A homeowner in Frankston asks ChatGPT: "Who are the best plumbers in Frankston, Melbourne?". Another in Dandenong types into Google's AI Overview: "How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne?". A third uses Perplexity to ask: "What's the best rated builder in Melbourne's south-east?"
This is the new reality of how Australians are finding local businesses — and most tradies have no strategy for it whatsoever. That's a massive opportunity for the ones who do.
What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?
AEO is the practice of structuring your online content so that AI-powered answer engines — ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, and others — cite your business or content when users ask questions.
Traditional SEO gets you onto a results page where the user chooses to click. AEO makes you the answer itself — the business recommended or the content cited directly in the AI's response.
The AI tools drawing on your content and data include:
How AI Tools Choose Which Businesses to Recommend
When someone asks an AI tool "who is the best electrician in Melbourne's eastern suburbs?", the AI aggregates and weighs information from multiple sources:
- Your website's content quality — Is it authoritative, detailed, and well-structured?
- Your Google Business Profile — Is it complete, has strong reviews, and has consistent NAP data?
- Third-party mentions — Are you referenced in local directories, industry websites, news articles, and forums?
- Review sentiment and volume — Do multiple platforms agree you're a reputable business?
- Structured data on your website — Schema markup that explicitly tells AI what your business does, where, and how customers rate it
5 AEO Actions Tradies Can Take Right Now
1. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup) to Your Website
Schema markup is code that explicitly tells search engines and AI tools what your business does. For tradies, implement:
- LocalBusiness schema — Business name, address, phone, service area, hours, description
- Service schema — Each service you offer with description and pricing where applicable
- FAQPage schema — Your FAQ section structured so AI can pull direct answers
- Review/AggregateRating schema — Your Google review score and count
2. Write Comprehensive FAQ Content
AI tools love FAQ content because it's pre-structured as a question-and-answer format. For every service you offer, publish a FAQ section that answers:
- "How much does [service] cost in [city/suburb]?"
- "How long does [service] take?"
- "Do I need a licensed [trade] for [job] in Australia?"
- "What's included in a [service] quote?"
- "What should I look for when hiring a [trade] in Melbourne?"
These are the exact questions people ask AI tools. If your page answers them clearly and authoritatively, you become a likely citation source.
3. Build Your Digital Footprint with Consistent Citations
AI tools cross-reference multiple sources to validate a business's legitimacy. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across: Google Business Profile, Yelp, Yellow Pages Australia, True Local, Hipages, ServiceSeeking, and any industry association directories.
4. Get Mentioned in Authoritative Content
If a local news site, regional newspaper, or industry publication mentions your business — even briefly — that citation carries significant weight with AI tools. Submit press releases about major projects, sponsor local events, or reach out to journalists covering housing and renovation topics in your region.
5. Generate Rich, Recent Reviews
AI tools that recommend local businesses consistently favour businesses with high review volumes and recent activity. A business with 100 reviews, the most recent from last week, will rank above one with 150 reviews but the last review being 6 months old.
The "AI-Ready" Tradie Website Checklist
- LocalBusiness schema markup with full service area details
- Service pages with FAQ sections using question-format H2/H3 headings
- FAQPage schema on all FAQ sections
- Google Business Profile 100% complete with photos updated this month
- 20+ fresh Google reviews (within last 6 months)
- Consistent NAP across 10+ online directories
- Content written in plain, direct, conversational language (how people speak to AI tools)
- A dedicated "About" page establishing expertise, years in business, qualifications
FAQs: AEO for Australian Tradies
What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?
AEO is optimising your online presence so AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity recommend your business or cite your content when users ask questions. It extends traditional SEO by focusing on structured, direct answers.
Can a tradie get recommended by ChatGPT or Google AI?
Yes. AI tools draw from your website, Google Business Profile, reviews, and authoritative web mentions. A well-structured site with FAQ content, strong reviews, and consistent citations is more likely to be cited.
What is Google AI Overview and how does it affect tradies?
Google AI Overview is the AI-generated summary appearing at the top of many search results. For queries like "how much does a plumber cost in Melbourne", Google pulls from well-structured, trustworthy content. Tradies can appear in these summaries with detailed FAQ and pricing pages.