In this three-part series, I’ll be going through some proven tips and strategies you can implement TODAY to grow and scale your drone business.
Starting any business from scratch is one of the toughest challenges you can give yourself, but when done right, it can also be the most rewarding. In order to build your business for sustainability, it’s not enough be proficient in your technical skills. You must create and implement a marketing strategy that will allow you to leverage your technical skills and bring in consistent clientele for years to come. Here in Part 1, I’ve outlined a few key concepts I've taken away from our years in the industry.
Create Awareness + Have Email List
This may sound like an simple concept, but there’s a systematic approach more drone companies should be taking in order to grow their business .
There is no doubt that in this day and age, digital content is KEY. Whether you choose to write blogs, create videos, or record a podcast, it’s important that you create VALUABLE content that's targeted at your specific market. This FREE content helps increase awareness of your brand which then leads to inbound or “warm” leads.
Most importantly, you should be building up your email list over time in order to stay in touch with potential, old and new clients.
Not sure what to create content about?
First, think of some questions your potential client may have. For example, they may ask Google ‘how drones are used for roof inspections’, or, ‘the benefits of drones for crop praying’
Create content that answers these questions! Talk about how YOU use drones for roof inspections, etc. This content will come up in Google searches, people will click to see your content, and now, you have a potential lead.
You can also talk about lessons learned from a recent project, talk about a new partnership, talk about the future of drones in your industry.
Don’t sit back and wait for the opportunities to come to you. Put yourself out there, let people know the cool projects you’ve been working on, and I can promise it will lead to more inquiries.
Your Competitive Advantage
As more pilots become licensed and start their own drone service companies, it’s important to think about what separates you from your competitors. What is your unique selling proposition? Why would someone want to pick you over your competition?
It’s not enough to have a flashy drone. Truth be told, your client could care less about the type of drone you use, as long as you can solve the problem they have.
A simple way to take action on this is to make a list of your top five competitors. Identify what they do well, and not so well. Look at the value they provide in their pricing packages. Think about how you can leverage your strengths to offer a better service. Maybe it’s the fact that you provide a quick turnaround, or that you’re a certified thermographer.
Is your leverage heard/seen throughout your marketing material?
Keep track of this list and review/update periodically. You can learn a lot from these quick searches over time.
Have A Lead Magnet
This expands on the first concept of ‘Creating Awareness’.
As you may have experienced, one of the best ways to land a new client is to give away something for free. As drone pilots, traditionally this has come in the form of us giving away some sample photos or video, in the hopes it will lead to a bigger opportunity. Today, we are discussing how to do this in a digital format.
Digitally, this can come in the form of an e-book, a guide, a course, a newsletter, or help content on your YouTube page.
It’s important to keep in mind that you sometimes need to educate your potential clients on the significance of your offerings. A way to identify the specific problems you can solve for them.
For example if you’re into drones for construction mapping, you can create an e-book that talks about the ‘Top 5 Benefits of Using Drone For Construction Site Monitoring’. Talk ONLY about the PROBLEMS drones help solve. Talk about the VALUE drones bring to these types of projects. It’s also a big bonus if you can include a case study from one of your previous projects
If you’re into real estate photography, you should have a brochure that talks about the ‘Top Reasons to Incorporate Drone Photography’. If you’re into agriculture, you’ll want to have a nicely designed case study on how your services helped your client increase their yields and save time.
The idea is to give value away for free in return for this person’s contact info or email address. Build this list over time so you can stay in touch, give away even more value, and let them know about everything happening in your business.
Conclusion (For Now)
Running a drone business is similar to operating any other business, yet most drone businesses owners don't take the proper steps to implement a systematic approach to marketing. Stay tuned for more strategy and insight on how to grow your drone business.
Do you have any feedback on this list? Let me know! I'd like to hear other marketing strategies you recommend as well.
Global Air University
We recently launched Global Air University, an online learning platform dedicated to teaching drone pilots how to start grow, and scale their business. Our flagship course titled ‘The Drone Business Blueprint’ gives you a step-by-step guide starting a profitable drone business from scratch.
Get started for FREE by downloading our Pricing Guide for Commercial Drone Operators or our Ultimate Mission Protocol + Pre-Flight Safety Checklist.
Cheers,
Eno, Co-founder of Global Air Media
