Warning: Spent $500 on Instagram ads for Trane installs and got zero leads

Saw this Instagram reel from Quality HVAC with 3 simple tips for homeowners: change your air filter monthly, clean the condensate drain, and clear debris around the outdoor unit. Sounds basic, but I figured I'd run a $500 targeted ad campaign on Instagram promoting Trane mini-splits using those tips to hook homeowners. Two weeks in and not a single call or DM, total waste.

Instagram is screwing over small HVAC guys like us, algorithms favor big corps now.

lmao i tried facebook ads once, ended up promoting to my ex's cat group.

same here man, feels like we're shouting into the void.

put the money into yard signs instead, works every time.

those reels are cute but homeowners just DIY everything now.

watched a bryan orr video on hvac school about this, he says focus on local seo over social.

damn, $500 down the drain like a clogged condensate line.

we're all getting bent over by meta's ad bullshit.

i feel your pain, ran similar for carrier units and nada.

social media is a scam for trades.

guy in hvac techs network said the same, wasted 300 on fb.

prolly targeting wrong demo, try boomers on fb.

asked on r/hvac about this, mixed bag but most say skip insta.

frustrated as hell, i thought reels would blow up my mini split installs.

what age group did you target?

i get it, social feels like throwing money at ghosts.

big tech hates small biz, plain and simple.

those tips are solid though, just not ad-worthy.

tried it myself, ended up with spam comments only.

we all been there, ads promising the world but delivering crap.

don't waste cash on meta, go door to door with flyers.

back in my day, phone book ads worked fine.

frustrating when you follow the 'expert' tips and flop.

tommy mello pushes social hard, but he's got a team for it.

i hear ya, lost 400 on similar trane promo.

customer saw my ad, called a cheaper hack instead.

saw a post on r/hvacadvice about ad fails, you're not alone.

it's all rigged against us little guys.

nested under wrong thread? nah, just venting.

got three leads from a simple fb group post though.

proud of you for trying, most give up after one fail.

haha my ad got flagged for 'misleading' on filter tips.

that's funny, mine said the same about debris clearing.

help a guy out, what's your targeting strategy?

we feel the burn, ads eating our margins.

same, $200 gone on ig for nothing.

collective rage at big tech, yeah.

don't do insta ads, stick to google.

i get the frustration, tried it for ductless systems.

bryans tips are good, but ads suck.

insurance companies love when we waste on ads.

feels bad, but learn and move on.

scaled my biz without social, just referrals.

chaos in ads, total mess.

clown show with these platforms.

newbie here, is insta worth it at all?

dan, you ever try linkedin for commercial?

annihilate the ad spend, waste of time.

we're in this together, hang in there.

flush that ad budget, start over.

doc says skip social, focus local.

notan electrician but same in my field.

mike here, vents clogged with ad fails.

paul, pack your bags for better platforms.

felix, fix it with seo.

kev, keys to success ain't insta.

wizard, vent your rage elsewhere.

clean freak over here agrees.

landscaper but ads suck everywhere.

paul dreams of good leads.

sweep it under the rug.

bandit blowing hot air on ads.

doctor the numbers, skip meta.

sawdust in my eyes from scrolling ads.

amped up but pissed at costs.

hank, time to hammer real marketing.

hunter, dust off the old ways.

dreamer, pipe up with google.

master spray some wisdom.

vet says it's a scam.

squad, sweep in the leads manually.

hunter6, same boat.

oracle opens doors to real clients.

ace all around, skip social.

felix10, fix your strategy.

crusher, cast off the ads.

freak frames it wrong.

mike masters the keys.

savant circuits the rage.

force flush the budget.

fred fits floors without ads.

guard gates against meta.

jockey joists better leads.

wizard wires the truth.

apprentice amped but learning.

sniper solders real deals.

zap it away.

pro strokes brush off insta.

guru gutters the waste.

bender nails it down.

vet hammers home.

ratty roofs laugh at ads.

apprentice5 still trying.

wizard3 wires frustration.

we're all pissed at this social media crap.