ChatGPT and AI are everywhere and along with it, lots of clever uses cases for course creators. But AI is a tool, not a replacement. It’s a resource for brainstorming, not something that can completely do your work for you. You’re smarter than a machine, but we all get a little stuck sometimes. That’s where writing your ChatGPT prompts strategically comes into play.
I personally don’t use ChatGPT to completely write my sales pages, emails or other content, but I don’t mind letting it help me get started, or even just brainstorm ideas for me to write myself. Even though AI has grown so much over the past 12 months, we need to remember we’re still speaking to a robot here, not a human, and how you ask for help matters.
Once you apply a few simple tips on how to write effective prompts for ChatGPT, you will be able to use it as a powerful tool for your business. So, let’s dig in!
🫸 I made a list of the 33 most over-used words generated by AI for marketers, course creators, and coaches — jump to it here
How to Write ChatGPT Prompts
ChatGPT prompt creation is a new skill on its own. To use AI the right way for your business, you need to understand how to get the best results. And that comes from crafting the best ChatGPT prompts, which means:
1) Be clear about what you want.
You are speaking to a robot, after all. It has all kinds of access to data but it doesn’t understand YOU. If you want it to understand what you need, you need to be super clear and ask for it. Feel free to also say what you don’t want.
ChatGPT Prompt Example:
Instead of just: “Provide 20 episode ideas on the topic of productivity.”
Try This: “I’d like you to come up with 20 new podcast episode titles about productivity as a business owner and entrepreneur. For example: hot to use tools like ClickUp, time blocking, planning your quarter, when it’s time to outsource, etc. Please keep the title ideas interesting, positive, and engaging.”
Yes – I say please. You don’t have to as it won’t affect the outcome, but I can’t help typing it so I don’t bother to edit it out.
2) You need to give it context and help it out a bit.
Simply put: YOU are the secret sauce of your business. ChatGPT can help you, but it doesn’t have that secret sauce that you have. So, you need to provide some of that in your prompts to get the best possible outputs.
Copy and paste any information that would help into the chat.
For example:
If you’re looking for ideas on rewriting a sales page: copy and paste your current sales page copy as a reference (or the live URL if you have ChatGPT Plus with internet browsing).
If you want new digital product ideas: include who you are, what you do, what you currently offer, and who your audience is in the prompt. Otherwise, you might get ideas that aren’t really relevant or are super broad. The more specific you can be, the better!
3) Make sure you know your brand voice.
One super important part about writing ChatGPT prompts is having an understanding of what your brand style and voice are.
No robot will likely ever capture your voice completely, but you’ll get much better results if you know this info and provide it to ChatGPT when writing prompts.
4) Provide feedback and ask for changes.
ChatGPT is not a one-prompt-and-done solution. You need to provide feedback, ask questions, and have the output refined until it’s close enough. Then you can take it and add your human touch to it!
The List of Over-Used ChatGPT and AI Words for Marketers You Might Want to Avoid:
One thing that bothers me about ChatGPT is how very unlike me the output content sounds. It’s not surprising, of course, because it’s a machine, and so I firmly believe you should not use the generated text as is – you’ve got to make it your own! I spend a few minutes swapping out stiff-sounding phrases and words that I never use for things I actually say in my day-to-day life and in my copywriting.
ChatGPT has a tendency to over-use certain words and also over-enthusiastically add emojis.
I recently asked my audience on Threads which words AI has ruined for them due to overuse and it was a pretty long list! Most of us never use these words, so it feels a bit odd to suddenly have them appear in every piece of copy you make public. So, you might want to avoid/remove these words from your copy or content or it might seem like it’s AI-generated:
What are some overused words in AI-generated copy to avoid?
- unleash
- unlock
- embark
- ninja
- empower
- skyrocket
- ever-evolving
- captivate
- essential / crucial
- brilliance
- new heights
- picture this:
- next-level
- you see,
- utilize
- ditch
- demystify
- revolutionize
- game-changing
- delve into
- master / mastery
- hope this finds you well
- struggle (-ling)
- harness
- ensure
- transform (-ative)
- empower
- navigate
- leverage (-aging)
- magnetic
- realm
- peace of mind
ChatGPT Prompts List for Course Creators:
I couldn’t share this blog post without giving you some example ChatGPT prompts just for course creators! Anything in bold you’ll want to add your own information.
1) To Improve Your Online Course:
I have an online course called [NAME] about [TOPIC] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] to/with [YOUR COURSE PROMISE]. Here is a list of what’s included and the lessons, can you come up with some ideas or ways that I could improve this course? [COPY & PASTE YOUR LESSON TITLES]
For example:
I have an online course called Email Marketing 101 about email marketing that helps newer entrepreneurs start an email list and get their first 1000 email subscribers without social media. Here is a list of what’s included and the lessons, can you come up with some ideas or ways that I could improve this course?
