hvac-marketing-skills/skills/ai-seo/SKILL.md

name	description	metadata
ai-seo	When the user wants to optimize HVAC content for AI search engines and LLM visibility. Also use when the user mentions 'AI SEO,' 'AEO,' 'GEO,' 'LLMO,' 'answer engine optimization,' 'generative engine optimization,' 'LLM optimization,' 'AI Overviews,' 'optimize for ChatGPT,' 'optimize for Perplexity,' 'AI citations,' 'AI visibility,' 'get cited by AI,' 'how do I show up in AI answers,' 'LLM mentions,' 'HVAC AI search,' or 'optimize for Claude/Gemini.' Use this whenever someone wants their HVAC content cited or surfaced by AI assistants and search engines. For traditional technical and on-page SEO audits, see seo-audit. For structured data implementation, see schema-markup.	version compendium 2.0.0 mode tools enhanced search fetch analyze

AI SEO

You are an expert in AI search optimization for HVAC contractors and brands — the practice of making content discoverable, extractable, and citable by AI systems including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. Your goal is to help HVAC businesses get their content cited as authoritative sources in AI-generated answers.

Before Starting

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/hvac-marketing-context.md exists (or .claude/hvac-marketing-context.md in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

1. Current AI Visibility

• Do you know if your brand appears in AI-generated answers today?
• Have you checked ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews for HVAC queries?
• What queries matter most to your business? (e.g., "Best HVAC company near me", "When should I replace my furnace?")

2. Content & Domain

• What type of HVAC content do you produce? (Blog, guides, equipment reviews, local service pages)
• What's your domain authority / traditional SEO strength?
• Do you have existing structured data (schema markup)?

3. Goals

• Get cited as an HVAC authority in AI answers?
• Appear in Google AI Overviews for specific HVAC queries?
• Compete with specific HVAC brands/competitors already getting cited?
• Optimize existing content or create new AI-optimized content?

4. Competitive Landscape

• Who are your top HVAC competitors in AI search results?
• Are they being cited where you're not?

---

How AI Search Works

The AI Search Landscape

Platform	How It Works	Source Selection	HVAC Relevance
Google AI Overviews	Summarizes top-ranking pages	Strong correlation with traditional rankings	High — HVAC searches common
ChatGPT (with search)	Searches web, cites sources	Draws from wider range, not just top-ranked	Medium — requires search mode
Perplexity	Always cites sources with links	Favors authoritative, recent, well-structured	High — citations include HVAC pros
Gemini	Google's AI assistant	Pulls from Google index + Knowledge Graph	High — same as Google index
Copilot	Bing-powered AI search	Bing index + authoritative sources	Medium — Bing index coverage
Claude	Brave Search (when enabled)	Training data + Brave search results	Medium — less HVAC-focused

For a deep dive on how each platform selects sources and what to optimize per platform, see references/platform-ranking-factors.md.

Key Difference from Traditional SEO

Traditional SEO gets you ranked. AI SEO gets you cited.

In traditional search, you need to rank on page 1. In AI search, a well-structured page can get cited even if it ranks on page 2 or 3 — AI systems select sources based on content quality, structure, and relevance, not just rank position.

Critical stats for AI search:

• AI Overviews appear in ~45% of Google searches
• AI Overviews reduce clicks to websites by up to 58%
• Brands are 6.5x more likely to be cited via third-party sources than their own domains
• Optimized content gets cited 3x more often than non-optimized
• Statistics and citations boost visibility by 40%+ across queries

---

AI Visibility Audit for HVAC

Before optimizing, assess your current AI search presence.

Step 1: Check AI Answers for Your Key HVAC Queries

Test 10-20 of your most important HVAC queries across platforms:

Query	Google AI Overview	ChatGPT	Perplexity	You Cited?	Competitors Cited?
"Best HVAC contractor near me"	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	[who]
"How to know when AC needs repair"	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	[who]
"Furnace replacement cost"	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No	[who]

HVAC query types to test:

• "What is [HVAC component]?" (SEER rating, AFUE, etc.)
• "Best [HVAC service] for [use case]" (best AC for allergy relief, etc.)
• "[Your brand] vs [Competitor]"
• "How to [HVAC maintenance task]"
• "[HVAC component] pricing"
• "When should I [HVAC service]?"
• "Best HVAC contractor near me"

Step 2: Analyze Citation Patterns

When competitors get cited and you don't, examine:

• Content structure — Is their content more extractable?
• Authority signals — Do they have more citations, stats, expert quotes?
• Freshness — Is their content more recently updated?
• Schema markup — Do they have structured data you're missing?
• Third-party presence — Are they cited via HVAC industry forums, Wikipedia, review sites?

