Instagram auto-replies for tattoo artists

Tattooing is gloved work, so the phone stays out of reach for hours at a time. By the end of a session there's a stack of messages, and most fall into a handful of types.

• A screenshot of someone else's tattoo with “can you do this?”. Many artists won't copy another artist's custom piece, and the BOOKING card can say you'll draw something original around what they love about it.
• “Do you take walk-ins?” Put the answer, and the days you take them, on the BOOKING card.
• “Can I see the design before the day?” Say how you work, for example that the drawing is shown and adjusted at the appointment, so nobody waits for a sketch by email.
• “I'm 17. Can I come with my mum?” In the UK it's illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with a parent's consent, and US states set their own rules. Put your minimum age on the BOOKING card and answer these in person.
• A photo of a healing tattoo with “is this normal?”. Answer it yourself. Spreading redness, heat, pus or a fever are reasons to see a doctor, not to wait for your reply.
• “How much for a half sleeve?” The PRICE reply explains why it depends, and the form collects what you need for a real quote.

Most of a tattoo artist's busiest days are ones you set yourself. Each needs its word live before the announcement goes up, and changed or switched off once it's over.

• Books open: post the dates a week ahead, then a Story on the day with BOOKING. When the books close, change the message to the next opening date.
• Flash drop: the sheet as a carousel with numbered designs and FLASH in the caption. Repost it with the taken designs crossed out.
• Friday the 13th: many shops run flash days with small designs priced around the number 13. Every year has at least one and never more than three, so the sheet can be planned weeks ahead.
• Guest spots and conventions: GUEST with the city, dates and studio, posted where people in that city will see it.
• Healed work: a fresh photo next to the same piece healed, with BOOKING. It shows how your lines settle, which is what careful clients look for.

Tip: Leave TATTOO and INK off your keyword list. “Need this tattoo” and “that ink is so clean” turn up under every post, and each would trigger a booking message. FLASH and BOOKING are rarely typed by accident.

1. BOOKING sends the form, so requests arrive with the same details: placement, size, references and budget.
2. You pick the projects and reply yourself with dates. Choosing which ideas to take on is the part clients care about most, so it should come from you.
3. DEPOSIT explains the amount and the rules; the payment itself happens on your own booking or payment page.
4. Appointment reminders go by text or email. Automated Instagram messages are only allowed within 24 hours of the client's last message, and most sessions are booked weeks or months ahead.
5. On the day, the client tags you and the aftercare guide arrives. A few weeks later, ask for the healed photo.

Tattooing in India? The DMFast store can sell flash sheets or drawing brushes to other artists as digital products, and charge for 1-on-1 calls, such as a consultation for a sleeve or a back piece, with payments through Razorpay and no fee from DMFast.

• Licences: in many countries and states, tattooists and studios must register with the local council or health department. Check what applies where you work, and wherever you take a guest spot.
• Consent: ask before posting a client's tattoo, and offer to crop out their face and anything else that identifies them.
• Nudity: Instagram's Community Guidelines limit nudity, so work on chests, hips or backsides can be taken down unless it's cropped or covered.
• Each comment can get one private reply, within 7 days of being posted. A flash drop that spreads can hit Instagram's cap of 750 private replies an hour; DMFast keeps below 700 and works through the queue as the limit allows.
• Tattooing on Instagram Live? Comments made during the stream can only get a private reply while it's on, so set FLASH or BOOKING up first.