HVAC Marketing Made Simple for Contractors with the ACiQ Dealer Program

You know you need more customers. You know marketing is the answer. But between running jobs, managing your crew, and handling the daily chaos of running an HVAC business, where do you find the time or money to market effectively?

Most contractors feel the same way. Marketing seems expensive, complicated, and designed for companies with big budgets and dedicated marketing teams. But here’s what many contractors don’t know: ACiQ dealers can earn up to 5% towards co-op marketing funds to invest in advertising strategies.

This isn’t about spending money you don’t have. It’s about leveraging funds you’ve already earned to grow your business through smart, strategic marketing that generates leads.

The HVAC Marketing Reality Every Contractor Faces

Customers Find You Online—Or They Don’t Find You At All

When someone’s air conditioner breaks or they need a new furnace, they’re not flipping through the phone book. They’re searching online, reading reviews, and comparing contractors before they call.

Your competitors are investing in marketing right now. They’re showing up in Google searches, running Facebook ads, and driving around with professionally wrapped trucks that turn heads. Meanwhile, if you’re relying only on word-of-mouth referrals, you’re losing money every day.

Good Work Isn’t Enough Anymore

Referrals alone won’t sustain the kind of growth most contractors want. Professional marketing builds credibility before the first conversation, making it easier to close jobs.

Consistent visibility equals consistent revenue. When customers find you in search results and recognize your company name, you become the obvious choice when they need HVAC services.

How ACiQ Dealers Get HVAC Marketing Funds to Grow Their Business

Understanding Your HVAC Marketing Fund Percentage

Here’s where the ACiQ Dealer Program changes everything. Based on your dealer tier, you receive co-op marketing funds that you can invest back into growing your business:

• Bronze Tier: 2% marketing funds after signing your dealer agreement
• Silver Tier: 3% marketing funds
• Gold Tier: 5% marketing funds

Let’s put this in perspective. A Silver tier contractor doing $200,000 in annual sales gets $6,000 in marketing funds. A Gold tier contractor at $500,000 gets $25,000. These aren’t loans or expenses—they’re funds you’ve earned that you can reinvest.

All marketing fund usage requires pre-approval from ACiQ, ensuring your investment aligns with brand guidelines and approved channels.

What You Can Use HVAC Marketing Funds For

ACiQ’s co-op marketing funds can be used across a wide range of proven advertising channels:

What’s NOT Covered by Marketing Funds

To maintain brand integrity and ensure effective marketing, certain expenses aren’t eligible for co-op funds:

• Generic advertising that promotes your business without highlighting ACiQ products
• Operational costs like rent, salaries, utilities, or general business overhead
• Branding violations where materials don’t follow ACiQ’s brand guidelines

The key is ensuring your marketing highlights your partnership with ACiQ while promoting your services to potential customers.

Proven Traditional HVAC Marketing Strategies for Contractors

Vehicle Wraps: Your Rolling Billboard

A professionally wrapped truck creates an estimated 30,000-70,000 daily impressions as you drive to jobs, park at customer locations, and travel through your community. That’s more visibility than most paid advertising campaigns deliver.

Professional vehicle branding also builds trust. When customers see a well-maintained truck with professional graphics, they perceive you as an established, legitimate business.

Print Advertising That Reaches Local Customers

While digital marketing gets most of the attention, local print advertising still works—especially for reaching certain demographics and geographic areas. Local newspapers, community magazines, and direct mail campaigns put your message directly in front of homeowners in your target neighborhoods.

A homeowner might keep a direct mail piece on their refrigerator for months until they need HVAC services. ACiQ dealers also get access to co-branded marketing materials that make creating professional print ads simple and cost-effective.

Radio and Local Sponsorships

Local radio advertising during drive times reaches potential customers when they’re actively listening and thinking about their to-do lists. Community event sponsorships and trade show presence build local brand recognition while demonstrating your commitment to the community.

These traditional channels work particularly well when combined with digital strategies, creating multiple touch points.

Digital Marketing Channels Every HVAC Contractor Should Use

Your Website: Your 24/7 Salesperson

Your website works when you’re sleeping, answering customer questions, showcasing your services, and generating leads around the clock. A modern, mobile-responsive website is non-negotiable in today’s market.

Your website needs clear service descriptions, defined service areas, easy contact forms, and prominent click-to-call buttons. Include customer testimonials, before-and-after project photos, and information about your ACiQ dealer status and extended warranty offerings.

ACiQ co-op funds can cover website development or redesign costs.

