Make money with a simple tattoo? It sounds crazy, but it’s possible. Of course, it’s not just any tattoo, but rather a logo, a brand slogan, or even URLs of websites that are looking to make a name for themselves and that see in this innovative and creative way the opportunity to get themselves noticed. I’ll explain in more detail in the following lines, but be careful because this practice is forbidden in some countries.
- Here's the program
- What is it all about?
- Who can do this?
- Who to contact?
- Combien peut-on gagner ?
- Conclusion
- EcoTips
- Pros and Cons
- Information recap
What is it all about?
This concept called “skinvertising”, consisting of getting a tattoo of a brand, a logo or the address of a website for money, is a practice that was born in the early 2000s when tattoos were getting more and more popular. As we know, companies are always looking for innovations and original surfaces to advertise and get noticed.
Thus, in 2001, in the United States, the online gaming site GoldenPalace made a contract with the boxer Bernard Hopkins: For a payment of 100,000 dollars, he agreed to have the brand tattooed on his back. Such an action obviously made a lot of noise, some seeing it as a stroke of genius while others found it just completely stupid.
Still, the brand succeeded in its move since it was able to make people talk about it. For this reason, other companies and websites are now looking to follow the same route. Skinvertising is still rare nowadays, and for good reason as the candidates motivated to try this type of practice are not so many.
Who can do this?
In principle, anyone can start skinvertising. However, there are countries where it is forbidden. It is therefore important to get information before making any decision. Also, tattoo fans are certainly the most suitable because you have to be ready to get a tattoo beforehand: Most of the companies that use this practice expect the tattoo to be permanent although some accept temporary ones.
Note that the tattoo is done on the part of the body chosen by the person who gets the tattoo: arm, back, leg, face… Feeling ready to experience the tattoo is not the only thing to consider. You must also expect to receive looks and remarks that are not always pleasant.
As for the people who already have a job, it is preferable to consult your employer or the policy of your company before undertaking anything, in order not to risk to be fired (Getting a tattoo of the Pepsi logo when you work at Coca-Cola, for example, will be… strange isn’t it?).
Who to contact?
It is not so simple because the companies which practice it are not numerous. The best is to put ads on the internet (on eBay for example) to let people know that you are ready to start. It is also possible to contact some brands; some of them might be interested in this original marketing idea.
Finally, it is necessary to keep yourself informed of this kind of offer (for example, with a Google alert) as they sometimes arrive where we do not expect them: For example, in 2014, the brand Rebook had proposed to its Swedish customers to be tattooed with the logo of the equipment manufacturer in exchange of gifts worth 550 dollars!

How much can you earn?
It is difficult to say how much a tattoo of this type can bring in. It all depends on the companies and sites and on the offer they are willing to make. One of the personalities who made the practice famous, Joe Tamargo, for example, said he earned US $500 for having a pharmaceutical company’s website tattooed on his arm while Jim Nelson reportedly earned US $7,000 for having a company’s logo on the back of his head.
One of the most important criterion is the visibility of the tattoo: The more visible it is, the higher the pay.
Conclusion
People who decide to get this kind of tattoo often do it more because they are fans of a brand or a product than because they need to earn some money. But if you are not afraid to face the sometimes amused, shocked, or even sometimes judgmental look from others, and you find this idea fun then why not? But this is an experience that is not necessarily for everyone, so you have to think about it carefully before choosing, or not, to go for it. Don’t forget that a tattoo is for life (or almost).
EcoTips
Environmental and climate change issues are more than ever at the heart of the concerns of this 21st century, which is why I am proposing a few ideas that will enable you to limit the negative impact that the implementation of this idea could have.
These solutions that I suggest are sometimes largely insufficient to compensate for these negative impacts, such as carbon offsetting. Unfortunately, there is not always an ideal and 100% efficient solution, far from it. And if you have others, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments below.
I’m not sure how this could harm the environment, but if you have an idea, feel free to share it in the comments.
Pros
- Easy money and free tattoo
Cons
- The maximum number of tattoos you can get is limited to the surface available on your skin.
- Some people will make fun of you and judge you. 😬
Info
- Investment: None
- Earnings perspective: Several hundred or even thousands of dollars
- Required: Love tattoos, have an original look that catches the eye (it helps), and don’t be afraid to become a “sandwichman”
- Risk level: None
- Implementation time: Time to find an interested brand
- Material needed: A smartphone to contact the brands
You can also Login or Register to comment