How I'm using ChatGPT - with Prompts!
As I was creating this post, it turned into the official, unofficial, long-awaited single post/email course for AI. Enjoy!
I embraced AI from day 1.
Once I got past the initial feeling that it was a threat to my work, I was all in.
I played around with Midjourney a bit. I never got really good at prompting with it.
ChatGPT is my jam.
I use it all day, every day. It is worth every cent of the $20 I pay per month for the premium version.
It’s worthy to note here, you can use the free version for everything I discuss below except image generation. You can play with the image generator free though through Bing - https://www.bing.com/images/create/
My prompting is usually SUPER simple. I only use role prompting if I don’t get the desired result.
Role prompting is when you assign a role to ChatGPT in your prompt: You’re an expert in social media engagement, and many of the posts you create go viral. Write a concise, compelling, and engaging post about this article - [paste content].
Here's what I use it for:
Social Media
If you want to craft social posts super fast, it does an amazing job. It will even add relevant emojis and hashtags.
NOTE: If it doesn’t automatically add emojis and hashtags, include this phrase in your prompt: with relevant emojis and hashtags.
Also, don’t forget a call-to-action. It will handle this beautifully as well.
Prompts
Write a tweet for this article - [then paste the content of your article, newsletter, blog post, etc.]
You can also have it write a set number of posts: Create 5 Facebook posts for this article.
Have it pull a bunch of quotable ideas for X: Pull out all the profound quotes from this article for posting on X.
Create LinkedIn post for this article with relevant emojis and hashtags. Include a call to action.
If you find figuring out what to post on social media is a chore, and so time-consuming that you struggle to do it, this will change all of that for you.
Headlines
ChatGPT generates GREAT headlines. This is a place where I’m easily stumped, and it always comes through with a great and fast result.
You can make your prompts as simple or detailed as you like. Tell ChatGPT exactly what you’re looking for!
Prompts
Write a headline for this newsletter - [paste newsletter contents].
Write a headline for this blog post that compels readers to click it - [paste article].
Once you have your headline, you can ask for a subtitle or preheader in your next prompt easily: Write a preheader. -OR- Write a subtitle.
Likewise, if you already have a headline you like, but you’re stumped on the preheader or subtitle: Write a preheader/subtitle for this headline/article - [paste headline and/or article].
Ideas
This one is broad. The possibilities are endless.
You can get tons of ideas on any topic. Usually, it will spit out 10 to 20 by default, but if they’re good, having it create more is just a matter of asking.
Need blog post ideas? Done in seconds.
Book ideas? Yep.
Lead magnet ideas? Done.
Characters? Done.
Anything you can imagine, it can give you a list of inspiring ideas in a few seconds.
Prompts
Create a list of blog posts ideas in the wellness niche.
Create a list of writing tones.
Create a list of persuasive words.
Create a list of creative conclusion headings.
Create a list of calls to action.
Give me a list of original fantasy book ideas.
This is MASSIVE. I wish I could download it!
You can!
The PDF has a bonus section all about the conversation I had with ChatGPT about creating the image for this post.
Outlines
ChatGPT can outline anything in a few seconds.
If you take a list of blog ideas, and choose one, you can prompt it to create an outline quickly and easily.
If you’ve ever had problems getting started, then you will understand the value in being able to get going nearly instantaneously.
An outline created by ChatGPT could cover everything or may need to be expanded. Either way, you have an amazing starting point.
Prompts
Create an outline for this blog idea [paste idea].
This could be an idea from the list ChatGPT already generated for you.Create an outline for my book about ___________.
Research
No more million-hour Google sessions!
No more not getting results because of Googles biases!
ChatGPT will make short order of research on any topic.
Prompts
Provide research on [topic] with source links.
Explain ____________ like I’m 5.
What was life like in Medieval London?
Provide sources for this article with links - [paste article].
Give me a list of facts about __________.
Writing
ChatGPT is adept at writing all kinds of content.
Should you be using it to write for you?
Yes and no.
If you’re stuck and the words aren’t flowing, give it a try. It might give you the starting point you desperately need.
That being said, content generated by ChatGPT is only that: a starting point.
It’s not a solution to your under-populated blog.
You should not copy/paste and publish.
Always touch everything you publish. Read through, and add yourself. Sure, ChatGPT can word things well, but there’s no soul behind the words.
Prompts
Write a Substack post about this topic - [paste title/topic]. (No, ChatGPT doesn’t write my Substack posts!)
Write this paragraph using UK slang - [paste text].
Write a poem about ________.
You can make this as simple or as detailed as you like: Write a poem in iambic pentameter about_______. - OR- Write this poem in iambic pentameter - [paste poem].
