Guides
What we know, written down
Pricing, permits, drone rules and marketing playbooks for Detroit businesses. Written by the team that plans, flies, shoots and publishes this work every week.
Drone
Drone Rules in Detroit: What's Legal Where (2026)
Where you can legally fly a drone in Detroit in 2026: FAA rules, downtown and riverfront airspace, stadium limits, Michigan law, park permits and the border.
Read the guide →10 min readConstruction Drone Progress Photography in Central Ohio: A Guide for GCs, Developers and Lenders
Drone progress photos and video for central Ohio construction in 2026: Intel's Licking County fabs, data centers, CMH and LCK airspace, site safety and costs.
Read the guide →11 min readChicago Drone Rules for Commercial Shoots (2026)
Where to fly a drone in and near Chicago in 2026: Loop and lakefront airspace, Park District permits, Film Office review and 22 FRIA fields in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties.
Read the guide →10 min readHole-by-Hole Golf Course Drone Flyovers: How They Are Planned and Shot
How hole-by-hole golf course drone flyovers are planned and shot in Michigan: flight paths, yardage overlays, FPV, flying near golfers, airspace, deliverables.
Read the guide →10 min readIndiana Drone Laws for Commercial Shoots (2026)
Indiana drone laws for commercial shoots in 2026: the state code, a July 2026 change, DNR rules, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne permits, and IND and FWA airspace.
Read the guide →13 min readMichigan Drone Laws 2026: The Complete Guide for Commercial and Recreational Pilots
Michigan drone laws in 2026: FAA rules, PA 436, state parks, Metroparks, national lakeshores, Mackinac Island, campuses, airports and bills pending in Lansing.
Read the guide →11 min readOhio Drone Laws for Commercial Shoots: What Applies in 2026
Ohio drone laws for commercial shoots in 2026: the state code, a new police drone law, pending bills, park rules, film permits and airspace in three cities.
Read the guide →9 min readDrone Progress Reports for Construction Lenders, Owners and Investors
How drone photos fit construction loan draws and lender, owner and investor reports: what inspectors check, what a monthly package holds and who owns it.
Read the guide →10 min readHiring a Drone Operator for an Active Construction Site: What to Require First
What GCs, owners and safety managers in Michigan should require before a drone flies over an active site: FAA rules, airspace, MIOSHA, insurance and data.
Read the guide →9 min readFreelance Drone Pilot, Drone Company or Full-Service Agency: Who Should Fly Your Project?
An honest comparison of the three ways to buy aerial video: a freelance drone pilot, a drone company or a full-service agency. Cost, editing, insurance and fit.
Read the guide →9 min readHow to Write a Drone Video Brief (Free Template and Example)
A free one-page drone video brief template with a filled-in example. Covers the goal, location, shot list, deliverables, rights, insurance, budget and dates.
Read the guide →10 min readHiring a Drone for an Event: Rules, Costs and What to Ask
What event planners need to know before hiring a drone: FAA rules on flying over crowds, stadium restrictions, night flights, insurance, costs and lead times.
Read the guide →10 min readHow to Hire a Drone Video Company: A Buyer's Guide for Marketing Teams
How to hire a drone video company step by step: write the brief, choose aerial or aerial plus ground, read reels, compare proposals, plan delivery.
Read the guide →10 min read15 Questions to Ask a Drone Company Before You Sign
A script for the first call with a drone company: 15 questions on FAA compliance, planning, the edit, price and rights, with strong and weak answers for each.
Read the guide →8 min readConstruction Progress Drone Photography: What to Expect
Drone photos and video for construction project updates: how often to fly, matching angles, deliverables, site safety and 2026 pricing.
Read the guide →9 min readCan You Fly a Drone Over the Detroit River?
Yes, on the US side. What the Canadian border, Transport Canada, Windsor's control zone, launch permits and open water mean for Detroit River drone shoots.
Read the guide →8 min readDrone vs. FPV: Which Does Your Project Need?
Camera drone or FPV? How each one flies, what each shoots best, the FAA rules, safety, cost and how to plan an FPV one-take. From a Detroit drone team.
Read the guide →9 min readHiring a Drone Pilot in Michigan: 8 Things to Check First
What to verify before hiring a drone pilot in Michigan: Part 107 status, recurrent training, insurance, Remote ID, airspace, portfolio, rights and contract.
Read the guide →7 min readHow to Prepare a Property or Venue for a Drone Shoot
A drone shoot prep checklist for Detroit properties and venues: permissions, permits, flight restrictions, light, shot lists, day-of setup and seasonal notes.
Read the guide →9 min readGame Day and Your Drone Shoot: Comerica Park, Ford Field and Grand Prix Flight Restrictions
How the FAA's stadium flight restriction grounds drones across downtown Detroit on Tigers, Lions and Grand Prix days, with distances and a planning method.
