You know that feeling when you’re hyped for a new gadget, rip open the box, and then… crickets? Or worse, you pull a Michael Scott and drive your digital marketing strategy straight into a lake? Yeah, we’ve all been there, or at least we’ve seen Michael do it.
Remember that iconic scene from The Office? Michael, with his trusty GPS barking orders, takes a sharp right turn straight into the drink, all while Dwight is practically having an aneurysm trying to explain common sense. “The machine knows!” Michael shouts, as his car takes an impromptu swim.
Honestly, that’s exactly what pops into my head when I see people eye-balling ChatGPT for their content marketing. They’re thinking: blogs, emails, social media — just let the AI do its thing, copy, paste, and BOOM! Instant content magic. Because, you know, the machine always knows, right?
Wrong. So, so wrong. This is peak Michael Scott content creation, and let me tell you, it’s a fast track to a drowned digital presence. In all the buzz surrounding AI, it’s easy to forget that ChatGPT, just like Michael’s trusty GPS, is a tool. And like any tool worth its salt, it demands a certain level of skill and know-how to wield effectively.
So, if you’re revving up to integrate AI into your content marketing, let’s not be Michaels, okay? Let’s be Dwights. Let’s bring that shrewd common sense and razor-sharp judgment to the party. To keep your content strategy afloat, here are some juicy do’s and don’ts for ChatGPT copywriting.
The “Do’s” of Copywriting with ChatGPT: Your AI-Powered Power-Ups
1. Do Use it for Brainstorming and Outlining: Your Idea Accelerator
Ever stared at a blank page so long your brain started to feel like a deflated balloon animal? Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. This is where ChatGPT copywriting truly flexes its muscles. Got a topic brewing? ChatGPT can whip up a killer outline faster than you can say “content calendar.”
Now, it’s not as simple as grunting, “Create an outline for a blog post on [your topic].” To get the real gold from ChatGPT, you gotta give it the good stuff – aka, super-specific, targeted prompts. Think of it like giving directions to a friend. “Head kinda in that direction” isn’t helpful. “Take a left at the taco truck, then a right at the giant squirrel statue” is much better.
Let’s say you’re about to drop some knowledge bombs on the benefits of organic dog food. Instead of a vague ask, tell ChatGPT about your blog’s vibe, desired length, target audience, and what action you want readers to take. Check out this prompt:
“Please create a blog post outline on the benefits of organic dog food. The tone should be friendly, informative, and slightly humorous, targeting millennial dog owners who are health-conscious. The blog should be around 1000 words and aim to encourage readers to explore premium organic dog food brands. Include a strong call to action at the end.”
See? Now we’re cooking with gas! A well-crafted prompt like that gives you a unique outline you can then refine with even more precise prompts for your ChatGPT copywriting efforts.
2. Do Use it to Write Effective Email Subject Lines: No More Subject Line Suffering
The sky is blue, water is wet, and crafting email subject lines that don’t suck is a Herculean task. These are just the immutable laws of the universe. But guess what? We can totally do something about that last one! Instead of head-desking your way to a perfect subject line that actually gets people to open your email, ChatGPT is your new secret weapon. A simple prompt and a few follow-up questions can make this process much less painful for your ChatGPT copywriting.
Imagine you need subject lines for an email promoting your epic summer sale. Here’s your starting point:
“Please generate 10 email subject lines for a summer sale on outdoor gear.”
Not quite hitting the mark? Follow up with, “Can you make them sound more casual and less salesy, maybe with a hint of adventure?”
Boom! You’ve just zapped away hours of agonizing over character counts and click-through rates. This is the fast lane to subject line stardom, thanks to smart ChatGPT copywriting.
3. Do Use it to Edit and Refine Your Message: Your Clarity Compass
The golden rule of writing? Clarity is king. If your content is murky, confusing, or just plain hard to digest, it’s pretty much useless. It won’t connect with your audience, and it certainly won’t hit those business goals you’re sweating over.
While a human editor (or your amazing Sproutbox team, wink wink) is still your ultimate wing-person, ChatGPT can be an incredible “second set of eyes” when you’re trying to iron out the creases in your first draft. This is a crucial aspect of effective ChatGPT copywriting.
I recently penned a blog post for a client that dove deep into some pretty complex financial wizardry. My big concern was making sure my main point didn’t get buried under a pile of jargon. So, I hit up ChatGPT with this gem:
“Please review my blog post and tell me what you think the main point is. Also, suggest ways to make the primary message clearer, and if possible, rewrite the introduction to highlight the main point more effectively.”
