Struggling to generate qualified leads every month?
Something’s broken. Hint: It’s not your AC. It’s your HVAC digital marketing strategy.
97 out of 100 consumers look for local HVAC contractors online. Every time your business doesn’t appear, you miss a potential $2,000+ job.
And you don’t just lose a customer! You lose every friend, cousin, and coworker they might’ve sent your way.
Ready to crank up the heat on your HVAC marketing? Let’s break down 18 modern lead generation digital marketing steps (from SEO to PPC).
You’ll learn how to attract better leads, book more jobs (woohoo!), and grow your revenue by at least 20%, year after year.
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Key Takeaways
- Pair HVAC SEO with paid ads to build an evergreen pipeline.
- Own your local market with a Google Business Profile, city-specific pages, and 5-star reviews.
- Build a fast, mobile-first site and one-tap click-to-call buttons to book clients quickly.
- Win back lost prospects using remarketing ads and automated follow-up emails.
- Track calls, cost per lead, and conversions inside Google Analytics and your CRM.
- Use traditional marketing like radio and billboard advertising to boost recognition locally.
1. Build a Professional Website
Does your website take more than 3 seconds to load?
Does it bury your phone number 3 scrolls deep?
Whoops! You’re losing your desperate, sweaty customers to the HVAC guy next door.
Your HVAC website design isn’t just there to look pretty. For crying out loud, you’re actively trying to book more clients!
A great example is the Chicago HVAC Repair Doctor’s website. Take note of their compelling sales triggers right in the header, “Emergency? 24/7 Service,” along with the phone number that follows you as you scroll.
Here’s what a high-converting HVAC site must have:
- Fast load speed (under 3 seconds). Hey, people are impatient!
- Clean, mobile-first design that looks professional on phones, tablets, and desktops.
- Clear service pages for AC repair, furnace installs, and HVAC maintenance.
- Click-to-call phone number visible at the top of every page.
- Strong CTAs like “Book Service” and “Get a Free Estimate” on every key page.
- Trust signals like Google reviews, certifications, licenses, and warranties.
Bookmark this page so you can come back and read this list again. It’s a crucial piece in your HVAC digital marketing plan.
2. Use SEO to Rank for HVAC Searches
SEO for HVAC is not sexy at all.
But it is one of the most reliable ways to generate leads!
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of fine-tuning your HVAC business’s online presence to boost your rankings to page one for searches like “AC repair” or “furnace installation.”
For example, when we Google, “emergency heater repair in Chicago”, these are the top organic results on page one, pulling 96%+ of all the clicks!
Another cool stat: 84% of people call an HVAC company shortly after searching online! You absolutely, positively need SEO.
A strong HVAC SEO plan includes:
- High-intent keyword targeting focused on service-driven searches like “emergency AC repair” or “24/7 furnace repair.”
- City- and ZIP-specific service pages optimized for HVAC and location to capture local demand (more on this in point #3 below).
- Educational blog content answering urgent homeowner questions like “Why Is My AC Blowing Warm Air?”
- On-page optimization with clear titles, customer-friendly headers, FAQs, and internal links.
- Technical SEO foundations, including a loading speed of 2.5 seconds or less, mobile responsiveness, clean URLs, and schema markup.
- Local authority signals such as links from community sites, directories, or “best HVAC companies in (city)” lists.
When these elements work together, SEO converts better than PPC. HVAC services average a ~3.3% conversion rate vs PPC’s 1.8% conversion rate.
This is why most HVAC digital marketing agency strategies revolve around SEO, and everything else builds out from there.
3. Use Local SEO for HVAC Contractors
The story doesn’t end with HVAC SEO.
You gotta zoom in.
Homeowners aren’t searching for “best HVAC company in the U.S.” 46% of them have local intent, i.e., they’re typing “AC repair near me” or “furnace not working (city)”.
Your digital marketing for HVAC strategy must be LOCAL to capture folks who you can realistically drive to (i.e., within a 20-mile radius).
Your local SEO strategy should cover:
- Google Business Profile optimization by updating your hours, adding job photos, posting updates, and responding to every review.
- Local keyword targeting using searches like HVAC repair and your city or ZIP, and building dedicated service area pages for each location you serve.
- Consistent local citations across Angi, BBB, Yelp, and HomeAdvisor with matching a name, address, and phone number (NAP).
- Customer reviews collected after every successful job (this is a local ranking factor, according to Uberall!)
- Earn local backlinks by sponsoring youth sports, charity events, or neighborhood associations. Marhy suggests, “Evaluate the event’s audience, sponsorship benefits, and alignment with your business goals to ensure a good fit.”
Good news overall: You do NOT need to blow your checking account to compete locally in the HVAC industry.