Read the guide →Pricing
How Much Does Drone Photography and Video Cost in Detroit? (2026)
What drone photography and aerial video cost in Detroit in 2026, from home listings to construction and FPV, what drives the price, and how to compare quotes.
Read the guide →7 min readHow Much Does a Marketing Agency Cost in Detroit? (2026 Pricing)
What Detroit marketing agencies charge in 2026: retainers, project fees and hourly rates, published local prices, what drives cost, and red flags to avoid.
Read the guide →10 min readWhat AEO Services Cost in 2026: Audits, Monthly Plans and What You Are Paying For
What answer engine optimization costs in 2026: published prices for AI visibility tools, one-time audits and monthly retainers, what drives the price, and the red flags to avoid.
Read the guide →9 min readHow to Compare Drone Video Quotes: What Should Be in the Price
Three drone video quotes, three very different prices. What a complete quote should list, how day rates and project prices differ, and a checklist to compare.
Read the guide →7 min readSocial Media Management Pricing in Detroit: What to Budget in 2026
What social media management costs in Detroit in 2026 by tier: posting only, content plus posting, full management and paid social, plus common extras.
Read the guide →7 min readHow Much Does Video Production Cost in Detroit? (2026 Guide)
What video production costs in Detroit in 2026, from social clips to commercials: crew-day math, editing, talent, music, permits and how to budget.
Read the guide →Video
Short-Form Video for Local Businesses: What Works in 2026
What short-form video works for local businesses in 2026: formats, hooks, captions, length, posting cadence, what to film, batching and how to measure results.
Read the guide →11 min readFilming in Windsor, Ontario With a US Crew: Permits, Border and Drone Rules
What a Detroit crew needs to shoot photo, video or drone in Windsor, Ontario: CBSA gear entry, IRCC work rules, the drone SFOC, city permits and lead time.
Read the guide →11 min readFilm and Commercial Production Incentives in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Ontario (2026)
Film and commercial incentives compared for Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Ontario in 2026: rates, minimums, caps and what commercials can claim.
Read the guide →9 min readConstruction Project Walkthrough Videos: A Planning Guide for Contractors
How contractors plan a project walkthrough video: site safety, permissions, coaching a superintendent on camera, shot list, audio, LinkedIn specs and results.
Read the guide →10 min readHow to Get a Film or Photo Permit in Detroit (2026)
How to get a film or photo permit in Detroit in 2026: the free city permit, RiverWalk and Belle Isle fees, street closures, insurance and a lead-time table.
Read the guide →9 min readMichigan Film Incentives in 2026: Where Things Stand
Michigan has had no film incentive since 2015. What House Bills 5991 and 5992 would do, where they stand in October 2026, and what that means for shoots.
Read the guide →Photography
Google Business Profile Photos and Video: A Playbook for Detroit Businesses
Google Business Profile photo and video specs, a shot list for Detroit businesses, how often to refresh, and why geotagging photos will not help ranking.
Read the guide →9 min readRestaurant and Food Photography in Detroit: Cost, Shot List and How to Prep
What restaurant and food photography costs in Detroit, a full shot list, how to prep the kitchen and food, where to use the images and what rights to ask for.
Read the guide →Creator marketing
Influencer Brief Template: Free Copy-and-Paste Brief With Example
Free influencer brief template to copy or download as a Word doc, plus a filled-in example and checklist: goal, offer, disclosure, specs and usage rights.
Read the guide →10 min readInfluencer Contracts, Usage Rights and Whitelisting: What to Put in Writing
The clauses every influencer contract needs: deliverables, approvals, disclosure, usage rights, whitelisting and Spark Ads access, exclusivity and payment.
Read the guide →10 min readHow to Plan an Influencer Event or Grand Opening Preview in Detroit
How to plan an influencer event or grand opening preview in Detroit: goals, guest list, invitations, a sample run of show, FTC disclosure, follow-up and budget.
Read the guide →10 min readHow Much Does Influencer Marketing Cost in 2026? Rates for Detroit Businesses
What influencers charge in 2026 by platform and follower tier, what raises the price, gifted vs paid, agency fees, and sample budgets for a Detroit launch.
Read the guide →10 min readHow to Measure Influencer Marketing ROI for a Local Business
How a local business can measure influencer marketing ROI: the goal to set, codes, UTM links, comment keywords, the metrics that matter and a report template.
Read the guide →10 min readMicro-Influencer Marketing for Local Businesses: How to Run It in 2026
How to run micro and nano influencer marketing for a local business in 2026: tier definitions, finding and vetting local creators, gifting vs paid, and ads.
Read the guide →10 min readRestaurant Influencer Marketing in Detroit: Tastings, Comps and What Actually Fills Seats
How Detroit restaurants work with food creators: which formats fill seats, how to vet creators, comps vs paid posts, disclosure, tasting nights and tracking.
Read the guide →8 min readHow to Choose an Influencer Marketing Agency in Detroit
What a Detroit influencer marketing agency should do, the questions to ask before you sign, the red flags, and how to compare proposals and pricing.
