If you are HVAC, roofing, or electrical and you want to get recommended by ChatGPT and Google's AI, not just ranked, the agency you want leads with AEO, runs the whole funnel, and takes one company per market. Here is how the top options compare, honestly.
Search is moving into AI answers, and most marketing agencies are still selling 2019 SEO. This is an honest look at the agencies worth considering for the trades in 2026, what each is good at, and where they fall short. Yes, we are on this list. We also tell you who to pick if we are not the right fit.
| Agency | AEO / AI search | Voice AI | Trades focus | One per market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabgen AI | Yes, leads with it | Yes (Sophia) | HVAC, roofing, electrical | Yes |
| Scorpion | Adding it | Yes | Broad home services | No |
| Hook Agency | Some | No | Home services | No |
| Rankings.io | Some | No | Law firms | No |
| Plumbing & HVAC SEO | Limited | No | Plumbing, HVAC | No |
| HVAC Webmasters | Some | No | HVAC | No |
Based on public positioning as of 2026. Capabilities change, so confirm with each provider.
Best for: HVAC, roofing, and electrical companies that want to get recommended by ChatGPT and book more jobs, under one partner. Fabgen leads with AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), pairs it with the full funnel of SEO, Google Ads, and Local Services Ads, and adds Sophia, a voice AI receptionist that answers the calls you are losing. One company per market, so your growth engine is never shared with a competitor. The trade-off: it is a partnership, not a cheap one-off, and it is built for companies doing a few million and up.
Best for: larger home service and multi-location businesses that want an enterprise platform. Scorpion is big, well-resourced, and has added AI tooling. The trade-offs: it is broad rather than trade-specialized, it works with multiple competitors in a market, and the enterprise price and scale are not for everyone.
Best for: home service contractors who want strong SEO and web design with a personable brand. Hook is well-regarded for Google Maps and websites. The trade-offs: less emphasis on AI-search and voice AI, and no market exclusivity.
Best for: law firms, not contractors. Rankings.io is excellent at what it does, but its specialty is legal SEO. We include it because owners ask, and the honest answer is it is not built for the trades.
Best for: plumbing and HVAC companies wanting long-tenured trade SEO. Deep experience in the niche. The trade-offs: lighter on AI-search and voice AI, and no exclusivity.
Best for: HVAC companies focused on local SEO and Google Maps. Long track record in the vertical. The trade-offs: narrower service set and limited AI-search focus.
Ask three questions. Does the agency lead with AI-search, or is it bolting AEO onto old SEO? Does it run the whole funnel, or just hand you leads and walk away? And does it take one company per market, so it is actually on your side and not your competitor's? The answers tell you who is built for where search is going, not where it has been.
Get a free snapshot of whether ChatGPT and Google's AI recommend your company, and a plan to become the name they name.
Get my free snapshot