HVAC marketing: the first 5 things to check
When an AC quits in July, people don't browse. They search "ac repair near me", look at the map, and call one of the first few names. This guide is about getting your name onto that short list.
Start with these 5 checks. You can do them in an afternoon, and you'll know where you stand.
How HVAC customers find a company
They search Google, look at Google Maps, ask friends and family, and ask AI tools like ChatGPT who to call. For Maps, Google says it looks at three things: how well you match the search (relevance), how close you are (distance), and how well known you are (prominence). You can't pay Google to rank higher in the regular map results. Paid ads show up too, but Google marks them Sponsored.
The 5 checks
1. Your Google Maps listing
Search your main service and your town on your phone, like "furnace repair [your town]". Is your business in the top 3 on the map?
Then open your Google Business Profile and check:
- Your main category is the right one for HVAC.
- Your hours are right, including emergency hours if you have them.
- Your service area lists the towns you really work in.
- Your phone number rings a line someone answers.
2. Your reviews
Look at the top 3 shops on the map for your search. How many reviews do they have, and how recent is the newest one? Now look at yours.
If they have more and newer reviews, ask every customer after every finished job. Make it easy: send the review link the same day.
3. Your site speed
Open your website on your phone, on cell data, not Wi-Fi. If it's slow to load, people may give up and call the next shop.
Google's free PageSpeed Insights tool checks it for you. Paste in your web address and look at the mobile score.
4. Your service pages
Do you have one page for each main job you want: AC repair, furnace repair, new installs, maintenance plans? Each page should name the job and the towns you serve.
One page that lists everything makes it hard for Google to match you to a search for one job.
5. Your AI answers
Ask ChatGPT: "Who is the best HVAC company in [your town]?" Are you named? Is what it says about you right?
If you're missing, or it has your details wrong, that's a fix to make.
Reading your free score
Our free score shows how you show up on Google, Google Maps and ChatGPT. You get a score out of 100 and a list of fixes, biggest first.
When to hire help
Do the 5 checks first. If you've fixed what you found and calls are still flat, or you don't have the hours, that's the time to bring someone in.
Whoever you hire, ask for a written list of what they will do and a price for that list.
If you want us to do the fixes, your AI Growth Team works every week on your website, your Google profile and the Google searches that bring you jobs. It's $1,500 a month plus $2,500 setup, month to month.
Check where you stand
- Go to fullboard.ai/chat.
- Answer a few questions from Sam, our AI: your business name, city and trade. It's free, takes about a minute, and needs no card or signup.
- Read your list and start with fix number 1.