The Tattoo Playbook

Step-by-step guides for custom, flash, fine-line and piercing shops: plans, scripts, templates and checklists you can use today.

Pick any guide and start. If something here doesn't make sense, or you'd rather someone did it for you, talk to a human at Annie's. ← Back to marketing for tattoo artists & shops

Start here: the free tools

#Item
T1Tattoo shop business plan
T230-day social media program
T3Where your clients are (by kind of tattoo work)

Guerrilla marketing

#Item
G1Friday the 13th flash day (small original flash at one set price, first come, first served)
G2Charity flash day (the day's money goes to a local cause, with designs to match)
G3Host a guest artist (their followers come to your shop and meet your artists)

More guerrilla marketing

#Item
R1Pet portrait flash day, with local vets, groomers and shelters
R2Military and first-responder appreciation day
R3Free cover-up consultations for people who regret an old tattoo

The 10 things every tattoo shop should be doing

#Item
C1Google Business Profile filled in with healed work
C2Posting healed work every week
C3Short videos of the work happening
C4Booking consults and taking deposits online
C5A booking form that takes a reference photo
C6Asking every client for a review, and answering them
C7Going after repeat clients
C8Planning for the seasons
C9Showing up where clients look
C10Keeping a list of past clients and telling them what's new