Negative keywords for solar companies
Solar ads draw in job applicants, hobbyists building off-grid DIY systems, and homeowners searching for other home-energy upgrades entirely. This list filters all three so spend concentrates on homeowners evaluating a professional installation.
Why negative keywords matter for solar companies
Solar installation is a fast-hiring trade, and searches for 'solar installer jobs' or 'NABCEP certification jobs' can closely resemble the phrasing used by homeowners comparing installers, especially on mobile broad match.
There's also a sizable DIY solar community searching for panel kits and off-grid builds who were never going to hire a licensed installer, plus adjacent home-energy searches — generators, HVAC, insulation — that use similar language but aren't solar at all.
The full list
40 terms. Review each one before adding — remove anything you actually sell.
Jobs and careers
- solar installer jobs
- solar sales jobs
- electrician jobs
- solar technician careers
- solar company hiring
- renewable energy jobs
- solar panel installer salary
- solar project manager jobs
- nabcep certification jobs
- solar warehouse jobs
DIY and free
- diy solar panel installation
- how to build solar panels yourself
- free solar panel plans
- diy solar kit
- homemade solar generator
- free solar calculator
- diy off grid solar
- solar panel diy youtube
- cheap diy solar system
- build your own solar charger
Education and training
- solar installation certification
- nabcep training course
- how to become a solar installer
- renewable energy degree
- solar design course
- electrician apprenticeship program
- solar sales training
Wrong service
- roofing repair only
- generator installation
- hvac installation
- electrical panel upgrade
- wind turbine installation
- battery storage only
- pool heating solar
- solar pool cover
- ev charger installation
- home insulation
- energy audit
- propane generator
- roof replacement
Competitors (add your own)
Add the names of local competitors you don't want to pay for. Review these case by case.
If you also sell battery backup systems, remove 'battery storage only' and keep battery-related keywords active.
How to add these in Google Ads
- Sign in to Google Ads and open the campaign you want to protect.
- Go to Keywords, then Negative keywords, and click the blue plus button.
- Choose whether to add them to this campaign, an ad group, or a negative keyword list you can share across campaigns.
- Paste the terms, one per line. Remove any you actually want to show for first.
- Click Save. Check the search terms report again after a week or two to see what's still getting through.
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Frequently asked questions
Why would solar ads attract roofing searches?
Many homeowners research roof condition before solar, and roofing-only searches without solar intent won't convert for an installer.
Should I exclude all DIY solar searches?
Yes — anyone building their own panels or off-grid system isn't shopping for a licensed install.
Does this list apply to commercial solar too?
Mostly yes, though commercial accounts may want to add procurement and RFP-related negatives of their own.
Related guides and tools
- Negative keyword list generator — A ready-to-copy negative keyword list for your industry.
- How to add negative keywords in Google Ads — Step-by-step: how to add negative keywords in Google Ads at the ad group, campaign or list level, and how to avoid blocking good traffic by mistake.
- Which Google Ads search terms are wasting your money — How to find the search terms wasting your Google Ads budget, group them into patterns, and exclude them with negative keywords without blocking real customers..
- Google Ads audit for solar installation companies — DIY kits, general research and unqualified-area searches are the usual leaks.
Sources
Last updated · Written by the Claritad team (Kyle Edward Gilligan LLC). Claritad is independent software and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.