Are Websites A Thing Of The Past?

These days, social media seems to be the dominant form of marketing for businesses. With everyone carrying smartphones, access to social media is at our fingertips in an instant. Does that mean websites are a thing of the past?

I tend to field many questions about websites from new commercial drone pilots. Freelancers looking to use their drone skills as a side hustle tend to ask the question less than those looking to start a UAV business as their main gig. Ultimately, it depends on your personal preference and your goals as a commercial drone pilot.

My personal preference and recommendation is to have a website. The benefits of having a site are many, and the downside is minimal. Some have argued with me that sites cost money to make, maintain, and market as their main reason for not having one. While this is true, the same could be said for an open-for-business sign that lights up.

In response, I say plenty of platforms, such as Wix, let you build your own site from templates and have hosting fees of $20 to $30 per month. That's pretty reasonable, considering a single drone gig a month should more than cover that.

So, let's get into a few of the benefits. I'll mention each briefly. If you'd like to learn more, check out our Facebook community where you can ask the Altitude University team and members of the community what they think.

Credibility

Studies have shown that most customers think businesses with websites are more credible. A website shows you took the time to develop your business's image and purpose. You can post a portfolio, list the services you provide, include testimonials, and give pricing information.

Doors Open 24/7

How many sales do you lose when you are asleep? You might miss some great opportunities if your phone is off or on silent and you have no website. Most sites, even Wix-templated sites, have "contact me" features for potential clients to use day or night, rain or shine.

Share More About Who You Are

People like learning about each other. A website provides you with all the space you need to share your story. I am a former Marine with five tours of war under my belt. I mention my time in the service on my website's “about me” section because it relates to some of the drone gigs I get. Some clients need remote wilderness filmed that requires survival skills and an understanding of land navigation methods. 

I can't tell you the number of times a client has said they hired me because I am a veteran. People want to know who they are working with, and a website is a great way to do that.

Market Tool

Websites are great at tracking who is visiting your site. While some people might not allow cookies to track them, many will. During the pandemic, my wife and I published a magazine for a short time (Derailed Magazine). It was shocking to us where our readers were coming from. Surprisingly to us, we were big in Germany and Brazil. The demographics of site visitors can help you target your ad campaigns.

Client Interactions

When you have your own site, you can give customers reasons to visit it and hopefully give you their business. Perhaps you write blogs or post YouTube videos. You can offer reviews of your equipment or tips for improving your photography. The more you provide people on your site for free, the better the chance they will convert from site visitors into paying clients.

These are just a few of the many reasons for having a website. Social media platforms indeed offer these benefits as well, but there is something about a website that makes it feel better. Give some serious thought as to whether a website can improve your business or not. In most cases, it will!

Enroll Now!

Article Written by David Daly