Anna Sica of Arrowhead Tattoos Instagram: @arrowheadtattoos

I am the owner of Arrowhead Tattoo in Fairfield, Iowa, and have been using Instagram to promote my tattoo and permanent cosmetics business for more than five years. In the tattoo business, spreading the word locally is easy, because my clients are walking advertisements. If you're trying to reach a larger audience, the most effective tool you can use is Instagram. It has been vital for me in building my business and growing my clientele, especially since I live in a small town where local business is limited.

I didn't always know how to promote myself online, but over time I've learned a few key tactics that have been game changers for me. Separating my personal Instagram from my business account gave me the freedom to promote my tattoo portfolio and create my brand. I didn't feel as comfortable promoting myself on my personal page. The second most effective thing I recommend is to actively research your competitors in order to find hashtags that are relevant to your business. By finding the most popular hashtags, you'll be seen by thousands of users who wouldn't know about you otherwise. My biggest break in the business came through finding a niche on Instagram as a vegan tattoo artist (I use cruelty-free products). The range of hashtags I've used (#vgnink, #wristtattoos, #minimalisttattoos) has allowed me to be discovered by several publications that featured my work and boosted my followers. Having even a small following gives you credibility, and it's an exponential increase from then on. I regularly have clients now that travel from all over the country to see me, and I completely owe that business to Instagram.

"I regularly have clients now that travel from all over the country to see me, and I completely owe that business to Instagram."