SEO: Get Found When Customers Search

Search engine optimization targets customers actively searching for “HVAC repair near me” or “air conditioning installation” in your service area. Local SEO focuses on three key areas:

• Google Business Profile optimization ensures you appear in local map results when customers search nearby.
• Customer reviews management builds trust and improves rankings.
• Content marketing through service pages and blog posts establishes expertise while capturing search traffic.

SEO is a long-term investment that compounds over time. Unlike paid advertising that stops when you stop paying, SEO improvements continue generating leads month after month.

Google Ads: Instant Visibility for Your Business

Google Ads delivers immediate visibility. Pay-per-click advertising puts you at the top of search results for high-intent searches like “emergency AC repair” or “furnace replacement.”

Local Service Ads from Google specifically target contractor services, showing your business with Google’s screening badge that builds instant credibility. You control your budget precisely, tracking ROI on every dollar spent.

ACiQ co-op funds make PPC advertising affordable even for smaller contractors.

Social Media Marketing: Build Trust and Stay Top-of-Mind

Facebook and Instagram aren’t just for personal connections—they’re powerful marketing tools for contractors. Share before-and-after photos of installations, educational content about HVAC maintenance, customer testimonials, and seasonal tips that position you as the local expert.

• Paid social media advertising targets specific demographics, income levels, and geographic areas.
• Organic social media posts build community relationships and keep your business top-of-mind.

Email Marketing: Stay Connected with Past Customers

Email marketing delivers one of the highest ROIs of any marketing channel. Send seasonal maintenance reminders, special offers, and educational content about HVAC systems to past customers.

Most HVAC businesses rely heavily on repeat customers and referrals. Email marketing systematically stays in touch with past customers, reminding them you’re available when they need service while encouraging them to refer friends and family.

How to Build Your HVAC Marketing Strategy with Co-Op Funds

Calculate Your Available HVAC Marketing Budget

Understanding your available marketing funds helps you plan strategically. Here’s the math:

• Bronze tier example: $150,000 annual sales × 2% = $3,000 in marketing funds
• Silver tier example: $200,000 annual sales × 3% = $6,000 in marketing funds
• Gold tier example: $500,000 annual sales × 5% = $25,000 in marketing funds

These funds allow you to invest in professional marketing without impacting your operational cash flow. Strategic allocation across multiple channels—testing and measuring what works—ensures you’re getting maximum return on every marketing dollar.

Working with ACiQ’s HVAC Marketing Support

Silver and Gold tier dealers receive corporate digital marketing consultation—expert guidance on how to maximize marketing effectiveness. Custom and co-branded brochures are available across all tiers, providing professional materials that build credibility with customers.

ACiQ’s brand guidelines ensure your marketing looks professional and consistent while your sales representative helps plan marketing fund usage for maximum impact. As you move up the tiers, you’ll get more control over branding so that you can set your business apart.

Marketing Strategies That Work for HVAC Contractors

The Multi-Channel Approach

Many successful contractors combine multiple marketing channels for maximum impact. A typical strategy includes a professionally wrapped truck for constant visibility, Google Ads for immediate lead generation, and Facebook advertising for brand building.

This diversified presence creates multiple touch points where potential customers encounter your brand.

Digital-First Strategy

Other contractors focus primarily on digital channels. Website, SEO, and Google Ads form the foundation, with precise lead tracking and ROI monitoring.
The advantage of digital-first strategies is you can scale what works and eliminate what doesn’t quickly. Every lead can be tracked back to its source, letting you invest more in high-performing channels while cutting underperforming ones.

Local Domination Strategy

Some contractors focus on dominating specific neighborhoods or communities. They use direct mail targeting specific zip codes, sponsor local events and sports teams, and position themselves as “the neighborhood HVAC company” everyone knows and trusts.

Stop Letting Marketing Hold Your Business Back

ACiQ Dealers Get the HVAC Marketing Support You Need

Professional marketing doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With ACiQ’s co-op marketing funds, you get 2-5% of your annual sales back to invest in proven advertising strategies that generate leads and grow your business.

The contractors who thrive aren’t just good technicians—they’re the ones customers know about, trust, and call first when they need HVAC services. That visibility and credibility come from consistent, professional marketing.

Ready to market your HVAC business effectively without breaking the bank? Contact ACiQ today at 1-877-909-ACiQ or visit aciq.com/become-a-dealer to learn how our co-op marketing funds help contractors grow their business through professional advertising and proven marketing strategies.