91. Steal My Formula for Creating Custom ChatGPT Prompts That Boost Productivity
- Brittany Miller
- Mar 25
- 13 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Are you struggling to get the most out of ChatGPT? Maybe you’ve tried it before but felt underwhelmed by the responses. The truth might surprise you: it’s not the AI’s fault—it’s how you’re asking. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through my proven formula for creating custom ChatGPT prompts that truly boost productivity, streamline your business, and save you hours of time.
In this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through how to train ChatGPT to understand your style, crack the code on better AI responses, and refine its output so it works for YOU, and give yourself the confidence to create your own ChatGPT prompts that work right away.
We’ll cover everything from:
✔️ The power of starting with an adjective (game-changer!)
✔️ Using ChatGPT for brainstorming, planning, and critique
✔️ How to get a YouTube summary with ChatGPT in seconds
✔️ The best ways to organize information and conduct research
I’ll also share my personal process—because let’s be real, part of how I do so much is thanks to AI. When used correctly, ChatGPT becomes a powerful assistant that saves time, boosts creativity, and helps you work smarter, not harder.
Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or just someone curious about leveraging AI to work smarter (not harder), this article will equip you with the tools and mindset to make ChatGPT your secret weapon. I’ll share everything from the power of starting prompts with an adjective to how to refine outputs, brainstorm ideas, and even automate your marketing content.
If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Ready to start using ChatGPT in Canada (or anywhere in the world) like a pro? Tune in now and discover how to make AI your secret weapon for success!
Table of Contents
Why Custom ChatGPT Prompts Matter
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of prompt creation, let’s address a common misconception: if ChatGPT isn’t giving you great answers, it’s because you didn’t ask the right questions. Think about it this way—if you hired someone and gave them vague instructions, would you expect stellar results? Probably not. You’d invest time in training and clarifying expectations. ChatGPT works the same way.
Many people try ChatGPT once or twice, get mediocre results, and write it off as a tool that “just doesn’t work.” But the reality is that crafting effective prompts is an art and a skill. The better your prompt, the better the output. And once you master this skill, ChatGPT becomes an invaluable assistant that can handle everything from content creation to brainstorming, planning, editing, and even coaching.
Getting Started: Training Your ChatGPT Account
One of the first steps I recommend is spending time “training” your ChatGPT. This doesn’t mean coding or technical setup—it’s about teaching the AI who you are, what your business does, who you serve, and what your goals are. The more context you provide, the more tailored and relevant the responses become.
For example, you can start a prompt with a brief introduction like:
“I’m a digital marketing coach who helps small business owners streamline their social media and email marketing. My audience is busy entrepreneurs looking for practical, time-saving strategies.”
This kind of background helps ChatGPT understand your tone, style, and audience, so when you ask it to write something, the output feels personalized and on-brand.
Check out this tutorial if you need help explaining your businesses tone and brand voice to ChatGPT. ↓
The Secret Sauce: Start Every ChatGPT Prompt with an Adjective
Here’s a game-changing tip that transformed how I use ChatGPT: always start your prompt with an adjective. Why? Because adjectives tell ChatGPT what kind of action or tone you want.
Some examples of adjectives you can use include:
Write – for creating content like blog posts, social media captions, emails, or podcast show notes.
Summarize – to condense long articles, meeting notes, or research into key points.
Suggest or Generate – to come up with ideas, titles, or options.
Organize or List – to structure information or create lists like shopping lists or to-dos.
Brainstorm – for idea generation, naming products, or identifying pain points your audience faces.
Edit or Revise – to polish grammar, clarity, tone, and style.
Plan – to develop outlines or schedules, like marketing calendars or course launches.
Critique – to get constructive feedback on copy or content.
Translate – to convert text between languages.
Research – to gather competitive analysis or market insights.
By starting your prompt with an adjective, you immediately set the AI’s “job” which helps it deliver precise, relevant results. For example, instead of saying “Help me with podcast titles,” say “Generate five enticing podcast titles.” The difference is subtle but powerful.
Examples of Effective Prompts Starting with Adjectives
Write a 300-word blog post about the benefits of email marketing for small businesses.
