Do you have a Web site that you can refer prospective clients to so they can kick tires on that all day? The link in your signature (Lincoln Nebraska Flight Instruction) is currently showing "Database Error."
Most folks use the Web to do a lot of this research, and it's a good thing because it should keep them off your back until they're ready to bite - or at least until they're ready to make a phone call to further feel out the situation.
If you're letting them keep you on the phone for an hour, that's way too long, even if it's to schedule a flight.
If your site has a form that they can fill out with their information and any questions, you can compile all that you receive daily and weed out a lot of flak and/or send a canned response that answers the question without a lot of excess (other than "Click Here to sign up for an intro flight" or "Schedule your xxxxx today," etc.)
Now that is the ultimate in IRONY....
.....
Oops, well, that website isn't given to anyone other than in my signature on this forum and has been updated to the appropriate website.
I've played with answering lots of questions on the website but eventually withdrew from doing so once I figured out that what I really want is
for them to call me because it's with the phone call that I absolutely walk all over the competition. The majority of the "leads" I get come from word of mouth, business cards in FBO(s) and Facebook advertisements. The people who come from Facebook advertisements are certainly less likely to be a real student and ask lots of ridiculous questions but I have converted some of them.
When I talk to someone on the phone I explain what it means to get a private pilot certificate, what they could do with it, and how I'll walk them down that path.
I also explain who the competition is, what their phone numbers are, what they charge, and the differences between the competition and our operation. I'm incredibly transparent about it and I find that
if I can get someone on the phone they will choose to do business with me every time. I've never had a phone call with someone that then chose the competition. I also return every single phone call and respond to every single e-mail and text message.
Money is likely the biggest problem why someone chooses
NOT to learn to fly once I talk with them. After we take the discovery flight the next obstacle that's absolutely devastating is the medical.
In the last month I've generated maybe 10 good leads. Converted 4 of them into discovery flights (these are the people of the 10 that could afford it) and of those 4 none of them could get issued a medical on the spot by an AME. I suspect maybe 1 of them will follow through on my advice to work through their issue with Dr Bruce.
The medical problems of the four:
1.) Young and received a minor in possession of alcohol standing outside of his apartment. About six months before he turned 21. We'll likely work past this.
2.) Young and sees a shrink regularly and is on an anti-depressant. Not interested in jumping through any hoops and just decided they didn't want to fly when they learned there would be significant challenges getting issued a medical.
3.) Young and was "diagnosed" with ADHD at a young age and was given prescription pills that he took for quite a long time but no longer does. He threw in the towel when he found out there would be significant hoops to jump through.
4.) In his 50s, a few DUIs years back but none for many years. When he found out that he may have to get some paperwork together for the Feds he was basically like F the Feds I'll just buy a new motorcycle instead.
Usually I don't have this many issues with medicals but I've just been on a streak with medical related problems and new students lately.
