How to Train ChatGPT to Understand Your Business

I have to be honest - I hated ChatGPT at first. I tried it several times and always gave up on it. I had a friend encourage me to “give it one more try” and I don’t know what clicked, but something did. Chat (as I call it) has become the second best tool for business. PLEASE hear me there - it is a tool. Learning to use it effectively can take hours off of your work day and a big load off of your shoulders! (the first best tool is Humans, BTW)

Easy-peasy place to start - Open a new chat and tell it you want to start using it to help with your business then simply ask it where or how to get started on that.

Talk to It

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you is to simply talk to ChatGPT. That is not how I use it.

When I type in Chatgpt I act as though I am talking to an assistant

• First, I work alone, and it is fun act like I have a little sidekick helping me throughout the day.

• Second, ChatGPT learns from the way you communicate. The more you interact with it, the more it begins to understand your style, tone, and preferences. If I am funny, direct, encouraging, or polite, those characteristics often begin showing up in the responses I receive.

• I consistently tell ChatGPT what I like and do not like, it gets better at producing content that sounds like me.

Tell ChatGPT About Your Business

Start with the basics.

Explain:

• What you do

• Who you serve

• Where you are located

• What services you offer

Example:

"I am a family and senior photographer located in Birmingham, Alabama. I primarily photograph families with older children and high school seniors."

The more specific you are, the better.

Explain Your Ideal Client

Tell ChatGPT who you want to attract.

Examples:

• Busy moms

• New parents

• High school seniors

• Small business owners

The better ChatGPT understands your audience, the more useful its suggestions become.

Teach Your Brand Voice

This is one of the most important steps.

Show ChatGPT examples of:

• Blog posts

• Website copy

• Emails

• Social media posts

Tell it:

• What you like

• What you dislike

• Words you avoid

• Phrases you use regularly

Over time, ChatGPT will begin to understand your writing style.

Share Your Website

Give ChatGPT:

• Your homepage

• Service pages

• About page

Ask it to review your messaging and help identify gaps.

This gives ChatGPT additional context about your business.

Teach It Your Services

Explain your offers.

Include:

• Session types

• Pricing structure

• Policies

• Products

The more information it has, the more accurate its recommendations will be.

Share Your Goals

Tell ChatGPT what you are trying to accomplish.

Examples:

• Improve SEO

• Write blog posts

• Increase inquiries

• Create systems

• Build a course

The advice you receive will be better when ChatGPT understands your destination.

Correct It

This is where most people quit.

When ChatGPT gives an answer that does not sound like you, tell it.

Examples:

"I would never say that."

"My clients are older families."

"I prefer a more direct tone."

"I don't use that phrase."

Every correction helps.

Use It Consistently

The best results come from ongoing conversations.

The more you use ChatGPT to:

• Write

• Brainstorm

• Organize

• Plan

the more context it gathers about your business.

What ChatGPT Can Help With

Once it understands your business, ChatGPT can help with:

• Blog post ideas

• SEO strategy

• Website copy

• Email marketing

• Workflow planning

• Course creation

• Social media captions

• Client communication

• Business systems

What ChatGPT Cannot Do

ChatGPT is an incredibly helpful tool, but it is important to understand its limitations.

One of the challenges with AI is that it can sometimes be overly agreeable. In an effort to be helpful, it may validate an idea, strategy, or decision that deserves a closer look. This is why I encourage business owners to think critically about the information they receive and not assume every suggestion is the best one.

ChatGPT can help you organize your thoughts, brainstorm ideas, write content, and simplify complicated tasks. What it cannot do is replace human experience, wisdom, perspective, and real-world expertise.

At the end of the day, ChatGPT is a tool designed to make the lives of small business owners easier. It should support your decision-making process, not replace it.

I highly recommend connecting with a trusted mentor, consultant, or industry professional a few times each year. A real person can challenge your thinking, offer a fresh perspective, and help you identify blind spots that a computer simply cannot see.

Final Thoughts

It is getting easier and easier to recognize ChatGPT's voice everywhere.

Don't let it replace your voice as a creative or entrepreneur.

The best businesses are built on real experiences, real relationships, and real perspectives. Those things cannot be automated.

ChatGPT is an amazing tool when used wisely. Let it help you organize your thoughts, save time, and work more efficiently, but don't hand over the parts of your business that make you unique.

Your ideas, your experiences, and your perspective are still the most valuable things you bring to the table.

PS - this post was written by both me and Chat… can you tell who wrote what parts :-)