Lesson 1: Choosing Your Email Service Provider
Lesson 2: Email Marketing Set Up
Lesson 3: Writing Emails That People Want to Read
Lesson 4: Email Analytics
Lesson 5: Creating a Lead Magnet
Lesson 6: Nurturing Your List
Lesson 7: Staying Consistent with Email
2) To Brainstorm Online Course Ideas:
I’m a [TITLE] who helps [YOUR IDEAL AUDIENCE] to/with [WHAT YOU DO]. I’d like to create an online course about [TOPIC]. Can you come up with [#] course ideas that might be relevant to my audience?
For example:
I’m a business strategist who helps 6 figure entrepreneurs who are overwhelmed with outsourcing and hiring a small team. I’d like to create an online course about managing a team and communication. Can you come up with 10 course ideas that might be relevant to my audience?
3) To Write Course Promo Emails:
I’m launching a new online course soon called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE] who want to [WHAT THEY WANT]. The course opens for enrollment on [DATE] and the cart closes on [DATE]. The price is [$xx] and if they sign up before [DATE] they will save/get [DEAL OR BONUS OFFER]. I’d like to send [#] emails to my list for this launch. Can you write the emails in a [VOICE] tone of voice and [STYLE] style?
I’d like these emails written:
[DATE] – Email #1 – Announcement email
[DATE] – Email #2 – Focus on the details of the bonus
[DATE] – Email #3 – Ends tomorrow email
[DATE] – Email #4 – Ends today, last chance email
[DATE] – Email #5 – sent to people who clicked but didn’t purchase yet when there are only 4 hours left to go
Let’s start with email #1.
4) To Create Social Media Content Promoting Your Course:
I’m launching a new online course soon called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE] who want to [WHAT THEY WANT]. The course opens for enrollment on [DATE] and the cart closes on [DATE]. The price is [$xx] and if they sign up before [DATE] they will save/get [DEAL OR BONUS OFFER]. Can you write [#] social media posts for [PLATFORM] in a [VOICE] tone of voice and [STYLE] style to promote this course to the right people?
5) To Write a Script for a Course Lesson:
I am creating a course called [NAME] on [TOPIC] to help [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. I’m working on a lesson about [TOPIC]. Can you write a video script for this lesson that will cover [THIS], [THIS], and [THIS]. I would like the video to be approximately [#] minutes in length.
NOTE: Be sure to fact-check the provided script thoroughly before you start recording; ChatGPT is not the most current or up to date and you are the subject matter expert
6) To Outline a Workbook for a Course Lesson:
I have a course called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE]. I have a lesson within the course called [NAME] that covers [WHAT THE LESSON IS ABOUT]. Here is the video transcript of that lesson for reference. Can you use the transcript to outline a workbook that could accompany this lesson? [COPY & PASTE THE TRANSCRIPT]
7) To Understand Your Ideal Audience:
Can you come up with 3 different buyer personas that would be the perfect person for my online course? Please include what they are struggling with and what they hope to achieve from the course. Here are the details about the course: [COPY & PASTE INFO FROM YOUR SALES PAGE]
8) To Come Up With a Name for Your Online Course:
I want to create a new online course about [TOPIC]. The ideal audience is [IDEAL AUDIENCE]. The course will help them [COURSE PROMISE]. Can you come up with [#] fun and catchy names for this course?
For example:
I want to create a new online course about dealing with negative self talk. The ideal audience is female entrepreneurs who are struggling with comparing themselves to others, overworking themselves, undercharging, and are scared of success. The course will help them improve their self worth, mindset, and discover ways to overcome negative self talk with my own framework. Can you come up with 20 fun and catchy names for this course?
9) To Write the Sales Page Copy for Your Course:
I am creating a course called [NAME] on [TOPIC] to help [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you write a medium-length sales page for this course in a [VOICE] voice and [STYLE] style?
10) To Improve the Sales Page Copy of Your Course:
If you don’t have ChatGPT Plus:
I have a course called [NAME] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you review this sales page and rewrite the copy so it’s more engaging? Let’s do it one section at a time. Here is the first section: [COPY & PASTE]
If you do have ChatGPT Plus:
I have a course called [NAME] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you review this sales page and rewrite the copy so it’s more engaging? Here is the link: [ADD LIVE SALES PAGE URL]
My Favorite AI Tools:
Besides ChatGPT, I do have a few other favorite AI tools that you’ll want to take a look at.
The Marketing Magic App is brilliant, especially for course creators and digital product sellers. With the app, you don’t have to write your own prompts – it’s handled for you based on the information you provide one time. You can click here to get a free trial to test it out! I offer a free Thrivecart template with purchases made with my affiliate link, head here to learn more about the free template bonus and see the app in action.
CastMagic is also a good AI tool for repurposing content or video transcripts into different content ideas or formats quickly and easily!
But remember: AI isn’t a replacement for you. Being able to use it properly is a skill, and using AI as a tool to save time is a good thing! Just make sure to not lose your own voice or secret sauce in the process.
