Instagram Followers vs Skill – How to Choose a Tattoo Artist
A Simple Instagram Test That Helps You Think Independently
Hello Everyone!
In today’s blog, I want to encourage you to try a fun and quick social media experiment — one that works best on Instagram. The goal is simple: to step back from numbers for a moment and see things more clearly, with less bias.
Let’s Do It Together
This little test works best with a friend or a few friends — maybe over coffee or during a lunch break.
Here’s how it works:
-
Prepare 10–15 screenshots of different Instagram accounts.
-
Avoid very famous or easily recognizable profiles — that would defeat the purpose.
-
Since this blog is about tattoos, choose tattoo artists, but this test works just as well for cafés, bookstores, designers, or any service.
-
Pick accounts randomly, ranging from 500 followers to 100,000 followers.
-
Edit the screenshots so that all numbers are hidden — followers, likes, comments. Leave only the images and overall feed visible.
Now, show these profiles to your friend.
Ask them to:
-
Rate each profile from 1 to 10
-
Explain what they like or dislike about each one
At the end, reveal the numbers and compare the results.
Did the highest-rated profiles also have the most followers?
The outcome is often surprising.
What This Test Can Teach You
This simple game can sharpen independent and critical thinking and make you more aware of something I call numbers bias.
Having a lot of followers does not automatically mean that a profile represents quality, value, or skill. Social media algorithms tend to reward extremes — not necessarily craftsmanship, depth, or consistency. Sometimes what performs best online would never have been considered attractive or meaningful 15 years ago.
And sometimes, of course, popular things really are good.
The world is nuanced.
Numbers vs. Real Skill
Measuring brands, products, or services based purely on numbers can be misleading.
In the past, things were more straightforward. To design a tattoo, an artist needed drawing skills. Today, designs can be generated, copied, or stolen within seconds. But does that automatically translate into quality or experience?
Fortunately, not everyone has lost touch with what truly matters.
There are still tattoo artists who focus on real-life skill, precision, and responsibility — not only on posting frequency or engagement statistics. But many profiles today are built primarily to gain numbers, not to improve the actual craft behind them.
That shift is worth noticing.
Why This Matters for Tattoos
A tattoo is not a digital product.
It lives on skin, not on a screen.
Choosing an artist based only on likes or follower count can lead to disappointment — because tattoos demand far more than visual impact on a phone. They require experience, patience, hygiene, and long-term thinking.
If you want to explore tattooing with that mindset, you can learn more about our approach here:
https://vadelma.eu/faq-vadelma-tattoo/
Or see current projects and availability:
https://vadelma.eu/available-projects
A Final Thought
Statistics can be addictive.
But to be a good artist, doctor, musician, or lawyer, one thing matters more than numbers: consistent, focused work.
Social media can be useful — but it should never replace judgment, curiosity, and personal responsibility.
FAQ – Social Media & Choosing a Tattoo Artist
Does a high follower count mean a tattoo artist is better?
No. Follower count reflects visibility, not necessarily skill or experience.
Is Instagram still useful for finding tattoo artists?
Yes, but it should be used as a starting point, not the final decision.
What should I focus on instead of numbers?
Consistency, healed work, clarity of style, communication, and professional standards.
Can I contact Vadelma Tattoo for questions before booking?
Yes: https://vadelma.eu/contact
Support Our Art
If you’d like to support our work beyond tattooing, visit our art print store featuring Natalie’s original artwork:
https://vadelmaprints.com/
A Simple Instagram Test That Helps You Think Independently
Hello Everyone!
In today’s blog, I want to encourage you to try a fun and quick social media experiment — one that works best on Instagram. The goal is simple: to step back from numbers for a moment and see things more clearly, with less bias.
Let’s Do It Together
This little test works best with a friend or a few friends — maybe over coffee or during a lunch break.
Here’s how it works:
-
Prepare 10–15 screenshots of different Instagram accounts.
-
Avoid very famous or easily recognizable profiles — that would defeat the purpose.
-
Since this blog is about tattoos, choose tattoo artists, but this test works just as well for cafés, bookstores, designers, or any service.
-
Pick accounts randomly, ranging from 500 followers to 100,000 followers.
-
Edit the screenshots so that all numbers are hidden — followers, likes, comments. Leave only the images and overall feed visible.
Now, show these profiles to your friend.
Ask them to:
-
Rate each profile from 1 to 10
-
Explain what they like or dislike about each one
At the end, reveal the numbers and compare the results.
Did the highest-rated profiles also have the most followers?
The outcome is often surprising.
What This Test Can Teach You
This simple game can sharpen independent and critical thinking and make you more aware of something I call numbers bias.
Having a lot of followers does not automatically mean that a profile represents quality, value, or skill. Social media algorithms tend to reward extremes — not necessarily craftsmanship, depth, or consistency. Sometimes what performs best online would never have been considered attractive or meaningful 15 years ago.
And sometimes, of course, popular things really are good.
The world is nuanced.
Numbers vs. Real Skill
Measuring brands, products, or services based purely on numbers can be misleading.
In the past, things were more straightforward. To design a tattoo, an artist needed drawing skills. Today, designs can be generated, copied, or stolen within seconds. But does that automatically translate into quality or experience?
Fortunately, not everyone has lost touch with what truly matters.
There are still tattoo artists who focus on real-life skill, precision, and responsibility — not only on posting frequency or engagement statistics. But many profiles today are built primarily to gain numbers, not to improve the actual craft behind them.
That shift is worth noticing.
Why This Matters for Tattoos
A tattoo is not a digital product.
It lives on skin, not on a screen.
Choosing an artist based only on likes or follower count can lead to disappointment — because tattoos demand far more than visual impact on a phone. They require experience, patience, hygiene, and long-term thinking.
If you want to explore tattooing with that mindset, you can learn more about our approach here:
https://vadelma.eu/faq-vadelma-tattoo/
Or see current projects and availability:
https://vadelma.eu/available-projects
A Final Thought
Statistics can be addictive.
But to be a good artist, doctor, musician, or lawyer, one thing matters more than numbers: consistent, focused work.
Social media can be useful — but it should never replace judgment, curiosity, and personal responsibility.
FAQ – Social Media & Choosing a Tattoo Artist
Does a high follower count mean a tattoo artist is better?
No. Follower count reflects visibility, not necessarily skill or experience.
Is Instagram still useful for finding tattoo artists?
Yes, but it should be used as a starting point, not the final decision.
What should I focus on instead of numbers?
Consistency, healed work, clarity of style, communication, and professional standards.
Can I contact Vadelma Tattoo for questions before booking?
Yes: https://vadelma.eu/contact
Support Our Art
If you’d like to support our work beyond tattooing, visit our art print store featuring Natalie’s original artwork:
https://vadelmaprints.com/