Summarize this 2,000-word article into the top five key takeaways.
Suggest five creative social media post ideas for a fitness coach.
Organize this list of ideas into categories based on priority and effort.
Brainstorm names for a new line of eco-friendly kitchen products.
Edit this email for clarity and brand voice.
Plan a 90-day launch strategy for an online course.
Critique this website homepage copy for engagement and clarity.
Loving this blog so far, you can watch the epsidoe on YouTube.
Adding Context: The Three-Part Formula for Custom ChatGPT Prompts
Once you start your prompt with an adjective, the next step is to give ChatGPT enough context to deliver exactly what you want. My personal formula for creating custom prompts looks like this:
Adjective – What you want ChatGPT to do (e.g., write, summarize, brainstorm).
Specific task details – Briefly explain the task or content you need.
Background info about you and your business – One sentence to clarify who you are, your audience, and goals.
Additional instructions or info – Any extra details, keywords, tone preferences, or length requirements.
Here’s an example prompt I use regularly:
“Generate five enticing titles for this podcast episode in 200 characters or less that include one of the following keywords: quitting social media. Here's some information about the episode: [Insert episode summary]. I’m a digital marketing coach helping busy entrepreneurs grow their business without burnout.”
Notice how this prompt starts with an action word (“Generate”), clearly states the task, provides background, and includes specific instructions about length and keywords. This level of detail helps ChatGPT nail the output on the first try.
Using Roles to Guide ChatGPT
Another effective way to prompt ChatGPT is by asking it to act as a specific role. This technique works well when you want the AI to adopt a particular perspective or expertise.
For example, you might say:
“Act as a professional copywriter and write a 350-word podcast description in my brand tone.”
“Act as a seven-figure business coach and help me create a marketing plan.”
“Act as a social media strategist and suggest five post ideas for Instagram.”
This approach sets expectations for the style, depth, and quality of the response, often resulting in more polished and on-point content.
How I Use ChatGPT in My Digital Marketing Business
As a digital marketing coach and busy mom of three, ChatGPT is a cornerstone of how I manage my business. I rely on it daily for tasks such as:
Writing social media captions and blog posts.
Generating podcast episode titles and show notes.
Summarizing long articles or meeting notes.
Brainstorming new product ideas or marketing strategies.
Editing emails and marketing copy for clarity and tone.
Organizing scattered notes and ideas into structured documents.
One example I love is using ChatGPT to generate multiple podcast title options based on a keyword or episode theme. Instead of spending 15-20 minutes brainstorming, I input a detailed prompt and get five creative options in seconds. Then I simply pick the one I like best or combine elements to create the perfect title.
This kind of streamlined workflow frees up my time to focus on what really matters: connecting with clients and growing my business.
Want to take your ChatGPT skills to the next level?
If you're loving the idea of using AI to save time and boost productivity—but still feel unsure how to actually make it work for your business—my “Cracking the Code: ChatGPT for Social Media Success” masterclass is for you.
Inside, I walk you through my exact process for creating custom prompts, writing content faster, and turning ChatGPT into your go-to marketing assistant.
It’s practical, easy to follow, and designed for busy entrepreneurs like you. Grab the masterclass here and start working smarter today.
Tips for Crafting Powerful ChatGPT Prompts
Now that you know the basics, here are my top tips to get the most out of your ChatGPT prompts:
Be specific: The more precise you are about what you want, the less editing you’ll need to do later. Include details about length, tone, keywords, and format.
Provide context: Tell ChatGPT who you are, your audience, and your goals. This helps personalize the response.
Ask for multiple options: For creative tasks like titles or ideas, request several alternatives to choose from.
Refine and revise: Don’t settle for the first output. Give feedback within the prompt to tweak tone, length, or style. For example, “Make this more conversational” or “Shorten this to 150 words.”
Use role-playing: Have ChatGPT act as an expert in your field to elevate the quality of responses.
Train over time: Just like an intern, ChatGPT gets better when you provide feedback and refine prompts regularly.
Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different adjectives, roles, and instructions. Trial and error is part of the process.
