Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has revolutionized the content creation. It has helped many content creators supercharge their content creation process. But there is a knack for getting the most from your prompts.
Whether you’re a seasoned content creator looking to accelerate your content creation process or a newbie wondering where to start (in which case, why not check out our Knowledge Hub, which has hundreds of blogs on content marketing), this blog will guide you through ChatGPT prompts for editors and writers.
How Content Teams Can Use AI
The thought of incorporating AI can often be overwhelming. Knowing where to start is hard, especially when there is so much conflicting advice online. You want to find a way to use AI without it replacing you entirely, which will look different for every company. Our blog, How to Incorporate AI in Your Content Creation Process, has some great advice on using AI.
How to Get the Most From Your ChatGPT Prompts
Whether you’re an editor or a writer, the way you craft prompts is essential to getting the most out of your interactions with ChatGPT. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your conversations.
Keep It Simple and Concise
ChatGPT works better when it has simple and concise instructions. To get the most from your prompt, break more complex queries into smaller and more manageable chunks. Use plain language, and don’t overcomplicate your prompt.
Ask Direct Questions
While you can use simple imperative sentences as prompts for ChatGPT, you should also consider asking direct questions, especially if you’re not getting the answer you need. Because ChatGPT struggles to understand context, you sometimes need to point it in the right direction with specific prompts.
Provide Context
Briefly introducing the topic and providing relevant details to guide the response can be helpful. This approach helps ChatGPT understand what you’re seeking in its responses. Mention names, dates, or contexts to narrow down the scope.
Specify Your Format
If you’ve got a specific format in mind (e.g., blog, article, bullet list), it’s advisable to include this in your prompt. It can be as simple as saying, “Write a blog on…” or “Create a bullet list…”
Clarify Ambiguities
If your prompt has multiple meanings, clarify what you expect from ChatGPT. Doing so will help you get relevant information quickly, saving time.
Break It Down Into Steps
Often, projects are complex and have multiple steps. To avoid overwhelming or confusing ChatGPT, break your prompts into more manageable chunks. You’ll get more relevant responses, saving you stress in the long run.
Provide Examples and Key Information
If you’re looking for specific information, add examples to your prompt so ChatGPT understands what you’re looking for. You can ask for further examples.
Review and Refine
After you’ve received your response from ChatGPT, assess its accuracy, clarity, and appropriateness. You may need to ask follow-up questions for clarification or rewrite your prompt if you get entirely incorrect responses. Experiment with different phrasing to see how that affects ChatGPT’s responses.
Use a Style Guide
We’ve spoken before about the benefits of creating a style guide, one of which is maintaining consistency. You can add a style guide to train ChatGPT to write like you, preserving a consistent voice, tone, and style across all your content.
Prompt Examples for Writers and Editors
Here are some prompts for getting the most from ChatGPT:
- Can you suggest [number] content ideas for blogs on [specific topic/industry] that can appeal to [target audiences]? Provide a brief description of each suggestion. (E.g., Can you suggest 10 content ideas for blogs on sustainability that can appeal to homeowners living in large towns or cities? Provide a brief description of each suggestion.)
- What are some industry trends in [industry]? How can I incorporate these trends into my content? (E.g., What are some industry trends in hospitality? How can I incorporate these trends into my content?)
- Generate a list of bullet points of data I can include in an infographic on [topic]. (E.g., Generate a list of bullet points of data I can include in an infographic on our competitors’ spending.)
- What are some common questions people are asking about [topic/industry]? (E.g., What are some common questions people are asking about investing in stocks and shares?)
- Can you create an SEO-friendly title for my blog on [topic], taking into account the keyword(s) [keyword(s)]? (E.g., Can you create an SEO-friendly title for my blog on learning styles, taking into account the keywords: visual learning, auditory learning, read/write learning, and kinesthetic learning?)
- What keywords can I use for content on [topic] for [target audience] with an interest in [specific topic]? (E.g., What keywords can I use for content on health and well-being for women with an interest in learning yoga?)
- Generate a meta description for this [blog/content type]: [link]. (E.g., Generate a meta description for this blog: [link].)
- Suggest ways to make this content more scannable.
- Write a summary for this [content type]: [link]. (E.g., Write a summary for this blog: [link].)
- Using [test], evaluate my blog [link]. Identify areas I need to rephrase to aid readability. (E.g., Using the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, evaluate my blog [link]. Identify areas I need to rephrase to aid readability.)
- Check for consistent use of [terminology/brand names] throughout this [document/report]: [link]. (E.g., Check for consistent use of TechNik throughout this blog: [link].)
- Evaluate the word of this [document types] to ensure it aligns with [our style guide/tone/style]. (E.g., Evaluate the wording of this whitepaper to ensure it aligns with our style guide.)
- Review this [document/paragraph] for repetition and redundancies and suggest alternatives. (E.g., Review this paragraph for repetition and redundancies and suggest alternatives.)
- Check this document for convoluted sentences and clarity. Suggest ways to improve readability.
- Identify and correct any instances of [passive voice/run-on sentences]. (E.g., Identify and correct any instances of passive voice.)
- Adjust this [blog/whitepaper/article] to match [a specific style guide]. (E.g., Adjust this whitepaper to match AP Style.)
- Fix the citations in this content using [referencing system]. (E.g., Fix the citations in this content using Chicago Manual of Style.)
Check this content follows [dialect]. (E.g., Check this content follows US English conventions.)
Editing
If you decide to use generative AI, thoroughly edit your writing. ChatGPT has provided incorrect and legally unsound information, as we discussed in our article about whether AI is safe for content creators. When we tested ChatGPT, we found it couldn’t understand context or nuance and made significant changes to the meaning of the text. So, while ChatGPT has its uses, it’s no replacement for a human editor.
AI Editing Services
Do you want your AI-generated content to strike a chord with your readers? Proofed’s AI editing services can help humanize your AI content so you can focus on your business objectives and create content. Schedule a call today to discover how we can serve your business.
