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Are drone directories worth paying for

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Jul 19, 2016
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Hi all

I was just wondering if drone directories are worth paying for as I am considering joining a couple for our business. We are in the UK and I have just done a Google search and there are about nine listed on the first page.

Just wondering if any of you have had experiences with these online directories? Do they give you work or not and if so which one are you registered to.

Many thanks
 
Hi all

I was just wondering if drone directories are worth paying for as I am considering joining a couple for our business. We are in the UK and I have just done a Google search and there are about nine listed on the first page.

Just wondering if any of you have had experiences with these online directories? Do they give you work or not and if so which one are you registered to.

Many thanks
Very quick answer......
No - complete waste of time (IMO)


Moved to general section as not I2 specific
 
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No, they serve only to make money for the directories and drive down prices.

Word of mouth and customer recommendations provide almost all of our work.
 
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Ditto to what everyone's saying. They offer s**t rates to pilots and then book the remaining profits. I literally LOL'ed at many of the rates they were offering for random gigs. Like $150/day and things like that. Complete waste of time
 
It depends on what the directories are doing for the pilots. Are they just acting as another google opportunity? If so, probably not worth bothering unless they are doing it for free (because, why not?). Some in the UK are starting to offer value add services and market very heavily. There are also other developments where the directory actively find work with nationwide companies (surveyors, estate agents, insurance) and farm out to members. Often, the nationwide clients will prefer this as it saves them setting up endless accounts with one-man Ops. One is even actively working on making a range of CAA exemptions available to its more experienced members...this could be a game-changer to some operators.
 
The caveat is that no directory can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. You get out what you put in so if you register anywhere, make sure you complete ALL the profile details, ensure your website links remain valid and that you upload a relevant and high quality showreel appropriate to the industry you are targeting. Otherwise, don’t blame the directory.
 
The caveat is that no directory can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. You get out what you put in so if you register anywhere, make sure you complete ALL the profile details, ensure your website links remain valid and that you upload a relevant and high quality showreel appropriate to the industry you are targeting. Otherwise, don’t blame the directory.

Come on dont give the guy false hope. They are all a load of cods-wallop.

They exist as their founders were struggling to get work in themselves and thus moved into arranging work for other people as a easier option.

The whole concept is a waste of time and only serves to drive down prices.

Money if far better spent elsewhere if you want to promote yourself.
 
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Come on dont give the guy false hope. They are all a load of cods-wallop.

They exist as their founders were struggling to get work in themselves and thus moved into arranging work for other people as a easier option.

The whole concept is a waste of time and only serves to drive down prices.

Money if far better spent elsewhere if you want to promote yourself.
So which bit of my reply is inaccurate? I gave a range of options from not bothering to considering. Some organisation do well out of the directories, some don’t. I am a member of several. One is paid the others are free. I have received work from the paid one which has proven worthwhile. No work from the free ones. Some members of the paid one complain that they have had no work hence my comment regarding the need to ensure you give yourself every advantage.

Join, don’t join but let’s not say “directory” and assume they are all doing exactly the same thing.
 
So which bit of my reply is inaccurate? I gave a range of options from not bothering to considering. Some organisation do well out of the directories, some don’t. I am a member of several. One is paid the others are free. I have received work from the paid one which has proven worthwhile. No work from the free ones. Some members of the paid one complain that they have had no work hence my comment regarding the need to ensure you give yourself every advantage.

Join, don’t join but let’s not say “directory” and assume they are all doing exactly the same thing.

Im not having a go pal, The only reason im blunt is i have never met one person who has found a directory actually useful beyond well established companies who use them to distance themselves from others with having reds etc.

I was naive once and joined one too and my friends of long term pfco all sniggered.......They were right it was a huge waste financially and its a cliche in the drone world that everyone does it foolishly at some point.

Im my opinion 3 months paying a marketing specialist would do alot more albeit covering a smaller time scale.

I just dont want to see people make the mistakes i made and waste money

A company using itself to gain unfair advantage over others as well like exemptions is not right in my opinion and objections should be submitted to the CAA.

Its another quick buck scam for them as suckers flock to them until someone else does it. If there is a way to simplify permission and exemptions the CAA should own it for the benefit of all operators.
 
Fair enough.

On the issue of permissions and exemptions, I don’t think there is a way to simplify them. CAA is purely there to regulate safe use of airspace. They don’t take sides and they don’t show favour. If an organisation makes an application for exemptions, on whatever basis, they have to assure themselves that the flights will be carried out safely....that’s an end to it.

It’s a new industry, which is developing quickly. CAA supports that growth but only if it happens safely. They are not there to act as commercial referees between companies.
 

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