As recently as a few years ago, drones were a technological oddity. They looked like a cross between helicopters, sci-fi monsters, and the model airplanes many of us grew up with. Mostly, they were given as gifts, or shown off at conventions.
As production is increased and improved, though, we started to see drones everywhere. And now, they aren’t just for hobbyists and aviation enthusiasts – drones are taking on a bigger role in marketing, especially when it comes to photography and video.
So, if you’ve been curious about how you might be able to use them to help your company grow, let’s look at a few ways you can integrate drones into your marketing campaigns…
First, the Fine Print
We should begin by noting that drones aren’t toys. In order to use one, you have to register it with the proper authorities, which can involve various licenses or registrations depend on where you live. Also, it’s important that you have the right training to ensure that the drone will be operated safely, and won’t pose a hazard to aircraft or bystanders.
Drones Can Give Unique Product Shots
Drones armed with cameras can be great for getting product shots you wouldn’t be able to get any other way. This is particularly true if you sell or manufacture something (like farming equipment, for example, or new homes) that isn’t easy to capture from a normal height or perspective.
You Can Use Drones to Tour Facilities and Locations
In the same way, you can use drones to film a tour of your facility or location. They are great for covering lots of ground and giving you smooth, seamless video capture from one area to the next, not to mention for generating overhead or panoramic views. So, if your video calls for angles that can only be captured from height, or sweeping shots of a large space, using a drone could be the perfect answer.
We took this photo with the use of a drone. Shots like these used to require hiring an airplane or helicoptor pilot.
Drones Can Even Be Used For Product Montages and B-Roll Footage
Because they can easily be used to film in the background while other activities are taking place, drones can help you get footage of a team at work, a parade of multiple products, or time-lapsed series the track a day or project through multiple stages or phases.
You Might Have a Use For Drones We Haven’t Even Thought Of
Even though we’ve given a few common uses for drone footage, you may have a situation (or inspiration) that involves something completely different. As with most versatile technologies, the best uses are often innovative and unexpected.
In the age of YouTube and social media, the fact of the matter is there’s always a place for good video footage that comes from unique perspective. So, the question isn’t whether you could use shots from a drone, but how to integrate them in a way that provides the biggest impact.