Summaries
ChatGPT can summarize anything for you into a shorter, easier to digest format.
There are also other services and browser extensions that do this exclusively for different things like YouTube videos, articles, PDFs and more.
However, if these are paid services, ChatGPT can handle it. Most of these services are probably using the ChatGPT API.
Prompts
Summarize this article - [paste article or URL].
Summarize the book [type book title].
I’ve found it can do this for well-known books as well as newer releases.Summarize this YouTube video [paste transcript].
Since ChatGPT can’t watch videos, you can feed it the transcript to summarize the main points. Any service that is currently summarizing video, is using the transcript. You can download the transcript of any YouTube video using DownSub. It’s free. Just select the txt file to download.Summarize this PDF. [Upload file.]
If it’s a shorter PDF, you can also paste the contents directly.Should I be concerned about anything in these terms of service - [paste TOS]?
This one is especially useful for understanding long terms and conditions before you click Accept.
Images
As I said in the intro, I played around a bit with Midjourney, but I definitely find DALL-E 3 included with my ChatGPT subscription to be much easier to use.
While Midjourney is great for designing consistent characters and complex images, I find ChatGPT more useful.
I mostly use it to create images to accompany content I’m creating or to give me ideas for things I want to create.
It’s definitely fun to play with!
Prompts
Create a _________- themed logo with _____as the main color in a gaming style.
I’ve used this a ton to create custom avatars in a pirate-themed game I play. Here are a few of the results:
As you can see, it can create a variety of image styles. Sometimes, I do need to touch them up with Photoshop, but most of the time they are good to go. It’s fun to give someone a gift they can use however they want…even print and sell.
Create an image for this blog post - [paste text of blog].
I definitely use this one for Substack ALL the time. This is a great way to generate original images for your posts which is great for SEO when you include an alt tag.Create a cover for this eBook - [paste text of book].
I use this one mainly for PDFs that I’m using as lead magnets rather than actual eBook covers. I’m still of the school that you should have your book covers created by a professional.
However, if you get the result you’re looking for, run with it, but make sure you understand the terms and conditions.
While ChatGPT allows any image you created using it to be used and sold commercially, AI art cannot be copyrighted.
Also, the platform you’re publishing to may have separate terms regarding AI art.Create a sticker that says __________. -OR- Create a sticker design of a ________.
Create a custom emoji for Discord that says _______________. - OR - Create a custom emoji that depicts _______________.
Here are a couple results I’ve used this one for:
You can really run wild with this one. It’s a lot of fun. If you’re not artistic, this can turn you into an artist.
Be careful, though, the art community is pretty mad about AI art much like some of the author community are. Remember, it’s a tool, not an end result.
Making Money
If you’re like me, your wheels have probably been turning this entire article.
“I’m gonna be rich!”
It’s certainly a possibility.
The amount of time you can save alone is money.
There are definitely ways to make money with AI if you know how to use it.
Honestly, I haven’t found the ultimate prompt-to-cash solution, I can use it as a tool to save me multitudes of time.
I don’t have any complex analysis to show where I’ve used it in my business and it earned me a set amount.
It’s simply a tool for me that I use multiple times every day.
You can find thousands of videos on YouTube of people saying they are using it to earn fortunes. You could spend a lifetime watching them OR spend your time developing original ways to use it to help you create income.
I highly recommend the latter option.
The first one is mostly a waste of time that you could be spending on the second one.
Prompts
Create a step-by-step for creating a business doing ___________.
Provide a list of money-making ideas.
How can I make money online?
Coding
I have some remedial knowledge of certain coding types like HTML, CSS, and PHP. I am by no means an expert in any of them.
I can manipulate the code to varied success if I have to.
Otherwise, I’m completely illiterate when it comes to computer languages. I wish this weren’t the case.
Learning a new computer language is comparable to learning a new language. It’s very time-consuming and something you need to immerse yourself in to learn well or be anywhere near fluent.
ChatGPT is fluent in any coding language in use today.
It will also walk you through creating complex things from coding like templates or whole applications.
Of course, the caveat is that you can’t really know if the code is right or not if you’re not a developer yourself.
That doesn’t mean it’s not still fun to play!
Prompts
Create a lightweight WordPress theme like Astra.
Create an Android app that ______________.
Convert this book description to HTML - [paste description].
Write a python script that _____________.
Miscellaneous
These ideas don’t really fit under the options above, but are ways I’ve used ChatGPT multiple times to save me time or help me when I’m stumped.
Prompts are in italics.
Give me the best emoji - I use this all the time! One newsletter I create aggregates news from a specific industry, so there are many article titles involved.
Provide the best emoji for the following titles. Here’s the first one - [paste title].
