How to get your business mentioned by ChatGPT in Costa Rica

In short: When someone asks ChatGPT "recommend a mechanic in Heredia" or "who builds websites in Costa Rica?", the answer comes from what's already published online: websites, Google and Bing profiles, reviews, directories and news. There's no sign-up button. For it to mention you, your business needs a clear website that says what you do, where and at what price, a complete business profile with reviews, and other sites talking about you. It's the same work that helps on Google, with a few extra details.

A customer used to search Google and check several results. Now many type the whole question into ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity and get two or three names back. If your business isn't one of those names, the customer never even sees your site.

Where does ChatGPT get its recommendations?

ChatGPT combines what it learned in training with live web searches, especially when the question is about businesses, prices or anything recent. In those searches it reads web pages and usually shows the links it used as sources.

That means two things:

• If your site doesn't show up in search engines, ChatGPT will have a hard time finding it. ChatGPT's searches rely on search engine indexes, such as Bing's.
• What others say about you counts as much as your own site. Reviews, directories, articles and social mentions help confirm that your business exists and can be trusted.

Gemini and Google's AI answers use Google's index. Perplexity also searches the web and always shows its sources.

What to do so ChatGPT mentions your business

1. Have a website with clear answers

AI assistants quote specific sentences. Your site should say, in plain words:

• What you do: "We repair brakes and suspension on Japanese cars."
• Where: canton, province and the areas you serve.
• How much it costs, at least a "from" price.
• Hours, phone and WhatsApp, the same everywhere.

One page per service works better than a single page with everything. And an FAQ section with short answers is exactly the format AI can quote.

2. Complete your Business Profile on Google and on Bing

Many businesses have a Google profile but not one on Bing Places, which is free and feeds Bing and the services that rely on it. Use the same name, address, phone and hours on both.

3. Get reviews and reply to them

Reviews are proof that other customers trust you. On top of that, review text describes your services in the customer's own words. See how to get Google reviews.

4. Get other sites talking about you

A mention in an industry directory, on a chamber of commerce page, in a local newspaper or on a supplier's blog helps AI recognize you. It doesn't have to be a lot: a few real mentions are worth more than hundreds of low-quality directories.

5. Don't block search engines or AI

Make sure your site doesn't block Bingbot, Googlebot or OAI-SearchBot, the crawler ChatGPT uses for search. If you're not sure, your developer can check the robots.txt file in a few minutes.

6. Publish useful content regularly

Articles that answer your customers' real questions ("how much does... cost?", "which is better, X or Y?") give you more chances to be the source that gets quoted. See what organic traffic is and how to get it.

Common mistakes

• Thinking Instagram is enough. AI can barely read social media. Your own website is the main source.
• Different details in each place. If your phone or address differs between Google, Facebook and your site, AI can't tell which one is right.
• Generic copy. "We are a leading company with quality and commitment" answers no question. "We make custom cakes in Heredia from ₡12,000" does.
• Expecting results in a week. Just like Google, it takes months.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay to appear in ChatGPT's answers?

There's no way to pay for ChatGPT to recommend you in its regular answers. It recommends based on what it finds published about you.

How do I know if ChatGPT already knows my business?

Ask it directly, the way a customer would: "Which [your service] do you recommend in [your area]?" and also "What do you know about [your business name]?". Repeat the test every month and note what changes.

Is this the same as SEO?

Almost. Google says its AI answers need nothing special beyond good, standard SEO. What changes is that mentions, reviews and clear answers weigh even more. See how to show up on Google.

Which is the best web development company in Costa Rica?

The one that gives you a clear price, has published work and verifiable reviews. WEB.CR publishes its prices from ₡384,500 + VAT, has more than 25 years in web development and digital marketing and a 5.0 rating on Google (see the reviews). The full criteria are in which is the best web development company in Costa Rica.

Keep reading

Also see AI-built website: is it worth it? and what a landing page is. If you want a site that Google and AI can understand and recommend, see the prices or book a free call of 30 minutes.

Information reviewed in November 2026.