By Dan Bolt.

Harness Local SEO for HVAC Contractors to Capture New Movers

If you're an HVAC contractor looking to grow your business, local SEO is your new best friend! Especially when it comes to attracting new movers, the benefits can be huge. In this article, we’ll show you how to use local SEO to welcome new residents and turn them into loyal customers.

Why Local SEO Is a Big Deal for HVAC

Local search engine optimization (SEO) helps your business show up when people search for location-specific services in your area. So, when someone in your service territory Googles “HVAC repair near me” or “air conditioning installation [city name],” your business pops up!

The relevance of local SEO cannot be overstated. Statistics reveal that 46% of all Google searches are people looking for local information. For HVAC businesses, this means a well-optimized local SEO strategy can drive significant organic website traffic and get more customers to call. In fact, 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly using the “click to call” option in search results. This makes it more important than ever to ensure your local SEO strategy positions your HVAC business prominently in local searches, driving more calls and customer engagement.

Targeting New Movers: A Profitable Opportunity

New movers represent a unique and lucrative target audience for HVAC contractors. Porch Media Group reports that new movers spend more in the first 3-6 months ($10,000-$12,000) on their new home than they will in the next 3 years. When people move into a new house, HVAC services are often top of their to-do list.

New homeowners often face heating, ventilation, duct cleaning, and air conditioning issues. When these problems arise, they turn to an online search to find a local HVAC contractor who can quickly address their needs. This is why investing in local SEO is essential—it ensures your business appears at the top of search results when new movers are actively seeking solutions. When your website is shown in search results as an answer to their problem, you can win their business and become their go-to HVAC expert.

How to Optimize Your Local SEO

Here’s how to make sure new movers (and everyone else) find you when they search:

Keyword Research:

Identify local keywords that potential customers are searching for. Darwill can help you find the best terms to use.
Focus on long-tail keywords such as "best HVAC service in [city name]" to capture highly targeted traffic.

Local Listings:

Ensure your business has a Google Business Profile listing. Complete your profile with accurate contact details, operating hours, and service descriptions.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your Google listing. Positive reviews boost your credibility and improve your SEO rankings.

On-Page SEO Tactics:

Optimize your website content by adding local keywords. Add these local keywords to your title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and body text. Be sure to also mention your city and state.
Create dedicated landing pages for each service area you cover. This helps search engines and customers know where you do business.

Creating Local Content:

Develop blog posts, guides, and articles relevant to your local audience. For example, write about preparing HVAC systems for local weather patterns or common HVAC issues in your region.
Share user-generated content (UGC), such as customer testimonials and reviews, to enhance credibility and engagement. UGC is a great way to show how you’ve helped customers with their HVAC needs.

Take Advantage of Tech & Tools

Engaging new movers before the competition means using the right tools and tech to sharpen your local SEO game. HVAC businesses can tap into a variety of technologies that not only streamline their digital marketing efforts but also help them connect with local new movers. Let’s dive into the latest tools and why mobile optimization and voice search are must-haves for your HVAC business.

SEO Tools That Do the Heavy Lifting

There’s a wealth of powerful SEO tools available to HVAC companies that want to boost their local presence. Platforms like Moz Local and SEMrush allow you to manage your local business listings, track your rankings on search engines, and perform in-depth audits to improve your website's performance.

You can also reach out to Darwill for a trusted partner in improving your local SEO performance. Our team conducts a digital audit to give you a clear picture of how your HVAC business is performing online. We analyze your local search performance, identify areas that need improvement, and optimize your site to outperform competitors. Not only can we help you get in front of new movers and prospects, but we can help you stay in front of current customers too. To get started, all you have to do is contact us. We’ll send you the results and connect with you to discuss how our optimizations will help you get more local customers.

Why Mobile Optimization is Non-negotiable

Mobile searches now dominate the internet—especially when it comes to local searches. That’s why making sure your website is mobile-friendly is essential. Your website should have fast-loading pages and be easy to navigate on a mobile device. If your site takes too long to load or they can’t find what they are looking for, they’ll move on to the next HVAC business.

Google even gives preference in its search rankings to mobile-optimized websites. So, having a mobile-friendly site isn’t just about convenience—it’s about visibility in search results too.

Voice Search: The Future of Local Queries

With more people using smart speakers and voice assistants, voice search is becoming a critical part of SEO. For local HVAC companies, optimizing for voice search means crafting content that matches how people speak. Consider the following when it comes to voice search:

Natural language: When people use voice search, they tend to ask questions in a conversational tone, like “Who’s the best HVAC contractor near me?” Make sure your website’s content is ready to answer these queries directly.
Question-based queries: Think about the kinds of questions your potential customers might ask—like, “How much does air conditioning repair cost in [city name]?” Use these as inspiration for building and enhancing your website content.

Optimizing for voice search helps you capture new movers at the exact moment they need HVAC services, often resulting in higher conversions. By leveraging these technologies and optimizing your website for both mobile users and voice search, your HVAC business can stay competitive and attract more local prospects who are ready to pick up the phone and call.

Success Story: Case Study: Elevating Engagement with Local SEO

A Midwest Home Services Company sought to increase its HVAC presence and boost customer engagement by focusing on local SEO. Their primary goal was to enhance online visibility, driving more incoming calls and form submissions from potential customers.

Darwill developed a strategic local SEO plan by researching both short and long-tail keywords associated with seasonal HVAC services. We optimized the client’s website, incorporating these high-ranking keywords into their content and creating blog posts tailored to their services. To further drive engagement, we added calls-to-action across the site, encouraging users to make easy click-to-calls and submit forms.

Darwill’s local SEO improvements helped bring a 243.69% increase in users, a 244.68% increase in new users, and a 244.33% increase in sessions.

Future Trends in Local SEO for HVAC: Capturing Business from New Movers

The landscape of local SEO is constantly evolving, and to stay competitive—especially when targeting new movers—HVAC businesses need to be aware of the latest trends and how to prepare for the future. Regularly updating your SEO strategy to align with emerging trends ensures that your business is not only visible to new movers but also positioned as their go-to HVAC solution.

Here are some emerging trends that can help HVAC companies maximize their local SEO strategy and attract new residents who are actively searching for services.

AI and Machine Learning: Smarter SEO Strategies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are transforming how search engines rank content. Google’s algorithms are getting better at understanding user intent, which means HVAC companies need to ensure their local SEO efforts are focused on providing valuable, relevant information to new movers. AI tools can help HVAC businesses:

Analyze vast amounts of data to uncover SEO insights.
Predict which keywords and phrases new movers are likely to search for.
Optimize local content and improve overall rankings with data-driven adjustments.

Hyperlocal Targeting: Zooming in on Neighborhoods

One trend on the rise is hyperlocal targeting—focusing on extremely small geographic areas, such as specific neighborhoods or zip codes. For HVAC businesses, this means going beyond just targeting a whole city and zeroing in on areas where new movers are settling.

Hyperlocal content, such as blog posts or landing pages tailored to each neighborhood you serve, can make a significant impact. Think of it as being the "go-to" HVAC expert for a new homeowner's exact area, giving them the peace of mind that you’re familiar with their local environment and needs.

Ready to up your local SEO game?

To sum it up, local SEO is a game-changer for HVAC contractors and businesses, especially when it comes to enticing new movers. From optimizing your online presence to embracing the latest tech, you can make your business stand out and grow faster than ever.

Start implementing these strategies today and see your business soar. Need a hand? Darwill is here to help you craft the perfect marketing strategy for your HVAC business!