The AI Tradesman

You Don't Need More Leads...Until...

Most tradesmen and small business owners think they have a lead problem.
"I'm not getting enough enquiries."
"If I could just get more leads, everything would be fine."
But what if that's not the real problem?
In this episode of The AI Tradesman, Rick explores why many businesses don't need more leads until they stop losing the ones they already have.
Using the simple "Leaky Bucket" analogy, Rick explains how missed calls, slow email responses, forgotten enquiries and poor follow-up can quietly cost businesses thousands of pounds every year.
Drawing on his own experience running a window cleaning business, Rick shares how he discovered that speed of response often matters more than marketing spend, and why many business owners are unknowingly paying for leads that end up becoming customers of their competitors.
You'll learn:
• Why "more leads" isn't always the answer• The hidden cost of missed enquiries• How customer expectations have changed• Why responsiveness is now a competitive advantage• How simple systems can help capture more business• The principle behind Swift Response
If you're a sole trader, tradesman or small business owner looking to grow your business without increasing your advertising budget, this episode is for you.
Get Found. Be Chosen. Stay Remembered.
Connect with Rick and follow The AI Tradesman on Facebook for updates, tips and future episodes.
Questions, feedback or ideas for future episodes?
Email: rick@realsbs.com

Episode 5 – Found, Chosen, Remembered

In this episode of The AI Tradesman, Rick reflects on 35 years of watching technology transform the way we live and work.
From leaving the Army in 1990 with no mobile phone and no internet, to a world where customers can now ask AI to recommend a local tradesman, one thing remains constant:
Customer behaviour changes. Human nature doesn't.
People still want to save time, save money, and make good decisions.
If Rick were starting a trade business from scratch today, he'd focus on just three outcomes:
✅ Being Found
✅ Getting Chosen
✅ Staying Remembered
In this episode, he shares the five practical actions he'd take to make that happen, without needing a degree in computing or becoming a technology expert.
Whether you're a plumber, electrician, window cleaner, builder, landscaper, decorator, or any other small business owner, these principles can help you attract more customers and build a stronger business.
This week's challenge:
Ask yourself:
If I was starting my business from scratch today, what would I do differently?
Write down three answers.
Pick one.
Take action.
Because small improvements, repeated consistently, create remarkable results.
The AI Tradesman
Helping Small Businesses Use Practical AI.

Let AI Read the Small Print

Most business owners don't read terms and conditions.
Not because we're lazy.
Because we're busy and Ts & Cs are boring, long and written in legalese.
In this episode of The AI Tradesman, I explain how a simple email from Google about a trial ending made me realise just how many subscriptions and contracts most of us have running quietly in the background.
I show you how to use free AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini to review terms and conditions before you sign up for software, memberships, services and subscriptions.
We cover:
• Hidden renewal clauses
• Lock-in periods
• Cancellation policies
• Price increases
• Contract traps buried in the small print
• Carrying out your own subscription audit
AI won't replace a solicitor, but it can act as a fast and effective first filter before you commit your hard earned money.
Prompt Used In This Episode
You are an expert legal assistant helping a small trade business owner.
Analyse these terms and conditions.
Look specifically for:
• Hidden traps
• Automatic renewal clauses
• Minimum lock-in periods
• Unusual cancellation policies
• Clauses allowing price increases
• Any inconsistencies or contradictions
• Anything that seems potentially unfair to a small business
Provide a summary in plain English using simple bullet points.
This Week's Challenge
Choose one subscription, software platform, membership or business service you're paying for.
Copy the terms and conditions into ChatGPT or Gemini.
See what it finds.
You may discover everything is fine.
Or you may discover a renewal date, lock-in period or hidden clause you didn't know existed.
Either way, you'll know.
And knowing is always better than guessing.
Contact: rick@realsbs.com

The Leaky Bucket: Why Slow Replies Lose Customers

In this episode of The AI Tradesman, I talk about one of the biggest problems facing tradesmen and local service businesses — losing enquiries because nobody responds quickly enough.
I explain the concept of "Speed to Lead", share a few lessons from my own window cleaning business, and discuss why being first to respond often matters more than being the cheapest.
Download my free guide:
https://guide.realsbs.com/free-guide-page

The AI Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (And How To Avoid)

In Episode 2 of The AI Tradesman Podcast, Rick explains the biggest mistake most people make when using AI — treating it like Google instead of giving it proper context.
Using real-world examples from his own window cleaning business, Rick shows how tools like ChatGPT can help tradesmen and small business owners handle awkward customer emails, save time, reduce stress, and communicate better without sounding robotic or corporate.
This episode also introduces the concept of “plugging the leak” — why businesses lose customers simply because they reply too slowly — and how automated systems can help stop enquiries slipping through the cracks.
Inside this episode:
• Why most AI prompts fail• How to get far better results from ChatGPT and Claude• A real example of using AI to write a difficult price increase email• Why speed of response matters massively in business• How automated replies can stop you losing customers over weekends• Rick’s upcoming free GoHighLevel response-system guide
No tech waffle. No Silicon Valley nonsense. Just practical AI for real tradesmen and small business owners.
Facebook: The AI TradesmanEmail: rick@tryswiftresponse.com

The AI Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (And How To Avoid It)

In Episode 2 of The AI Tradesman Podcast, Rick explains the biggest mistake most people make when using AI — treating it like Google instead of giving it proper context.
Using real-world examples from his own window cleaning business, Rick shows how tools like ChatGPT can help tradesmen and small business owners handle awkward customer emails, save time, reduce stress, and communicate better without sounding robotic or corporate.
This episode also introduces the concept of “plugging the leak” — why businesses lose customers simply because they reply too slowly — and how automated systems can help stop enquiries slipping through the cracks.
Inside this episode:
• Why most AI prompts fail• How to get far better results from ChatGPT and Claude• A real example of using AI to write a difficult price increase email• Why speed of response matters massively in business• How automated replies can stop you losing customers over weekends• Rick’s upcoming free GoHighLevel response-system guide
No tech waffle. No Silicon Valley nonsense. Just practical AI for real tradesmen and small business owners.
Facebook: The AI TradesmanEmail: rick@tryswiftresponse.com

Why I Finally Started Using AI in My Business

In the very first episode of The AI Tradesman Podcast, Rick shares the real reason he started paying attention to AI — after losing customers in his window cleaning business simply because he didn’t reply quickly enough.
This isn’t a tech podcast for Silicon Valley programmers.
It’s a practical, honest look at how AI can help tradesmen, self-employed people and small businesses save time, respond faster and stay competitive without becoming computer experts.
In this episode:
How missed enquiries cost real money
The idea of “speed to lead”
Why modern customers expect instant replies
How AI started becoming useful in a real-world business
A simple AI challenge any business owner can try this week
Email: rick@tryswiftresponse.com