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With the intergovernmental agency IRENA forecasting 90 percent of the world’s electricity could come from renewable energy by 2050, the sector continues to expand at breakneck speed. For renewable energy companies, the ability to stand out in a crowded and highly competitive industry is becoming increasingly difficult. Unless you leverage the power of intelligent website design. As the foundation of your digital presence, an expertly constructed renewable energy website is the key to differentiating your business and attracting more clients.
Every business website needs to look the part and give customers all the information they need in a clear and engaging way. But it’s not a cut and paste exercise. The elements you need to add vary from ubiquitous to sector specific. In the case of renewable energy website design, there are a few fundamental features that most consumers expect:
It’s a simple way to give people the facts and figures and also positions you as experts. Content ideas include in-depth blogs on key topics, FAQs, infographics, links to the latest energy research, authoritative content from regulatory bodies, etc.
Include interactive calculators to help customers estimate energy savings, information on grants and financing options – anything that positions you as a company dedicated to helping your customers save money while reducing their carbon footprint.
It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many websites don’t quite hit the mark on this one. Make the customer journey as straightforward as possible by clearly segmenting your services, whether you provide home solar panel installation, energy assessments or offshore wind consultancy.
Social proof is a powerful persuader. Case studies that feature your clients and demonstrate real before-and-after energy savings are marketing gold dust. It’s especially effective if you include images and video of the customers involved.
Consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious with 78% of people in a recent green energy survey reporting that they want to live more sustainably. Just because you are a renewable energy company, doesn’t mean you’ll get the sale just on that basis alone. You need to prominently highlight your certifications, partnerships, and commitment to sustainable practices in all areas of your business.
Regulations and targets vary from region to region. As do grants. So, emphasise your understanding of local policies, energy programs and funding schemes. Or explain which renewable energy solutions best suit the yearly weather conditions in your area.
Intelligent renewable energy website design will make your business more discoverable on search engines. Featuring higher up in the search results requires strategic SEO tailored to the renewable energy sector. A few ways to implement this are:
User experience (UX) design ensures that anyone who visits your website has an easy, enjoyable and intuitive journey from landing to leaving. A good renewable energy website should be fast, straightforward and take customers on a smooth journey to conversion, whatever device they are using. Crucial elements of UX design include:
Most people won’t wait more than a few of seconds for a webpage to appear, so a superfast load time is essential.
Ever hopped onto a website on your phone to be faced with a disjointed mess that’s also too small to read? With over half of internet searches conducted via smart phone, your site needs to look perfect and function effortlessly on mobile devices.
A successful website design takes everyone into account. Your site needs to have all the features that enable people with disabilities to have a positive user experience. From colour contrast and alt text to screen reader compatibility and labelled forms, there are lots of accommodations that need to be included.
Don’t make visitors hunt for what they want. Offer clear paths for each customer type to help them navigate straight to the information they need.
We’re all busy and most of us scan a webpage rather than reading every word. Bold headers, graphics and bullet points are all useful ways to help your customers pick out what they are looking for at a glance. Short videos on your renewable solutions are also a great alternative to text and can significantly bump up engagement.
As renewable energy website designers ourselves, we know what works. Here are a few of the websites we’ve worked on – and some we haven’t – that have effective features:
Bright, bold and easy to navigate with clear tabs for separate domestic and business customer journeys. Their commitment to sustainability is obvious. Lots of valuable tips for consumers on here too and plenty of large CTA buttons to encourage engagement.
Clean, simple navigation with a modern design, high quality images and calming white space. The global map and location cards also bring their offshore projects to life and the blog page has a lot of authoritative content. (Read the case study)
Great visual contrast and bright design with a fast load time. Clearly differentiated services and educational resources on renewable energy solutions. The site also highlights their understanding of the UK and local energy markets.
A responsive, user friendly design with solid visuals, clear text blocks and bold CTAs. Their credentials, commitments and unique position in the energy market are also centre stage. The blog page has valuable content for consumers on a wide range of topics and there’s an extensive help section.
Optimised for all devices with a warm, contemporary design and prominent accreditation slider to build authority and trust. Easy navigation for customers wanting specific services and plenty of advice on energy grants, funding and loans available. Good resources page with support videos, FAQs and product information. (Read the case study)
By incorporating the strategies and features above, there’s a greater chance your renewable energy website will stand out, attract more leads, and convert visitors into customers. Of course, it can sometimes be easier said than done.
If you don’t feel that you have the right technical knowledge to make the changes you need to, we can help. Our website designers not only create great-looking, fully optimised sites – we also understand the green energy sector.
Why not call us for a chat on 01437 720033 or send your query online?