AI Visibility for Tradespeople

What it actually takes to show up in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude — three layers, from baseline awareness to being the source AI quotes.

3

Cited

The AI generates an answer and quotes your page as the source.

  • GEO/AEO-structured service pages
  • Question-format H2 headings
  • Specific job stories and scenarios
  • Statistics with named sources
  • JSON-LD schema + brand-facts.json
Example query

"How often should I replace door seals on a 53-foot reefer trailer?"

Few trades have this — the wedge
2

Authoritative

AI ranks you higher in local lists and trusts your data.

  • JSON-LD LocalBusiness schema
  • NAP consistent with Google Business Profile
  • sitemap.xml + robots.txt
  • .well-known/brand-facts.json
  • HTTPS, real hours, real address
Example query

"Best reefer repair shop in Kitchener-Waterloo"

Most established sites have this
1

Findable

AI mentions you by name when someone asks for a service in your area.

  • Google Business Profile claimed + filled out
  • Real customer reviews (any non-trivial volume)
  • Listed in 2–3 directories (Yelp, BBB, HomeStars)
  • Hours, address, phone published anywhere
Example query

"Reefer repair near Kitchener"

Most active trades already have this
Where RTS sits today Layer 1 (13 Google reviews, GBP, 42-year history) + Layer 2 (this site, schema, robots, sitemap, brand-facts shipped) — and the GEO demo above moves toward Layer 3 once the template scenarios are replaced with real stories.
The framing

GEO/AEO is not required to be on AI search. Layer 1 alone gets you mentioned. GEO is required to be the cited source — to put your service page directly in the answer when customers research how to fix a problem instead of just looking up a phone number.