How to get your trade business recommended by ChatGPT

Quick answer: when someone asks ChatGPT for "a good roofer near me", the answer is built from information the tool can find and trust. Nobody can guarantee a recommendation, and the tools are controlled by third parties. But you can make it far easier for them to understand who you are, what you do and where, and to see that real customers rate you.

More customers now ask AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity who to hire, instead of (or as well as) searching Google. This guide is for builders, roofers, electricians, plumbers, kitchen fitters, landscapers and other trades. For the wider picture, see my general guide on getting your business recommended by ChatGPT.

1. Say your trade and your area in plain words

AI tools read your website roughly the way a person skimming it would. Near the top of your home page, state your business name, your trade, the towns you cover and how to reach you. "Electrician covering Epsom, Ewell and Banstead" is clear. "Powering your world" is not.

2. Give each service and each area its own page

A single "Services" page gives a tool very little to quote. A page for each main job (rewires, flat roofs, bathroom fitting) and each area you cover gives it specific, useful answers. It is the same groundwork that local SEO relies on.

3. Answer the questions customers really ask

Think about what people ask you on the phone: how long does it take, do you give free quotes, are you insured, do you cover my area, what does it cost roughly? Answer each one honestly on your site. Straight, specific answers are exactly what AI tools like to quote, and my guide to answer engine optimisation shows how to write them.

4. Be consistent everywhere

Use the same business name, address, phone number and description on your website, your Google Business Profile and any directories you are listed on. Mismatched details make it harder for a tool to be sure it has the right business. A Google Business Profile that is complete and accurate is one of the most useful things a local trade can have.

5. Collect real reviews

Reviews are one of the clearest trust signals AI tools and Google can see. Reviews that mention the job, the town and what went well give them something specific to understand. Ask every happy customer, while the job is fresh, and show your Google reviews on your site. Read why reviews matter for AI search for more.

6. Add structured data and keep the basics healthy

Structured data (schema markup) labels your business details, services and FAQs in a way machines read reliably. A fast, secure, mobile-friendly site with a sitemap is easier to read and to trust, and it is better for your customers too. An llms.txt file is a short, plain-text summary written for AI tools. Adoption is still growing and not every tool reads it, so treat it as a low-cost extra.

7. Check what AI tools say about you

Every few weeks, ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity questions your customers might ask, such as "best roofer in Epsom" or "who can fit a kitchen near Ewell". Note whether you appear, how you are described and whether the details are right. If something is wrong, fix the source: your site, your profile or your listings.

What to expect

Doing these things well improves your chances of being found, but nobody controls what an AI tool says or can promise a mention. Results also depend on your competition, how long your domain has existed and the number and quality of your reviews. Be wary of anyone who promises a particular result.

If you would like to see where you stand today, ask for a free website check on the contact page: send your website and I will look at its speed, its Google visibility and whether AI tools recommend you. Or build a quote for a trade website with all of this set up from day one.