Did Artificial Intelligence Just Kill Local SEO?

The HVAC industry is no stranger to innovation, and as consumer behavior continues to evolve, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on how people seek information cannot be ignored. In this era of AI dominance, it’s crucial for local HVAC businesses to reassess and adapt their strategies for optimal visibility. While AI has transformed how consumers gather information, local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) remains a powerful tool for HVAC contractors to connect with their community, but the approach must be retooled for this new landscape.

AI’s Role in Consumer Information Gathering

As consumers embrace AI for answers to system issues, troubleshooting, and product research, HVAC businesses need to acknowledge the changing dynamics. AI-driven platforms are shaping the way individuals interact with information, presenting an opportunity for HVAC businesses to align their strategies with these evolving habits.

As you and your technicians are finding, more and more of your customers are now “educated” on their systems. I can hear your thoughts and I know, they aren’t really as educated as they may think. But, don’t fight that. Embrace that. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of your extensive knowledge. Take the time to educate them further to build more trust with you and your company.

The companies that take the extra time will be rewarded with deeper customer loyalty. The ones who don’t will undoubtedly receive online reviews that reflect their arrogance and pettiness ultimately costing them even more business in the long run. Remember, it’s not a challenge to your technical expertise, a homeowners’ questions are driven by a desire to understand the complex technology at use in their home. Nerd out with them.

Search Has Changed, But Local Service Needs Have Not

Despite the convenience AI brings to information gathering, the need for local HVAC contractors remains constant and growing. Google, as the primary search engine, continues to play a pivotal role in connecting consumers with local service providers. The enduring importance of maintaining a strong online presence cannot be overstated, even in the age of AI. But, the game has changed. Your website is no longer the only or even the main target for your efforts.

Google’s influence on local HVAC services is unwavering. Local SEO remains a cornerstone for visibility, emphasizing the need for businesses to optimize their online presence. How Google displays local HVAC contractors reinforces the significance of strategic SEO efforts to secure a prime spot in search results in the best spot – that doesn’t mean simply being ranked #1. Look at how the local search results are displayed for an HVAC contractor here in Dallas, Texas.

Beyond AI: Factors Influencing HVAC Contractor Selection

Positive reviews on Google serve as a virtual handshake for local HVAC contractors, building trust with potential customers. The ACHR NEWS recently published the results of their own survey on the importance of reviews stating that 90% of consumers consider reviews important to their buying decision. This cannot be ignored. People love to buy, but they hate to be sold. Let your reviews do the hard part of selling them on you. You provide the customer experience and expertise that separates you from the competition.

Engaging social media profiles still contributes to consumer trust and satisfaction. But more importantly, being easily accessible through various communication channels, such as phone calls, text, chat, and email, is vital to instilling trust in your company. While AI shapes the initial information-gathering process, these factors significantly influence the final contractor selection.

Adapting Local SEO Strategies in the AI Era

Recognizing the changing consumer journey is the first step towards adapting local SEO strategies. HVAC businesses should leverage AI tools to enhance SEO optimization, utilizing data-driven insights for targeted content creation. But, your focus should be shifting from ranking your website more towards ranking your Google Business Profile (GBP) for maximum results. Why? The search engine results page has evolved.

10% of searchers click on some form of paid advertising be it Google Guaranteed/Local Service Ads or Google Adwords. 30% click on local organic results at the bottom. This is mainly where AI will be stealing clicks from as this is where people are in “information gathering” mode. The core of your focus should be on ranking your GBP to show up in the top three spots in “the heart” of the search results. Those three businesses get the other 60% of the clicks and are from people looking to contact a local HVAC business (i.e. ready-to-schedule work).

Shifting Your Focus to the Right Target

Although your content creation efforts are important, your GBP ranking for your services in your local service area far surpasses your need to generate another blog article. Focus on really engaging with your GBP and optimizing it fully to include things like all your business categories (hint there are at least eight that any HVAC contractor should have), service offerings, FAQs, responses to reviews, and most importantly accurate business information. Are your hours, phone number, address, website, etc. correct?

After that, you need to work to create signals to Google that your GBP is prominent and relevant throughout your service area and for your specific industry – more on that in a future article. The third element in Google’s trifecta for ranking is proximity, but you can’t do much to move your business closer to your customers for every search query, so stay where you are.

Focusing your SEO efforts on your GBP will net you more visibility and brand awareness, but most importantly more phone calls from prospective customers. That is of course, provided you have a great reputation with many reviews (100+) and above a 4.0-star rating. If you dip less than 4.0 stars, 54% of consumers will not call your business – you essentially lose over half your referrals.

Plainly stated: your reviews are what will drive the transition from them seeing you online to them actually calling, texting, chatting, or emailing you to schedule work.

Summing It Up

In conclusion, the coexistence of AI and local SEO opens doors to opportunities for forward-thinking local HVAC businesses. While AI transforms how consumers seek information, local HVAC contractors can thrive by adapting and optimizing their online presence accordingly by shifting the main target of their SEO efforts to their GBP. The era of AI dominance doesn’t mark the end of local SEO; rather, it invites HVAC businesses to embrace innovation, ensuring they remain visible and relevant in the evolving consumer landscape.

Seize this opportunity presented by AI’s influence. Adapt your local SEO strategy early to gain a head start on your competition, embrace AI tools, and maintain a strong online reputation. The future of HVAC services lies in the hands of those who can navigate the intersection of AI and local SEO, offering consumers the best of both worlds. What steps will you take now?