AI is the new word-of-mouth
For decades, the best way to get work as a tradie was word-of-mouth. Your mate tells his mate, who tells his neighbour. That still works — but now people also ask AI.
When a homeowner asks ChatGPT "who's a good sparky in Penrith?", the AI draws from structured data sources to make a recommendation. If you're not in those sources, you won't get recommended. Simple as that.
The 5 things AI looks for
1. Structured business information
AI needs your business details in a machine-readable format. That means:
- Trade type: Specific (e.g., "residential electrician") not vague ("handyman")
- Service area: Specific suburbs, not just "greater Sydney"
- Credentials: ABN, licence number, insurance — in structured fields, not buried in paragraph text
2. Genuine client reviews
Not just star ratings — detailed reviews that mention:
- The specific service performed
- The location
- Timeliness and communication
- Whether the client would hire again
One detailed review is worth more to AI than ten "5 stars, great tradie" reviews.
3. Verified credentials
AI assistants increasingly cross-reference credentials. Having a verified ABN, a valid licence, and current insurance makes you significantly more trustworthy in AI ranking.
4. Recent activity
AI prefers businesses that are clearly active. A profile with reviews from 2024 looks abandoned. Regular activity — new projects, recent reviews, updated availability — signals you're still in business.
5. Consistent information
Your business name, phone number, and address should be the same everywhere — Google, Quoteable, your website, your Facebook page. Inconsistencies make AI uncertain about which information is correct.
Practical steps you can take today
- Create a Quoteable profile — it's built specifically for AI discoverability
- Update your Google Business Profile — add recent photos, respond to reviews
- Ask your last 5 clients for reviews — specific, detailed reviews, not just stars
- List your specific services — "hot water installation, tap replacement, blocked drain clearing" not just "plumbing"
- Keep your ABN and licence info up to date on every platform
Why Quoteable specifically?
Most platforms store your data in a closed system — AI can't access it. Quoteable profiles use structured data (JSON-LD schema markup) that AI assistants can read directly. Your services, credentials, reviews, and service areas are all exposed in a format that ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Siri understand natively.
It's free to create a profile, and it takes about 10 minutes to set up.