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How to Get Commercial Solar Leads for Your Business

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Generating leads can be especially challenging in the competitive world of commercial solar. Generally, there are two basic ways of generating commercial solar leads: online and offline.

We’ll give you some useful advice and tactics in this article on how to find leads for the commercial solar industry. These strategies, which range from providing free energy assessments to using social media, will help you successfully target and connect with companies that could gain from going solar.

By following these best practices, you are setting up your company for success, and you will start seeing a return on your lead-generation efforts.

Partner with Local Businesses with High Energy Demand

Local businesses, such as warehouses and supermarkets, are often interested in reducing their energy costs through solar. According to a survey by the Solar Foundation, businesses that have installed solar panels have seen an average reduction in energy costs of 30%–50%. 

Here are some tips for generating leads by partnering with local companies with high energy demands:

  • Research potential partners: Identify businesses in your area with high energy demand, such as warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and supermarkets.
  • Reach out to potential partners: Contact these businesses directly to introduce your solar installation services and to explain how they can benefit from switching to solar.
  • Offer incentives: Consider offering incentives to businesses that sign on as partners, such as discounted installation costs or a percentage of the energy savings they realize.
  • Provide information and resources: Create materials explaining solar’s benefits and how it can help businesses save money on energy costs.
  • Follow up: After the initial contact, follow up with potential partners to answer any questions and to address any concerns they may have.
  • Negotiate terms: Once you have spotted a potential partner, negotiate the terms of the partnership and create a formal agreement.

By partnering with local businesses with high energy demands, you can tap into a new market of potential clients and generate commercial solar leads for your business.

Advertise on Local Media and Online

This can include targeted ads on social media, Google, and industry-specific websites. According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute, 89% of B2B marketers use content marketing as part of their lead-generation strategy. 

Some tips for generating solar leads through advertising include the following:

  • Determine your target audience: Identify the types of businesses most likely interested in your solar installation services. This will help you create targeted ads that are more effective at reaching potential clients.
  • Develop a marketing plan: Create a plan for advertising your solar installation services. This should include the types of ads you will use (e.g., social media, Google Ads, print ads), the budget you will allocate to advertising, and the frequency of your ads.
  • Create compelling ads: Develop ads that communicate the benefits of your solar installation services and how they can help businesses save money on energy costs. Use eye-catching graphics and persuasive language to grab the attention of potential clients.
  • Use targeted advertising: Use tools such as Google and social media advertising to reach potential clients in specific locations or industries. This can help you more effectively reach your target audience.
  • Track your results: Use tools such as Google Analytics to track the performance of your ads and to determine which ones are most effective at generating leads.

Advertising in local media and online can help expand your reach and generate leads for your solar business by reaching a wider pool of potential commercial clients.

Attend Local Networking Events and Trade Shows

Networking at local events and trade shows can help generate leads for your solar business by providing an opportunity to directly promote your services to potential commercial clients.

Here are some tips for generating leads through local networking events and trade shows:

  • Research events: Identify local networking events and trade shows relevant to your industry and target audience.
  • Prepare your pitch: Develop a brief presentation that explains the benefits of your solar installation services and how they can help businesses save money on energy costs.
  • Create marketing materials: Develop brochures, business cards, and other materials to promote your solar installation services.
  • Set up a booth: If the event allows, set up a booth to display your marketing materials and talk to potential clients about your services.
  • Network: Take advantage of the opportunity to meet potential clients and other industry professionals. Use these events to promote your solar installation services and to build relationships with potential clients.
  • Follow up: After the event, follow up with potential clients to answer any questions and to address any concerns.

Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Improve Ranking

When people search online about using solar panels to generate electricity, search engine optimization can help find potential commercial solar customers.   

