Getting new customers can be tricky in a word-of-mouth industry like HVAC. Learn how to level up your communication skills and stand out against the competition.
Like many other businesses, HVAC customers are inclined to ‘go with what they know’ when looking for a new handyman.
This can make generating new customers tough if you’re not the big name in the neighborhood.
Whether you’re a seasoned HVAC specialist or new to the world of heating and cooling, you’re facing the same challenges when it comes to reaching a new audience.
With 113,000+ HVAC contractors in the US and counting, updating the way you communicate can be the difference between a sale and another cold lead.
78% of potential customers make their purchase from the first business that responds to their inquiry. This especially holds in the HVAC industry.
Imagine you just moved from Florida to Minnesota, and your heater breaks as the snow starts to pile up around your home.
Whoever solves the issue the quickest is the hero (often no matter the cost), and you’re rewarded with loyalty through repeat business.
The sheer speed of your responses time is enough to demonstrate your value above the competition. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been with the same company for years. If you have a reliable way to receive and respond to messages before your competitors, you’re the clear winner.
A growing trend within the industry involves forgoing phone calls and emails in exchange for the fastest communication method on the market—texting.
When you give your customers the option to reach you via text, you avoid missed calls, phone tag, and spam folders entirely.
You can even create a keyword specifically for service emergencies that new customers can text to receive service fast.
Picture the banner on your website now:
Text SOS to 833-465-1294 to report an urgent HVAC request. A rep will return your message in 5 minutes or less to schedule your repair!
You can also make the lives of existing customers easier by adding a click-to-text button to your site. When clicked, it provides customers an instant link so they can quickly schedule an appointment.
Have you ever searched food near me and clicked directly on the Google menu option instead of visiting the restaurant’s website?
Customers use that same practice for HVAC services.
Your Google My Business profile is often a potential customer’s first look at your services and reputation.
If they are sold based on your description and reviews, do they even need to visit your website?
According to a recent Google study, the answer is no. 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly from the search results.
To help you optimize your listing based on this information, you’ll want to do a couple of things.
HVAC equipment needs intermittent service and inspection to work efficiently.
While HVAC professionals like you already know this, many of your customers may not be interested in annual service agreements due to the cost.
However, if you have a quick, easy way to inform them of the value of your upkeep, you’ll be able to level up your business fast.
An easy way to do this is to set up text reminders.
The same customer who refused a service contract may gladly sign up for a free maintenance reminder when they are due for an inspection or filter replacement.
Automated text messages are great for things like reminders, special offers, and more. Stay in touch with your existing customers and set up marketing campaigns to grow your customer database.
Looking for more text message examples? Check out a few sample text messages we put together to give you ideas for your business.
Gathering online reviews is one of the most repeated pieces of advice, and for a good reason.
Reviews can make or break your online presence. 87% of customers read online reviews for local businesses, with the most critical factor being star rating.
Customers perusing your listing who see a few negative reviews back to back will simply scroll on to the next business.
To keep a steady stream of recent, positive reviews, you’ll want to schedule a text blast to your customers asking them to share their thoughts after their appointment.
You can even include a convenient link within the message making the process of leaving a positive review as easy as one click.
With the influx of new remote technology and the push for energy efficiency, it’s an exciting time to be in HVAC.
To help you navigate through the changes, we’ve done our best to compile a comprehensive archive of HVAC marketing resources.
For example, we spoke to leading HVAC marketers and put together 9 marketing ideas to help you plan your next marketing campaign.
And, as always, you can give texting a try for free for 14 days.
Meghan Tocci is a content strategist at SimpleTexting. When she’s not writing about SaaS, she’s trying to teach her puppy Lou how to code. So far, not so good.
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