The Business of Tattooing - Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Selling Out — It’s Buying In (to Your Worth)

If you flinched a little when you heard “affiliate marketing,” you’re not alone.

Tattoo artists have been taught that making money outside of sessions is "cringe" or "selling out." Like if you’re not dying behind the chair 60 hours a week, you’re not legit.

Babe, that’s a lie.

Affiliate marketing done right isn’t about being fake, pushing junk, or selling your soul. It’s about getting paid for the influence, trust, and expertise you already share, every single day.

And if you're not tapping into it?
You're just leaving money ( and opportunity ) on the table.

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Here’s Why Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Selling Out:

✅ You already recommend your favorite cartridges, inks, machines, and other supplies all the time.
✅ Your community trusts your opinion because you actually live the life.
✅ Affiliate marketing doesn’t force you to change who you are — it rewards you for being exactly who you already are.

You’re not selling out.
You’re monetizing your real influence.
And you're building an income stream that supports your career long-term.

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How to Maximize Your Affiliate Earnings (Without Selling Your Soul)

1. Only Promote What You Actually Use and Love

• Trust is your #1 currency.

• Only recommend products you use in your studio — like Fire Cartridges, Electrum Ink, and Dermor.

• If you wouldn’t use it on your own clients, don’t recommend it to others.

Pro Tip:
Post authentic content showing the products in action — real, unstaged, genuine setups always perform better than polished commercials.

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2. Make It Easy for People to Support You

• Use a short, easy-to-remember discount code (like Memphis20 or InkedWithElectrum)

• Link your code in your bio, on your booking page, in captions, everywhere

• Have a "highlight" on Instagram called "My Tools" where you list your trusted brands and discount codes

Pro Tip:
Clients and artists want to support you — but only if you make it easy and natural.

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3. Create Value-Driven Content, Not Just Ads

Nobody wants to watch you hold up a product like you're in a cheesy infomercial.

Instead, show:

• How you set up your tray

• How Fire Cartridges make your lines butter-smooth

• Before/after station setups 

• Stencil applications and those aesthetic AF peels 
• Dermor Application and more sexy AF peels 
• Close up needle porn - like get right up in there on your Fire Cartridges and like get that penetration (sorry, the opportunity was too good not to taek)

Teach. Share. Inspire.
And then naturally mention, "By the way, if you ever wanna try these tools, my code saves you 20%."

Soft genuine sells convert higher than cheesy aggressive ones — always.

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4. Be Transparent About the Kickback

• Tell your followers that you earn a commission when they use your code.

• Transparency builds loyalty — not resentment.

• Plus, people LOVE supporting artists when they know it benefits you directly.

Example line you can use:
"Using my code doesn’t cost you anything extra — it just helps me keep creating, tattooing, and sharing what I love."

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5. Stack Missions and Bonuses (If Your Affiliate Program Offers Them)

Electrum Insiders doesn’t just give you a discount code — it offers:

• Missions (like posting a Reel using Fire Cartridges for cash bonuses)

• Higher commissions for top performers

• Exclusive contests, new product drops, and bonus payout opportunities

Pro Tip:
Treat the missions like monthly business goals — not random extras.
Stack them on top of your regular content plan to build momentum (and bonus cash).

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Affiliate Marketing for Tattoo Artists: Quick Cheat Sheet

✅ Use products you already trust
✅ Make it easy for people to find and use your code
✅ Create real, valuable content — not hard ads
✅ Be honest about earning a commission
✅ Take advantage of missions, contests, and bonus incentives

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The Takeaway:

You’re not a sellout for wanting to make money.
You’re a professional.
You’re an artist.
And you deserve more than just surviving behind the chair.

Affiliate marketing isn’t about selling yourself.
It’s about respecting your platform, your work, and your future.

And if you’re already doing the work —
it’s time to get paid for it too.

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Ready to start?
Join Electrum Insiders today.