the short version
- 6things every request needs before you can quote it.
- 3saved replies cover most of your inbox.
- 2set times a day to answer, instead of all day.
a busy inbox isn't a problem to fix, it means people want your work. these are a few simple tools that make every request quicker to answer. copy any of the text below.
the basics
every request needs the same 6 things
most back-and-forth happens because a request is missing a detail or two. if you know these six, you can quote it.
- 1the ideawhat they want, plus any reference photos.
- 2placementwhere on the body.
- 3sizeroughly how big, in inches.
- 4color or black & greyit changes the time and the price.
- 5budgeta rough number helps you suggest a size that fits.
- 6dateswhen they’re free.
copy this
ask for all 6 at once with one message
save this and send it to anyone who asks "how much for a tattoo?"
intake questions
hey, thanks for reaching out. to give you a price, send me:
1. your idea (and any reference photos)
2. where on your body
3. about how big, in inches
4. color or black & grey
5. your budget, roughly
6. a few dates that work for you
i'll get back to you with a price and a time.
what to do with this
- save it as a quick reply in instagram so it’s one tap.
- put the same list in a pinned story highlight called "booking".
saved replies
3 replies cover most of your inbox
1. when details are missing
love this idea. can you send me where on your body, about how big, and whether you want color or black & grey? then i can price it for you.
2. your quote + deposit
this would be about $[price] and take around [hours] hours. to book, there's a $[deposit] deposit that holds your date and goes toward the final price. here's the link: [link]
3. when you're booked up
thank you for thinking of me. i'm booked until [month]. if you'd like, i can add you to my list and message you when i open new dates.
not sure what to charge or how big a deposit to ask for? the pricing guide and the deposit policy generator do the math for you.
your profile
put the booking info where people look first
- 1add a booking link to your bioone link that goes straight to your price and dates.
- 2pin a "booking" story highlightyour 6 questions, your minimum, and your deposit in three slides.
- 3say your minimum out loudone line like "minimum $100" saves a lot of messages that don’t fit.
your time
answer at set times, not all day
checking every few minutes breaks up your drawing time. pick two short windows a day, say one before your first client and one after your last, and answer everything then.
what to do with this
- add your answer times to your highlight: "i reply to booking messages at 10am and 7pm."
- answer oldest first, so nobody waits longer than a day.
- when a request is complete, send the quote right away. that’s the one most likely to book.
goodwork
on goodwork, requests show up already filled in
when a client asks you for custom work on goodwork, the request comes with their idea, placement, size, reference photos, color and the dates they're free. you get an email for each new one.
when they pick a size, they see your own sizes and a rough price from your price guide, so the request usually fits what you charge. you send back a price and the hours, and they pay your deposit to book.
clients pay their own 6% booking fee. it never comes out of your price.
budget isn't one of the questions on goodwork yet, so it's worth asking in your reply if it matters for the piece.
on goodwork
get requests that show up already filled in
on goodwork, a request comes with the idea, placement, size, reference photos and dates. free to list. 15% only on the first booking of a new client goodwork finds for you. repeats and your own link are 0%.
set up your free page