I have been working in the renewable energy industry for over 15 years now, running my own companies and getting involved in large projects. I have recently returned to the UK after living in Australia for a number of years. One of the things I have been asked a lot by people in the UK who are interested in solar energy is – how many users should my website have?
The short answer is, ‘it depends’.
The more users you have, the more energy you can generate – it’s as simple as that. Having more users also means you can customise the website so that it fits all of your target audience’s needs. For example, if you have a large number of industrial users, you might want to include additional content on your site related to plant monitoring and maintenance. If you are after residential customers, you might want to include more content relating to home energy use and the benefits of going green. What ever your target audience, you can be sure that there is at least one group of people out there who have a question about solar power that you can help answer.
On the other hand, if your target audience is limited to businesses in one country, you might want to consider localizing the content on your site. One of the main benefits of using solar power and the various platforms like Shopify is that you can quickly localise your site for the needs of the users.
User Acquisition Costs Will Eventually Catch Up
When you are first exploring solar energy as an option for powering your home or business, it’s important to understand that the price of installing solar panels will one day come down. At the moment, solar energy is still considerably more expensive than traditional forms of energy generation, but that is gradually changing.
As more and more people see the merits of going green and decreasing their impact on the environment, more and more people are looking to adopt solar power. As a result, there is an abundance of online content relating to solar power and the various ways in which it can be used to generate electricity. With more and more people joining the quest to reduce their carbon footprint, the need for high-quality, detailed content grows.
In the short term, the price of solar energy will continue to rise as more and more people seek to generate their own electricity using this sustainable energy source. However, in the long term, as more and more people adopt solar power, the price of electricity will decrease, meaning that solar energy will become increasingly cost-effective.
More People Are Looking To Reduce Their Energy Bills
People are increasingly looking to reduce their energy bills, as the cost of solar power has decreased as a result of declining materials costs and an improving economy. As a result, people are adopting solar power not just to help the environment but to generate more income.
In the coming years, we can expect to see an increase in home installations as people seek to install solar panels in an effort to save money. As a result, we can expect to see an increase in the number of people visiting solar energy websites, looking for information about solar power and how to implement it at home. It should come as no great surprise then that people are seeking information online, as the vast majority of installations now happen offline, with little to no interaction with the user.
Local Content Is Key
Installing solar panels at home can be a complex and protracted process, which is why so many people choose to seek help from experts. As a result, we can expect to see an increase in online content, as people seek to provide answers to questions and solve problems. Additionally, the increase in internet usage means that more and more people have access to information online, regardless of where they are in the world.
If you are providing information relating to solar power in the UK, Germany, or any other country where individuals may not be familiar with the technology, you should consider including content relating to the various incentives offered by government to support the adoption of solar power. At the moment, solar power is not yet supported by any government scheme, but that could soon change.
One of the problems that many small businesses and sole traders face is the issue of where to display their products. If you are selling your own products, whether they are related to renewable energy or not, you will need a web store to sell them online. Shopify has addressed this issue and many others, helping businesses of all sizes and from all over the world to launch their own online stores.
The Growth Of Online Marketplaces
Not so long ago, individuals might have turned to printed directories to find business information – but that is no longer the case. Thanks to the growth of online marketplaces like Youtility and Local.Wish, people can now research businesses and find the information they need, with the click of a mouse.
Additionally, people can now leave reviews and share their opinions on websites, helping others to discover businesses they might like and improving their browsing experience as a result.
There is no question that the growth of online marketplaces has made research much easier and more fun – helping people to find what they need, when they need it. As a result, we can expect to see greater usage of digital directories and search engines, helping to drive even more people to solar energy websites.
When it comes to running a business, being cost-effective is always a top priority. When you add in the significant reductions in emissions that many industries have seen as a result of switching to renewable energy, it’s easy to see why so many businesses are now exploring the option.