Follow these proven HVAC local SEO rules, and you’ll see YOUR local job inquiries bump up quite a bit!
4. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Do you have a Google Business Profile?
Why on earth not? It’s the hottest real estate on Google to attract local HVAC leads.
A Google Business Profile (GBP) is your business’s listing on Google Search and Google Maps. It’s the box that shows your phone number, hours, service area, photos, services, and (most importantly) your reviews!
For example, when you Google, “HVAC contractor in Cincinnati”, these are the top 3 Local Map Pack listings. WideWail found that 40% of clicks go to these top listings!
What your GBP must have (no excuses!):
- Complete setup: Correct categories, services, service areas, hours, and a keyword-smart description.
- Real photos: Trucks, techs, installs, before/afters.
Oasis Plumbing does a fantastic job with posting real job-site photos.
- Review engine: Ask after every job, make it one-tap easy, and respond to every review (89% of people read your responses to reviews!)
- Weekly posts: Promos, seasonal reminders, “just finished” jobs, maintenance tips.
- Accurate NAP everywhere: The same Name/Address/Phone across your site and listings.
- Directory consistency and local authority: Updated profiles on Yelp/Angi/BBB, plus local backlinks.
Any competent HVAC digital marketing service will set up your GBP first. As many as 30% of your local leads could come from here. DO NOT SKIP THIS.
5. Create a Consistent Social Media Presence
Your future customers are glued to their phones.
Statista points out that over 6 billion people use social media, which is over70% of the world’s population!
How much you wanna bet your next customer is on Facebook, Instagram, or browsing TikTok for recommendations on HVAC contractors?
HVAC social media marketing helps you stay visible and engaged in those key moments.
We personally love Apollo’s Home’s Facebook. They post really handy tips paired with witty visuals to warn homeowners about the dangers of DIY’ing.
Wondering what to post? Start simple:
- Share helpful HVAC tips (e.g., when to replace air filters, how to prep systems for winter or summer).
- Promote service specials and limited-time offers (e.g., tune-up discounts or seasonal maintenance deals).
- Post behind-the-scenes videos of your team at work (e.g., installs, repairs, or “day in the life” clips).
- Show before-and-after photos of HVAC installs or repairs.
- Be human and establish a personal connection with short, authentic videos explaining common issues or quick FAQs.
Heads up: SEMRush points out that social media helps indirectly boost your local SEO through website traffic, brand authortiy, and backlinks! This is a win-win.
Ready to master social media marketing? Read our 2026 social media HVAC guide right now.
6. Launch Email Marketing Automation
This blew our minds when we saw it.
The average ROI for email marketing is $36 for every $1 spent!
People have the attention spans of a goldfish. That’s why HVAC email marketing is your BFF. This keeps your name in their inbox (and brain) until they’re ready to book.
Here’s how to do HVAC email marketing correctly:
- Capture emails from service calls and web forms so you can follow up instead of starting from scratch.
- Send tune-up reminders, promos, and helpful tips that turn into fast service calls.
- Follow up after jobs with a quick “How’d we do?” to collect reviews.
- Re-engage cold leads who ghosted your quote with a clear, helpful next step.
- Use drip campaigns to automate follow-ups, upsells, and lead nurturing without the extra work.
Marketing for HVAC does NOT have to be painful. And the best part is, you own your email list. It’s yours to grow, use, and profit from, rain, shine, or social media blackout.
P.S. If you ever need a hand, our digital marketing agency for HVAC contractors would be happy to assist!
Ready to master lead generation in 2026? Learn our top HVAC email marketing tricks!
7. Use Video Content to Boost Your Street Cred
HVAC video marketing works miracles.
Viewers retain 95% of a message in video, compared to just 10% from text, according to Speach.me.
You can share REAL stories like saving a family’s weekend with a late-night repair, or helping a homeowner avoid a $3,000 replacement with a simple fix.
Need inspiration? Fire & Ice Home Services has a brilliant video on their YouTube page, “What is an HVAC System and How Does It Work?”
It’s helpful, valuable, and shows off the human side of their business. Friendly, confident techs get booked more. So, start simple with:
- Customer testimonial videos
- Installation walk-throughs or before-and-afters
- Educational how-to clips (filters, maintenance, warning signs)
Think video is too time-consuming? This should motivate you: 88% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service after watching a brand’s video.
You don’t need a film crew. Just hit record, be helpful, and let the leads roll in.
Video is superb for lead generation! See our top 5 video marketing ideas for HVAC contractors.
8. Run Targeted PPC and Local Services Ads (LSA)
Time to ramp up your lead flow!
You can’t sit around waiting for SEO alone. That could take 3+ months, and you have mouths to feed today.
Use paid ads to get leads as quickly as a few hours. SEO.com points out that you could see a 200% return on investment (or $2 for every $1 spent) with paid ads!
