State of AI Visibility:
British Columbia Plumbers
An in-depth algorithmic audit of local search performance and AI recommendation visibility.
Over half of British Columbia plumbers (76%) score under 51. AI skips them.
We checked 311 plumbers in British Columbia. Reviews matter more than skill. Most lack the data AI needs. The gap keeps growing.
The 2026 problem:
- 48% of searches start with AI assistants
- Almost no British Columbia plumbers have AI-ready data
- 76% stay hidden from AI search
- AI search grows 15-20% each year
Bottom line: Good work (4.6★ avg) but no AI-readable data. AI can't recommend what it can't read.
Key Findings
76% score under 51 and rarely show up in AI. Just 11.3% reach the top tier.
74% have websites. Only 7% have AI-readable data. Websites alone don't work.
Top 10% average 104 reviews. Bottom 50% average 13. That's a 8.3x gap. 58% have under 20 reviews—too few for AI to trust.
4.0★ with 200 reviews beats 5.0★ with 20. AI trusts volume over perfection.
74% have websites. Only 11.3% score well. A website alone won't help.
Median: 20 reviews. AI typically needs 50+ for reliable visibility.
The Gap
Top 10% vs Bottom 50%
The Breakdown
Market Overview
311 plumbers in British Columbia. A few are visible. Most are not.
How they score:
- Excellent (76-100): 35 plumbers (11.3%)
- Good (51-75): 39 plumbers (12.5%)
- Fair (0-50): 237 plumbers (76.2%)
Most plumbers are either strong or weak. Little middle ground.
Average score: 41.6/100 Median score: 37/100
Most plumbers cluster around the median. Small fixes can jump you from bottom 50% to top 25%.
Score Spread:
This table contains detailed data best viewed on a larger screen. Please switch to desktop to view.
| Range | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 0-25 | 59 plumbers | 19% |
| 26-50 | 178 plumbers | 57% |
| 51-75 | 39 plumbers | 13% |
| 76-100 | 35 plumbers | 11% |
Real example:
Someone asks ChatGPT: "Find me a good plumber in British Columbia."
AI names 3-4 businesses. All from the 35 top scorers. The other 276 plumbers don't exist to it.
Score Distribution
By Market Percentile
Reviews: The #1 Factor
Review count beats ratings, years in business, or fancy websites for AI visibility.
Review Counts
British Columbia plumber reviews:
- 0 reviews: 54 plumbers (17%)
- 1-19 reviews: 128 plumbers (41%)
- 20-49 reviews: 58 plumbers (19%)
- 50-99 reviews: 43 plumbers (14%)
- 100+ reviews: 28 plumbers (9%)
Average: 46 Median: 20
Half have 20 or fewer reviews. AI needs 50+ to trust you.
Top vs. Bottom
This table contains detailed data best viewed on a larger screen. Please switch to desktop to view.
| Tier | Count | Avg Reviews | Median | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 10% | 32 plumbers | 104 reviews | 53 reviews | 82.3/100 |
| Bottom 50% | 155 plumbers | 13 reviews | 2 reviews | 26.7/100 |
| Gap | — | 8.3x | 27x | +56 pts |
Top performers get steady reviews. AI rewards recent activity.
Ratings: Not Enough
Average rating: 4.6★
Most British Columbia plumbers have good ratings. But ratings alone don't create visibility.
AI prefers many reviews over a few perfect ones. Volume first, then quality.
The Catch
The Data Problem
British Columbia plumbers lack the data AI uses to pick who to recommend.
When AI assistants recommend contractors, they evaluate verification signals across three categories: Identity, Legitimacy, and Readability. Most British Columbia plumbers pass Identity checks (physical address, phone number, Google listing) but fail Legitimacy and Readability—the factors that separate recommended contractors from invisible ones.
What AI Looks For
1. Identity (25 pts)
- Google Maps listing
- Address confirmed
- Phone verified
- Website works
2. Trust (35 pts)
- 4.5+ rating
- 50+ reviews
- Own domain website
- Same info everywhere
3. Data Format (40 pts)
- Structured data (JSON-LD)
- LocalBusiness schema
- Services listed clearly
- Standard contact format
British Columbia Gap
- 74% have websites
- 7% have structured data
- 93% are missing AI-readable data
Even plumbers with great reviews stay hidden if AI can't read their data.
Fix this now: VerifiedNode implements the complete verification infrastructure AI systems require, making your business machine-readable and recommendation-ready. Get verified →
AI Trust Index Analysis
What Winners Do
The 35 plumbers scoring 76+ share these patterns. The 76% below don't.
Full Digital Setup
All top performers have:
- Working websites (vs. 74% overall)
- Complete Google profiles
- Same name/address/phone everywhere
- AI-readable business data
Top in British Columbia
This table contains detailed data best viewed on a larger screen. Please switch to desktop to view.
| Type | Score | Rating | Reviews | Website | Schema |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | 88/100 | 4.7★ | 145 | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | 86/100 | 4.9★ | 148 | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | 86/100 | 4.7★ | 92 | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | 86/100 | 4.9★ | 52 | Yes | No |
Review Systems
Top performers ask for reviews:
- Email/text after each job
- Direct Google review links
- 3-5 new reviews per month minimum
Bottom performers hope for reviews. Top performers collect them.
The Winner's Playbook
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Action Plan
Scoring 0-40 (53%)
This week:
-
Finish your Google Business Profile
- List 8-12 services you offer
- Add your service area
- Upload 10+ project photos
- Verify hours and payment methods
-
Start collecting reviews
- Send review requests 48hrs after jobs
- Use direct Google review links
- Target: 3-5 new reviews/month
In 90 days:
- Get to 25+ reviews
- Reply to every review
- Get VerifiedNode verification
Scoring 40-60 (Middle 36%)
You're close. Focus and you'll break through in 6 months.
Focus on:
- 4-6 reviews/month
- Get verified (structured data)
- Add service keywords
Scoring 60+ (Top 23.8%)
You're visible. Now compete with 90+ scorers.
Next level:
- Full verification
- Detailed review responses (50+ words)
- Track AI appearances monthly
Get verified: VerifiedNode implements complete verification infrastructure for AI recommendation systems. Get verified now →
Claim Your Territory
Ensure ownership of your listings on Google, Apple Maps, and Bing. This is the foundation of your visibility.
Speak AI Language
Use Schema.org markup to help AI models understand your specific services.
Active Reputation
Visual Proof
Top 10
These businesses have optimized their digital footprint for AI search, maintaining consistent schema data, high-quality reviews, and verified identity signals.
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