Marketing sucks

[whiteworks]

I seem to be on a never ending cycle of marketing, it’s super effective but holy shit it’s like that movie groundhogs day where the alarm clock goes off each morning and Sonny and Cher are singing I got you babe.

I try to keep in mind that people who have not been exposed to our services will be interested in the message, but it’s a grind to keep that game face on and stay as excited as the clients are about there need for us.

I have no idea how all these social media influencers keep their head in the game, especially the ones who are not getting paid big bucks as the motivator. I think I suffer from content exposure fatigue. It’s funny you start down a path thinking you know what you signed up for and next thing you know your actual job is quite different. I try to do at least one thing marketing related per day, everyday. Some of it’s free, some of it I’ll swipe the card and spend some money on.

I just got invited to do a presentation in Denver at a conference in March, pretty cool to get recognized for creating a disruptive business model in less than a year, I have not decided if I’m going to go share how we make the sausage or if I want to keep it on the down low and decide if I want to scale it. There will be 600 people in attendance that operate in this space. I like the exposure of it and think that putting it out there in an open source concept will be fun. It’s not like I’m doing any magic proprietary type thing, just took a different approach than the industry standard and created a value for the client vs. trying to grind every cent out of them LOL

So how do you self employed small business guys keep yourselves excited about hawking the same line of shit over and over

Here is a link to a little video my buddy Chris came and prodiced the other day, he’s always hustling his real estate game and keeping himself out there, total grinder, seems to me you have to constantly grind on this front to have continued progress. I am mixed about just posting dumb shit all the time on our Instagram to build followers or just keep it on point with what we do. I know the answer is to post dumb shit and build followers, but fuck me I hate that bullshit LOL

Christopher Fox | Upland, Alta Loma Realtor on Instagram: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or ju

53 likes, 8 comments - soldbyfox on October 25, 2024: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or just looking for a heart-pounding experience, owner...

www.instagram.com

 

[jetboatperformance]

I seem to be on a never ending cycle of marketing, it’s super effective but holy shit it’s like that movie groundhogs day where the alarm clock goes off each morning and Sonny and Cher are singing I got you babe.

I try to keep in mind that people who have not been exposed to our services will be interested in the message, but it’s a grind to keep that game face on and stay as excited as the clients are about there need for us.

I have no idea how all these social media influencers keep their head in the game, especially the ones who are not getting paid big bucks as the motivator. I think I suffer from content exposure fatigue. It’s funny you start down a path thinking you know what you signed up for and next thing you know your actual job is quite different. I try to do at least one thing marketing related per day, everyday. Some of it’s free, some of it I’ll swipe the card and spend some money on.

I just got invited to do a presentation in Denver at a conference in March, pretty cool to get recognized for creating a disruptive business model in less than a year, I have not decided if I’m going to go share how we make the sausage or if I want to keep it on the down low and decide if I want to scale it. There will be 600 people in attendance that operate in this space. I like the exposure of it and think that putting it out there in an open source concept will be fun. It’s not like I’m doing any magic proprietary type thing, just took a different approach than the industry standard and created a value for the client vs. trying to grind every cent out of them LOL

So how do you self employed small business guys keep yourselves excited about hawking the same line of shit over and over

Here is a link to a little video my buddy Chris came and prodiced the other day, he’s always hustling his real estate game and keeping himself out there, total grinder, seems to me you have to constantly grind on this front to have continued progress. I am mixed about just posting dumb shit all the time on our Instagram to build followers or just keep it on point with what we do. I know the answer is to post dumb shit and build followers, but fuck me I hate that bullshit LOL

Christopher Fox | Upland, Alta Loma Realtor on Instagram: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or ju

53 likes, 8 comments - soldbyfox on October 25, 2024: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or just looking for a heart-pounding experience, owner...

www.instagram.com

Pride in the product and service and workman ship alone is fulfilling , success comes with dedication , I help alot to love what you do and then there's the Benjamin's

 

[pkrrvr619]

What services do you offer in the marketing space?

