Once again this year, as has been the case for the past eight years, I am featured in the Annuario Tatuatori Italiani. Every year, it is a regular appointment to showcase my work and make myself known across the country. The publication is a sort of “Yellow Pages” for tattooing, found in almost every studio, providing visibility and a certain level of prestige in the eyes of clients.
However, clients are often unaware of the dynamics behind the magazine and might think that seeing a studio or a tattooist in this list means they were hand-picked. That is not exactly the case; while there is certainly a basic selection process, it is fundamentally a rather expensive paid advertisement.
It is an investment that needs careful evaluation, considering that over the last few years, the public has increasingly turned to social media rather than magazines or this specific publication. This is a shame because what could be better for getting an idea or selecting the best artist for a project than having a catalog at hand where you can see all the professionals in Italy and those in your area?
Unfortunately, Google searches are taking over; people look for proximity more than quality, only to regret it later and perhaps turn to this catalog anyway in search of someone to fix the problem. The fact remains that lately, the influence of the Annuario seems less and less effective to me. Therefore, this will be my last appearance, at least for a few years.
I will evaluate later whether I actually experience a loss, also because another advantage is the backlink from the online version and a few annual features on their social media, but for now, I feel it is better to direct my investments elsewhere.
Time will tell.
