Picture this: your customer strolls into the kitchen, phone in hand, and says, “I asked ChatGPT who the best electrician in Kent is... and you weren’t even mentioned.”
Now, that’s not just a slap in the face, it’s a full-on gut punch with a steel-toe boot. You could be the most skilled tradesperson in your postcode, but if AI doesn’t know you exist, you may as well be fixing leaky taps in a cave.
Whether you’re a carpenter, bricklayer, roofer, floor fitter, or painter-decorator, AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are fast becoming the new word of mouth. Gone are the days of Aunt Linda recommending you after Sunday lunch. These days, people are asking, “Hey ChatGPT, who’s the best landscaper near me?” or “Which tiler has good reviews in Canterbury?” AI responds in seconds, but only if you’ve played your digital cards right.
If your name’s missing from the list, it’s not personal. It just means your online presence hasn’t yet been fine-tuned for how AI tools fetch and prioritise information. Think of it like being on page 9 of Google..... but worse, because ChatGPT might only serve up three names and call it a day. And if you’re not one of them? Well, you’re basically a ghost with a trowel.
But don’t start chucking your business cards in the bin just yet. We’re going to walk you through exactly how to optimise your trade business for this new age of AI search and recommendation. Whether you're laying bricks or rewiring fuse boxes, this guide is built to get your name mentioned by the machines, for all the right reasons.
Still wondering if this AI thing really matters? Check out this Forbes article that explains how AI is reshaping local search habits and business discovery.
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Great question. It’s not random. ChatGPT and similar AI tools use a mix of real-world online data, customer reviews, and trusted directories. Here’s what goes into the decision-making:
It’s like Google rankings, but with more reading comprehension. If your business isn't showing up in these places, AI can’t recommend you, even if you are absolutly bloody brilliant.
If you want ChatGPT and other AI tools to recommend your business, you need to get a few things spot-on:
✅ 1. Get on Trusted Review Platforms
Start with TrustATrader, Checkatrade, and Which?. These sites feed directly into AI data sets. Make sure your profile is complete, accurate, and has real customer reviews.
✅ 2. Max Out Your Google Business Profile
This is crucial. Add photos, business hours, services, and location. Collect reviews regularly. If you're not showing up on Maps, you're not showing up in AI answers either.
✅ 3. Build a Proper Website with SEO
No Wix templates from 2009. You need a fast, mobile-friendly site that uses proper headings, keywords, and schema markup. Bonus points if you have service area pages like “Plumber in Hackney” or “Joiner in Kent”.
✅ 4. Get Mentioned in Articles (Like This One)
AI tools crawl blog posts, top 10 lists, and local guides. Getting featured in trusted content makes it 10x more likely you'll appear in AI-generated responses.
✅ 5. Use Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Info Everywhere
Sounds simple, but it’s often missed. Your business name, location, and contact details should match across your website, directories, and Google.
Let’s clear this up AI doesn’t care about fancy Facebook posts or endless Instagram reels of your van.
Here’s what won’t help you rank:
❌ Relying only on social media
❌ Skipping SEO because "my work speaks for itself"
❌ Using only word-of-mouth and ignoring online profiles
❌ Letting your reviews sit at 2.8 stars from five years ago
You might be the best window fitter in London, but if your digital footprint is tiny, AI will assume you don’t exist.
Let’s be clear: you can’t pay ChatGPT to recommend you (and beware anyone who says otherwise). There’s no ad space in these tools, you earn your spot through credibility and visibility.
But you can stack the deck in your favour:
📍 Build local SEO pages targeting your real service areas
💬 Get genuine customer reviews and respond to them
📰 Get featured in roundup posts or local directories
🛠 Maintain consistency across all platforms
👨🔧 Show proof of work, photos, videos, testimonials
The goal is to make your business too visible and too reliable to ignore.
AI search is already influencing how people find plumbers, joiners, carpenters, and builders. Ask any millennial or Gen Z homeowner, they’re more likely to ask ChatGPT for recommendations than open Yellow Pages (or even Google it).
So the question is:
Will AI recommend your business, or just your competition?
If you're not investing in SEO, reviews, and local authority, you're going to be left behind while someone else, maybe someone worse than you gets all the jobs.
AI-powered search is already changing the game for trades and it's not slowing down. If you're not building your online footprint today, you're handing leads to someone else tomorrow.
Want to be mentioned when someone asks, “Who’s the best [insert your trade] in London?”
Then it’s time to treat your digital presence like a business asset, not an afterthought.
Ready to future-proof your business and get seen in AI searches? Book a free call today.