 

[whiteworks]

What services do you offer in the marketing space?

None, I’m the head of our marketing department and learning as I go, I’m also the head janitor

 

[BHC Vic]

I don’t do anything in marketing but since I teach the same class every week I know the feeling. Even going to the ITC to teach I used to get so excited. Now I wish they would find someone else

 

[whiteworks]

I don’t do anything in marketing but since I teach the same class every week I know the feeling. Even going to the ITC to teach I used to get so excited. Now I wish they would find someone else

You’ve been by and seen what’s going on here, what I’m realizing that my motivation to constantly share this venture with the correct people has a significant effect on our bottom line. The real job here at this stage is exposure, we are batting 1000 on the operational side of things. I hosted an event last month for 50 local flight instructors, I will be doing one of these events every 90 days. Thee events are focused on cultivating a community, tried to keep the amway ambush to a minimum and let these folks know how our services can directly effect their clients in a very positive way.

 

[Orange Juice]

You’ve been by and seen what’s going on here, what I’m realizing that my motivation to constantly share this venture with the correct people has a significant effect on our bottom line. The real job here at this stage is exposure, we are batting 1000 on the operational side of things. I hosted an event last month for 50 local flight instructors, I will be doing one of these events every 90 days. Thee events are focused on cultivating a community, tried to keep the amway ambush to a minimum and let these folks know how our services can directly effect their clients in a very positive way. View attachment 1445526

I’m sure the IFR months of operation in SoCal you do very well. I took my flight lessons out of Corona (KAJO). Morning fog was a problem. I flew in VFR minimums about 50% of the time during those months, and scheduling was very tight. SantaAnna winds also made it difficult.

KDVT in Phoenix opened a similar setup as yours.

 

[Done-it-again]

I seem to be on a never ending cycle of marketing, it’s super effective but holy shit it’s like that movie groundhogs day where the alarm clock goes off each morning and Sonny and Cher are singing I got you babe.

I try to keep in mind that people who have not been exposed to our services will be interested in the message, but it’s a grind to keep that game face on and stay as excited as the clients are about there need for us.

I have no idea how all these social media influencers keep their head in the game, especially the ones who are not getting paid big bucks as the motivator. I think I suffer from content exposure fatigue. It’s funny you start down a path thinking you know what you signed up for and next thing you know your actual job is quite different. I try to do at least one thing marketing related per day, everyday. Some of it’s free, some of it I’ll swipe the card and spend some money on.

I just got invited to do a presentation in Denver at a conference in March, pretty cool to get recognized for creating a disruptive business model in less than a year, I have not decided if I’m going to go share how we make the sausage or if I want to keep it on the down low and decide if I want to scale it. There will be 600 people in attendance that operate in this space. I like the exposure of it and think that putting it out there in an open source concept will be fun. It’s not like I’m doing any magic proprietary type thing, just took a different approach than the industry standard and created a value for the client vs. trying to grind every cent out of them LOL

So how do you self employed small business guys keep yourselves excited about hawking the same line of shit over and over

Here is a link to a little video my buddy Chris came and prodiced the other day, he’s always hustling his real estate game and keeping himself out there, total grinder, seems to me you have to constantly grind on this front to have continued progress. I am mixed about just posting dumb shit all the time on our Instagram to build followers or just keep it on point with what we do. I know the answer is to post dumb shit and build followers, but fuck me I hate that bullshit LOL

Christopher Fox | Upland, Alta Loma Realtor on Instagram: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or ju

53 likes, 8 comments - soldbyfox on October 25, 2024: "Ready to take flight without leaving the ground? ✈️😎 Join Chris Fox as he dives into a full-throttle adventure at DC Flight Simulator in Upland! 🛫💨 Whether you're racking up pilot hours or just looking for a heart-pounding experience, owner...

www.instagram.com

Wonder if franchising would be something you should look into. But I think you need 3 operating locations first, but not really sure.

