Every month, the term “solar companies” gets searched for 3600 times in United States alone, and related keywords (e.g. “solar companies, [insert city], [insert state]”) get even more hits.
That means that every month there are thousands of opportunities for your company to be found and chosen by potential customers.
However, if your solar business is not showing up on Page 1 of these search results, your site might as well not exist.
In this case, it’s time to consider upping your SEO game.
This article will explain the basics of SEO for solar companies:
- What SEO is
- Why SEO works so well
- How to use SEO to grow your company’s traffic and customer base.
What exactly is SEO?
The term “SEO” stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of using different strategies to help your website rank higher in Google Search results.
The main purpose of it is providing users with the most relevant content possible while demonstrating your expertise in the solar industry and converting them into paying customers.
Why does my solar company need SEO?
The competition in the solar industry is getting tougher every year. There are thousands of solar companies out there for potential customers to choose from.
Most people aren’t going to comb through thousands of search results to find a supplier. Instead, they will probably click on the first couple of results on Page 1.
Our goal is to make sure you are one of them.
SEO helps solar companies grow traffic by making your site one of the first ones potential customers see. More traffic means more chances to convert them into paying customers… Which means more business for you!
If your site is the first one a potential customer sees, and it looks like you can provide the exact information they are looking for, they will click on your site to learn more and potentially make a decision to become a customer.
Increased traffic also means more brand awareness as more and more people start talking about your company. This process creates a positive domino effect: the more you stay on top of your SEO, the more people will recommend your company to others.
How do I get started with SEO?
3 Conditions You Need To Fulfill To Rank Higher Than Your Competitors
- The website code needs to be easy for search engines to find, read, index and rank.
- Your on-site content needs to be comprehensive, well-written, and establish your company as an authority in the solar industry.
- Your off-site factors, such as links from other authoritative sites, need to be optimized to reinforce your site’s authority.
If you’ve got these aspects covered, becoming more competitive in your industry and attracting new customers is just a matter of time.
The SEO Process for Solar Companies
Step 1: Keyword research
Conducting keyword research is one of the most important parts of your SEO campaign. Because it enables you to create content that resonates with your target audience (and that people are actually searching for).
To conduct keyword research, you can use a number of free tools available online. Handmade Marketing has our own in-depth keyword research approach which makes it more likely you will rank highly over time, and become the trusted resource for your specific industry. (Get a Free Marketing Assessment today!)
Using search frequency and conversion data, these tools will allow you to select the right keywords for your business.
As a result, you will find out how competitive your keywords are, and which local competitors currently outrank you for those keywords.
Local SEO is especially important for companies in the solar industry because people will often search for things like “solar companies, [insert city], [insert state]” when looking to find a supplier. Keep that in mind when choosing your keywords, and don’t forget to take a sneak peek at what your competitior is doing!
Step 2: Content Creation
After discovering which keywords work for your target audience, you should update your website content with those targeted keywords.
Add SEO-friendly optimizations and calls-to-action to your existing content to encourage conversions, and create new web pages if necessary. More high-quality content on your website equals more visits, leads, and sales!
The content on your website:
- Should target with your top keywords
- Must establish your company as THE authority for what you do in your specific market (e.g. solar panel installation in Phoenix, Arizona)
- Must NOT sound like it was written “for Google” (e.g. stuffed with keywords)
Remember, Google’s purpose is to find the most beneficial and relevant results for any given query. To rank higher, you need to create high-quality content that answers the questions your potential customers are asking.
Stuffing keywords where they don’t really belong won’t get you ranked higher. In fact, it might actually hurt your search rankings significantly as Google’s search algorithms are becoming more and more capable of recognizing and punishing such SEO tactics.
Step 3: Clean HTML
Having “clean” HTML means that every part of your website code serves a purpose. Some of the most important pieces of code for SEO purposes include:
- Meta descriptions
- Title tags
- Alt tags
Make it easy for Google to gather and understand all of this information, and you will be rewarded with higher search rankings and more website traffic.
Step 4: Backlink profile
Think of backlinks as “votes of confidence” from other sites.
When a high-authority site links to your site, you become a trusted source in Google’s eyes. More backlinks from high-authority sites mean more search engine visibility as it shows Google that you must be an industry leader.
Notice the emphasis on “high-authority”. A bunch of weak backlinks from unrelated sites won’t do you any good – again, it has the potential to actually harm your search rankings (and your business).
Remember, buying backlinks with the intent to manipulate search ranking algorithms is strictly forbidden. Google will punish your website for this.
Your backlinks have to be earned, and the best way to do so is by creating unique, remarkable content that is truly valuable to your prospective customers.
For most solar companies, local backlinks and citations are especially useful, so focus on creating those first!
Step 5: Web Design
Your site’s design is actually a very important part of your SEO strategy as it directly impacts how users interact with your content. Google is all about improving user experience, and your site is a key part of that experience!
Great website design lets the user find exactly what they are looking for, and looks professional, clean and organized.
Make sure to include a navigation bar and a sitemap to help users find what they are looking for, and keep an eye on your page speed (pages with quicker loading times tend to do better in search results).
Your Next Steps
Now that you know what SEO means to to your solar company, all that’s left is getting started.
Our team of SEO experts has extensive experience in helping solar companies attract more qualified leads and convert them into paying customers. If you’d like someone to help you out, get started with a free assessment.
From creating high-quality content that Google loves to optimizing your page, we will take care of every aspect of your SEO campaign (and help you outrank your competition in no time).
