Contractors often seek out solar leads to ensure industry success. They may purchase leads from providers to connect with potential clients. In doing so, they should ensure they access solar exclusive leads to close more deals.

Solar Exclusive Leads vs. Shared Leads

Solar exclusive leads are exclusive to your company and should go to you alone. They differ from shared leads, which may be provided to several solar companies, increasing competition.

Pros and Cons of Exclusive Solar Leads

Exclusive leads offer several advantages, as follows:

·  Reduced competition: As the only company with access to this lead, you are in a less competitive space.

·  Higher Conversion Rates: You are more likely to make a sale with less competition.

·  Potentially Higher Quality: Many companies vet exclusive leads carefully, supporting potentially higher success rates.

·  Less Effort: Contractors who purchase exclusive leads close deals more easily due to less competition and potentially higher quality.

However, there are some downsides of solar leads as follows:

·  Higher cost: Exclusive leads cost more than shared leads, potentially reducing ROI.

·  No guarantees: Although less competition means more potential sales, exclusive leads don’t always close.

Pros and Cons of Shared Solar Leads

Despite offering more competition than exclusive leads, shared leads provide some benefits, including:

·  Lower cost: The low cost of shared leads could lead to higher returns.

·  Scalability: Shared leads can help companies scale lead generation quickly.

However, the downsides of shared leads greatly outweigh the positives. Here are some to consider:

·  Increased competition: Shared leads mean more competition, making it hard to close deals.

·  Lower quality: Companies tend not to vet shared leads carefully and may be of lower quality.

·  Negative brand impact: A barrage of phone calls may annoy customers on shared lead lists. They may see your brand as another harassing company and view it negatively.

·  Lower conversion rate: More competition means lower conversion rates. Shared leads typically mean fewer sales.

·  More Effort: Contractors will spend a lot of time calling customers who may not be interested or have already entered a deal with another company.

Stats on Exclusive Solar Leads vs. Shared Leads

Although both solar shared and solar exclusive leads have advantages and disadvantages, statistics show that exclusive leads outperform shared leads. According to Absurdly, exclusive leads have a 30% conversion rate compared to shared leads, which have just a 10% conversion rate.

Exclusive leads are more expensive, costing between $15 and $500, while shared leads cost between $15 and $150. However, the increased conversion rates make up for the up-front expenses.

For example, say an installer invests $20,000 in purchasing 100 shared leads at $200 ($20 each). They install 10 panels at $25,000 each, earning a 15% profit of $3750 per panel. They make $375,000, with an ROI of $355,000 on their lead investment.

Another installer invests $200,000 in purchasing 100 solar exclusive leads at $200 each. They install 33 panels and earn $990,000 in profit, producing a $790,000 return on their investment.

Numbers vary depending on the cost of the leads and the price of the system, but exclusive leads generally outperform shared leads due to their potential to yield more conversions. Additionally, existing clients may refer friends and family or request additional services, such as batteries, upgrades, and replacements, increasing the contractor’s potential to earn from a single conversion.

Example:

How Do You Know Leads are Really Exclusive?

Exclusive leads are the way to go, but how do you know the leads you purchase are truly exclusive? Unfortunately, many companies say they sell exclusive leads, but when contractors follow up on them, they find the contacts they are calling have already been contacted by other companies.

They may also find other issues regarding quality. For example, they may contact someone who already has solar or isn’t a homeowner.

So how can you ensure you’re working with a legitimate company offering exclusive leads? Here are some things to look out for:

·  Unclear Language in the Contract: If the company asks you to sign a contract, it should include language clearly defining an exclusive lead as provided to one buyer. Unclear language or a lack of this definition could indicate a scam.

·  Signing an NDA: The lead company may ask you to sign an NDA, which prevents you from sharing information on your business deal with any other company. They may provide specific reasoning for the NDA, which may seem logical. However, it’s often because they don’t want you to share information on the leads you receive and potentially find out they are being shared with other contractors.

·  Fine Print: As with any contract, you should always read the fine print. Like all aspects of the contract, it should be easy to understand. It should not contradict the terms you agreed to.

·  Bundled Contracts: Bundled contracts can mean getting mixed leads that are not necessarily exclusive.

Other Things to Look for When Partnering with a Lead Gen Agency

Here are some other things to look for in a lead gen agency. These indicators don’t necessarily mean they are dishonest about their leads, but they are generally a sign of poor business practices and could raise a red flag:

·  Lack of TCPA Compliance: The TCPA defines how businesses can reach customers for marketing purposes. Lead gen agencies that are TCPA compliant obtain explicit consent from consumers on whether they want to be contacted, maintain do-not-call lists, use compliance tools, and document all communications. Contractors working with non-compliant companies may face hefty fines and reputational damage.

·  Source Transparency: To ensure transparency, the company should indicate where its sources are coming from. For example, a California company will want to connect with consumers sourced from a California-exclusive lead page, ensuring they are in their service area. However, many companies gloss over these details, leaving clients with unusable leads.

·  Low-Quality Leads: Low-quality leads may not fit your demographic and behavior patterns. Inquire about these factors to ensure you get high-quality leads.

Contractors can ensure they are working with an honest company by:

·  Reading contracts carefully

·  Looking at company reviews beforehand

·  Asking questions to ensure the company offers quality leads

·  Working with TCPA compliant companies

Work with Clean Energy Experts

Clean Energy Experts is a company you can trust. We offer 100% phone-verified, high-quality leads. With us, you will never have to sign a contract or agree to a minimum purchase amount.

We have helped connect tens of thousands of solar professionals to millions of homeowners. Our nationwide services can be customized to your area and price point. Our online portal offers complete transparency.

Contact us to learn more about our top-notch services.

FAQs

What are the benefits of buying solar leads?

Solar leads expedite the sales cycle so you can focus on other aspects of your business.

What are the legal considerations for buying solar leads?

Contractors and lead gen companies must obtain explicit, one-to-one consent for every lead before initiating outreach.

What are the alternatives to buying solar leads?

Contractors may also generate leads through content marketing, such as blogs and social media.

What are the different types of solar leads?

In addition to solar exclusive leads and shared leads, contractors may also encounter referral leads from word of mouth.