If you own a trade business, your phone is likely ringing more than ever. But it isn’t always a customer on the other end. Usually, it is a “specialist” between the ages of 18 and 25 telling you that your business will fail without their AI tool.
These young kids often start an AI agency overnight after watching a few videos online. They have never stood on a roof in the heat or dealt with a homeowner who is upset about a project delay. They know how to use the latest apps, but they do not know your craft.
The founder of Heart Craft Media, has been where you are. He has been a contractor, and he knows the pain of trying to run a crew while managing a disorganized backend. It is frustrating to see good owners get ripped off by companies that will never truly understand the trades.
Here is what you actually need to know to stay protected.
Why Your Organic Leads are Getting Lower
You may have noticed that the phone isn’t ringing quite like it used to. Why your organic leads are getting lower is because the way people search is changing.
In the past, customers typed “roofers near me” or “plumbers near me” into Google. Today, they are asking AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to find the best pro for them. They ask, “Which roofer, plumber, or contractor in my town has the best reviews and the fastest response time?”
If the AI doesn’t know who you are, it won’t mention you. This is why AI for contractors (Roofers, Plumbers, HVAC, Window Installer), is about more than just a website; it is about your data.
If You Are Not Visible to AI, You Will Be Invisible to Your Customers
This is the hard truth of the 2026 market: if you are not visible to AI, you will be invisible to your customers. Many of these new AI agencies will try to sell you a “chatbot” that talks to people on your website or they want you to replace your front office person with AI. They might charge you thousands for it. While those can be nice tools, a chatbot or AI office assistant does not fix your visibility. To stay ahead, your business needs an “Operational Engine” that organizes your data so AI search engines trust you enough to recommend you.
How to Spot an “AI Salesman” vs. a Real Partner
Before you sign a contract with a new agency, ask these three questions:
- Do they know the trade? If they don’t know the difference between “commercial” and “residential” clients and how they operate, they can’t build a system for you.
- Are they selling a tool or a result? A “tool” is just another app for you to manage. A “result” is a system that gives you hours of your week back.
- Is the product too good to be true? AI is powerful, but it isn’t magic. It takes real work from people who understand business to set it up correctly and humans to over see and correct any mistakes.
Progress is the Goal
You built your company to create a legacy and provide for your family. You did not build it to play with new software. AI should be used to stop “profit leaks” and help you move from being a worker to being an owner.
Don’t let a 20-year-old with a laptop talk you into a system that doesn’t fit your business. You deserve a backend that works as hard as you do.
Have questions? If you feel like you are being chased by “AI salesmen” and just want some honest, professional information, we are here to help. You can reach out to us with any questions about your systems or your AI visibility. We believe in progress, not just hype.