 

[whiteworks]

I’m sure the IFR months of operation in SoCal you do very well. I took my flight lessons out of Corona (KAJO). Morning fog was a problem. I flew in VFR minimums about 50% of the time during those months, and scheduling was very tight. SantaAnna winds also made it difficult.

KDVT in Phoenix opened a similar setup as yours.

The IFR students are a no brainer, they can log 20 hours towards their rating in these sims. Total bargain as the package is $490.00 for 25 hours in a 30 day period. The currency market is also pretty untapped, figure $150.00 to do six hits, rain or shine, not waiting on SoCal clearances. It’s pretty wild all the different applications that have arisen, exposure to those who are in that space is the lift at this point.

Wonder if franchising would be something you should look into. But I think you need 3 operating locations first, but not really sure.

I’m not against putting in 3-5 locations in SoCal under our moniker, I could successfully mange those without employees. I feel for the flight training providers out there trying to keep planes online and available, it’s a bad business model for sure. One thought was to back lease sims to existing flight schools and have them staff the operational side. However that is a big investment and they have no real skin in the game when the wind blows a different direction in the industry, which it will.

 

[Done-it-again]

I’m not against putting in 3-5 locations in SoCal under our moniker, I could successfully mange those without employees. I feel for the flight training providers out there trying to keep planes online and available, it’s a bad business model for sure. One thought was to back lease sims to existing flight schools and have them staff the operational side. However that is a big investment and they have no real skin in the game when the wind blows a different direction in the industry, which it will.

I guess it depends on your end game. As @Orange Juice posted KDVT has a similar operation now. If others see this model and its working, the spread can be like cancer without you and no regards to flight training providers.

 

[lbhsbz]

As many know, I'm a small job owner dealing in specialty brake parts. Aside from few targeted forum posts (not here), that have gotten me absolutely nowhere...I've done zero marketing.

All of my business comes from eBay and word of mouth/keyboard.

I might not crack the 1/2 million mark this year....but I'll be close...slinging parts outta my garage.

You can sell services on eBay....and while yes, there are fees....you simply cannot get a better audience than eBay can get you for the price they charge. Period. Then if you choose to do targeted marketing, you get all their contact information free whenever someone buys something. Repeat business typically comes through the website, because I put a card in with every order explaining who we are, what we do, and where to find us.

You might explore selling a "gift certificate" type thing for sim time or whatever this new one is....list it in 10 different manners to get into 10 different catagories....just change the title and a few words in the description. The title (and item specifics, which won't be involved with what you're doing) are the only "searchable fields" in ebay that show up on google or whatever search engine you choose.

I've had tons to people reach out to me for marketing but at the end of the day, I'm the only one who can represent my product without sounding like a fucktard (reference the Porsche boat thread for what I'm talking about) and feel outside representation will put off more potential customers than it will bring in.

 

[whiteworks]

I guess it depends on your end game. As @Orange Juice posted KDVT has a similar operation now. If others see this model and its working, the spread can be like cancer without you and no regards to flight training providers.

There are thousands of simulators out there in the world, they are expensive and most entity’s that have them try to squeeze every penny they can out of them to help subsidize there aircraft fleet. They do this by leveraging them to get people into their flight training program. Any well funded part 141 flight school will have sims in play as it takes workload off their aircraft and opens up availability for more students on current infrastructure. Any non well funded part 141 will add sims as soon as they become well funded part 61 flight “clubs” have a business model based on renting aircraft, adding sims to their programs takes money out of their revenue stream. They are all hooked on revenue over profit business models, flight training is a looser as far as business models go, maybe 5% profit margin. It’s a lifestyle thing, with a cyclical patten of feast and famine.

To do what we’re doing you need to have two sims in place incase one is down your customers are not affected. At that point your talking airplane money and 9/10 flight training providers will add a plane vs. simulators to their program.

