You've set up your Get Ink booking link 🎉 It's in your bio. You're ready!
Then someone DMs you asking about booking in, or something like this…
“When are you free?” “I really like this style, can you do it before my holiday?” “How much 4 a sleeve?” “?????”
Deep breath.
Here's a few steps artists use to make sure booking and tattoo admin is as pain-free as possible.
When building Get Ink, we've worked with more tattoo artists than we can count on making the enquiry to booking to appointment process easy for them and their clients.
What we've learned is fairly simple but here's our obvious marketing lecture:
If you make it easy for people, they are more likely to book and not ghost. And if you explain that switching to a booking link makes both your lives easier, they usually just get on with the new way anyway.
You Don't Have to Ditch the DMs Completely
(But you can if you want!)
Get Ink is a tool that supports the way you like to work. There's no one size fits all.
You might like a bit of chat on DM first, then simply say “use my enquiry link to put all your thoughts down and I'll get back to you with a price or a date.”
Or you might have a blanket no DMs policy 🚫 and direct everyone straight to your form because you genuinely do not have the time or the headspace to sift through.
Or you might use Get Ink this way: if a client DMs you first, or they're a bit resistant to filling out a form (it's really easy and quick, we promise!), you can manually create the appointment for them. The benefit? It's still not that much time for you and they still get their appointment details and automated reminders. You still have everything in one place - client details, tattoo details, diary sorted.
Here's What Works to Promote Your Tattoo Booking Link
Add Your Link Everywhere Clients Would Find You
Whack it in the Instagram bio website field, your Linktree, Facebook, TikTok, your website, and print out your unique QR code for display in the shop window, reception, or take to conventions.
Clients are more likely to click if they know what to expect, so a tiny bit of context could go a long way. In your bio simply add something like “booking link / book here / send me an enquiry”. Some artists specifically say “No DMs” to make it crystal clear, others leave it open and direct them in the right direction when they are ready to book.
Create a “How to Book With Me” Pinned Post
A reel or carousel showing the steps including where to find the tattoo enquiry link, what they need to fill in, what to expect once they've sent an enquiry, and how easy it is for you both.
Pin it to the top of your Instagram grid or Facebook page so it's the first thing anyone sees when they land on your socials. It answers every question before it gets asked and naturally takes your client to where they need to enquire if they are serious, or to your profile page for more information to make a decision (customer work examples & pricing, flash designs, FAQs).
Share Your Link Regularly
Stories - screenshot availability, share flash designs, tell clients you have space and always include your link so they land where you need them to: your artist profile page and enquiry form. Stories obviously don't hang around so get in the habit of sharing it regularly.
Everywhere else - sign off on your posts in your own words, something like “get booked in using the 🔗 in my bio, I can't wait to hear your ideas.”
The artists we see getting the most consistent bookings through Get Ink are the ones putting their link in front of people regularly and keep doing it. Not everyone sees your posts, so it's not odd to keep saying it!
Set Up a DM Auto-Responder
It can be as simple as:
“Thanks for your message! I'm probably busy tattooing right now and DMs can get lost. The best way to send your ideas is through my booking link. I'll get back to you much quicker that way. Don't worry if you haven't got your idea completely nailed down, we can chat further once I've had a look.”
Friendly, helpful, no one feels put out. Hopefully they understand you're an artist, not an admin assistant, and you just saved yourself 45 minutes of back and forth for each enquiry.
So that's genuinely it, just making it obvious, easy and worth their while. The artists we see getting the most out of Get Ink are the ones who set it up, share it consistently and let it do the work. A booking link that's actually being used means obviously less time on your phone and more time doing what you want - tattooing and cool life stuff.
If you're already using Get Ink, have a look round where clients might get in contact with you, and with that extra time saved make sure clients know how to book - a few more stories sharing availability and flash are a good place to start.
If you're not on Get Ink give it a try! Our Essentials Plan including your tattoo artist profile page and enquiry form is always free. If you're ready for the Pro Plan (messaging, appointment offers, reminders, calendar and loads of other good stuff) you can try for free. No card needed.