Common Use Cases for ChatGPT in Business
Here are some practical ways you can integrate ChatGPT into your daily business operations:
1. Content Creation
Writing blog posts, social media captions, email newsletters, and podcast show notes.
Generating headlines, titles, and meta descriptions.
Creating content outlines or drafts to speed up writing.
2. Summarization and Organization
Summarizing lengthy articles, reports, or meeting notes into digestible points.
Organizing scattered ideas or research into structured documents.
Listing action items or to-dos based on brainstorming sessions.
3. Brainstorming and Ideation
Generating product or service names.
Brainstorming marketing campaigns or lead magnets.
Identifying pain points your audience faces and suggesting solutions.
4. Editing and Proofreading
Checking grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Revising content for clarity, tone, and brand voice.
Shortening or expanding text to fit specific formats.
5. Planning and Strategy
Developing launch plans for courses or products.
Creating content calendars or marketing schedules.
Generating competitive analysis or SWOT research.
6. Coaching and Support
Getting marketing advice or strategy suggestions.
Clarifying areas where you may need human coaching.
Practicing brainstorming to refine your business ideas.
Limitations: When to Hire a Human Coach or Expert
Okay, let’s have a real moment—ChatGPT is great, but it’s not magic. It’s a computer program that processes vast amounts of information but doesn’t fully grasp human nuances, emotions, or complex personal development needs. Meaning that it can’t replace your intuition, strategy, or the personal insight a coach or expert brings to the table.
Here’s when you should probably skip the AI and go straight to a human:
You’re stuck in decision paralysis. ChatGPT can give you 20 options, but it won’t help you figure out which one is actually right for your brand.
You need emotional nuance. If you’re writing a sales page, launching a course, or pitching your story, there’s a depth and resonance that only a human touch brings.
You’re scaling and need strategy. Tools are helpful—but growth comes from clear vision and execution. A mentor, coach, or strategist can help you see the big picture and put all the puzzle pieces together because of their lived experience, ChatGPT's ideas are all theoretical and often limited in scope.
You need accountability. ChatGPT won’t DM you to check if you wrote your newsletter. A coach (hi, that’s me!) absolutely will.
I use AI tools every day in my business—but I still lean on human support for high-level thinking, copywriting, decision-making, and coaching. And so should you.
How to Refine ChatGPT Outputs for Maximum Impact
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make with ChatGPT is thinking the first answer is the final answer. Spoiler: it's not. That first draft is just the beginning.
Think of ChatGPT like a really smart intern—it can produce a solid foundation, but it needs your direction to hit the mark. Here’s how I refine ChatGPT outputs so they actually sound like me and serve their purpose:
Re-prompt with feedback. You can say things like, “Make it more playful,” or “Rewrite this for a service-based business,” or “Shorten this to 150 words.”
Ask it to follow brand voice guidelines. Provide a sample of your writing and say, “Match this tone: casual, empowering, direct.”
Use multiple prompts to tweak different parts. I’ll often generate a blog outline in one prompt, then feed each section back in for individual expansion or tone adjustment.
Use “start over” if the thread goes off-track. Sometimes a fresh chat produces better results than over-correcting an existing one.
If you’re finding the results too bland, generic, or just off—you probably haven’t given it enough direction. More clarity = better output. Give it feedback like you would a real team member, and you’ll be shocked at how much better it gets.
Examples of Custom ChatGPT Prompts in Action
Here are some real-world prompts you can start using today:
Write a 250-word blog post on “How to Save Time with Email Marketing” in a friendly and approachable tone.
Summarize this article about social media trends into five bullet points.
Generate five catchy Instagram captions for a new yoga studio launch.
Organize my notes from last week’s team meeting into three categories: immediate actions, long-term goals, and questions.
Brainstorm ten product ideas for eco-conscious mothers aged 30-45.
Edit this email newsletter for clarity and brand voice.
Plan a 60-day content calendar for a health coaching business.
Critique this sales page and suggest three improvements.
Translate this marketing copy from English to French.
Research five competitors in the online coaching space and summarize their unique selling points.
Resources to Help You Master ChatGPT Prompts
To get you started, I offer several free and paid resources designed especially for business owners:
Free ChatGPT Prompt Guide: Over 100 tested prompts for social media, email marketing, podcasting, blogging, and more. Grab it in the show notes or from my website.
