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ClickSmith
Marketing for Solar Installers

Solar buyers shop 3-5 quotes. We make sure yours is the one they remember.

Solar is a 6-12 month decision. Google Ads catch ready-to-buy buyers, Facebook ads catch the curious, and email nurture is what closes both groups months later. We build all three layers, properly.

Built for Solar Installers
Trade-specific strategy, not generic templates
AU-based team
Local market knowledge, not offshore generic
AI + data driven
Decisions backed by performance data, not gut-feel
Monthly reporting
Transparent performance against agreed metrics

Why marketing for solar installers is different

Solar marketing isn't about one channel — it's about the right channel at the right stage. Google Ads convert at 20-35% because buyers searching for solar are usually ready to act. Facebook ads run at 5-15% because they catch interest before intent. Email and SMS nurture is what bridges the months between the first click and the signed install. Most solar installers run one of these well; the winners run all three.

The Solar Installer Pain Points

The four problems killing your pipeline right now

1

Most enquiries cool off long before they're ready to sign

Solar buyers shop 3-5 quotes over months. Without a structured nurture sequence, you lose the ones who weren't ready in week one — and they were the majority.

2

Facebook leads look cheap until you measure conversion

Facebook can deliver leads at $20-60 each, but conversion is typically 5-15%, which lifts true cost-per-install to $200-600+. Without lead-quality discipline, the spend looks great and the install number stays flat.

3

Quote shopping crushes margin if you compete on panel brand alone

Buyers compare 3-5 installers on price first. Without messaging that surfaces warranty length, install crew quality, and post-sale service, you race to the bottom on $/W.

4

Reviews carry more weight here than almost any other trade

Solar buyers scrutinise reviews more than most home-service categories. Operators with 50+ Google reviews routinely outperform those with 10-15, even at higher prices.

How solar installers customers actually find you

Channels ranked by typical priority for solar installers — based on AU industry data and our own client work, not generic 'do everything' advice.

Google Ads (high-intent search)

Primary

Search-intent traffic typically converts at 20-35% with proper landing pages and call tracking. Highest-quality lead source for solar.

Benchmark: Australian solar Google Ads CPC commonly $5-25; cost-per-quoted-lead typically $80-200 (Why Solar AU 2026 guide).

Email + SMS nurture (3-6 month)

Primary

Not a lead source — a conversion engine. Without it, half your Google/Facebook spend leaks out before the buyer is ready.

Google Business Profile + reviews

High

Trust signal #1 for high-ticket purchases. Buyers compare GBP star ratings before clicking through to your site.

Facebook & Instagram ads (top-of-funnel)

High

Catches buyers earlier in the journey with savings calculators and customer testimonials. Lower conversion, but feeds the nurture sequence.

Benchmark: Facebook lead-gen typically $20-60/lead at 5-15% conversion (industry benchmarks).

Referral & partnership program

Supporting

Existing customers and electrical partners are the cheapest lead source you have — most installers never ask.

The 3 services that matter most for solar installers

We could sell you 12 services. For solar installers, these three move the needle.

1

Paid Ads (Google + Meta)

Search-intent campaigns plus top-of-funnel awareness ads, both feeding directly into the nurture engine.

Learn more
2

Email + SMS Nurture

8-12 touchpoint sequence over 6 months: education, savings calculator, case studies, urgency, close.

Learn more
3

Review & Reputation System

Automated post-install review requests across Google, Product Review, and Facebook — built so reviews compound month over month.

Learn more
What good looks like

A NSW residential solar installer, 1-2 install crews, ~$1.2M annual revenue

Typical starting state

Lead-to-quote conversion ~25-30%, leads going cold after 30 days, no structured nurture

Realistic 90-day outcome

After 90 days: lead-to-quote 40-55%, structured 6-month nurture, cost-per-install reduced 25-40%

Honest note: Most profitable AU solar installers spend 5-12% of revenue on marketing across all channels (industry benchmark). Outcomes depend on regional competition and tariff/feed-in dynamics.

The Seasonal Play

When to push, when to prep

Peak season

Dec-Mar (post-electricity-bill summer urgency)

Trough season

Jun-Aug winter

Prep window

Build retargeting audiences and nurture content in Sep-Nov for summer launch

The play

Pre-summer 'lock in your panel price' urgency campaigns; winter focuses on battery upsells, heat-pump bundles, and commercial pipelines that flatten the trough.

Pricing for solar installers

Monthly retainers. No lock-ins. Ad spend separate from retainer fees.

Foundation
$2,000/mo

Excludes ad spend

  • GBP optimisation + local SEO
  • Review engine setup
  • Monthly performance report
  • On-page schema + technical SEO
Most popular
Growth
$3,500/mo

Excludes ad spend (typically $1K-$5K/mo additional)

  • Everything in Foundation
  • Google Ads + LSA management
  • Email + SMS Nurture
  • Conversion-tracked landing pages
Scale
$5,000+/mo

Custom scope, ad spend separate

  • Everything in Growth
  • Paid Ads (Google + Meta)
  • Multi-suburb expansion
  • Dedicated account manager

Pricing context: AU digital marketing retainers for trades typically run $1,500-$5,000/month for SEO + GBP, plus $800-$2,500/month for Google Ads management on top of ad spend (industry benchmarks 2026). Our tiers sit comfortably in those ranges with monthly performance reporting and no lock-in contracts.

Solar Installer-specific FAQs

The questions solar installers actually ask us before they sign.

What's the typical solar buyer's research window?+

6-12 months from first enquiry to install for residential buyers. Most installers stop following up after 30 days. The retainer pays for the structured 6-month nurture so you're still in their inbox when they're ready.

Should we run Google Ads, Facebook ads, or both?+

Both, for different jobs. Google captures ready-to-buy demand at higher conversion (20-35%). Facebook captures earlier-stage interest at lower conversion (5-15%). Run them together with a shared nurture engine for full-funnel coverage.

How do we stand out when everyone sells the same panels?+

Move the conversation from product to process. Warranty length, install crew quality, post-sale support, and SLA on faults are the differentiators. We build the messaging that surfaces those at every stage of the funnel.

What's a realistic cost-per-lead for solar in Australia?+

$80-200 per qualified lead via Google Ads for residential; $20-60 via Facebook (with lower conversion). Cost-per-install ranges $400-900 depending on local competition. We optimise within 60-90 days.

How do we handle the winter slump?+

Three plays: battery upsells to existing customers, heat-pump hot water bundles, and commercial solar (which doesn't follow residential seasonality). Combined, they cushion the trough.

Do you work with both residential and commercial solar?+

Yes. Commercial solar has a different funnel — longer sales cycle (9-18 months), LinkedIn-heavy outreach, and partnerships with commercial property managers. We build it as a separate channel.

Ready to fill your solar installer pipeline?

Book a free 30-minute marketing audit. We'll review your funnel, GBP, ads, and website — and tell you exactly where the leakage is. No pitch, no pressure.