I don’t think the numbers pencil out for the ROI to set something like this up, dudes that have the cash can make a lot more money with a lot less lift doing other things, playing with airplanes is a financial looser 100% of the time If I was paying a vig and had employees this thing would be a total looser.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

The IFR students are a no brainer, they can log 20 hours towards their rating in these sims. Total bargain as the package is $490.00 for 25 hours in a 30 day period. The currency market is also pretty untapped, figure $150.00 to do six hits, rain or shine, not waiting on SoCal clearances. It’s pretty wild all the different applications that have arisen, exposure to those who are in that space is the lift at this point.


I’m not against putting in 3-5 locations in SoCal under our moniker, I could successfully mange those without employees. I feel for the flight training providers out there trying to keep planes online and available, it’s a bad business model for sure. One thought was to back lease sims to existing flight schools and have them staff the operational side. However that is a big investment and they have no real skin in the game when the wind blows a different direction in the industry, which it will.

So the schools can charge $300/hr for them? Your model is working because the price point works.

I gave up out here trying to find a place that is set up like yours, they are all $$$$$$/hr. So much so it works out better to just go fly the airplane.

 

[wash11]

This is constantly on my mind as a small business fella. We've been operational for a decade and it's the one thing I've loathed the entire time. At the risk of stifling growth, we are working toward zero marketing. We're close to a point of shutting down social media. Joe (Rivermobster) helped us build an informational website that captures enough fresh email addresses to keep the machine going. Between that and customer referrals we're hoping we can hit the mark each month. I had one 37 second video go viral on Instagram and it cost me three months of my life explaining to people as far as Guam that we don't ship our beef- that was the turning point for us that made us really talk out what the future would look like regarding marketing.

I really do admire people that are good at it. It'll just never be me.

 

[whiteworks]

So the schools can charge $300/hr for them? Your model is working because the price point works.

I gave up out here trying to find a place that is set up like yours, they are all $$$$$$/hr. So much so it works out better to just go fly the airplane.

I was talking with a young man enrolled in a college program with a major in flight, his school is a package deal, they have a very nice high fidelity simulator that is online with the fleet of aircraft they fly, it’s $500.00 an hour, they have no choice in the matter as it’s all part of the tuition.

Price point is one of the selling points of what we’re doing, but it’s also the mix of everything else that creates the appeal. I’m confidently telling people we are the only bargain in aviation.

I don’t feel like we are ripping people off, that’s important to me, I really want all party’s involved to feel good about what’s going on.

 

[Cobalt232]

Do you have an 'affiliate' type program for CFI's?

 

[whiteworks]

This is constantly on my mind as a small business fella. We've been operational for a decade and it's the one thing I've loathed the entire time. At the risk of stifling growth, we are working toward zero marketing. We're close to a point of shutting down social media. Joe (Rivermobster) helped us build an informational website that captures enough fresh email addresses to keep the machine going. Between that and customer referrals we're hoping we can hit the mark each month. I had one 37 second video go viral on Instagram and it cost me three months of my life explaining to people as far as Guam that we don't ship our beef- that was the turning point for us that made us really talk out what the future would look like regarding marketing.

I really do admire people that are good at it. It'll just never be me.

I’ve had a little bit of that social media exposure backfire which created some work load explaining what we do. Thank god it hasn’t gone viral like yours did, what a pain in the ass that must have been.

After the first of the year I’m gonna do a targeted mailer, it’s gonna be $1000 or so to hit 2000 people, I assume most of the mailers will end up in the trash. I am under the impression that you just have to keep throwing stuff at the wall constantly and see what sticks, and when it sticks. Way back in the day o had a good run with yellow pages, those days are done and the game is constantly changing with all the tech presence. Just when you figure out the formula everything changes again

 

[whiteworks]

Do you have an 'affiliate' type program for CFI's?

What do you mean affiliate?

 

[Cobalt232]

What do you mean affiliate?

Essentially if a flight instructor brings you a new client, they get something in return. It could be swag, time in the sim for their own use advanced ratings, $, etc.

 

[Cobalt232]

Also, have you thought about selling gift cards on your website?

