As the popularity of drones has skyrocketed, so too have the commercial advertising opportunities for drone service businesses. From capturing impressive aerial footage for real estate listings to crafting breathtaking campaigns for tourism boards. Because of this drone services are in high demand. There are many possibilities for drones in commercial marketing and advertising. This makes it a highly lucrative and exciting industry to be a part of.
Goldman Sachs predicts that drones used in marketing and advertising campaigns will make up 10% of the estimated $100 billion total drone market in 2030. Drone photography and videography drive the current market. But aerial virtual tours and satellite-drone imagery will drive the future market.
We’ll discuss the best uses for unmanned aerial vehicles in marketing and advertising. There are low-cost, high-quality drone products that can help distinguish any marketing campaign.
Photography
This is what pretty much everyone thinks of when they think about drones. Aerial imagery provides unique vires of property and surrounding landscape. Drone technology and automated flight applications make it relatively easy to fly and take pictures.
Most drone cameras can create 20-megapixel images which are great for marketing and advertising. Most people only consider drones for outdoor photography, but smaller drones can also be used for indoor photos. This means that drones can be a one-stop shop for aerial and ground images for both indoor and outdoor photos.
What is not always considered is the additional knowledge needed for post-production or color grading that can maximize image quality. If you’re serious, then it will require professional-grade software. I recommend Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. These pictures show how to color grade can transform an average photograph into something much better. For more details see our article “Drone Photography: A Practical Guide“.
Videography
There was a time when aerial videography was only used for multi-million-dollar mansions or large commercial properties. Drone costs and size have decreased, and technology has improved so today drone video is also a great option for marketing projects of all sizes. Products range from short raw footage video clips to higher quality fully produced videos.
Video drone marketing can help businesses capture the attention of customers. Making them more likely to purchase a product or service. Drones are a great opportunity For marketing and advertising executives. They can create high-quality content while minimizing expenses associated with production costs.
Here is a list of organizations that can use drone videography for marketing and advertising:
Real estate firms: Drone technology can be used to capture aerial video footage of properties, giving customers an immersive experience before they even set foot in the listing. See our article “Real Estate Marketing with Drone Photography“
Event planners and promoters: Drone footage can help event planners and promoters create promotional videos or photos with unique perspectives that will captivate viewers.
Tourism boards and travel companies: Drones can capture footage of popular tourist destinations, creating visuals that will attract more visitors to these locations.
Sports teams and leagues: Drone technology can be used to capture dynamic footage from multiple angles that will help teams create hype for upcoming games.
Local towns and municipalities: Authorities can create promotional videos of popular tourist spots, public parks, and outdoor recreational areas. Additionally, drone footage can capture visuals of local events taking place in the town. Overall, drones provide towns and municipalities with an effective tool for promoting their attractions.
Automotive companies: By leveraging drone video marketing, automotive companies can showcase their vehicles in unique ways and create visuals that will engage viewers and potential customers.
Virtual Tour
One of the newest marketing products for drones is 360-degree interactive virtual tours. Indoor virtual tours have become very popular. However, these products can be a bit pricey. Drones can be used to create aerial virtual tours that can highlight the different businesses in a commercial plaza, or they can show the neighborhood for a residential property.
Because drones can be used indoors, it’s possible to create a seamless interactive tour that transitions from outdoor to indoor. These interactive tours can include photos, text, and video to create beautiful and informative products for residential and commercial marketing. There are many other applications. For example, virtual tours are great for construction site walkthroughs. They reduce the amount of foot traffic and can maintain a record of site assets or safety compliance.
Satellite-Drone Combination
Combining drone and satellite imagery can be a great way to create engaging visuals from different angles. Drone footage can be used to capture stunning aerial views of a certain location or event, while satellite imagery can provide information about locations farther away. By combining these two types of imagery, businesses can create visuals that will help them stand out from the competition.
Combining aerial images taken from drones with detailed satellite maps can help businesses focus attention on specific elements within their marketing campaigns and provide more insight into certain areas of focus.
Combined satellite-drone products have been very useful in our area of Washington DC. In the Washington DC area drones flights are highly restricted and require special waivers. The waiver process is, to say the least, difficult. You may need a law enforcement escort and often you’ll need a government sponsor for the work.
So we have turned to satellite imagery. We create aerial videos from available satellite data. This allows us to access areas where drone flights are restricted. With the satellite data, we can also show the relative distance to local attractions and amenities and traffic access routes.
Using editing techniques we transition from satellite to outdoor drone images to indoor drone video. This creates a unique product that’s only achievable with drones. You can mix and match the different products to create something new. So there you have it, our best ways to use aerial imaging for commercial advertising.
