In today’s digital marketplace, innovation isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a necessity. For online service providers committed to leaving a meaningful impact, embracing cutting-edge tools like AI is increasingly crucial. 

Now, don’t get me wrong … when tools like ChatGPT first came on the scene promising to fix all of our problems, I was skeptical (to say the least). I’ve never been one to be an early adopter — especially when it comes to new technology. I tend to want to see it play out for a bit so I can make sure it’s worth the hype, and not just another shiny object.

But there was something about ChatGPT that really caught my attention. And as I rolled up my sleeves and dove in, I was blown away. Not only by what it’s capable of doing, but by all the different ways I could use it as an extension of my team in my business.

Now, I use the word “extension” intentionally here. So let’s take a moment to pause on something I’m really passionate about before we keep going.

Is ChatGPT the be all end all?  No.

Does it come equipped with a magic button to take everything off your plate so you can sip your favorite beverage while it runs your business? Also no. (but I agree, that does sound somewhat appealing)

Will it replace your copywriters? A. BIG. FAT. NO.

ChatGPT will never be able to replace the magic that happens when you (the strategic brains behind your business) work with an equally talented, strategic, insightful HUMAN copywriter. It’s not an easy button. And it doesn’t have the emotional intelligence to replace you, your team, or your amazing writers.

Here’s what it can do — It can be an awesome and efficiency-boosting supplemental tool you use for your marketing planning, content outlining, copy editing, day-to-day organization, and yes, even some copywriting.

But I’ll be honest with you … it took me a little while (and a lot of trial and error) before I finally tapped into the true power of ChatGPT. My initial experience was rocky and overwhelming. It felt hard to get my bearings. Everything I asked it to do just ended up sounding like formulaic jargon. And I lost count of how many times I thought “Well, this is a huge waste of time”.

But, here’s the game-changing twist I discovered: ChatGPT wasn’t the actual problem; it was how I was using it that was. 

Once I figured out a system to use it more effectively, it changed from an overwhelming robotic tool, to a powerhouse resource I use almost everyday in my business.

So today, I want to share 5 tips to help you unlock the power of ChatGPT — for you AND your business.

How to get the most out of ChatGPT

1. Personalization: Teach ChatGPT about your unique brand

As the world of online services becomes more saturated, the ability to stand out isn’t just an advantage — it’s pretty much a requirement for survival. And nowadays, personalization transcends the simple use of a client’s name; it extends to understanding their specific needs, pain points, and aspirations, and infusing that into all of your marketing content.

You, as the brains behind your business, understand these nuances about your brand, your business, and your audience. But AI doesn’t. 

So here’s my most important tip (seriously, if you read nothing else in this blog, I hope you read this) … to truly unlock the power of ChatGPT so it can serve as an extension of your marketing team, you have to teach it about you and your business FIRST!

You have to help it get to know you so it can sound like you, plan like you, write like you, and market like you. If you don’t take the time to do that, all you’ll be stuck with is a shiny new trendy tool that spits out robotic formulaic copy and ends up wasting your time and leaving you overwhelmed in the process.

Once ChatGPT knows the ins and outs of what makes your brand tick — from your core values to your unique voice — it can create content that really connects with your audience, boosting those all-important engagement metrics.

Action Tip: To kickstart the personalization process, take a moment to share the following things with ChatGPT: 

• Your mission (the “why” behind your brand)
• Your vision (the impact you’re called to make)
• Your values (the non-negotiables of your brand)

Bonus Success Tip: Be sure to share all of these things with ChatGPT in the SAME thread! Then continue working with ChatGPT in that thread for everything moving forward. ChatGPT can’t remember things across threads — each chat thread is like a completely separate conversation. So make sure that everything you teach ChatGPT about you and your brand stays within one single thread — then use that thread for EVERYTHING you need for your business moving forward. It’s the only way ChatGPT will get to know you and continue to learn about you as you use it!

Related Reading: The First Step to Defining Your Brand Strategy

2. Efficiency and Precision: Dial In Your Marketing Efforts

Look, if you’re in the online service space, I know you’re wearing a lot of hats. You’re not just the brains of the operation, you’re the heart, soul, and probably the arms and legs too! And let’s be real, time is the one resource you can’t get more of.

That’s where ChatGPT really shines — in its ability to save you time while elevating your marketing efforts. And let’s be clear: when I say “saving time,” I mean it in the way that allows you to put your brainpower where it’s needed most, rather than cranking out generic, uninspiring content.

So let’s demystify this: Yes, you’ll need to review and tweak the first draft from ChatGPT. But hey, you didn’t build your business overnight, did you? Iteration is part of the game. As you continue to use ChatGPT, the platform will get to know your brand’s quirks and nuances, meaning you’ll spend less time editing and more time tackling the big-picture stuff that only you can do.

