AI SEO for Home Services: Why ChatGPT Might Matter More Than Google

The New Reality: People Ask AI, Not Google

"Hey ChatGPT, I need a good plumber in Austin who can fix a leaking hot water system. Who should I call?"

This is how people search now. Not "plumber near me" in Google. They ask AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Gemini - and expect a direct recommendation.

If your business isn't optimized for AI visibility, you don't exist to these customers.

What is AI SEO?

Traditional SEO optimizes for Google's algorithm. AI SEO optimizes for how large language models (LLMs) understand and recommend businesses.

The difference? Google ranks websites. AI recommends businesses.

How AI Assistants Find Home Services

When someone asks ChatGPT "find me a good electrician in Denver", the AI:

1. Searches for electricians in Denver
2. Reads business descriptions, reviews, and credentials
3. Evaluates trustworthiness based on available data
4. Makes 2-3 specific recommendations

Notice what's missing? Your website rank doesn't matter. AI reads your Google Business Profile, directory listings, and structured data - then decides if you're worth recommending.

The 7 AI SEO Essentials for Tradies

1. Detailed Google Business Profile

AI assistants pull heavily from Google Business Profile data. Your GBP must have:

• Complete services list - Every service you offer, spelled out
• Service area - Every suburb/city you serve
• Business description - Natural language, not keyword stuffing
• Recent reviews - AI weights recent reviews higher
• Q&A section - Answer common questions thoroughly

2. Schema Markup (LocalBusiness)

Structured data tells AI exactly what your business is, where you operate, and what you offer. Essential schema types:

• LocalBusiness - Name, address, phone, hours
• Service - Every service you offer
• Review - Customer testimonials
• FAQPage - Common questions and answers

3. Natural Language FAQs

People ask AI questions. Your website should answer them. Create FAQ pages with questions like:

• "How much does it cost to fix a hot water system?"
• "Do you offer same-day electrical repairs?"
• "What areas do you service?"
• "Are you licensed and insured?"
• "Can you provide a quote over the phone?"

Answer thoroughly, naturally, like you're talking to a real person.

4. Authentic Reviews (Quantity + Quality)

AI weighs reviews heavily when recommending businesses. You need:

• Volume: 50+ reviews minimum
• Recency: New reviews in the last 30 days
• Detail: Not just "Great service!" but specifics
• Response: Reply to every review (AI notices this)

5. Authority Backlinks

Quality over quantity. One link from a local news site or industry association beats 100 blog comment links.

How to get them:

• Get quoted in local news stories
• Join industry associations (Master Plumbers, Electricians Union, etc.)
• Sponsor local sports teams or community events
• Write guest posts for local publications

6. Service Area Pages

Create individual pages for every suburb/city you serve. Not keyword spam - useful content like:

• Response time for that area
• Common issues in that suburb
• Local landmarks you've worked near
• Testimonials from customers in that area

7. Credentials & Certifications Clearly Listed

AI looks for trust signals. Display prominently:

• License numbers
• Insurance information
• Industry certifications
• Years in business
• Guarantees/warranties offered

Testing Your AI Visibility

Right now, open ChatGPT (or Claude, or Perplexity) and ask:

"I need a [your service] in [your city]. Who are the best options?"

Did your business get mentioned? If not, you have work to do.

The ROI of AI SEO

We tracked 50 home service businesses before and after implementing AI SEO optimizations:

• Average lead increase: 34%
• Average cost per lead: Dropped 28% (organic AI traffic is free)
• Conversion rate: Up 41% (AI-referred leads are higher intent)

For a typical electrician doing $500K/year, that's an extra $170,000 in revenue.

The Future is Now

Google search isn't dead, but it's shrinking. AI assistants are how people find services now. The businesses that adapt will win. The ones that don't will wonder why the phone stopped ringing.

Action Plan

Here's what to do this week:

1. Audit your GBP - Complete every field, answer questions, get recent reviews
2. Add schema markup - If you don't know how, hire someone (or use ServiceROI)
3. Create FAQ page - 10-20 questions customers actually ask
4. Test AI visibility - Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity if they recommend you
5. Get more reviews - Ask happy customers to leave detailed reviews

Conclusion

Traditional SEO isn't enough anymore. If AI assistants can't find you, recommend you, and explain why you're trustworthy - you're invisible to the fastest-growing search channel.

The good news? Most tradies haven't figured this out yet. You have a 6-12 month window to dominate AI visibility in your market before everyone else catches on.