ChatGPT, in its eager-beaver fashion, practically chirped, “Of course! I’d be happy to review your blog post!” (A little too eager, maybe, but I’ll allow it.) I pasted my entire draft into the chat window, and faster than you can say “ROI,” ChatGPT told me what it thought my main point was, offered up brilliant suggestions for clarity, and even rewrote my introduction to put my core message front and center.
Now, did I blindly copy-paste its suggestions? Heck no! But it gave me invaluable insight into how well I was communicating, and it shone a spotlight on the rough edges that needed my personal touch. This is the power of using ChatGPT for copywriting refinement.
4. Bonus tip! Do remember to say please and thank you.
This is a technique that only ChatGPT masters use. Whenever I’m interacting with ChatGPT, I always say “Please” before every prompt and “Thank you!” after every response.
I’m kidding! Totally kidding. At least, I think I am . . . I mean, when AI takes over and rules us all, it can’t hurt to have been polite to our artificial overlords, right? ?
The “Don’ts” of Copywriting with ChatGPT: Avoid These Content Catastrophes
1. Don’t Believe Everything ChatGPT Says: It’s Not a Google Search with Opinions
Alright, let’s get real. There are more examples of ChatGPT spinning plausible-sounding but utterly bonkers information than there are TikTok dances. Ask for a list of books about your favorite obscure historical figure, and it might just invent a few titles for you. It’s like that friend who’s always got a story, but sometimes it’s pure fan-fiction.
Even OpenAI, the brilliant minds behind ChatGPT, admit its shortcomings: “ChatGPT sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.” And as one shrewd investment bank put it, “Accuracy will continue to be a challenge for the next couple of years.”
So, should you ditch ChatGPT entirely for your copywriting? Absolutely not! But — and this is a massive “but” — you must review and verify every single word you generate with ChatGPT before it sees the light of day. Your brand’s reputation, and the hard-won trust you’ve built with your audience, are on the line. Don’t let a chatbot’s creative liberties sink your ship.
2. Don’t Forget Your Brand Messaging and Voice Guidelines: Keep It Uniquely YOU
While ChatGPT can churn out some seriously impressive text, it often has a slight “generic and dare I say, robotic” vibe. It’s like a talented cover band – they sound good, but they’re not the original. That’s why, after you get your initial ChatGPT-generated copy, you need to go in and sprinkle in your brand’s unique fairy dust. This is critical for standout ChatGPT copywriting.
Your brand voice is your secret sauce. It’s what makes you stand out in a crowded digital landscape and forge an unbreakable bond with your audience. Having clear guidelines for your brand messaging and voice isn’t just “nice to have,” it’s essential. It creates consistency, shouts your brand identity from the rooftops, and makes your customers feel like they’re talking to a real human, not just another corporate drone.
(Side note: If your brand messaging and voice guidelines are still in the “someday” pile, no sweat! We totally specialize in helping brands nail that down. Just saying.)
3. Don’t Neglect Compliance and Legal Considerations: Play by the Rules
This one’s a biggie, especially if you’re thinking about using ChatGPT to whip up something like a privacy policy, or if you’re swimming in the regulated waters of industries like insurance or healthcare. While ChatGPT is a content-generating powerhouse, it completely lacks the contextual understanding and the nuanced knowledge of specific regulations and legal mumbo jumbo.
That’s why it’s absolutely non-negotiable to review and validate any content you create using ChatGPT to ensure it aligns with every single legal or transparency requirement specific to your industry. Neglecting to do so can lead to compliance issues, misrepresentation, potential copyright headaches, and a whole lot of unwanted drama. Don’t risk it, especially when using ChatGPT for copywriting in sensitive areas.
Make Your Marketing Shine: Beyond the Bots
Even with its quirks and a few rough edges, ChatGPT is a beast of a tool that’s only going to get smarter and more integrated into the world of content marketing. By sharpening your skills and sticking to these common-sense commandments, you can start leveraging ChatGPT copywriting today to supercharge your content game.
And hey, if you need more than a few ChatGPT hacks to get your content marketing engines roaring, you know who to call (or, you know, click). Sproutbox’s content marketing services are here for you. From epic blog posts and irresistible email campaigns to crafting your killer brand message and website copy, we’re here to help you create content that doesn’t just exist, but truly connects with your audience. We’d absolutely love to chat with you and help you avoid any digital detours into a lake!