 

[whiteworks]

Essentially if a flight instructor brings you a new client, they get something in return. It could be swag, time in the sim for their own use advanced ratings, $, etc.

They get paid by their student, some of these CFI’s are making $5k-$7k a month teaching their students in our facility. It’s really a home for homeless CFI’s to conduct their business in a clean, professional, and modern facility without some flightschool owner/overlord getting on the mix. I’m just renting tractors and keeping the wheels on the bus so the shit works when they come in.

Also, have you thought about selling gift cards on your website?

The facility access comes into play at very specific times and needs in an individuals training needs. The student pilots are finding us and coming back when they are ready to get traction on a particular phase they are at. I sold some gift certificates last holiday season to some well meaning relatives of pilots, never saw the pilots show up to redeem. It’s a pretty specific thing the pilots are doing at a pretty specific time. Reality is their wives have no clue how much dough they piss away on plane stuff and they like to keep it that way

 

[Cobalt232]

They get paid by their student, some of these CFI’s are making $5k-$7k a month teaching their students in our facility. It’s really a home for homeless CFI’s to conduct their business in a clean, professional, and modern facility without some flightschool owner/overlord getting on the mix. I’m just renting tractors and keeping the wheels on the bus so the shit works when they come in.

The facility access comes into play at very specific times and needs in an individuals training needs. The student pilots are finding us and coming back when they are ready to get traction on a particular phase they are at. I sold some gift certificates last holiday season to some well meaning relatives of pilots, never saw the pilots show up to redeem. It’s a pretty specific thing the pilots are doing at a pretty specific time. Reality is their wives have no clue how much dough they piss away on plane stuff and they like to keep it that way

So, most of the CFI's using your facility aren't guys working their way to 1500 hrs? Teaching is their thing? The CFI's that I have known over the years were all basically broke and just building time. A good friend is now a FO at Delta on the 37 in his first year.

That makes sense about gift cards in your case.
We sell a ton of gift cards around the holidays. Tracking them over the past 6 or so years since they went digital yields about a 40% breakage (not used). Honestly, I love that. Maybe I'm short-sighted, but to me that is pure profit. We also advertise the hell out of it starting in mid November. In addition, we give the gift card giver some swag depending on how much they spend. That program is our only 'promo' we run. No other discounts on any product for anyone. That keeps it fair all around.

 

[whiteworks]

So, most of the CFI's using your facility aren't guys working their way to 1500 hrs? Teaching is their thing? The CFI's that I have known over the years were all basically broke and just building time. A good friend is now a FO at Delta on the 37 in his first year.

That makes sense about gift cards in your case.
We sell a ton of gift cards around the holidays. Tracking them over the past 6 or so years since they went digital yields about a 40% breakage (not used). Honestly, I love that. Maybe I'm short-sighted, but to me that is pure profit. We also advertise the hell out of it starting in mid November. In addition, we give the gift card giver some swag depending on how much they spend. That program is our only 'promo' we run. No other discounts on any product for anyone. That keeps it fair all around.

I’d say 75% of the CFI/II’s working out of the facility are airline track and building hours. They are finding that working out of this facility allows them to make some decent coin that they can then rent planes and build hours on their own vs. just instructing. It’s a grind for them to hit that 1500, I’m doing everything in my power to help them with an additional path to revenue.

One thing that is a reality is most of these kids building time as CFI’s never knew they were going to be business owner/opperators on the way to the airlines. The sooner they realize that and treat it as such the sooner they start making real progress. I had 40-50 of them in a room a few weeks back and asked for a show of hands who had business cards, about 10 raised their hands. As the night went on I could see that a lot of them were catching on to the fact that they were in business for themselves. By 1000 hours most of them have it figured out and the sharp ones are banging out 100 hours a month.

The hiring climate has shifted, it’s no longer 1500 hours and pulse to get hired at a regional. It’s a well beaten path to the airlines, it’s like digging a hole, it’s not complicated, but it’s a lot of work.