Generate HVAC Leads, Grow Your Heating and Air Business
New customers are the lifeblood of any HVAC company, and it’s vital that you keep a constant stream coming in.
As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to grow your business.
Every contractor conference I attend, I am always asked, how to get HVAC leads?
You want to be able to gain as many new customers as possible in the shortest amount of time.
In the past, companies would use print advertising, circulars, or even go from door-to-door to educate potential customers on their services.
The best way to get more customers for your heating and company is by making it easy for possible for people to find you online.
If you’ve poured time, energy, and money into your HVAC marketing efforts without seeing the results you desire, it’s crucial that you step back and reexamine your strategy.
In this article, I present my top, time-tested and proven lead generation tactics.
1. Start With a Great Website To Drive Leads
Launching a business website is essential to compete with today’s market and the rampant rise in internet usage. Knowing how to design an effective website in 2019 can help drastically increase the leads and conversions you generate while providing you with more opportunity to generate revenue for your business.
Why is it Important to Have a Professional Website for Your HVAC Company?
You only have one opportunity to make a first and lasting impression.
When users visit your website for the first time, they are likely searching for specific content, products, or services. If your site does not appear professional and is using an outdated, irrelevant, or unattractive layout, it becomes increasingly difficult to garner the support and loyalty of prospective customers.
What Makes a Website Appealing and Effective?
Some of the most notable features to implement into your company’s website to ensure it is appealing and useful include:
- Mobile-Friendly and Responsive Design
- Clear Navigation Setup (Vertical or Horizontal)
- Newsletter Subscription Button
- Visible Contact Information
- Proper CTAs (Calls-To-Action)
- Customer Reviews/Testimonials
- Fast Loading Time (Optimized Website for Performance)
- SEO (Search Engine Optimized) Design and Content
- Useful and Engaging Content
How Can You Improve Your Website’s Design?
Improving your website can be done by implementing the following tips:
- Choose a fast and reliable web host
- Implement a CMS (Content Management System) such as WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal
- Optimize your website’s images for faster loading time
- Optimize your site for search engines with a great UX format and structure.
- Ensure your website’s contact information and newsletter subscription box is visible and accessible upon viewing your homepage
- Use a mobile-friendly and responsive website layout
- Test your site on multiple devices and with various browsers before going live
What Should Every Heating and Air Website Have?
Every business website should have a mobile-friendly and responsive layout with clear navigational links to provide easy access and browsing to your online visitors.
Business websites should include visible contact information, an email newsletter subscription box, and a sitemap for those who wish to learn even more about your business and the pages you have available.
2. Provide Easy Access to Contact Information
As the owner of an HVAC business working to develop an online presence, provide your users with immediate, easy access to your contact information.
3. Video Marketing To Drive Leads
A great video on your website can be used as a tool to showcase your personality and what your business offers.
Don’t miss out on what the power of video can do for your site.
4. Develop Partnerships With Other Contractors
Look around for other small businesses that might make a natural fit for a joint partnership.
Small contracting firms, for example, often need specialized HVAC assistance. With two businesses working together to refer customers back and forth, it’s likely that you’ll be able to open up some new avenues for leads that you hadn’t previously considered.
5. Learn How Can SEO Help Your HVAC Company
SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is one of the critical components involved in generating leads online in 2019. A website that is optimized for search engines is more likely to appear within the first page of search results
Without proper SEO, your website will be confusing for others to find, even if they are searching for relevant phrases and keywords that are scattered throughout your site’s content and updates.
6. Stay On Top Of The Latest HVAC Technolgy
As much as specialization can help a reputation, falling behind the curve can harm it. Technology changes rapidly, even in the HVAC field. It is essential that you work to stay ahead of it.
While work experience and hands-on knowledge are important, they don’t necessarily supplant the necessity of ongoing education. Make sure that you keep your eyes open for any classes which may be offered in your area that can help keep you up to date. Carve out a week or so of every year to polish your knowledge, and your reputation will benefit.
7. Network Within Professional Organizations
Though the idea of heading off to a clubhouse or a members-only meeting seems like an old-fashioned notion, such organizations remain a great place to network.
Even in areas where membership in those clubs may be dwindling, they often feel a great deal of appreciation for and loyalty to those people who help them maintain their numbers. That sense of belonging can become a real opportunity in many ways.
8. Aim for Consistency in Business Branding
When you think about the ad campaigns that you remember from your youth, there are probably some that you can recite nearly from memory.
Many of these campaigns didn’t make such an impression because they were particularly creative or drafted by particularly skilled writers. Instead, longevity and repetition combined to create a substantial impact on your mind.
That longevity means that any money you’re pouring into your HVAC marketing budget is creating returns far down the line. Once your brand is well established, the cost of paying for media might decrease as your impression continues to linger.
9. Always be Prepared for Business
Having some quiet time off the clock is an essential part of maintaining your quality of life.
But you need to be ready to leap at any lead generation opportunities when they present themselves.
If you’re at the store, at a bar, or at any social function, carry your business cards. If your field comes up in conversation, it’s essential that you’re ready to respond with an offer of help. Making sure people know that you can take on new projects is an integral part of drawing in that new business.
If a potential new customer decides to employ your services, it’s vital that they don’t find themselves disappointed by your response time. Many HVAC repair situations become emergencies in a hurry. When a home or workspace is uncomfortable, it’s vital to have it addressed as quickly as possible.
As an HVAC contractor, that means you may need to invest in a dedicated line that’s solely used for emergency service calls. While you might regret not being able to unplug, you’ll likely regret that less than missing business opportunities.
10. Consider Alternative Media Advertising Options
For example, people still listen to the radio while driving. Many others subscribe to television services which are supported by local ads. If you haven’t considered the transformative power that can come from consistent advertising.
Often, local media companies have reasonable introductory rates that can give you access to the airwaves without paying exorbitant fees. This may even include covering some production costs, guaranteeing that your advertisements will come with a professional finish.
11. Maintain a Professional Image
HVAC work can be hot, dirty, and exhausting.
On a job site, it can be incredibly tempting to find moments of peace and relaxation anywhere you can and search for some relief. Unfortunately, that relief might reflect poorly on you or your business if a client misinterprets it. If you show your customers your best side, they’re far more likely to recommend you to others.
12. Get Involved In The Local Community To Generate Leads
Growing your HVAC business means doing your part as a member of the local community.
Often, youth sporting teams and other community events need sponsorship funding to operate. By agreeing to sponsor these kinds of activities, your company can develop an identity in the community and generate goodwill.
This can lead to potential future customers with heating, or air conditioning needs seeking you out.
Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor Lead Generation Services
Following these suggestions should help generate new business and grow your customer base.
Considering exciting new ideas for building up your business will bring in new customers and allow your company to be a force for good in the community. If nothing else, you can re-examine your marketing efforts with the confidence of knowing you reached out for real creativity.
But whatever you do, do not buy HVAC leads! This is a low-quality strategy that will be sure to leave you frustrated. Instead, develop a long-term organic marketing plan.