Clutch Interview with CJ Stasik on the Future of SEO
Clutch, a B2B market research firm, recently spoke with CJ Stasik President & CEO of 1SEO Digital Agency, about the future of search engine optimization
The way customers search for HVAC services, electrical contractors, plumbers, and other home service companies has evolved dramatically. With the rise of voice search, powered by smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, people no longer limit themselves to short, typed keywords. Instead, they ask complete, conversational questions — expecting fast, accurate answers.
For HVAC companies, plumbing businesses, electrical contractors, and other home service companies, this shift is more than just a trend; it’s a fundamental change in consumer behavior. By understanding how voice search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) work, home service contractors can enhance their digital marketing efforts, strengthen their local search visibility, and generate more qualified leads while improving conversion rate optimization.
When a potential customer types “HVAC company near me” into a search engine, they’re giving minimal context. But with voice search, that same person might say:
“Hey Google, who’s the best HVAC company near me that can install a new air conditioner this week?”
The difference is more than just extra words. Voice search queries are longer, more conversational, and often include clear intent. This means search engine optimization strategies must adapt to mimic the way people actually speak. For a home service business, whether you specialize in air conditioning, heating, plumbing, or electrical work, optimizing for this shift is essential.
This is where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) comes into play. Instead of focusing only on ranking your website for certain keywords, AEO is about ensuring your company is positioned to directly provide the answers customers seek. This increases your chances of appearing in featured snippets and voice assistant results, which can significantly improve brand awareness and customer engagement.
For service-based industries like HVAC businesses, electrical contractors, and plumbers, the benefits of voice search optimization are immense. The majority of voice searches are local searches. When someone’s furnace stops working in the middle of winter or they experience a plumbing emergency, they’re far more likely to pick up their mobile device and ask Siri or Google for immediate help rather than opening a browser and typing.
This gives you the opportunity to target high-intent customers who are ready to buy or book a service. It also enables more targeted advertising, better lead generation, and improved return on investment for your marketing campaigns.
Voice search also levels the playing field for smaller home service businesses. You don’t need the largest advertising budget to win voice search results — you need the right optimization strategy.
Because so many voice searches are location-based, local SEO remains a critical component of a strong marketing strategy. For HVAC, electrical, and plumbing businesses, this means ensuring your Google Business Profile is fully optimized with accurate telephone number, service descriptions, and updated business hours.
It also means maintaining consistent NAP data across your website, directories, and social media profiles. Search engines reward consistency and credibility, which can lead to higher rankings in organic search results. Strong reputation management — including responding to feedback and encouraging satisfied customers to leave testimonials — also plays a significant role.
For example, if someone asks their voice assistant, “Who’s the best electrician in [city]?” Google will prioritize companies with a history of positive reviews, relevant service pages, and optimized local search content.
Content marketing is at the heart of successful voice search optimization. By creating marketing content that directly answers the questions your target audience is asking, you position your company as a trusted resource.
For an HVAC marketing campaign, that could mean publishing blog posts answering common hvac questions like:
For an electrical contractor, content could address queries like:
The goal is to create content that aligns with answer engine optimization best practices while still reflecting your brand’s voice. Incorporating keyword research into this process ensures that you’re targeting both search engine algorithms and the conversational style of voice queries.
An HVAC or electrical company that wants to dominate in voice search must start with a well-designed website. Your web design should prioritize fast load times, mobile responsiveness, and a seamless user experience. Because most voice search queries are made on a mobile device, a slow or clunky website will cost you leads.
Structured data, or schema markup, is another powerful tool for voice search optimization. This allows search engines to better understand your services, whether you offer commercial HVAC installations, residential plumbing repairs, or electrical panel upgrades.
Clear landing pages for each service — with strong calls to action, easy navigation, and immediate contact options — will help convert the traffic you earn through voice search into paying customers.
While AEO focuses on ranking for specific answers, generative engine optimization is the next frontier. Search platforms are increasingly integrating AI-driven responses that combine multiple sources into a single conversational answer.
To win in this space, your digital marketing agency must ensure your brand has a deep library of accurate, well-structured, and relevant content that AI tools can reference. This means investing in content marketing, link building, and ongoing optimization to keep your answers visible in google search and beyond.
For example, if a homeowner asks, “What’s the most energy-efficient HVAC system for a 2,000-square-foot home?” AI-driven search will likely pull information from sources that discuss energy efficiency, load calculations, and energy star ratings — all areas your brand should have detailed content on.
Success in voice search requires more than just implementing best practices — you must also track results. Tools like Google Analytics and search engine performance reports can help you understand which queries are driving traffic, how customers are interacting with your site, and where improvements are needed.
Monitoring conversion rates, customer retention, and lead quality will help refine your marketing strategy over time. This is where a professional hvac marketing agency or digital marketing company can provide invaluable insights, using analytics and competitor analysis to continually optimize your campaigns.
Voice search and AEO optimization require a unique blend of technical SEO skills, content creation expertise, and deep industry knowledge. For home service contractors, partnering with a specialized marketing agency ensures your brand stays competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
At 1SEO Digital Agency, we specialize in delivering marketing hvac, electrical, plumbing, and other home service companies the tools they need to dominate in local and voice search. Our team understands the technical side of seo, the nuances of hvac marketing strategy, and the importance of delivering measurable results.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of voice search optimization — like mobile-friendly web design, strong local SEO, and customer-focused content marketing — it’s time to level up. These advanced strategies help home service companies stand out in organic search results, Google search, and AI-driven answer engines.
To truly excel at answer engine optimization, mix industry-specific terms with natural, everyday language.
For HVAC companies, that means weaving in:
Example voice query to target: “What should I do if my air conditioner’s evaporator coil freezes?”
For plumbing, work in:
For electrical, focus on:
Example voice query: “How can I make my home more energy efficient with Energy Star appliances?”
Voice search works best when paired with other marketing channels.
Here’s how an omnichannel approach might look:
This combination builds brand awareness, improves customer retention, and increases your conversion rate.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Use:
Pro tip: If you notice a surge in queries about “energy-efficient heat pumps,” create blog posts, videos, and Google Ads targeting that phrase.
Keep an eye on competitors:
Combine voice search optimization with:
Example: If you’re optimized for “furnace repair near me” and running ads for the same term, you can dominate both organic and paid search spots — boosting ROI.
When it comes to voice search optimization and answer engine optimization, 1SEO Digital Agency is the trusted partner for home service businesses across the country. Our tailored approach combines cutting-edge digital marketing strategies with industry-specific expertise to help you capture more leads, improve your conversion rates, and increase your revenue.
We don’t just focus on rankings — we focus on business growth. Our team provides:
If you’re ready to take your hvac company, electrical business, or home service brand to the next level, partner with the experts at 1SEO Digital Agency. We’ll help you adapt to the future of search, dominate your target market, and turn “Hey Google” into high-value leads for your business.
Clutch, a B2B market research firm, recently spoke with CJ Stasik President & CEO of 1SEO Digital Agency, about the future of search engine optimization
3 min. readWhat follows is in no way, shape, or form a politically-charged blog, and will not contain any political bias or opinions – promise.
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