Some of the tips for generating leads through search engine optimization include the following:

  • Research keywords: Use tools such as Google’s Keyword Planner to identify keywords relevant to your solar installation business that potential clients will likely use when searching for solar services online.
  • Optimize your website: Use the keywords you have identified to optimize your website’s content, including the titles and descriptions of your web pages and the body of your content. This will help improve the ranking of your website in Google search results.
  • Use header tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to highlight the main points of your content and to make it easier for Google to understand the structure of your website.
  • Use alt tags: Use alt tags to describe the images on your website, as Google cannot read pictures. This will help improve the ranking of your website in image search results.
  • Build backlinks: Use strategies such as guest blogging and social media marketing to build backlinks to your website. Backlinks from high-quality, reputable websites can help improve the ranking of your website in Google search results.

Collaborate with Other Solar Companies to Cross-Promote Services

Partnering with other solar companies and cross-promoting services can help increase leads for your business by expanding your reach to new potential clients. Additionally, offering a broader range of services through collaborations can make your business more attractive to potential clients.

Here are some tips for generating leads by collaborating with other solar companies:

  • Identify potential partners: Research other solar companies that offer complementary services, such as manufacturing or financing.
  • Contact potential partners: Reach out to these companies to propose a collaboration in which you cross-promote each other’s services.
  • Negotiate terms: After identifying a potential partner, negotiate the terms of the collaboration, including how you will cross-promote each other’s services and any financial arrangements.
  • Promote each other’s services: Once the collaboration is in place, promote each other’s services to your respective client bases. This can include sharing each other’s marketing materials or offering discounts to clients who use your services.
  • Track your results: Use tools such as Google Analytics to track the performance of your collaboration and to determine its effectiveness at generating leads.

Offer Incentives to Employees and Customers  

A financial bonus or a price break on solar installation are two examples of incentives. Offering rewards to staff members and clients who suggest potential commercial solar clients will motivate them to spread the word about your enterprise and create leads for your solar business.

Here are some ways to generate leads by offering incentives to employees and customers:

  • Determine the incentive: Decide the incentive you will offer to employees and customers who refer potential clients. This could be a cash bonus, a discount on their solar installation, or another type of reward.
  • Communicate the incentive: Ensure your employees and customers know the incentive program and how they can participate. This could include sending emails or flyers, posting information on social media, or discussing the program at company meetings.
  • Encourage participation: Encourage your employees and customers to participate in the referral program by highlighting the benefits of referring potential clients and reminding them about the incentive.
  • Track referrals: Keep track of the referrals made through the incentive program and follow up with them to determine if they will turn into actual clients.
  • Offer support: Provide your employees and customers with the necessary resources and support to help them effectively refer potential clients, such as marketing materials and information about your solar installation services.

Consider Financing Options to Improve Affordability 

Offering financing options to clients makes it easier for them to afford a solar installation and generates leads for your solar business. Additionally, offering financing options can also help you close more deals and increase your revenue. 

Some of the tips for generating leads by providing financing options to commercial clients include the following:

  • Research financing options: Learn more about the different financing options available for new commercial solar installations, such as loans, leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
  • Choose the correct option: Determine which financing option is the most appropriate for your business and your clients, considering factors such as the size of the installation, the creditworthiness of the client, and the client’s financial goals.
  • Create a financing package: Develop a financing package that includes the details of the financing option you are offering, such as the terms of the loan or the rate of the PPA.
  • Promote the financing option: Ensure your clients know your financing options by promoting them on your website and in your marketing materials.
  • Provide support: Assist your clients with the financing process by answering any questions and helping them complete any necessary paperwork.

There are several other strategies you can use to generate leads for your solar business. By using a combination of these strategies, you can effectively generate leads for your commercial solar business.

Clean Energy Experts (CEE) is your reliable resource if you seek the best solar-exclusive leads. Before we provide our consumers with access to our leads, our quality control staff screens them. The kind of lead will determine pricing; you can choose your bid price on our marketplace.To get reliable commercial solar leads and for more information, contact Clean Energy Experts today at +1 (888) 630-6690 or sign up on the here.