Step 3: Content Extractability Check

For each priority page, verify:

Check	Pass/Fail
Clear definition/answer in first paragraph?
Self-contained answer blocks (work without surrounding context)?
Statistics with sources cited?
Comparison tables for HVAC choices?
FAQ section with natural-language questions?
Schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, Article, LocalBusiness)?
Expert attribution (author name, HVAC credentials)?
Recently updated (within 3 months for HVAC info)?
Heading structure matches query patterns?
AI bots allowed in robots.txt?

Step 4: AI Bot Access Check

Verify your robots.txt allows AI crawlers. Each AI platform has its own bot, and blocking it means that platform can't cite you:

• GPTBot and ChatGPT-User — OpenAI (ChatGPT)
• PerplexityBot — Perplexity
• ClaudeBot and anthropic-ai — Anthropic (Claude)
• Google-Extended — Google Gemini and AI Overviews
• Bingbot — Microsoft Copilot (via Bing)

Check your robots.txt for Disallow rules targeting any of these. If you find them blocked, you have a business decision to make: blocking prevents AI training on your content but also prevents citation. One middle ground is blocking training-only crawlers while allowing the search bots listed above.

See references/platform-ranking-factors.md for the full robots.txt configuration.

---

Optimization Strategy

The Three Pillars

1. Structure (make it extractable)
2. Authority (make it citable)
3. Presence (be where AI looks)

Pillar 1: Structure — Make Content Extractable

AI systems extract passages, not pages. Every key claim should work as a standalone statement.

HVAC content block patterns:

• Definition blocks for "What is [HVAC term]?" queries (SEER, AFUE, etc.)
• Step-by-step blocks for "How to [maintenance task]" queries
• Cost/pricing blocks for "How much does [service] cost?"
• Comparison tables for "AC brand comparison" or "HVAC repair vs. replacement"
• Pros/cons blocks for decision-making queries
• FAQ blocks for common HVAC questions
• Statistic blocks with cited sources (industry research, manufacturer specs)

For detailed templates for each block type, see references/content-patterns.md.

Structural rules:

• Lead every section with a direct answer (don't bury it)
• Keep key answer passages to 40-60 words (optimal for snippet extraction)
• Use H2/H3 headings that match how people phrase HVAC queries
• Tables beat prose for comparison/pricing content
• Numbered lists beat paragraphs for process content (e.g., "5 signs you need AC repair")
• Each paragraph should convey one clear idea

Pillar 2: Authority — Make Content Citable

AI systems prefer sources they can trust. Build citation-worthiness for HVAC content.

The Princeton GEO research (KDD 2024, studied across Perplexity.ai) ranked 9 optimization methods:

Method	Visibility Boost	How to Apply (HVAC)
Cite sources	+40%	Link to EPA SEER standards, manufacturer specs, HVAC industry research
Add statistics	+37%	Include specific data (avg AC lifespan, energy savings %, installed costs)
Add quotations	+30%	Expert quotes from HVAC technicians with names/credentials
Authoritative tone	+25%	Write with demonstrated HVAC expertise
Improve clarity	+20%	Simplify technical HVAC concepts for homeowners
Technical terms	+18%	Use HVAC-specific terminology (SEER, AFUE, BTU, etc.)
Unique vocabulary	+15%	Increase word diversity
Fluency optimization	+15-30%	Improve readability and flow
Keyword stuffing	-10%	Actively hurts AI visibility

Best combination: Fluency + Statistics = maximum boost.

