, above your competitors. Not only will you gain credibility, but you’ll also learn how to make better, more intricate designs.
Before selling online, make sure you have a place to showcase your credentials. Even a basic LinkedIn profile can do wonders. However, the better option is to build an online portfolio.
Build an Online Portfolio
Building your portfolio is all about highlighting your previous work. The moment you tell people you offer tattoo designs online, they should be able to see samples. The more samples you can provide, the better your chances are that you’ll get a job request.
Even with the best training and skills, clients won’t approach you if you can’t prove your capabilities. Your portfolio is a visual gallery of the complexity and style of designs you can make.
It’s also important to share designs that highlight the changes in your skills. Don’t hide your previous work. Instead of highlighting only your best work, let people see how far you’ve come and the improvement you’ve achieved.
Launch a Professional Website
One of the best methods to sell yourtattoo designs online is to have a personal business website. Upload a preview of the designs, small enough so people can’t copy-paste it but big enough to show the details. You can add a watermark to further protect your designs.
When someone purchases the design, give them the design in its full glory and without a watermark. It should be big enough for them to print and use as a tattoo stencil.
How will you charge your customers? The first option is to allow people to buy designs individually. You can give a premium price for each design but give a discounted price if they buy a bunch simultaneously.
Upload on Art Design Sites
Can’t run a website on your own yet? Fortunately, other websites can sell tattoo designs for you. You simply have to register as a seller.
You have the option of selling on dedicated tattoo websites or a general shopping site such as eBay. Keep in mind that there may be a few service charges to pay for. You’ll have to decide whether to charge your clients or to shoulder the fees yourself.
You can also turn to websites like DeviantArt.
However, these websites only allow you to upload watermarked designs. To sell your work, you’ll need to add transaction details in each image’s description. Make sure to include how clients can pay you, what they’ll get, and any further stipulations.
For smoother transactions, have a contract ready. This should include all the stipulations, milestones, and details covering returns or refunds.
Fiverr or Upwork
You can also turn to Upwork tosell your tattoo designs online. Upwork is a network that connects clients and freelancers. Most clients will post job listings, demanding different kinds of tattoo designs, and you can apply to each one.
Keep in mind that you have a limited number of tokens. You’ll spend tokens each time you apply for a job. This prevents people from spamming clients with multiple applications.
Not interested in hunting for clients or running a website? If you want to simply upload a portfolio and let the clients come to you, you can use websites like Fiverr.
Fiverr lets you upload a digital resume and portfolio. You can set your prices and work packages too. Interested clients will message you and hire you if you can reach an agreement.
Social Media Marketing
Of course, you can also take advantage of social media. Platforms like Instagram have well over 1 billion active monthly users. That’s a gigantic userbase, ensuring there will always be potential consumers.
The good news is even social media platforms have tools for online selling and marketing. It’s easy nowadays to set up ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
With tools like Shopify, you can even enable direct selling on social media. This means people don’t even need to leave the platform to continue shopping. This is not only quick but convenient.
Network With Other Tattoo Artists
Don’t fret if you don’t knowhow to sell tattoo designs. You can start slowly, networking with other tattoo artists. Ask around to feature some of your tattoo designs on their eCommerce sites.
There’s also the option of seeking influencers. If you have a basic website selling designs, get on social media and look for tattoo influencers. They should target the same demographics you do.
Yes, you have to pay influencers for them to promote your work. However, this is a good way to get thousands, if not millions, of leads.
Sell Your Tattoo Designs Online Now
Now you know how to sell tattoo designs online. Gone are the days when you had to run everything in a physical brick-and-mortar store. Follow these tips, and you can still make a living off your skills even when you’re at home.
Of course, it all starts by building your credentials. That’s where we can help.Get in touch with us today, and we can help you enhance your craft!
