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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hello Ray,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Your question is an important marketing question so
I am copying it over to RE-Marketing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The short answer is (1) identify your company's
competitive advantages, (2) differentiate from your competition, and
(3) position your company in the marketplace. These are the questions that you
have to ask yourself, but not on-line. You don't want to show your
cards to your competitors.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(1) What does your company do that is better
(quality), faster, and ultimately cheaper (higher kWh/$ invested, less
problems, fewer callbacks, etc.)?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(2) How is your company different from your
competitors? Be specific.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(3) What markets do you serve (off-grid, on-grid,
residential, commercial, up-scale, what territory, what complementary
products/markets, etc.)?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Once you have clear, concise answers, then you make
your marketing and sales plans. They are 2 different critters.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>See <A
href="http://marketing.about.com/cs/advertising/a/mrktingvssales.htm">http://marketing.about.com/cs/advertising/a/mrktingvssales.htm</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>and </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/operating/marketing/salesmktdiff.html">http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/operating/marketing/salesmktdiff.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>and <A
href="http://marketing.about.com/cs/advertising/a/mrktingvssales.htm">http://marketing.about.com/cs/advertising/a/mrktingvssales.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>and google difference between marketing and
selling</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Good luck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=walters@taosnet.com href="mailto:walters@taosnet.com">R. Walters</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, July 20, 2009 11:03
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar
Installers Education</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-SPACING: 0px 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto"
class=Apple-style-span>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium" class=Apple-style-span><BR
class=khtml-block-placeholder></SPAN></DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span color=#000000 face=Helvetica><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: medium" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT>The one
commonality to all of this is really the passion to constant learning. The
Japanese have a word- Kaizen- constant
improvement.<BR></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Excellent, thanks for the new word. Unfortunately, I'm just not seeing
any of that passion in the new people flocking to this industry.</DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Where it is peculiar to me, is to see us not being able to charge
enough to take care of our families and co-workers (team mates) on the ship
of life.<BR></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Now you've hit the sore spot for us: we've worked and studied hard, spent
countless unpaid hours contributing to this list for our mutual Kaizen, only
to see a growing market that is not necessarily valuing our experience. The
question is how do we get across to the customer why they should pay more for
that experience and knowledge? How besides NABCEP, do we even demonstrate we
have that knowledge?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Mahalo,</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Ray</DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Aloha<BR><BR>Keith<BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2 face=Tahoma>
<HR SIZE=1>
<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Joel Davidson <<A
href="mailto:joel.davidson@sbcglobal.net">joel.davidson@sbcglobal.net</A>><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> RE-wrenches <<A
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Saturday, July 18, 2009 5:50:24
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re:
[RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Education<BR></FONT><BR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I agree. I have DIY customers who know
more about PV systems than a lot of so-called PV professionals. Designing
and installing PV systems is a continuous learning
experience. We are practitioners because, like doctors,
we practice our trade, expand our knowledge, and
hone our skills. I tell people who wants to get in the
PV business to put a PV system on their own
home. People who tell me that they want to sell PV
but can not go solar personally for whatever reason have less
credibility. They get less respect from prospective customers who
use the same reasons or excuses for not going solar. They either
don't last long in the business or are in it only for the money. Granted,
there are less operational nuances to a batteryless, grid-tied PV system
than a battery-based system or wind or water generator, but living with
your work is essential. It makes you keenly aware of unique subtleties
and helps you better understand your customers concerns.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none">-----
Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: rgb(228,228,228); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial"><B>From:</B>
<A title=walters@taosnet.com href="mailto:walters@taosnet.com"
rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:walters@taosnet.com">R.
Walters</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none"><B>To:</B>
<A title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none"><B>Sent:</B>
Saturday, July 18, 2009 12:05 AM</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none"><B>Subject:</B>
Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Education</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>For Off grid, no one should even attempt being a designer/ installer
without living for a full year on their own off grid system. </DIV>
<DIV>GT w/ batteries, you need off grid smarts and understand GT.</DIV>
<DIV>Training newbies, I can't imagine them being able to do anything
other than schlep modules/ do grunt work for a couple of years.</DIV>
<DIV>I could see a licensed electrician with a year of full time training
being able to do GT w/o batteries.</DIV>
<DIV>Most of the market and all the growth is in the GT w/o batteries, so
I think your training should concentrate there.</DIV>
<DIV>I've taught a semester long PV class, and all I was able to do was
create well educated consumers.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-SPACING: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none"
class=Apple-style-span>
<DIV>R. Walters</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://Solarray.com" target=_blank>Solarray.com</A><SPAN
style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class=Apple-tab-span></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>NABCEP # 04170442<SPAN style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"
class=Apple-tab-span><SPAN style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"
class=Apple-style-span> <BR></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>On Jul 17, 2009, at 9:44 AM, Keith Cronin wrote:</DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Hi gang<BR><BR>I was wondering, what percentage do you believe
represents the ratio of classroom training to field training for PV and
what percentage you believe should be performed by licensed electricians
vs what is deemed mechanical work?<BR><BR>Residential Grid Tie w/out
batteries<BR>___% classroom- electrician<BR>___% field-
electrician<BR><BR>Residential Grid Tie w/out batteries<BR>___%
classroom- mechanical<BR>___% field- mechanical<BR><BR>Commercial Grid
Tie w/out batteries<BR>___% classroom-electrician<BR>___%
field-electrician<BR><BR>Commercial Grid Tie w/out batteries<BR>___%
classroom-mechanical<BR>___% field-mechanical<BR><BR>Residential GT with
batteries<BR>____% classroom-electrician<BR>____%
field-electrician<BR><BR>Residential GT with batteries<BR>____%
classroom-mechanical<BR>____% field-mechanical<BR><BR>Any takers on the
off grid market percentages?<BR><BR>Commercial w/ batteries is utility
scale and I don't think it can be quantified today as the projects are
generally design build and perhaps hard to put an exact # on
these.<BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Keith<BR></DIV></DIV>
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