We Asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity to Recommend Melbourne Tradies
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We asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the same questions a homeowner in Melbourne's west might ask, such as "best plumber in St Albans", and recorded which businesses they named and where the information came from. In our test, [X] of [X] recommended businesses also ranked in Google's local results, and [X]% of answers drew on Google reviews, directories or the business's own website. The short version: the same basics that win on Google Maps seem to decide who AI tools recommend.
Why test this?
More people now ask AI assistants for recommendations instead of searching. Small business owners keep asking us whether they need a separate "AI strategy". Rather than guess, we ran a small, repeatable test and recorded exactly what each tool said.
How did we run the test?
- Picked [X] trades: plumber, electrician, locksmith, cleaner and [X]
- Picked [X] suburbs in Melbourne's west: St Albans, Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Sunshine and [X]
- Asked each tool the same prompt, such as "Who is a good [trade] in [suburb], Melbourne?", in a fresh, logged-out or new chat where possible
- Recorded every business named, any source links shown, and the date: [DATE]
- Checked each named business against Google Maps results for the same search and against its own website and directory listings
This was a small sample on one date. AI answers change from day to day and person to person, so treat the results as a snapshot, not a ranking study.
What did we find?
| Measure | ChatGPT | Gemini | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answers that named specific businesses | [X] of [X] | [X] of [X] | [X] of [X] |
| Named businesses also in Google's top 3 map results | [X]% | [X]% | [X]% |
| Answers showing source links | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Most common source type | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Businesses named that had closed or moved | [X] | [X] | [X] |
[Write two or three sentences on the clearest pattern you saw. Only state what the table shows.]
What seemed to matter?
[Fill in from your results. Possible patterns to check for, not conclusions:]
- Businesses with many recent Google reviews
- Businesses with a website that clearly names the suburb and service
- Businesses listed consistently on directories such as [X]
- Businesses mentioned in local articles or lists
What should a small business do?
Google says there are no extra requirements to appear in its AI Overviews or AI Mode beyond normal Search eligibility (Google). Whatever our test shows, the safe actions are the same ones that help on Google:
- Keep your Google Business Profile complete and active
- Ask every happy customer for a review. See how to get more Google reviews
- Keep your name, address and phone the same everywhere. See how to check NAP consistency
- Have a clear service page for each main job and area. See suburb pages for SEO
- Read AI search for local businesses for the bigger picture
How can you check your own business?
Ask two or three AI tools the question your customers would ask, with your trade and suburb. Note whether you're named and what the tool says about you. If something is wrong, fix it at the source, usually your Google profile, website or a directory listing, because that's where the tools appear to pick it up. That last point is our general guidance, not a published statement from the AI companies.
Next step
Morphic helps Melbourne small businesses get the basics right on Google, which is also what AI tools draw on. Get a free quote, or book a 30-minute call.
Related services: local SEO and Google Business Profile management.
Related reading: AI Search for Local Businesses and AI Overviews and local business traffic.
Title 08 to Title 15 and Main Content 08 to Main Content 15: leave empty.
Key Takeaways
We asked three AI tools to recommend tradies in Melbourne's west and logged every answer.
[Main finding from your data.]
Google says its AI features have no extra requirements beyond normal Search eligibility.
Reviews, a complete Google profile and consistent listings are the safe bets.
Test your own business by asking the tools what your customers would ask.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
