Airbrush Tattoo Marketing Tips
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So, you've learned how to apply an airbrush tattoo, you've checked out my hints and tips page and you think you're ready to get out there and compete with the big boys? Nup! You're not!
Before you do that, you need to know about marketing yourself. After all its never the idea that makes you money, it's how you market it. To save you guys time and hassles Ive listed my top ten tips for marketing right here on this page. I wish I had this much help when I first got started!
1./ BE SEEN
You need great big signs! The bigger the better! Make sure your sign lets people know WHAT you're doing and HOW MUCH you charge. If possible have images on them of what the finished product looks like. People are more likely to get one if they can see what they look like. Have yourself a menu board too. A large sign so people can choose their designs even when you've got a large crowd around.
2./ KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING
Before you go jumping in head first, have a little practice. Get to know your airbrush, the problems you can have with it and how to fix them. It will help you immensely when youre out in the public eye and something happens. If you know how to deal with it, more than likely you would have fixed it before anyone even knew anything happened. You wouldn't want to be seen blundering around with your airbrush with 10 potential customers waiting for tattoos would you?
3./ GET YOURSELF A HIGH TRAFFIC OPERATING SPOT!
It's no good operating from a market that nobody goes to! Find yourself somewhere that has a steady flow of people. After all, the more people, the more potential customers. Shopping malls, beaches, markets, events, trade shows, whatever! Just get out there! If there's people, then they will get tattoos!
4./ DON'T GET GREEDY!
By all means charge according to how large your tattoos are or how long they last , but remember, people aren't going to pay a fortune for a temporary tattoo. Plus if you're cheaper than everyone else, then you'll get the customers.
5./ SELL YOUR PRODUCT!
Don't just use your sales skills to lure in customers. You can also use them to lure in prospective event organisers. Convince them that your stand generates a large audience and it'd be a good investment for them to hire you for an event. Hey, you never know, they might even pay YOU to be there!
6./ GET YOURSELF A CALENDER OF EVENTS.
Events are a good way to earn money. It beats sitting in an office all week! Go buy yourself a local publication like a Market and Fairs magazine. In it you should find a list of all upcoming events, put your name down for 'em. Its better to have too many events organised than not enough. Once youve got a full calender, you're really set!
7./ GIVE YOUR PAST CUSTOMERS SOMETHING TO COME BACK FOR!
Continually build up you stencil collection. If you're constantly changing and adding things to your operation, you're more likely to get repeat customers. Like me, you may even have some get one every week. That's a guaranteed sale!
8./ ALWAYS HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS OUT!
You never know who they may know! Always do your best to help your customers as much as you possibly can. Help them choose designs etc....After all, you are the expert! They may take into account how friendly you are and recommend all their friends. Word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising! Best of all its free! It doesn't cost you anything to be nice.
9./ NEVER DO A BAD TATTOO!
If you don't think one of your tattoos has been done as well as it could have, tell the customer this. Wipe it off and do it again. It's better to have had to do that than have them come back to you half a day later complaining that it has already come off. Plus your customer will be impressed with your honesty and willingness to re-do it.
10./ ALWAYS EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE AFTERCARE OF THE TATTOO!
It's better to let people know how to look after their tattoos. Then if it comes off too early, you have something to fall back on. You can ask them if they looked after it properly. If a customer comes back to you complaining, always do them a tattoo for free! Even if it is their fault it has come off early. Better to be known as the sucker that gives away freebies than the tight tattooist only out to make a buck!
11./ WHEN DOING AN EVENT GIVE AWAY FREEBIES TO FELLOW STALL HOLDERS!
Sorry, i just had to add this one! When you are at an event, give freebies to all your fellow stall holders. It's fantastic advertising having them roaming around a show or event showing off YOUR tattoos.