Ways For Tattoo Artists and Other Creatives To Grow On Instagram
- Mia Parziale
- Dec 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Straight From Adam Mosseri Himself
Staying on top of Instagram’s updates makes a difference when your work depends on being seen! Adam Mosseri has been posting short videos explaining how certain features work and where creators should focus their energy. Here are a few of the most relevant points and how tattoo artists and creatives can use them for their own content and grow on Instagram:
1. Collabs: Still One of the Strongest Tools on the App
Adam Mosseri on Instagram: "Collabs are a great way to have a p…
Mosseri explains that Collabs are one of the most effective ways to reach more people. When you invite a collaborator, the post publishes to both accounts and shows up on both grids. IG currently allows up to five collaborators per post. One thing he emphasizes: the person who initiates the Collab still has the strongest influence on reach. If the goal is visibility, the largest account should initiate the post.
How you can use this:
Collaborate with the client you tattooed if they have a strong social media presence. You can do it of you working on the piece or a healed vs new comparison with the client’s permission. Clients love reposting their tattoos anyway.
Collab with the studio you tattooed in so the piece reaches their audience too.
If you’re a creative outside tattooing (photography, design, ceramics), Collab with the artist or brand you worked with.
For events or guest spots, have the studio initiate the Collab to maximize reach.
2. Reposting Your Own Content Isn’t the Growth Hack People Think It Is
Should you repost your own content? Technically, you can. It won’t hurt. But he’s clear that it has almost no impact on reach. What does help is engaging directly with the people who already interacted with your post. That means liking comments, replying, and showing activity in the thread. That pushes the post out a bit farther than a repost ever will.
How you can use this:
After posting a tattoo or reel, spend a few minutes replying to comments. This signals activity and increases distribution.
If you want something to perform better, engage with the comments before you consider reposting it.
Use reposts only when you’re resurfacing something intentionally (ex. a healed update, a guest-spot reminder). Not as a reach strategy.
Instead of reposting an old tattoo, show it healed or include a close-up detail you didn’t share the first time.
3. Five Small Things That Increase Reach
1. Have a hook
You need strong first three seconds.For artists, this might be:
a close-up of linework
a satisfying wipe
the healed version first
a sketch flipping into the stencil
Give the viewer a reason to stop scrolling.
2. Turn on captions
People watch videos muted more often than you’d think. Captions help retention and accessibility.
Use auto-captions on Reels. Make sure they’re legible.
3. Turn on translations
Instagram now auto-translates Reels into major languages. A lot of users don’t speak your language. Translations help your work reach outside your local bubble. (Think about people who travel!)
For artists with international
clients, this is an easy win. Especially if you’re open to guest spots or travel bookings.
4. Use music
Music helps increase distribution, especially with photos and carousels. (It helps keep people’s attention but not get you reach)
Pick songs that match the mood of your work. You don’t need trending audio, but use something cohesive.
5. Use Trial Reels
If you’re not ready to publish something to your whole audience, Trials lets you show the content only to non-followers first. If the post performs well, you can upgrade it later.
This is useful when:
you’re testing new reel formats
you’re experimenting with educational content
you’re not sure if a clip is strong enough for your main grid
It removes the pressure and lets you experiment without risking your overall account aesthetic.
Overall
None of these updates require a lot of effort. They’re more about using the tools available instead of trying to outsmart the platform. For tattoo artists and creatives, the goal is always the same. Make your work easy to discover, easy to understand, and easy to trust!