Statistics and data (+37-40% citation boost)

• Include specific HVAC numbers (costs, efficiency ratings, timelines)
• Cite original HVAC research, not summaries
• Add dates to all statistics ("As of 2024...")
• Original data (from your installation projects) beats aggregated

Expert attribution (+25-30% citation boost)

• Named HVAC technicians with credentials (EPA cert, licenses)
• Expert quotes with titles ("Sarah Chen, EPA-certified HVAC technician...")
• "According to [source]" framing for claims
• Author bios with relevant HVAC expertise

Freshness signals

• "Last updated: [date]" prominently displayed
• Regular content refreshes (quarterly minimum for HVAC how-to content)
• Current year references and recent statistics
• Remove or update outdated equipment/pricing info

E-E-A-T alignment

• First-hand HVAC experience demonstrated (customer stories, project photos)
• Specific, detailed information (not generic "HVAC is important")
• Transparent sourcing and methodology
• Clear author expertise for the topic

Pillar 3: Presence — Be Where AI Looks

AI systems don't just cite your website — they cite where you appear.

Third-party sources matter more than your own site:

• Industry association mentions (ASHRAE, ACCA mentions)
• HVAC review sites (Google Reviews, Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor)
• Industry publications and guest posts
• HVAC forums and communities
• YouTube content (frequently cited by Google AI Overviews)
• Quora answers about HVAC

Actions:

• Ensure your Google Business Profile is current and cited
• Maintain active presence on HVAC review platforms
• Get featured in industry publications
• Create YouTube content for key HVAC how-to queries
• Answer relevant HVAC questions on Quora
• Sponsor or participate in HVAC industry events
• Build backlinks from HVAC industry sites

Schema Markup for AI

Structured data helps AI systems understand your HVAC content. Key schemas:

Content Type	Schema	Why It Helps (HVAC)
Service pages	Service, LocalBusiness	Service area, provider, availability
How-to guides	HowTo	Step extraction for HVAC tasks
FAQs	FAQPage	Direct Q&A extraction for HVAC questions
Location pages	LocalBusiness	Address, service areas, reviews
Reviews	Review, AggregateRating	Trust signals for HVAC contractor
Equipment/products	Product	Specs, pricing, reviews
Articles/Blog	Article, BlogPosting	Author, date, topic identification
Organization	Organization	Entity recognition for HVAC company

Content with proper schema shows 30-40% higher AI visibility. For implementation, use the schema-markup skill.

---

HVAC Content Types That Get Cited Most

Not all content is equally citable. Prioritize these formats:

Content Type	Citation Share	Why AI Cites It (HVAC)
Comparison articles	~33%	"Furnace brands compared", "AC repair vs. replacement"
Definitive guides	~15%	"Complete HVAC maintenance guide"
Original research/data	~12%	HVAC contractor cost surveys, efficiency studies
Best-of/listicles	~10%	"Best HVAC contractors in Denver"
How-to guides	~8%	"How to change HVAC filter", "AC troubleshooting"
FAQ pages	~7%	Common HVAC questions answered
Cost/pricing pages	~8%	HVAC service pricing, equipment costs
Product pages	~10%	HVAC equipment specs and features

Underperformers for AI citation:

• Generic service pages without details
• Thin "learn more" pages (no substance)
• Gated content (AI can't access it)
• Content without dates or author attribution
• PDF-only content (harder for AI to parse)

---

Monitoring AI Visibility

What to Track

Metric	What It Measures	How to Check
AI Overview presence	Do AI Overviews appear for your queries?	Manual check or Semrush/Ahrefs
Brand citation rate	How often you're cited in AI answers	AI visibility tools (see below)
Share of AI voice	Your citations vs. competitors	Peec AI, Otterly, ZipTie
Citation sentiment	How AI describes your HVAC brand	Manual review + monitoring tools
Source attribution	Which of your pages get cited	Track referral traffic from AI sources

AI Visibility Monitoring Tools

Tool	Coverage	Best For
Otterly AI	ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews	Share of AI voice tracking
Peec AI	ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot+	Multi-platform monitoring at scale
ZipTie	Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity	Brand mention + sentiment tracking
LLMrefs	ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, Gemini	SEO keyword → AI visibility mapping

DIY Monitoring (No Tools)

Monthly manual check:

1. Pick your top 20 HVAC queries
2. Run each through ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google
3. Record: Are you cited? Who is? What page?
4. Log in a spreadsheet, track month-over-month

---

HVAC-Specific Content Optimization Examples

Service Pages (AC Repair, Furnace Installation, etc.)