But where do you even begin?
- Google Local Services Ads (LSAs) put you at the very top of Google with the “Google Guaranteed” badge.
- Pay-per-lead pricing only charges you for real calls or messages.
- PPC campaigns capture high-intent searches like “emergency AC repair” and “24/7 HVAC service.”
- Geo- and service-based targeting ensure ads only show where and when you can actually take jobs.
- Mobile-first visibility dominates urgent, on-the-go searches.
Run paid ads while your SEO ramps up. That creates a steady pipeline of leads, come hail or sunshine!
The market is increasingly complex. That’s why every serious digital marketing agency for HVAC companies uses multiple channels to fetch you the best returns.
9. Use Paid Social Media Ads
Social media is the #1 channel for brand discovery!
58% of consumers report finding new businesses on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram. P.S. That’s way more than TV or traditional search.
Use social media advertising to put your HVAC company in front of those scrolling thumbs with a killer digital marketing for an HVAC company strategy.
- Run Facebook & Instagram ads promoting seasonal offers and tune-ups (most people follow businesses on these platforms).
- Retarget past site visitors who didn’t book, because most customers need at least 7 touchpoints before they call.
- Geo-target neighborhoods so only homeowners in your service area see your ads.
You’re not trying to go viral. We’ll repeat that: Virality is NOT the point.
Every self-respecting HVAC marketing agency will tell you that getting seen even by 100 local prospects could mean way more booked jobs than before!
10. Remarketing Advertising (Retargeting)
Some prospects need a few days to compare contractors.
Sure, they visited your site, but haven’t reached out yet.
Don’t pull out your hair! Use remarketing to “follow” them across the web and get back on their radar.
Remarketing shows your ads to people who already visited your website or started a quote but didn’t book. Your HVAC business stays visible and pulls them back when they’re ready to call.
And get this: Skai.io reports that retargeting can lift your engagement rates by 400%!
Use remarketing to:
- Segment by intent by showing AC ads to AC page visitors and furnace ads to furnace page visitors.
- Retarget abandoned quotes with a soft follow-up like “Still deciding? Get your free estimate.”
- Use urgency tied to weather or season instead of generic “Book now” messaging.
- Keep it local with neighborhood-level targeting so ads only reach homeowners you actually serve.
- Limit ad frequency to stay visible without annoying people. Cap your ads at 20 times a month.
You already paid to get these people to your site. Remarketing helps convert that traffic!
11. Display Advertising
Remember that scene in Fast & Furious when Dom slams the nitrous, and VROOOM, the world turns into a blur of lights?
That’s what HVAC PPC does for your lead generation efforts!
Your display ad banners could show up on local news sites, weather apps, and blogs, and anywhere on well over 3 million websites.
Add Display Advertising to your digital marketing for HVAC contractors efforts:
- Run ads on weather and local news sites like Weather.com, news sites like Patch.com, and regional blogs.
- Use HVAC-first visuals like your truck, techs, installs, uniforms, before/after shots. Example: “24/7 HVAC Repair | Same-Day Service Available”.
- Promote pre-season offers early, like tune-ups, maintenance plans, and financing.
- Target by location and service area; A great headline here would be something like Oakwood & Westside — Call Today.”
- Pair display ads with remarketing; Show banners to past site visitors while they browse other sites. “Still need AC repair? We’re booking this week.”
Display advertising is a sneaky way to stay visible as your prospects browse their favorite sites.
Ready to boost your leads? Read our PPC HVAC guide.
12. Manage Reviews to Build Social Proof
One bad review could cost you the next $10K install.
One great review could turn into 3 more jobs!
We’d recommend collecting them like baseball cards! BrightLocal confirms that 98% of people read reviews for local businesses.
Here’s how to maintain your edge with HVAC marketing reviews:
- Ask for reviews after every job: Send a one-tap Google link by text (response rates are highest within 7 to 10 days).
- Respond to every review professionally: A calm, helpful reply to a bad review is sometimes more useful than a perfect 5-star record.
- Show reviews where decisions happen: Add Google star ratings to service pages and estimate pages.
- Turn reviews into content: Screenshot great reviews for social posts, ads, and emails (“Another same-day save), not just your testimonials page!
- Track reviews weekly: Olly Olly suggests: “It’s not total reviews. It’s recency. Ten new reviews this month beat 50 from two years ago.”
Your lead flow is dependent on 4- and 5-star reviews. Whatever you do, do not slack on this super important step!
13. Create a Referral Program
Happy customers love to talk.
TrustPilot reports: “Reviews serve to feed the ego by giving reviewers the opportunity to be recognized by their peers.”
Why not sweeten the pot with a referral program?
A referral program is a system that rewards existing customers or partners for sending new HVAC clients your way, usually with service credits, gift cards, or discounts.
