With Housing Costs on the Rise, Solar is More Important Than Ever

When the pandemic first hit, analysts were predicting that it would send the housing market downward. With so many Americans struggling to pay rent in a battered economy, logic dictated that landlords and homesellers would have to lower their prices. But the reality turned out to be far different. 

Last year, U.S. housing gained ~$2.5 trillion in value. That’s the biggest gain in a single year since 2005. 

One of the big contributing factors to the spike in home sales was the offering of low interest rates by mortgage lenders. In an effort to keep financing customers coming in, lending banks dropped their interest rates to rock-bottom percentages that were too good to pass up. Those who were still employed and otherwise financially capable were quick to jump on the opportunity. 

But this brief offering of favorable loans doesn’t change the fact that housing costs in general have become unsustainable for average Americans. The old rule of thumb was that households shouldn’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing rent or mortgage payments. Any more than that qualifies as suffering a cost burden. And yet, 38 million+ residents pay more than 30%. In fact, over a quarter of that number are stuck paying over 50% on housing alone.  

It’s clear that the nation’s nesidents need solutions to reduce the rest of their living costs. Without much government intervention on the rising housing cost burden, they’re looking for other solutions to minimize their monthly spending and offset rent/mortgage expenses. 

Solar has become the answer for many homeowners trying to make living more affordable. With solar installations capable of slashing or entirely eliminating energy bills, homeowners stand to reduce their cost of living by hundreds of dollars per month. 

Contractors can attract more solar installation leads by speaking directly to this need. With marketing campaigns focused on cost of living reduction enabled by solar installations, customers will be able to see solar as a savings tool instead of yet another expense. 

If you’re looking for a direct way to connect with solar leads, Grid Freedom can help. Our team hand picks leads who have been personally verified as interested and capable solar buyers.

Find Solar Installation Leads at www.Gridfreedom.com

Is Your Solar Marketing Company Attuned to the Current Market

Between government stimulus and vaccination ramp-ups, there’s hope in sight for the American economy. But it still remains that many of the people who would usually be solar customers are struggling. If you’re working with a solar marketing company to drum up new leads, you’ll only have success if that company understands the current market conditions and has made sure their methods are still effective in these troubling times. 

Unfortunately, the vast majority of solar lead agencies haven’t adapted their lead generation strategy, which in many cases, wasn’t strong to begin with. This post gives a quick overview of the major pitfalls common among marketing companies, and why you should look for an agency that does better.

Cold Approaches are Falling Flat

It’s no secret that contacting leads cold has always been hit-or-miss. But now, the success rate is lower than ever. A far greater portion of the populace is unable to afford going solar, and the general uncertainty has made many households postpone the thought of making any big investments. 

Agencies that are able to get a high number of viable leads right now are the ones that put their focus on identifying homeowners that are genuinely interested in solar and actively contemplating a purchase. They will use inbound marketing, a strategy that focuses on attracting leads who are seeking out information about going solar.

Minimal Screening Lets Duds Pass

Slacking off on screening means that contractors end up eating the cost of leads that were never actually viable. Far too many agencies get their leads in, only to limit their screening to only the verification of contact information and current address. They don’t take the time to actually determine the lead’s readiness and ability to buy. 

With far fewer homeowners actually in a position to purchase solar, this means that many unfit leads slip through the agency’s system and are put up for sale to contractors, even when a bit of investigation would reveal that they aren’t worth paying for. An ideal solar marketing company will make sure to have staff vet leads via personal phone calls where they assess lead quality through human conversation.

Shared Leads are Swarmed by Competition

It’s not uncommon for budget lead companies to sell shared leads - leads that are bought by more than one contractor. This arrangement already presents problems in normal circumstances, but now, when contractors are already competing over a staggeringly low number of leads, it becomes even more ineffective. 

Contractors are in a position where they need to spend their marketing dollars wisely. Investing them in leads that they need to compete over is far too risky. Instead, contractors can get the highest ROI by purchasing only from agencies that sell their leads on an exclusive basis.

Grid Freedom Delivers Top Leads Even in Today’s Tough Market

If you’re looking for a trustworthy solar marketing company that has a market-tested process, consider Grid Freedom. We avoid all of the unsuccessful tactics listed above, using only methods that get results - even when times are tough.

Get Sale-Ready Leads at www.Gridfreedom.com

Does 2021 Offer a Better Method for Solar Panel Lead Generation

In 2020, solar contractors contended with a huge market dip that no one could have predicted. All of the optimistic forecasts went out the window as the pandemic dried up customer pools and caused problems with manufacturing and sourcing. Contractors had to buckle down and recalibrate their operations for maximum efficiency. 

But with a new presidential administration and mass vaccination rollouts, this transition period calls for a new approach. Let’s discuss what’s now the best strategy for solar panel lead generation.

This Year is About Scalable Solutions

Thanks to the vaccination effort, majority immunity among the American population will lead to a significant restoration of market activity. The diminished need for business restrictions and social distancing will mean that more people can get back to work, and they’ll also feel more comfortable resuming in-person meetings with solar contractors. 

Also spurring this year’s momentum is the bevy of pro-solar policies and programs enacted by the Biden administration. As these initiatives take hold, there will be a large influx of demand for solar installations. 

These conditions make it necessary for contractors to prepare for a recovery period that grows gradually into one of great intensity. Therefore, contractors must take care to establish a scalable lead generation process now, so that they can both snare the leads they need to get back on solid ground, and make the most of the extreme activity when customers become abundant.

Purchased Leads Perfectly Accommodate Steady Growth

Many contractors have found that purchasing leads from a reputable solar marketing company has proven to be an excellent solution for this set of circumstances. It works well for two main reasons: superior lead quality and as-needed availability. 

The best agencies implement an intensive curation process that delivers only the most serious and capable leads, meaning that contractors have assurance that they’re only investing in the most promising customers. This security is a major help in times when solid customers are few and far between. 

But as customer numbers grow and demand surges, the flexibility becomes an extra benefit. Agencies that require no purchase minimums or contracts enable contractors to source as many (or as few) leads as they need at a time, enabling them to easily control the amount of customers on their plate. 

Of course, these benefits are only available if contractors choose reliable solar marketing agencies that have high standards and favorable terms. Grid Freedom, for example, has become well-known for its effective lead screening and contractor-friendly terms. All leads have the highest sales potential, and contractors are never locked into agreements. 

Solar contractors who are looking for a nimble, easy, and effective solution for their lead generation will find that Grid Freedom offers the best service on the market. 

Get All the Solar Sales You Need at www.Gridfreedom.com