Read the guide →10 min readFTC Rules for Influencer Posts and Online Reviews, in Plain English
What the FTC Endorsement Guides and the fake reviews rule require from businesses and creators: disclosure wording, gifted products, employees and reviews.
Read the guide →11 min readHow to Hire Detroit Influencers and Creators: A Practical Guide
How to find, vet, pay and brief Detroit influencers and creators, what they typically charge, what belongs in the contract, and how to measure results locally.
Read the guide →AI search
AEO vs SEO: What Detroit Businesses Should Do in 2026
What AEO (answer engine optimization) is, how it differs from SEO, whether your Detroit business needs it, and the first five things to do. Verified sources, no hype.
Read the guide →11 min readHow to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step method for getting ChatGPT to name your local business: how it finds companies, how to run a baseline, what to fix in order, and how to measure. From a Detroit agency that offers this as a service.
Read the guide →10 min readHow AI Search Picks Local Businesses (and How to Show Up)
How ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Ask Maps, Perplexity and Apple Maps choose local businesses, what signals matter, and a checklist to show up. From a Detroit team.
Read the guide →11 min readAI Visibility Audit: A 25-Point Checklist to See How AI Describes Your Business
A 25-point, do-it-yourself audit of how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Perplexity, Copilot and Ask Maps describe and recommend your business, with pass/fail criteria and a scoring table.
Read the guide →9 min readHow to Choose an AEO Agency: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
How to vet an answer engine optimization (AEO) or AI search agency: 12 questions with good and bad answers, the red flags, a scorecard and what the platforms actually say.
Read the guide →11 min readGoogle AI Mode and AI Overviews for Local Businesses: How to Show Up and How to Measure It
How Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode choose local businesses, what your Business Profile feeds them, how to read the Search Console generative AI report, and what changed in 2025 and 2026.
Read the guide →Detroit business
How to Market a Restaurant Opening in Detroit: A 12-Week Timeline
A week-by-week plan for marketing a Detroit restaurant opening, from Google profile setup and liquor license timing to previews, reviews and the first month.
Read the guide →10 min readHow to Choose a Marketing Agency in Detroit
How to choose a Detroit marketing agency: define the scope, vet reviews and ownership, check the company is real, ask the right questions and score each option.
Read the guide →7 min readAgency, Freelancer, In-House or UGC Creator: Who Should Make Your Content?
An honest comparison of agencies, freelancers, in-house hires and UGC creators for Detroit businesses: cost, speed, quality, distribution and drone licensing.
Read the guide →7 min readDetroit Small Business Marketing: What Actually Works in 2026
Where a Detroit small business should put a limited marketing budget in 2026: Google reviews, short-form video, local creators, an owned list and paid tests.
Read the guide →7 min readHow We Built a 245,000-Person Detroit Audience (and What Your Business Can Take From It)
How our team grew a Detroit audience from 2015 photo walks to 245,000+ followers, and the five lessons Detroit businesses can apply at any size.
Read the guide →Industry
How to Choose a Marketing Agency in Toledo
How Toledo businesses can choose a marketing agency: what to buy, local vs. Detroit-region firms, Ohio rules, ad-account ownership, questions and red flags.
Read the guide →10 min readCoffee Shop Video and Ads: A Shot List and Ad Plan for Cafe Owners
How a cafe plans one shoot for a brand video and short ads: shot list, releases, vertical cuts, captions, ad music, local Meta and TikTok targeting, results.
Read the guide →10 min readCabin and Short-Term Rental Marketing in Ohio: Photos, Drone and Video That Book
How Hocking Hills and central Ohio cabin owners use listing photos, twilight exteriors, drone aerials and short video to win more bookings.
Read the guide →11 min readHow Tourism Bureaus Buy Video, Photo and Drone Content: A 2026 RFP Guide
How visitors bureaus and DMOs buy video, photo and drone content in 2026: RFP structure, scoring, deliverables, usage rights, releases, permits and captions.
Read the guide →10 min readDrone Video for Multi-Location Brands: How to Hire One Partner Across Many Sites
How franchises, restaurant groups, hotels, retailers and developers get matching drone video at every site: vendor models, shot standards, airspace and rights.
Read the guide →8 min readMarketing a Detroit Development From Groundbreaking to Lease-Up
A phase-by-phase marketing plan for Detroit developments: renderings and site aerials, monthly drone progress, model units, leasing launch and stabilization.
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Social media
LinkedIn and Short-Form Video for Law, Finance and Advisory Firms (2026 Guide)
How law, accounting, finance and M&A advisory firms use LinkedIn and short-form video to reach business owners in 2026: formats, specs, ads and compliance.
Read the guide →14 min readInstagram, Facebook and TikTok in 2026: What Changed for Local Businesses
Every Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Meta ads change from 2025 and 2026 that matters to local businesses, updated October 18, 2026, with sources.
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