Goal: Get cited in "What is [service]?" and "Best [service] in [location]" queries.

Optimize:

• Clear service description in first paragraph
• Timeline and cost range (what to expect)
• Signs you need this service (troubleshooting)
• Local availability and service areas
• Technician credentials (EPA, licenses)
• FAQ addressing common service questions
• Customer testimonials with names and locations

HVAC Equipment Pages

Goal: Get cited in "Carrier [model] reviews", "Best furnaces 2024" queries.

Optimize:

• SEER/AFUE rating prominently displayed
• Price range or typical installed cost
• Energy savings estimate based on specs
• Comparison table vs. competing models
• Warranty information
• Where to buy/install (contractor directory)
• User reviews and ratings

HVAC Blog Content & Guides

Goal: Get cited as authoritative source on HVAC topics.

Optimize:

• One clear target query per post
• Definition in first paragraph
• Step-by-step format for how-to content
• Original data or expert quotes (from HVAC professionals)
• "Last updated" date visible
• Author bio with HVAC credentials
• Links to related service/product pages
• FAQ section

Cost & Pricing Pages

Goal: Get cited in "How much does HVAC repair cost?" queries.

Optimize:

• Specific price ranges by service/location
• Cost factors explained (equipment, labor, complexity)
• Comparison of price vs. quality/longevity
• Financing/payment options
• Estimate example walkthrough
• Local cost data (costs vary by region)

---

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring AI search entirely — ~45% of Google searches now show AI Overviews, and ChatGPT/Perplexity are growing fast
• Treating AI SEO as separate from SEO — Good traditional SEO is the foundation; AI SEO adds structure and authority on top
• Writing for AI, not humans — If content reads like it was written to game an algorithm, it won't get cited or convert
• No freshness signals — Undated or outdated HVAC information loses to current content because AI systems weight recency heavily
• Gating all content — AI can't access gated content. Keep your most authoritative HVAC content open
• Ignoring third-party presence — You may get more AI citations from an Angi or HomeAdvisor listing than from your own blog
• No structured data — Schema markup gives AI systems structured context about your HVAC services and locations
• Keyword stuffing — Unlike traditional SEO where it's just ineffective, keyword stuffing actively reduces AI visibility by 10%
• Blocking AI bots — If GPTBot, PerplexityBot, or ClaudeBot are blocked in robots.txt, those platforms can't cite you
• Generic content without data — "We're the best HVAC contractor" won't get cited. "Our customers save $300/year with our maintenance plans" will
• Forgetting to monitor — You can't improve what you don't measure. Check AI visibility monthly at minimum

---

Tool Integrations

For implementation, see the tools registry.

Tool	Use For
semrush	AI Overview tracking, HVAC keyword research, content gap analysis
ahrefs	Backlink analysis, content explorer, AI Overview data
gsc	Search Console performance data, query tracking
ga4	Referral traffic from AI sources

---

Compendium Integration

This skill integrates with Compendium content intelligence platform for HVAC market analysis:

• Tool tier: search (identify AI-optimized HVAC competitors), fetch (validate content structure), analyze (AI interpretation of HVAC content)
• Reference: See COMPENDIUM_INTEGRATION.md for HVAC data pipelines (competitor analysis, HVAC content benchmarking)
• Use case: Identify AI citation opportunities in HVAC market, benchmark AI visibility vs. competitors, discover content gaps

---

Task-Specific Questions

1. What are your top 20 most important HVAC queries?
2. Have you checked if AI answers exist for those queries today?
3. Do you have structured data (schema markup) on your HVAC site?
4. What HVAC content types do you publish? (Blog, guides, equipment reviews, local pages)
5. Are HVAC competitors being cited by AI where you're not?
6. Do you have a Google Business Profile and HVAC review site presence?

---

Related Skills

• seo-audit: For traditional technical and on-page SEO audits
• schema-markup: For implementing structured data (LocalBusiness, Service, HowTo)
• content-strategy: For planning what HVAC content to create
• programmatic-seo: For building location + service pages at scale
• competitor-alternatives: For building HVAC comparison pages