Some Strategies for Drone Entrepreneurs

In order to turn their passions into profit, many UAV enthusiasts have begun starting drone businesses.  Offering their skills to real estate firms, advertisers, cellphone service providers and other companies seeking aerial photography, drone entrepreneurs everywhere have found the field to be lucrative and abundant with opportunities.  If you aspire to make money flying drones, here are some tips to help you get started:

UNDERSTAND YOUR VALUE

There is a reason why so many high-end lodges, resorts and hotels use drone footage to advertise their properties: it looks amazing.  Aerial cinematography is immensely valuable in surveying architecture, capturing landscapes and making vacation destinations look really, really good. If you can provide drone services to a land-owning company, you’re helping them to advertise their product in the best light possible and could greatly augment their business.  It is helpful to always be assessing the needs of your potential clients and to come up with a list of ways that you can add value to their company. This will help you to build confidence as you start pitching your services to customers

BUILD (AND APPRECIATE) YOUR NETWORK

In order get rolling when you first start a drone business, it is important that you people know you have services to offer. You should start networking both in-person and online as soon (and as often) as you can.  We recommend joining a local Chamber of Commerce, which will help you to meet other entrepreneurs in the community and to get word out about the services you offer.  Many COC’s have benefits for their members like advertisement space in local media and access to networking events. 

Additionally, the internet is a great way to advertise yourself.  On top of consistently using Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms, you should collect e-mails from your business network for a weekly or monthly newsletter.  Keep everyone updated with where you're at, what you’ve done, who you’ve helped and how your services have made businesses better.  If you’re constantly reminding people that you’re out there flying drones and making videos, they won’t forget to call you when they need you.

COLD CALL

This can be a difficult one for many new business owners, but it is important that you reach out to the people who could potentially use you.  Start by reaching out to associations and businesses working in the field you want to market to.  If you’re hoping to provide drone services to the local land brokerage market, for example, you need to get in touch with the right people.  Do the necessary Google searches, ask around and make as many phone calls as you need to make in order to pitch yourself to the right people.

BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION

Because of the nature of this work and the ever-changing needs of your clients, don’t be upset when a customer responds to your pitch with “No, thank you”.  The truth of the matter is that when you're trying to start a drone business, you might get a lot of those at first.  As long as you continue to build your network, to put yourself out there and to prove that you can provide high-quality work for those that need it, rejections will only give you more time to focus on finding people that do want to work with you. 

DO A JOB FOR FREE

In order to get the ball rolling, you may want to consider offering a company your services for one job at no cost.  This can help you to build the trust of a client and to show them the ways that your skills can add value to their business.  It will help you to produce some content that can be used in your aerial cinematography portfolio and you’ll gain some valuable experience working with clients and gaining a better understanding of their needs. 

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