How to Use ChatGPT Like a Pro (Even if it’s Your FIRST TIME!)

Have you ever wished you had a smart assistant to help with your marketing tasks—someone who could write sales copy, generate code, plan social media content, and more? Well, that assistant exists in the form of ChatGPT. But how do you get the most out of it? In this guide, we’ll show you how to use ChatGPT effectively, how to craft the right prompts, and why it’s important to still verify its outputs. Ready to unlock its potential

Advice: I use ChatGPT to create outlines, brainstorm, check css code, and more. What you should not expect it to do is create ready-to-publish perfect content that will rank through the roof. It can not do that.. ChatGPT will often introduce errors, pull from an invalid source, or glitch in some other way for reasons unknown. Example: I was creating a Restaurant List for a local City. ChatGPT was giving me results from Restaurants that were out-of-business and/or in other Cities! My Prompt Script was very specific and asked ChatGPT to ONLY include Restaurants within the City Limits.

The better you write your prompt the better your results… don’t just fly through it… open a notepad and create a scratch worksheet. Remember what works and what does not work.. Build your worksheet to help you remember what you want to include every time and make your workflow faster and more accurate. ChatGPT can be a real time saver for editing and re-writing and for Title Creation and Brain Storming… but it’s still just data on a Cloud Server . ChatGPT is not a substitute for creativity it’s just another tool. Finally: You can ask ChatGPT how up-to-date it’s dataset is… as of this writing September 2021 for the FREE version and October 2023 for the Subscription version. Just ask as this will probably have changed by the time you read this. ChatGPT also can not just go out and search the internet in real time. So if your Marketing Centers around Time Sensitive Subjects keep this in mind.


Step 1: Getting Started with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model created by OpenAI. It can generate human-like text based on the input you provide, helping you with everything from writing content to coding, brainstorming ideas, and more.

Create an Account:

  • Visit OpenAI’s website at OpenAI.
  • Sign up for a free account, or, if you need access to premium features (like image generation), subscribe to the ChatGPT Plus plan.

Important Note on Data Set:
ChatGPT’s knowledge is up to date as of September 2021, meaning it won’t be aware of events, trends, or information that occurred after that time. While it’s great for foundational knowledge, always double-check anything time-sensitive.


Step 2: Writing Descriptive Prompts

One of the most important elements in getting the best results from ChatGPT is writing clear, descriptive prompts. Think of your prompt as a conversation starter—it guides the AI on what to focus on. The more specific you are, the more relevant the response will be.

For example:

  • Vague Prompt: “Write a sales letter.”
  • Clear Prompt: “Write a sales letter for a new digital marketing service targeting small businesses. Highlight how it can increase website traffic and generate leads in 30 days.”

Why Descriptive Prompts Matter:

  • ChatGPT can generate a wide range of responses, but it works best when it clearly understands your intent.
  • Be specific about the style, tone, and audience. This helps create responses that are tailored to your needs.

Step 3: Checking for Accuracy and Reliability

While ChatGPT is impressive, it’s important to double-check the information it provides, especially if you’re using it for factual or technical content.

Why?

  • ChatGPT can make mistakes and sometimes provide outdated or inaccurate information.
  • It might generate ideas or explanations that sound good but lack real-world accuracy.

What to Do:

  • Verify Facts: If you’re writing an article or sales copy that includes statistics or claims, make sure to cross-check the numbers or sources.
  • Proofread: Even if the response sounds good, edit the content to ensure it matches your voice and needs.

Step 4: Using ChatGPT for Marketing Tasks

ChatGPT is a fantastic tool for marketers, offering support in multiple areas like content creation, strategy, and technical work. Here’s a look at how it can help:

1. Writing Sales Letters

  • ChatGPT can craft persuasive sales letters or email sequences that convert leads into customers.
  • Example: You can ask it to create a sales pitch for your product, specifying the benefits, pain points, and call to action you want to include.

2. Lead Generation

  • It can help you create compelling lead magnets, email subject lines, or landing page content that grabs attention.
  • Example: Ask ChatGPT to generate a list of topics for a lead magnet (e.g., “10 Secrets to Growing Your Small Business Online”).

3. CSS Code Generation

  • If you’re building a website, ChatGPT can write CSS code to help you style your site. Simply describe what you want in plain language.
  • Example Prompt: “Generate CSS code to create a modern navigation bar with a drop-down menu.”

4. Web Development Assistance

  • ChatGPT can provide basic HTML, JavaScript, or even backend code to help with web development tasks.
  • Example Prompt: “Help me build a basic contact form using HTML and PHP.”

5. Social Media Marketing Planning

  • It can help generate content ideas, suggest hashtags, or even write posts for different social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
  • Example Prompt: “Create a week’s worth of social media posts for a fitness brand, targeting new customers.”

6. SEO and Content Optimization

  • ChatGPT can generate SEO-optimized content by including relevant keywords and topics.
  • Example Prompt: “Write an SEO-friendly blog post on the benefits of organic SEO for small businesses.”

Step 5: Benefits of the Subscription Model

For more advanced users, ChatGPT Plus offers extra benefits like faster response times and access to more powerful tools, such as image generation. If you’re working on projects that require consistent high-quality outputs, it’s worth considering the Plus plan.

Key Benefits of ChatGPT Plus:

  • Faster Responses: Especially helpful for busy marketers who need quick turnaround times.
  • Image Generation: Use DALL·E (available for Plus users) to generate graphics, logos, and visuals for marketing materials directly from prompts.

Step 6: Using ChatGPT to Refresh Website Content

Do you have an old website page that needs a makeover? ChatGPT can help you rewrite and update existing content to make it more engaging and current.

How to Refresh Content:

  • Ask ChatGPT to rewrite outdated information and add new data or trends that weren’t available when the original content was written.
  • You can also ask it to adjust the tone and style to align better with your current brand voice.

Example:
“Rewrite the homepage content for my digital marketing agency, using a more conversational tone and including the latest trends in SEO.”


Step 7: Remember, ChatGPT is a Tool, Not a Replacement for Creativity

Think of ChatGPT like a hammer—it’s a tool that can help you build something great, but the carpenter (you) are the one doing the creative work. ChatGPT can assist, but it won’t replace the need for strategic planning, ideation, and creativity.

  • What ChatGPT does: It can save you time on repetitive tasks, like writing basic content, generating ideas, or producing code.
  • What you still need to do: Plan your content strategy, ensure the writing matches your brand, edit for accuracy, and maintain your unique creative direction.

Cheatsheet: ChatGPT Shortcuts for Marketers

Here’s a quick reference guide to help you get the most out of your ChatGPT sessions:

  • Write a sales letter: “Write a persuasive sales letter for [product/service], highlighting [benefits].”
  • Create social media posts: “Generate 5 Instagram posts for a [type of business].”
  • Generate lead magnets: “Create a list of lead magnet ideas for [niche].”
  • SEO blog post: “Write an SEO-friendly blog post on [topic], targeting the keyword [keyword].”
  • Rewrite content: “Rewrite this content in a more casual, friendly tone.”
  • CSS code help: “Generate CSS for a [style feature], such as [specific request].”

Step 8: Keep Learning and Keep Experimenting

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a bit of practice to master how to prompt ChatGPT effectively. The more you use it, the better you’ll get at crafting prompts that get exactly what you need.

Do Not Delay Take Action and Integrate ChatGPT into Your Workflow:
Now it’s time to give ChatGPT a try. Start small, experiment with different prompts, and watch how your productivity can skyrocket. Remember, ChatGPT is here to augment your creativity and make your marketing tasks easier, but you’re still the architect of your success. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and get ready to level up your online marketing game!