Hey
On May 7, 1:37*pm, Morgan wrote:
I've bought a set of stickers for my trailer. *I think the promotion needs some tuning, like more depth on the Let's Go Gliding website, since it goes from a lively site directly to deep links in the SSA site, but it's a start and we can work on it.
I've put a lot of effort into promoting soaring over the last few years and with some success bringing many new members into our club. *One of the challenges is that people expect instant gratification. *Take a glider to an Airshow and get 5 new members. *It doesn't really seem to work that way. *The conversion rate is really, really low. *You've got to set the expectation that you'll talk to 100 or 200 or 300 people to get maybe one person to come out and try it. *And of those people, only a small percentage will stick with it.
It makes it seem like an impossible task, but the reality is that you can have an impact if you get out and talk soaring.
I've found that having some good bragging rights about yourself or just other club members is a great eye opener.
Points that really light up the eyes of Power Pilots:
* I flew to 17,999 in wave last month
* I fly 120hrs a year on about 25 gallons of AvGas
* I flew over 5000 miles of XC last year
* I average 100mph over the ground for an hour and a half last week.
Sharing stats in power pilot terms is a real way to grab attention. *It's a way to say, we aren't an alternative to power flying, we're better. You can fly more for less.
Power pilots already know aviation costs money, but give someone the option to fly for a much lower rate than they are currently paying and you can attract new pilots. *It's still tough and a small number that you'll convert, but it is possible.
Morgan
It may also help to stop calling them "power pilots". I think they
would prefer to be called "Airplane Pilots". The term "power pilots"
either has no meaning to them or seems strange and redundant.
"Airplane" implies an engine is installed.
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