Marketing
- Thread starter E_Dawg
- Start date
Flugmaschine
New Member
You golf? Hang out at the 19th hole. Hospitals, courthouses. Leave a card at the local plastic surgery boutique.
Just speculations...not that I'm a successful marketer.
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
Do you know any hair stylists? The beautyshop is magic!!!
I've never seen a better place to network! It sounds crazy, buy it really works!!
I've never seen a better place to network! It sounds crazy, buy it really works!!
Mr_Creepy
Well-Known Member
The best marketing is personal contact. Just leaving cards and brochures around public places never got me anything.
I left some cards on aircraft for a while, guaranteeing a free BFR if they didn't learn anything. It worked but not as well as I'd hoped, and now my airport has outlawed the practice, as "soliciting."
I met one student who owned a quick print shop. He made my cards for me. I asked him if he wanted to learn to fly. He said he'd give it a try.
Business owners are much more likely to have the time and the flexible schedule to learn to fly.
I met one guy while stopping to help at an accident. He was the EMT. He is now working on his commercial.
Two students were linemen. They both went on to be pilots at airlines.
The vast majority of my students were referrals, however. Referred by people who had flown with me, people in my club, people who worked at the airport.
They "knew" that I was the "go to guy, who was hanging around the airport wanting to fly." They also knew that I was "a good instructor, who enjoyed instructing."
The FBO is where the action is. If you can get a job there, either full or part time, you have a definite foot in the door.
I left some cards on aircraft for a while, guaranteeing a free BFR if they didn't learn anything. It worked but not as well as I'd hoped, and now my airport has outlawed the practice, as "soliciting."
I met one student who owned a quick print shop. He made my cards for me. I asked him if he wanted to learn to fly. He said he'd give it a try.
Business owners are much more likely to have the time and the flexible schedule to learn to fly.
I met one guy while stopping to help at an accident. He was the EMT. He is now working on his commercial.
Two students were linemen. They both went on to be pilots at airlines.
The vast majority of my students were referrals, however. Referred by people who had flown with me, people in my club, people who worked at the airport.
They "knew" that I was the "go to guy, who was hanging around the airport wanting to fly." They also knew that I was "a good instructor, who enjoyed instructing."
The FBO is where the action is. If you can get a job there, either full or part time, you have a definite foot in the door.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
I overheard young guy at the Y talking about "business meetings" he was going to and it reminded me of this thread and free lancing.
Not sure who puts is on or how you find out about it, but, he had been going to these breakfast meetings where you sit at tables with other businessmen you don't know and all network with each other. Seemed like a great way to talk up aviation and meet potential students.
I hope it wasn't Amway.....
Not sure who puts is on or how you find out about it, but, he had been going to these breakfast meetings where you sit at tables with other businessmen you don't know and all network with each other. Seemed like a great way to talk up aviation and meet potential students.
I hope it wasn't Amway.....
MidlifeFlyer
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Not sure who puts is on or how you find out about it, but, he had been going to these breakfast meetings where you sit at tables with other businessmen you don't know and all network with each other. Seemed like a great way to talk up aviation and meet potential students.
[/ QUOTE ]There's a variety of organizations and service clubs like this. The predominant ones in the US are Rotary (www.rotary.org), Kiwanis (www.kiwanis.org) and Lions (www.lionsclubs.org).
Some of these have fallen on hard times as older members aren't getting replaced by new ones because of the current slow death of voluntarism. But in some localities, one or more of them might be very vital.
BTW, even without joining, a vital one can be a source of business. These groups tend to have weekly meetings and can desperate for speakers. If you chose an aviation topic that would be of interest, you can probably do a presentation. For example, a talk on GA security at your local airport would probably be pretty well received.
You may find some similar local organizations through your community's Chamber of Commerce, which might also run some. There's one in the Denver area that usually has a meeting once a year or so at an airport hangar!.
Not sure who puts is on or how you find out about it, but, he had been going to these breakfast meetings where you sit at tables with other businessmen you don't know and all network with each other. Seemed like a great way to talk up aviation and meet potential students.
[/ QUOTE ]There's a variety of organizations and service clubs like this. The predominant ones in the US are Rotary (www.rotary.org), Kiwanis (www.kiwanis.org) and Lions (www.lionsclubs.org).
Some of these have fallen on hard times as older members aren't getting replaced by new ones because of the current slow death of voluntarism. But in some localities, one or more of them might be very vital.
BTW, even without joining, a vital one can be a source of business. These groups tend to have weekly meetings and can desperate for speakers. If you chose an aviation topic that would be of interest, you can probably do a presentation. For example, a talk on GA security at your local airport would probably be pretty well received.
You may find some similar local organizations through your community's Chamber of Commerce, which might also run some. There's one in the Denver area that usually has a meeting once a year or so at an airport hangar!.
