Been reading for friends and family for years but ready to go online. The whole thing feels overwhelming, though. Do I need Etsy? TikTok? Instagram? My own website?
Worried about getting lost in the sea of other readers out there. How long did it take you to get regular clients? Should I do free readings at first to build reviews?
Also curious about the practical stuff - how to sell tarot readings online without seeming sketchy? Some platforms seem better than others, but I can’t figure out where to start. What worked for you when you were starting out?
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I think we should really have a section with some threads on how to actually get started. I’ve seen advice around the forum just in throwaway comments from people who have been doing this for so long, and they’re so experienced.
Maybe we could start a pinned ‘Getting Started’ megathread? I’d be happy to compile some of the golden nuggets I’ve seen scattered around here, like that great comment about starting with just one platform instead of trying to be everywhere at once
For what it’s worth, I started on Instagram only and it took about 3 months to get consistent bookings. The key was posting daily card pulls and actually engaging with other readers’ content, not just promoting myself.
And not just posting random stuff as well as readings but look to see what’s working and do your spin on it.
One piece of advice I wish I’d gotten earlier: Don’t undervalue yourself with too many free readings. Maybe do 3-5 for testimonials, then set your prices and stick to them. People actually trust paid services more than free ones.
When I was drowning in the sea of other readers trying to be everything to everyone, I finally embraced my quirky style of reading with The Tower as my rebellious best friend who tells it like it is, and that’s when my ideal clients started finding ME instead of the other way around.
You just need to showcase your authentic reading style across different platforms without losing yourself in the algorithm game, which totally helped me stop trying to copy what everyone else was doing and lean into what makes my readings unique.
Yeah I get that. Used to bug me too - doing readings for money felt weird at first. Just neet to keep that same energy even doing them online. Once I got that down, paid readings stopped feeling so fake.
Hey! I started with regular playing cards before getting into Tarot, so I know a bit about the path. Make sure you get your social media game on point first. Pick a name that sticks and keep your branding consistent on all platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Just like the connection between playing cards and Tarot suits, your brand should flow smoothly across all your channels. To gain some credibility, offer free readings for honest reviews. When I made the switch, those early testimonials were really helpful to me.
The Tarot world loves realness, just like the cartomancy crowd. Many people collect decks without exploring their meanings. But if you truly get both the symbolic and intuitive sides, you’ll find your audience. Trust the process, and your dedication will show through. Good luck.
My advice would be pick one platform and just do that until it works. Think of all the people on Instagram or TikTok. If you need to do multiple at once then the problem isn’t the amount of people.
I think Tarot Guru had an actual course on this based on years of selling professional readings but I can’t see the link anywhere now.
Been reading cards professionally for years now. If you want real independence, build your own website - I’d rate it 9/10. Squarespace, Wix, WordPress all work great for bookings and payments. Why give a cut to someone else?
Here’s what bugs me about Instagram/TikTok for tarot: one algorithm tweak or policy change and boom, your clients are gone. These platforms still see us as fortune tellers sometimes. Stability-wise? 3/10 tops.
Etsy looks tarot-friendly but the pricing is a joke. People charging $5 for full spreads? You’re competing with everyone who just unboxed their first deck yesterday. For building a serious reputation, maybe 4/10.
Best bet? Invest in yourself first. Take those spiritual entrepreneur courses. Figure out your pricing (don’t undervalue yourself!), find your reading style, get a business plan together. Education is everything here - 10/10. Lost 2,000 followers overnight once when a platform changed their rules. That taught me real quick.
I finally put some money into a real website instead of jumping around different platforms, and it made a huge difference. Having a main spot online made me feel more official and boosted client trust.
Plus, I set up automated booking tools, so I’m not constantly messaging about appointments. I still use Instagram and TikTok for sharing my personality and doing mini readings, but they all lead back to my site, where people can book and pay-no more awkward Venmo requests!
The website felt like a big deal at first, but it paid off in just two months because clients could easily find my services and reviews in one place.
If you’re thinking about how long it’ll take, expect around six months to start getting a regular flow of clients.
Don’t rush it or you’ll burn out. It’s more like a marathon, so take it slow and steady. Things might be slow at first, but that’s totally normal. Just keep being consistent and genuinely connect with your audience, and you’ll see results eventually.
So here’s what nobody tells you, I barely spend any time actually reading cards anymore. Maybe 10% if I’m lucky. Most of my day? Answering DMs, making social posts, fixing payment problems, and telling people I can’t predict lottery numbers (yes, people really ask this all the time).
The readings themselves are still amazing and why I keep doing this. But man, the amount of admin work is insane. You basically become a one-person business handling everything from marketing to customer service to bookkeeping. Definitely start it as a side thing before going all in.
Free readings for reviews really helped when I was new.
Gave people a reason to trust me before I had many clients. I used to go on Facebook groups and do maybe 3-5 readings a week for free. All I asked was for them to leave a review. Pretty soon, I had a bunch of great feedback, and paying clients started finding me.
One thing I learned is not to just read for anyone. Pick people who seem genuinely interested. They write way better testimonials that actually help you get more business.
I tried going for a mystical vibe in my profile pics but ended up looking like I was trying out for a cheap fantasy movie. Now, I just go with a basic headshot where I’m smiling like a regular person.
Clients seem to like that friendly look more. Also, reading in different time zones has meant doing 3am readings in my pajamas more often than I’d like to admit.
When I was starting out, I did free readings on Reddit and just had a donation option. Worked pretty well for building trust before going paid.
ou can find subreddits that don’t require verification to post readings. Good way to practice and get testimonials. Made the switch to charging way easier since I wasn’t starting from scratch, already had some skills and clients by then.
The money thing was the hardest part of starting my tarot business, honestly. kept feeling like a fraud whenever I thought about setting prices.
Spent weeks pulling cards about it (nine of pentacles came up constantly) and journaling until I realized it was old imposter syndrome stuff from being a kid. I worked through it, and now I do $60 for 30-minute readings without the guilt. It might be worth exploring if pricing feels uncomfortable for you too.
Honestly? Skip the whole ‘build a following first’ advice. I started charging from day one. Get yourself on Keen or Kasamba for quick traffic, set decent prices, and build your own stuff on the side. Worked way better for me.
That William Penn quote about time being what we want most but use worst? So true for readers with day jobs or families. Time management is often overlooked in this field.
But honestly, creating boundaries around your availability is everything. You need that energy for your clients, and they need your full attention. Protect your time = protect your practice.
Simple as that.
Just dealt with business registration myself and learned something interesting. The IRS definitely wants quarterly payments from your mystical earnings, but we’re usually classified as ‘Fortune Tellers’ - which doesn’t need special licenses in most places.
Funny thing is, I can’t seem to predict my own tax estimates.
Energy exchange online is definitely different. I think we just have to adjust how we interpret stuff when it’s not face to face.
I totally underestimated how tiring it is to do multiple readings in a row. Thought I could just power through, but nope. My intuitive clarity basically disappears without proper breaks. Now I always build in rest time between sessions, it makes such a difference for staying spiritually connected.
Maybe some people can go all day, but definitely not me.