Lightwave Aerial is a professional drone service company based in Northern Virginia. Our pilots are all FAA Part-107 certified. We offer a full range of aerial photo/video production services, aerial mapping, and aerial inspection.
Benefits of Drones for Marketing and Advertising
Aerial Perspective
Using drones for marketing and advertising provides a unique and creative perspective of the subject or product being promoted. It allows the viewer to see the subject from a different angle, creating an awe-inspiring experience that can leave a lasting impression.
Increased Production Value
Using drones adds an element of sophistication and fluidity to visual productions. The device can help give advertisements a more professional look and feel than using ordinary handheld cameras, ultimately making them more interesting to watch.
Improved Efficiency
Using drones to capture marketing footage saves time compared to traditional methods. Instead of using cranes or helicopters, film and production crews can easily launch a drone and capture high-quality footage that can be edited later. This makes the workflow more efficient and simplifies the production of marketing content.
Cost-effective
Drones provide a cost-effective solution for capturing aerial visuals. In the past, businesses would need to rent helicopters or special equipment to capture aerial footage, which could be expensive. Drones, on the other hand, offer a flexible and cheaper option for businesses looking to capture stunning footage while working within a budget.
Versatility
Drones can be used in numerous settings, from filming outdoor concert events and festivals to inspecting commercial buildings. This versatility is particularly useful in the marketing industry where businesses aim to experiment and operate in new and innovative ways to engage their audiences.
Safety
Using drones to capture aerial footage removes the need to use man-operated equipment that may not be safe. Drones can fly into inaccessible areas, fly at low altitudes and travel faster than traditional methods, making them a safer and more efficient option.
Traditional Method Comparison
Traditional methods such as helicopters, cranes, and manned gyroscopes cost a premium, limiting businesses from using them frequently for marketing campaigns. They are also not as versatile and safe as drones. Helicopters can be expensive to operate, while cranes may not have the capacity to reach difficult areas. The traditional methods may also take up a lot of space, which can make project management difficult.
Using drones for marketing and advertising provides numerous benefits compared to traditional methods. They are becoming a popular choice for businesses looking to create high-quality content that resonates with their customers.
Legal Requirements and Regulations for Drone Use
As drone technology continues to advance, understanding the legal requirements and regulations for their use is crucial. Flying a drone for commercial purposes requires a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. To get certified you must pass the part 107 aeronautical knowledge certification exam. The exam ensures that all professional drone pilots have a minimal knowledge of federal aviation administration (FAA) drone rules and regulations.
Once you pass you will get a card indicating that you are a certified Part 107 commercial drone pilot. For details on how to get your commercial pilot license see our article “How to Get Your Drone License: A Complete Guide”.
Obtaining your drone license or certification is only the first step to legally flying a drone. You also have to register your drone with the FAA. This can be done easily on the FAA website. Registration is easy and only costs $5.
You’ll get a registration number for your drone. This number must be permanently displayed on the drone. We recommend using adhesive address labels and including your name and contact information along with the registration number.
Always keep your registration and license with you when operating your drone.
There are only two ways that you can fly a drone commercially without obtaining a Part 107 certificate
- The first way is to fly indoors. The FAA only regulates outdoor airspace. So strangely enough, FAA regulations do not apply when flying a drone indoors.
- The second way is to fly under the supervision of a certified pilot. This allows for the training and education of new pilots. In this case, the supervising pilot must be able to take over control of the unmanned aircraft at any time during the flight.
Drone Popularity in Marketing and Advertising
As of 2023, the use of drones for marketing and advertising purposes is on the rise. In 2020, there were over 1 million commercial drone flights in the US alone. Of these flights, approximately 8% were related to marketing and advertising activities such as aerial photography and videography.
Additionally, many companies are now using drones for delivery services and promotional events. A perfect example, is Amazon recently announced its Prime Air service which uses drones to deliver packages directly to customers’ homes.
The use of drones for marketing and advertising has been shown to have a positive impact on businesses. Studies have found that businesses that use drones for marketing and advertising purposes tend to experience an increase in sales compared to those that do not. Furthermore, research suggests that customers are more likely to purchase products from businesses that utilize drone technology in their marketing campaigns.
Overall, it is clear that the use of drones in the marketing and advertising industry is becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses across all industries.
Lightwave Aerial is a professional drone service company based in Northern Virginia. Our pilots are all FAA Part-107 certified. We offer a full range of aerial photo/video production services, aerial mapping, and aerial inspection.
At Lightwave Aerial, we are dedicated to providing professional drone services that help our clients achieve their goals. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you with your next construction project!
