Why you should, and shouldn't, trust ChatGPT
Have you been wondering how AI tools like ChatGPT can help you in your small business marketing strategy? Have you been hesitant to use ChatGPT at all?
TLDR:
First: Why you SHOULD use ChatGPT
Next: Why you SHOULDN’T trust ChatGPT
Then! The 12 Components of a great ChatGPT prompt
Finally: An EFFECTIVE small business marketing prompt you can use today!
Don’t be scared of ChatGPT
AI has received much scrutiny lately, and it should! If you were paying attention to the historic 2023 Writers Strike, which was followed quickly by the SAG-AFTRA Strike, you already know that the use of Artificial Intelligence was hotly debated. As a writer, I am on the side of writers and absolutely support these strikes. So, how am I here telling you that you should go ahead and maybe give something like ChatGPT a try?
ChatGPT is a tool. In my work and everyday life, I use lots of tools and gadgets to make things easier. I think of ChatGPT as my little research buddy. ChatGPT is a robust helper, kicking back answers to some of my questions much more quickly than I can research on my own. It's free to use, so the risk of testing something like this is pretty low and one reward is that you're at least familiar with a tool your competitors are certainly using. Click here to try it now.
Don't trust ChatGPT implicitly
Once you get started, you'll see there are many ways you can use ChatGPT to give you a hand with your work. Here’s a prompt I often use.
Prompt: Please check the following paragraph for proper grammar and punctuation.Just today, however, my little research buddy and I got in a bit of a tiff after this prompt. The first paragraph I asked for help on resulted in a few changes. But, I couldn't see what was fixed after ChatGPT provided results for the second paragraph. So, I asked, "Were any corrections made?"
Look at the audacity, I mean APOLOGY I received in response...
` ChatGPT: I apologize for any confusion. It appears that there was an error in my previous response. Upon reevaluation, I see that no corrections were made to the paragraph you provided. The original paragraph you provided is already well-structured and does not require any grammar or punctuation corrections. It is clear and well-written. `
So, as you can see, sometimes ChatGPT is going to make mistakes or communicate incorrectly. It's not a perfect tool or perfect at anything. ChatGPT also doesn’t provide sources for the information it kicks back to you, so it’s important that you trust yourself as the expert and never directly copy and paste something ChatGPT has provided or consider it final on any subject. Not only does this tool have a distinct robotic voice of its own, but it often sounds more confident than it should when providing info that is, at most, only to the best of its knowledge base, which only goes up to 2021. If anything has changed in your field in the last two years, it is up to you to know about it.
But, isn't it nice to see ChatGPT take accountability? A whole apology! I really do appreciate my research buddy, and I make sure to say "thank you" often.
A Quality Question
Lately, I love asking other people who are using ChatGPT, "What was the very first question you ever asked?" In research, you'll find the quality of your results depends in part on the quality of the initial question.
What was my first question? Since I was looking for the best way to engage this new-to-me tool, I wanted to know, as I would with any new team member or client, what are the best ways to work with you? I asked, “What are the main components of a high-quality chatGPT prompt question?”
According to ChatGPT itself, the following 12 components give the best results. Keep these in mind when you are creating your prompt.
The 12 Components of a High-Quality Prompt Question for ChatGPT
1. Context and Introduction: Begin with a brief context or introduction to provide the model with the necessary background information. This helps set the stage for the conversation and ensures that the model understands the context of the conversation.
2. Specificity: Be as specific as possible about what you want from the model. Instead of asking a vague question, provide clear details or specify the type of information you're looking for. This helps the model generate more relevant responses.
3. Clear Question or Prompt: Formulate a clear and concise question or prompt. If you're looking for a specific answer, ask the question in a straightforward manner. If you're looking for a more creative response, frame your prompt in a way that encourages creativity.
4. Instructions: Include any necessary instructions or guidelines. You can tell the model how to approach the question, and the tone to use, or even ask it to list pros and cons, provide examples, or compare different options.
5. Constraints: If applicable, provide any constraints or limitations for the response. This can help ensure that the generated output adheres to certain guidelines or stays within a specific scope.
6. Examples: Including examples of the type of response you're looking for can help the model better understand your expectations. You can provide sample answers or scenarios to guide the model's output.
7. Conversation Flow: If your prompt is part of an ongoing conversation, consider including previous messages or interactions to give the model the necessary context to continue the conversation smoothly.
8. Politeness and Respect: Use polite and respectful language in your prompt. Remember that the model's responses will likely mirror the tone you set in the prompt.
9. Rephrasing: If you're not satisfied with the initial response, you can experiment with rephrasing or providing additional context to guide the model towards the desired direction.
10. Length and Complexity: Depending on your requirements, you can specify the desired length and complexity of the response. You can ask for a short, concise answer or a more in-depth explanation.
11. Specifics and Details: If your question involves specific details or data, make sure to include them in the prompt to get a response that takes those specifics into account.
12. Revision and Iteration: Don't hesitate to refine and iterate your prompt if the initial responses are not meeting your expectations. Adjusting your prompt can often lead to more accurate and relevant results.
Remember that while ChatGPT is powerful, it's not infallible. Crafting a clear and detailed prompt can greatly enhance the likelihood of getting the response you're looking for. Experimentation and refinement are key to achieving the best results.
ChatGPT for Small Business Marketing
Here is a prompt you can copy and paste and use to gather some marketing ideas for your small business today.
Prompt: Can you tell me 10 key words a {your type of business} based in Seattle, WA USA {or, your location} should be ranking for on Google?If you haven't already, I hope you give this tool a spin. Ask a quality question and see how quickly you get back some helpful answers. If you'd like to talk more about ChatGPT and other AI tools and how they can help you with your small business, contact me. I'd love to know about your first ChatGPT question!