Once you paste the first one, you don’t have to prompt ChatGPT with the first part, you can simply paste each title one at a time and it will give you the best emoji.
Most of the time it gives you more than one, so if you like to use multiple or want options, it has you covered.Translation - ChatGPT can translate! It knows more than 100 language, but is most fluent in the following major world languages - English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, and Russian.
Translate this text into Chinese - [paste text].
Translate this to English - [paste text].Business building - ChatGPT can help you start building your business. It’s almost like a tutor when you need help with something. Not only will it give you the ideas, it will also walk you through fleshing them out! It really is amazing.
Create an avatar for my business doing ________. I want to reach [insert basic demographics].
Provide me a step-by-step list of what to do to start a business in/doing __________.
Create a detailed business plan for a business in/doing ___________.
How can I make my ___________ business successful?Editing - ChatGPT is really good at editing. It can clean up text and add correct grammar and punctuation. I have used it to turn nearly unreadable content into great stuff.
Edit the following content for grammar, punctuation, and flow without losing or changing the voice and intent - [paste content].
You can break the content up into chunks if you need to.Generate pretty much anything - I used to be obsessed with all the generators on the web for different things like generating a pirate name or name for your fictional city. The Internet was absolutely littered with them, and I always enjoyed playing with them. ChatGPT can generate anything including generators! So, if you ever had a dilemma where you couldn’t find a generator for what you were trying to create, you’re in luck!
Generate a place name for my fictitious town.
If you want options, ask it to generate a list.
Create a pirate name generator that uses the first letter of your first name and the last letter of you last name to create a pirate name.
Generate an entire world I can use for the setting of a new book.Bibliographies - ChatGPT can generate source and bibliographies AFTER you’ve written the content. If you need write a sourced paper or article, you can either have it generate the sources for you or have it source what you’ve already written. You can also have it cite in specific formats. I remember painstakingly doing this for schoolpapers.
Create a bibliography this paper - [paste content].
Create citations for this article in MLA format - [paste content].Provide a framework - There are frameworks for everything and they can be insanely useful for developing content and more. You can also generate your own original frameworks!
Create a list of useful frameworks like the 'Benefits-Features-Proof' framework, so I can learn to work better.
Develop an original framework for writing a high-value Substack post.
Develop an original framework I can include in my high-value self-publishing course.Create your own GPT - If you have a paid account, you can create custom GPTs. I’ve created a few and they work pretty well. If you have more technical knowledge on what to include, I’m sure you could create a model you could sell. I have only played around with this option.
I created an assistant that I loaded with content I created so that it can generate content that sounds a lot like me. I honestly, I don’t use it a lot because I usually want to sound better than myself. 😁
You can also create a GPT for a client and load it with client content, and configure to create content in the tone of that client.
This is a fun feature to mess around with and if you have the technical knowledge, you can probably do so much with it. I also have one designed for create social media images. So, let your mind run wild.Resumes - If you’ve looked for a job lately, then you know what it’s like. It seems like everyone wants a resume and cover letter tailored specifically for the job they’re offering. ChatGPT makes this easier than ever.
Don’t have a resume? It can help with that as well!
Help me create my resume step-by-step.
Give me a framework for a striking resume that will get me hired.
Tailor my resume for this job - [paste job description]. Attach your existing resume as a file.
Write a cover letter for me for this job - [paste job description]. Attach your existing resume as a file.
Tips and Tricks
Think of your prompts as a conversation. If you don’t get what you want out of the first one, type exactly the change you need. Talk it out until you get the desired result.
The ChatGPT app for Android and iPhone has a voice option where you can talk to it directly just as you would write a prompt. It talks back! Then you can save the transcript of your conversation.
ChatGPT isn’t always right. You’ll need to fact-check it for somethings. When it provides incorrect information, this is called a hallucination. Consider providing OpenAI with feedback when this happens by clicking the thumbs down.
Ask for the format you need. If you request ChatGPT to create a table, it will generate content you can paste directly into a spreadsheet.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much! 🙏 Support me by sharing this with someone you think could use the information!
As you can see, I’ve experimented quite a bit.
I wish I had more time to dedicate to finding more potential uses for this amazing tool.
Don’t limit yourself only to what I’ve shared here. Experiment!
ChatGPT has apps for most devices. You can play around with it while you’re watching TV or bored in a meeting.
Do your own research if you have privacy concerns about how your inputs into ChatGPT might be stored, used, shared, etc. You could even ask ChatGPT to answer this for you.
AI is here to stay.
You don’t have to worry about being replaced by it; however, you should worry about being replaced by someone who knows how to use it.
Find out what it can do for you! It doesn’t require a payment to start experimenting.
This is an industry where innovation is happening rapidly. It’s exciting to be a part of it. Don’t get left behind!