If you're an electrician, plumber, roofer, or builder, you've probably noticed that when you Google something these days, the results look a bit different. Over the past few months, Google has been rolling out one of its biggest changes in years, and it directly affects how potential customers find tradespeople like you.
Don't worry, you don't need to understand the technical stuff. But you do need to know what this means for your business, and whether your website is set up to take advantage of it.
What's Changed?
Google has introduced something called "AI Mode", you might have already seen it. Instead of just showing a list of websites, Google now uses artificial intelligence to give customers a direct answer to their question, complete with business recommendations.
So when someone searches "electrician in Medway" or "emergency plumber near me", Google doesn't just show a list anymore. It shows an AI-generated summary that says something like: "Here are some highly-rated electricians in your area..." and then recommends specific businesses.
The big question is: will YOUR business be one of the ones Google recommends?
Why This Matters For Tradespeople
Here's the thing, this new AI system doesn't just pick businesses at random. It looks at a whole range of signals to decide which tradespeople to recommend:
- Your Google Business Profile, Is it complete? Up to date? Does it clearly show what services you offer and where you work?
- Your reviews, Not just how many stars you have, but how many reviews and how recent they are.
- Your website, Does it have the right information in the right format so Google's AI can understand what you do and where you do it?
If your website and online presence aren't properly set up, Google's AI simply won't know enough about your business to recommend you. And that means potential customers will be calling your competitors instead.
The Good News
Here's the good news is if your website is properly optimised, this change is actually a massive opportunity. Google's AI is specifically designed to highlight trusted, local tradespeople, which is exactly what you are.
Local trades businesses are actually in a stronger position than ever. Unlike big national companies, you have the local knowledge, the reviews from real customers in your area, and the personal service that Google's AI is looking for.
But here's the catch, your website needs to be set up correctly to take advantage of this. And that's not something you can just wing.
You Focus On Your Trade and We'll Handle The Rest
Look, we know you didn't become an electrician or a plumber to spend your evenings worrying about Google algorithms. You've got enough on your plate running your business, looking after customers, and doing the work you're brilliant at.
That's where we come in.
At My Local Trades, we build and manage websites specifically for tradespeople. We handle everything – the design, the technical stuff, the updates, and yes, making sure your site is fully optimised for Google's new AI features.
When Google changes how search works (which happens more often than you'd think), we update your site. When there are new opportunities to get your business seen by more customers, we implement them. You don't need to lift a finger.
What Our Customers Get
A professional website that's built specifically for tradespeople and designed to turn visitors into enquiries.
Full technical management, hosting, security, updates, backups. All taken care of.
Search engine optimisation that keeps your business visible as Google evolves, including the new AI Mode features.
Regular blog content that helps you rank for the searches your customers are making.
Your own private WhatsApp group with our team. Send us photos of your latest jobs, updates about new services, or just a quick question, and we'll sort it. We'll optimise everything and get it on your website for you. You can also email if you prefer. Either way, you'll always get a response from a real person during working hours.
And here's the bit that makes us different: we don't just wait for you to ask. We keep a close eye on your website and your market. If we spot an opportunity, maybe a new service page that could bring in more leads, or a tweak that could help you rank better, we'll reach out and suggest it. No extra charge, no upselling. Just honest advice, because when your business grows, so does ours.
I've been helping tradespeople with their online marketing, SEO, and websites for nearly 20 years. I know what works, what doesn't, and what's a waste of your time and money. All of that experience and support is included as standard. It's genuinely great value and once you see what you get, it's a bit of a no-brainer.
Is Your Website Ready For AI Search?
If you're not sure whether your current website is set up to appear in Google's new AI recommendations, it probably isn't. Most websites built a few years ago simply don't have the technical foundations that Google's AI needs to understand and recommend your business.
We're happy to take a look at your current setup and let you know where you stand – no obligation, no hard sell. Just honest advice from people who've been helping tradespeople get found online for over 14 years.
Get in touch today and let's make sure your business is one of the ones Google recommends.
