Find Solar Companies on Twitter
Want to find solar companies on the Internet? Twitter may be your new tool of choice. Sure, anyone can Google phrases like “find solar companies,” or “solar panel installers,” but Twitter can give you much more information that Google is simply not set up to capture.
I would even go so far as to say that Google compared to Twitter is like wise old grandpa vs. hip young teen.
Why would I characterize these two web applications so differently? For starters, you have to work harder to get certain relevant information from Google. Google definitely has the “answers,” but its hard to pinpoint the right search query to give you insights on a solar company’s investments, interests, and even philanthropies. Plus, Google is fairly static. Websites and URLs go up, but there is no interaction with people inputting search terms. In short, Google is relatively old and reliable, but not much personality.
With Twitter, there is definitely a youthful, coolness associated with using it. When you start following certain companies or people, they may not follow you back. That’s O.K. You may have to first prove that you’re worthy.
He might be able to help you find solar companies on Twitter
When you hang out at Twitter, it may feel like you are the wall flower at a social club gathering, but sit back and just enjoy watching the conversations. See what items are being “re-tweeted” and what priorities rise to the top. If you are thinking about hiring a solar contractor, you’ll be able to determine whether they reach out to other Twitterers, or if its all just about them and making money. This kind of social networking savvy plays out in real time 24/7. You’ve got to catch up and keep up – much as with a group of teenagers.
The downside of this youthful exuberance is that a foundation of knowledge is sometimes required before you play in the Twitterbox. That means you may have to start with a Google search, and then really do some investigating through Twitter.
So, how can you find solar companies on Twitter?
Sign up for a free account at Twitter.com. Once you are set, you can do a search for a user name, or first and last name. This is where Google comes in handy because you can start there to build a list of potential solar companies, and then head over to Twitter to discover their tweets. Because “going green” is so hip these days, chances are that you’ll find many of the solar companies for which you’re searching on Twitter.
Sift through the tweets to see if a solar company seems like the type of business with which you’d like to work. Do they have information regarding new solar technology? Do the solar companies post information about tax credits and incentives? Are they displaying a knowledge of new legislation? Do they encourage followers to contribute to solar development in Third World Countries? Can they get a message across in 140 characters or less?
Try this:
What are you doing?
“Searching for a reputable solar company in [fill in your city or state]….”
If a solar company follows you back, you can send them a DM (direct message) in which you can ask questions that could help you decide whether to do business with them, as well. The DM feature is like instant messaging. This is much more efficient than sending an email or trying to make a phone call!
If there is a big disparity between the number of those following a solar company and the people/organizations that the company is following, it could be a potential red flag. You get followers by contributing to the social side of Twitter and offering information that is helpful to the group – not just to get a sale! Mass marketing by following a ton of people can turn off some users.
I encourage you to try out the site and get comfortable with it, if you’re not already a user. You’ll soon discover that Twitter is a great tool for both solar companies and their potential customers. “I found you through Twitter,” is music to a marketer’s ear.
Love Twittering? Have a great success story? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow me at http://twitter.com/stephhicks.
Tags: find solar companies, google compared to twitter, twitter, twitter.com
