Target Audience
Contracting Business is published for owners, managers and technicians at residential or commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration businesses. We will also consider articles that offer management advice to HVACR distribution business managers. Contracting Business prefers articles “by contractors, for contractors.” However, in the absence of articles from contractors, we will accept articles by consultants on business management topics, from freelance writers who provide thorough interview content, or from independent trainers/educators on technical topics. They are to be exclusive to Contracting Business, and must not appear in another HVACR industry publication.
Preferred Content
Articles that appear in Contracting Business should not promote a vendor’s company, product, or service.*
Contracting Business readers are most interested in business management and technical topics. These articles are not to promote a product or service, rather, they must provide guidance on how best to manage one or more aspects of an HVACR business – such as starting an in-house training center – or how to perform a specific technical procedure, such as load calculation or superheat/subcooling measurement.
*Product news is accepted in the form of a standard press release listing features and benefits of the product. If we publish the product news, it will be edited prior to publication with superlatives removed and copy possibly shortened, but no facts will be changed. Some submissions will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
We respectfully ask news providers to refrain from inquiring of the editor if or when a news release will be published.
Content Types
Case Studies: Case studies are the story of an HVAC installation in a home or commercial building, or a commercial refrigeration system installation in a supermarket or other low/medium temperature application. They should discuss how a contractor successfully used a specific product, method, or technology on a project, and can include product references within the article body. These submissions are typically between 800-1,500 words. Please include installation images and diagrams.
Examples:
Leveraging Refrigeration Performance Data to Drive Food Retail Cost Reduction
New Heat Pumps Change Multi-family Landscape in NYC
High Marks for School Efficiency
Technical Articles: Technical articles are bylined articles that discuss a technical topic in depth. These submissions are typically between 800-1,200 words in length, and must remain product-neutral within the article body.
Examples:
Four Equipment Duct Connections that Kill Airflow
Equipment Sizing for Walk-in Coolers & Freezers
How to Perform ACCA-Approved Manuals J and S Correctly
Best Practices Column: Best Practices columns are bylined articles typically 800 to 1,100 words in length that discuss a particular business or technical topic in depth. If we choose to publish, we will need a headshot and a brief bio of the author.
Examples:
Tapping Into Hidden Revenue: Marketing Strategies to Reactivate Old Customers
7 Ways to Keep Your HVAC Install Crews Busy All Year
8 Ways to Stay in Step with New EPA Refrigerant Use and Reuse Regulations
Thought Leadership: Typically 800-1,500 words covering a pressing issue in the industry. What problems do you have? What are your ideas to solve them? Or write about a trend you have observed and how it will change or better the industry.
Examples:
Contractors Should Keep a Steady Hand Amid IRA Rebate Uncertainty
First Rule of Decarbonization is Don't Speak About Decarbonization
News or Products: These are the traditional news or product press releases. We publish new product announcements as well as news about company anniversaries, mergers and acquisitions, new hires, promotions, executive leadership changes, community outreach programs, and much more. Product news can be up to 200 words.
Examples:
Greenheck Launches New Line of Rooftop Units
Ritchie Engineering Names Kristen Ritchie President
B&J Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Facility
Content Topic Examples
- budgeting;
- service pricing;
- HVAC/R repair vs. replace;
- training programs;
- business expansion;
- business accounting;
- adding a new service;
- recruiting and retention;
- technician career tracks;
- lead generation programs;
- managing the dispatching function;
- how to create a culture of excellence;
- how to sell more service agreements;
- how your techs go above and beyond;
- changes made that saved the business;
- “do-overs” – how a mistake was rectified;
- the value of Design/Build in commercial HVAC;
- processes put in place so the owner does not have to be constantly present;
- how to offer repeated, excellent service to homeowners or building managers;
- marketing (from the perspective of the business owner or marketing manager); and
- how to keep a fleet in good working order (from the perspective of the business owner or fleet manager).
Photography
If an article is accepted for publication, we would prefer to see a high-res JPEG photo of the author and any relevant photo, ESPECIALLY for a project article. A photo of the building is not helpful to the reader.
Pitching the Article
Articles should be pitched via e-mail. Briefly describe the proposed article, your role in the organization, if there is a product angle, and a basic outline. Send to Nicole Krawcke at [email protected].
Contributing Author Agreement
Authors must accept a contributing author agreement giving Contracting Business/Endeavor Business Media full publishing rights to the article for a period of 120 days.