That's it, I'm off...

[sedgy34]

Hi Guys
until solar is on green deal I wouldn't keep eggs in the solar basket you will be destined to the kerb.
We moved on from solar doing other renewables and its paid off take the next step and move forward there isnt anyone out there to bail you out from the solar demise
get green deal accredited new doors will open for you, that's if you want to keep your business of course.

 

[ktech]

What other renewables are working for you sedgy?

 

[SolarCity]

To be honest, the Green Deal doesn't seem like something that would be for us. I'm much more of a practical guy and paperwork/office work is definitely my weak point. Green Deal seems heavily based on sales too which means that the telesales approach will probably push the tradesmen to one side. I'm a terrible salesman and if it wasn't for word of mouth my business would have gone under years ago. The Green Deal looks massively flawed to me and listening to Cameron balls-out lie about it in PMQs earlier in the week makes me think they are beginning to think it too.

 

[Worcester]

@Sedgy34 we are busier this year with Solar than last..... and still have a soild pipeline.

As a compnay you need to know wehre you fit in the market place.
Number 1 question:
Who is your ideal customer?
Number 2 questions:
Why?
Then work out how to acquire them...

We are NOT going down the green deal route, - we've never been a house bashing operation, our clients are highly discerning and never buy on price alone.

We ARE however also doing a lot more than just Solar PV, - we also do Solar Thermal GSHP and ASHP, LED lighting and Volatge optimisation, will be adding Biomass over then next few weeks.

There again our focus is on the commercial sector, we are still very busy with domestic work.

We have applied all of our core expertise the the 'Energy Saving' aka Cost Reduction process for customers.

 

[Gavin A]

likewise - we're just this week clearing a backlog of around 30 quotes that had built up over June due to how busy we were with installs.

We're mostly domestic still, but have a fair few commercial quotes looking promising, and have 4-5 very promising partnerships starting to bear fruit.

We've just negotiated a supply partnership with solarworld which gives us their very high quality panels at not a lot above Chinese prices, but now have to deliver the volume to justify the pricing....

still juggling the finances after last year mind, but can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[SolarCity]

I'm impressed that you guys are doing well and I'm trying to follow your lead. Gavin, you're website is one of the best around and I'm looking at doing something similar to your 3 different system approach.

 

[Gavin A]

and there was me thinking the website was still half finished.... cheers, tis one of the key things I've been trying to focus on in between everything else, as it makes a difference to the impression people get of the company, plus helps with google rankings etc and google rankings is essentially no cost advertising that's far better than any advertising you can pay for.

most of those quotes are from a 3 day exhibition we did last month though mind - IME they're the best way of kick starting things to top up the steady trickle we get through the website etc

 

[SolarCity]

I'm watching online videos now to try to learn how to edit webpages. I'm thinking of putting a blog on there and linking it to my twitter feed.

 

[Somecamel]

Save yourself the time Solarcity, use something like WiX or Moonfruit, will cost your a tenner a month but so much easier than mucking around with wordpress or the like

 

[The Solar King]

Just having our site redone as current one is pants. Decided to pay rather than fool around with it as I have in the past. It is being done using a CMS meaning I will be able to easily update it. More significant mods are also part of the deal.

 

[Somecamel]

I made this one in Wix Rother Energy I've used wordpress,Joomla had a web company do me a site on something called CMSmadesimple, it was crap. I wanted the best site that I could control without trying to work out how to use clunky CMS systems, not a plug but you get a free trial with them as well, make your site and only when your happy with it you can make it live on your Webname through your DNS.

 

[SRE]

You Green Dealing ???

 

[Somecamel]

not really, just living each day as it comes at the mo, have looked at the GD and the Government don't want to make the same mistakes they made with the FITS by letting small companies play with the big boys.

Went to a meeting last month with Greg where it was announced that carrilion were getting the contract for the local council, big boys and their toys.

I'm still playing around with Solar, Have left the first company I was working for, the leads were crap and I was being sent miles and miles on rubbish, I've lost 5 jobs in the past week because we were £2k more than the local competition.

Working with another national at the moment who seem to be a lot more professional in their dealings but time will tell.

 

[SRE]

Good luck - times are tough at the minute but there's seems to be a bit more positivity at the moment. Maybe we're turning a corner.

 

[sedgy34]

Good luck - times are tough at the minute but there's seems to be a bit more positivity at the moment. Maybe we're turning a corner.

We are yes the next street is green deal avenue lol