Action Tip: Start small but think big. Use ChatGPT to take the first stab at those routine, time-sucking tasks like email drafts or social media captions. As you begin to feel more comfortable with its performance, gradually level-up to using it for more complex projects like comprehensive blog posts or strategic planning documents.

3. Brand Consistency: Your Secret Sauce for a Unified Brand Voice

If you’ve been in the online service game for even a hot minute, you know that keeping your brand voice consistent is like herding cats — cute, lovable, but oh-so-wildly independent cats. It’s not just about being the same person in an email, a blog, or a social post. It’s about speaking in a voice that your audience instantly recognizes as uniquely you, whether they’re skimming through their inbox or scrolling their social feed.

So where does ChatGPT fit into this picture? Imagine having an assistant that can whip up content that sounds just like you — because it actually knows you. Once you’ve taken the time to share your brand’s ins and outs with ChatGPT, it becomes a powerful tool to churn out consistently on-brand messages. No more laboring over each word; ChatGPT can craft that in a way that is oh-so-you.

Action Tip: Treat ChatGPT like you would a new team member. Don’t expect it to read your mind! After you’ve taken some time to teach ChatGPT about your business and your brand, gather up a few of your favorite writing samples. Maybe it’s an email you’ve sent that sounds authentically like you (and got good engagement), or maybe it’s a handful of social posts or blog articles. Whatever you think best represents your voice — your unique tone, your personality, the softer emotional side of who you are and how you speak. Then share those samples in your ChatGPT thread. This will help ChatGPT really get to know your brand’s voice, tone, and vibe.

4. Strategy Sync-Up: Make ChatGPT Your Right-Hand Strategy Sidekick

You don’t just want a tool; you want a team player—a sidekick who’s there not just to do the job but to do it in line with your grand master plan. Because let’s face it, in the world of online service, you’re either moving forward or you’re falling behind. Content is great, but content that aligns with your strategy? That’s where the magic happens, my friends.

The beauty of ChatGPT is that it’s not just another content generator; it can be trained to think and act strategically — just like you! Once you educate ChatGPT about your brand and your business, take a moment to share your high-level business objectives and your nitty-gritty KPIs. In doing this, you’re setting it up to produce content that does more than fill space — it drives your business forward.

Action Tip: When you sit down with ChatGPT, don’t just say, “Write me a blog post.” Instead, let it know the why behind the what. Say something like, “Craft me a blog post that educates my audience on the importance of personal branding, as we’re planning to launch a branding course next month.” The more ChatGPT knows about the strategy fueling the task, the better it can align its output to your overarching goals.

5. Stay Ahead: Prep Your Business for the Future with ChatGPT

In the online service world, you can’t just keep up; you’ve got to stay ahead. The future isn’t knocking anymore; it’s already walked right through the front door, and it brought AI and machine learning with it. If you’re not preparing for this today, then you’re already behind, folks. But here’s the good news: you’ve got some stellar tools at your disposal to not just catch up but to set the pace.

Take ChatGPT, for instance. Think of it not just as a writing assistant but as your strategic partner, your ‘future-proofing’ ally. With the ability to generate trend analyses and research summaries, ChatGPT can become a valuable resource for understanding how your industry and target audience are evolving. The better you train it, the more adept it becomes at delivering insights that align with your brand’s mission and goals.

Imagine this scenario: You’re looking to expand your service offerings to meet emerging market demands. Why not task ChatGPT with collating recent industry trends, forecasts, and competitive analyses? Within a short timeframe, you’ll have a data-backed foundation to inform your decisions. It’s like having an extra researcher on your team.

Action Tip: Spend a few minutes every week updating ChatGPT on what’s new in your world. Share the latest trends, tell it about any shifts in your KPIs, or just clue it in on new strategies you’re thinking of implementing. The more ChatGPT knows, the better it can serve you in this ever-changing landscape.

Bonus Tip: Use ChatGPT to keep tabs on how your audience is evolving too! Combine this with my Audience Cheat Sheet to ensure you’re always meeting your clients where they are, not where they used to be.

Unlock Your Business’ Full Potential with ChatGPT

When you invest time and effort into training ChatGPT, what you’re really doing is investing in the long-term vitality of your own business. It’s not just a shiny tool you can show off; it’s an actual asset that, when properly trained, will continually pay dividends in productivity and efficiency.

Ready to dive deeper into leveraging ChatGPT for your online service business? My ChatGPT Mastering Marketing Copy Guide has got you covered. Download it now to get started on transforming ChatGPT into your brand’s MVP.