Here’s how to make referrals come flooding in:
- Reward customers who refer with gift cards, service credits, or discounts on future maintenance.
- Make sharing effortless using business cards, QR codes, or a simple referral link in follow-up emails.
- Ask at the right moment, right after a successful repair or install, when the dopamine is highest.
- Partner with realtors, landlords, and property managers who regularly need reliable HVAC pros.
The best part: Referrals convert faster and cost less! It’s a brilliant way to have your customers do the selling for you.
14. Set Up Automations Using a CRM
You did all that work to get leads.
DO NOT let them go cold. The golden window to respond is 5 minutes.
That’s where a CRM earns its keep. You could see 100x more conversions by responding faster, without stressing out. A solid CRM lets you:
- Track leads, quotes, and job status in one place
- Automate follow-ups and reminders so nothing slips through the cracks
- Keep every customer interaction organized, from the first call to repeat service
This is the backbone of HVAC local digital marketing automation. We suggest checking out HubSpot and Salesforce for their robust automation and follow-up features.
15. Track Your HVAC Marketing ROI
Analytics aren’t just for nerds.
If you’re not tracking your HVAC marketing performance, literally everything we talked about is wasted!
Try tools like Google Analytics, CallRail, or any other CRM of your choice. Track these metrics in your HVAC contractor marketing:
- Cost per lead, conversion rates, and booked jobs
- Top lead sources (SEO, PPC, email, LSAs)
- Which pages actually turn visits into calls
Proservit reports that businesses that use data-driven strategies are 23x more likely to acquire customers and 6x more likely to retain them!
Once you have the right data, the next step becomes hands-off because of the high level of marketing automation out there.
16. OTT/TV Advertising and Media Buying
OTT (“Over-the-Top” i.e., streaming media) and TV ads won’t make your phone explode overnight.
But they are a vital lead channel.
Advertising on Hulu, Roku, and regional streaming platforms puts your HVAC brand in all the right living rooms across your city.
We’ve seen this work especially well right before peak season, when homeowners often need to see your name at least 7 times before they pick up the phone.
Local TV media buying is crucial, too. Try buying into weather segments, morning news, and evening slots.
How much does this cost? OTT ads usually cost $2,000–$5,000/month for 50,000–300,000 local impressions, while local TV spots typically cost $3,000+ per airing.
Yes, it’s expensive, but it can be a healthy lead channel, added to your HVAC online marketing.
17. Radio Advertising
Radio still works, especially during drive time, when homeowners are in the car.
WIFM Radio suggests the best times are the morning drive (6 a.m. – 10 a.m.) and the afternoon drive (3 p.m. – 7 p.m.).
P.S. This reach is bigger than you think! Musical Pursuits found that 88% of Americans listen to the radio on a regular basis. That’s prime advertising.
So, how do you attract leads from radio?
- Buy drive-time spots on local stations that 35+ year-old homeowners listen to.
- Lead with urgency or financing (“No heat? 24/7 dispatch.” / “0% financing available.”)
- Repeat one memorable line and phone number. Frequency is the whole game.
There’s plenty of proof this works! Contracting businesses like Steve’s Pest Control grew their vans from one to 90 by investing in AM/FM radio!
18. Billboard Advertising
Who even reads billboards in 2026?
According to the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), 71% of people actively notice billboards, and 26% have visited a business after seeing one!
But make sure your billboards have the same consistent messaging as what you use online and on the radio.
To make billboards work, zoom in, and get real specific:
- Placement: High-traffic highways, commuter routes, and intersections near residential neighborhoods (avoid industrial zones).
- Message: One job, one promise: “24/7 Emergency HVAC” or “Same-Day AC Repair.”
- Design: High contrast colors (dark blue and white, black and yellow, red and white) and a huge phone number (readable at 60+ mph).
- Timing: Run 6–8 weeks minimum so drivers see it repeatedly.
Yes, these are expensive. In large cities, billboards can cost $30,000+ monthly, but they catch a TON of eyeballs every single day.
More Leads. More Revenue. Get Expert HVAC Digital Marketing Services.
You wouldn’t tell a customer to fix their HVAC system with duct tape.
So, why would you DIY your HVAC digital marketing?
Contact Comrade today. We’re a top-tier HVAC digital marketing agency, with over 80+ years of combined SEO, PPC, lead generation, Google’s Local Services Ads (LSAs), and web design expertise.
We fill your pipeline week after week, come rain, shine, or snow!
Here’s a peek at what our HVAC digital marketing company delivers:
- A steady, always “ON” pipeline of high-quality leads
- ROI you can track — 4x–8x on your spend!
- More freedom to manage your crew and live your life!
Ready to MAX your revenue in 2026?