“Cracking the Code: ChatGPT for Social Media Success” Masterclass: A step-by-step course that walks you through using ChatGPT from beginner to advanced levels, including my exact prompt flows.
Marketing & Small Business Coaching: Personalized coaching to help you integrate AI tools and refine your overall marketing strategy.
These resources will accelerate your learning curve and help you get better results faster.
Frequently Asked Questions About ChatGPT Prompts
Q: How long should my ChatGPT prompts be?
A: Prompts can be as short as a sentence or several sentences long. The key is clarity and enough detail to guide the AI. Start with an adjective, specify your task, provide context about your business, and add any extra instructions.
Q: Can ChatGPT write in my brand voice?
A: Yes! By telling ChatGPT about your brand and giving examples of your tone, you can ask it to write or revise content in your unique style. You may need to refine the output a few times for perfection.
Q: How do I get ChatGPT to generate multiple ideas or options?
A: Simply ask it to “generate five ideas” or “suggest three options” in your prompt. This helps you choose the best fit without starting from scratch each time.
Q: Is ChatGPT effective for planning and strategy?
A: It can provide useful outlines and suggestions for marketing plans, content calendars, and launches, but it’s best used alongside human judgment and expertise from social media managers, content strategists etc.
Q: How can I ensure ChatGPT understands Canadian English?
A: While ChatGPT defaults to American English, you can specify “write in Canadian English” in your prompt. However, you might still need to manually adjust spellings or phrases.
Q: Can ChatGPT replace a human coach?
A: No. ChatGPT is a fantastic assistant for ideas and content, but it lacks the emotional intelligence, accountability, and personalized insight a human coach provides.
Wrapping It Up: Why You Should Start Using Custom ChatGPT Prompts Today
Learning to craft effective ChatGPT prompts is like unlocking a superpower for your business. Instead of spending hours stuck on content creation, brainstorming, or planning, you can get high-quality outputs in seconds. It’s about working smarter, freeing up your time, and focusing on what you do best.
Remember, ChatGPT is a tool—a powerful one—but it requires your input, feedback, and creativity to reach its full potential. Think of it as your AI intern who learns and improves with your guidance. The more you practice, refine, and experiment with prompts, the better your results will be.
If you’re ready to take your business productivity to the next level, start by downloading my free ChatGPT Prompt Guide and consider enrolling in the “Cracking the Code” masterclass. These resources will help you streamline your marketing, automate tedious tasks, and reclaim your time.
Don’t let the fear of learning something new hold you back. Just like mastering Instagram or any new skill, it takes time and practice, but the payoff is huge. ChatGPT is here to help you go from overwhelmed to organized, from stuck to unstoppable.
So go ahead, give it a try this week. Play with prompts, make mistakes, tweak your requests, and watch your business soar. And if you ever want to chat or need support, I’m just a DM away on Instagram.
Here’s to working smarter, not harder—and to going out there and getting great!
Need real support in your business—not just AI advice?
If you’re ready to streamline your marketing, organize your ideas, or finally bring that course or content plan to life, I’m here for you. My VIP Days and Strategic Coaching are designed to give you done-for-you and done-with-you support so you can stop spinning your wheels and start taking aligned, intentional action.
Go Get Great Episode 91 References
Free ChatGPT Prompt Guide https://www.brittanymillersocials.ca/chatgpt-prompts-for-social-media-marketing
Cracking the Code: ChatGPT for Social Media Success Course
Marketing & Small Business Coaching Services https://www.brittanymillersocials.ca/coaching-social-media-services
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00:00 Intro
1:40 Training your ChatGPT account
3:30 Start ChatGPT Prompts with an adjective
5:00 ChatGPT Prompt for organization
7:00 Using ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas
8:00 ChatGPT vs. Marketing Coaches
9:10 Edit and review prompts
10:10 Planning in ChatGPT
11:00 Critique adjectives for prompts
11:50 ChatGPT prompts for research
12:20 Providing additional details
16:40 Act as a "role"
18:30 Custom ChatGPT prompt recap
22:00 Wrap up
