Hey Everyone, First time posting so take it easy please. I started a drone company recently and offer all the typical stuff. I'm not having issues finding the real estate agents or events for customers but I'm having an issue breaking into the construction and other industrial industries. I would love to get more into the technical side of drone services but I don't know how to approach these types of companies. I was wondering if anyone had a way to reaching out to construction companies, cell phone tower companies, solar panels, farmers, pretty much anything other than photography. While I enjoy it and see awesome views, I would just like to expand into other territories. Really don't even know what to do first to try to get one of those clients for those types of services. Just start walking up to sites and talk to the foreman? Are there any other ways to reach out to industrial companies to try and get that type of work. I would love any advice that I can get. Thanks in advance. Nick
Based on what I have heard from others, these bigger companies (cell phone tower inspections) usually have existing contacts or contractors that end up providing the services - even if through third parties. But most do outsource - it's just that you have to find the right contact. Read this article (or listen) on T https://commercialdrones.fm/podcast/att-art-pregler-drone-cell-tower-inspection/ I have to assume you have your Part 107 (if USA). There are some educational programs which claim to teach tower inspection, but I'm not sure if they are somehow tied into companies that need the services. My guess is that farmers, construction companies, etc. have at minimum two means of getting their contractors. Farmers probably see ads as well as email and surface mail through publications or lists they already belong to (there are lots of Farm Journals and Farm Shows - BIG ones in PA, for example). Construction is a game where the General Contractors rarely do anything except organize. Again, in these offices they probably tell an assistant or other employee/contact to go out and find some drone services...probably using google or, again, a trade journal or group/contact they already belong to. Keep in mind that most of these clients use similar services for 100's of parts of their business. As one example, I have a friend who is a Project Manager in NYC area. If I wanted to do commercial, I'd probably ask her who - in the chain of command - would be the best people to approach in the chain of command. Dronelife is a web site run by a friend that has a larger commercial component than our site. The writers include some business market analysts and you can contact some of them through their articles, twitter, etc. That might be a good way to put some additional info together.
