First off, let me just say this: ChatGPT is my go-to AI sidekick. If this were a buddy cop movie, ChatGPT would be the wise-cracking partner who solves all the hard cases while I take the credit.
Why ChatGPT and Not Gemini?
Great question. It’s simple: I’m a Google guy. Our agency is powered by the Google universe—Google Apps, Ads, Analytics, Business Profile, Search Console, Looker Studio—you name it. We’re all about leveraging Google’s search dominance in North America to generate leads for our clients.
Now, Google’s Gemini might eventually outpace ChatGPT (they’ve got a lot of data, after all), but for now, I find ChatGPT’s answers sharper, its interface smoother, and its personality… well, less robotic.
So, let’s dive into my top 10 ways to make ChatGPT your productivity superhero.
1. Get the Plus Version
Yes, it’s $20 USD/month. But think of it this way: it’s like upgrading from dial-up to high-speed internet back in the day. Faster responses, more features, and the ability to feed it files, images, and websites for tailored help. Trust me, you’ll never go back.
2. Set It Up for Voice Commands
If you see me muttering to my Samsung Galaxy like a deranged wizard, I’m probably using ChatGPT via voice commands. With Android, I’ve set up my side button to open ChatGPT with a double-tap. It’s like having a personal assistant in my pocket—except I don’t have to pay it or pretend to remember its birthday.
Pro Tip: While ChatGPT is great for marketing or solving business dilemmas, it won’t tell you if you’ll hit traffic on the way to the dentist. (Yet.)
3. Train It with Killer Prompts
You get out what you put in. That’s the golden rule of ChatGPT. Craft prompts with as much context as possible. For example:
“You are a business owner in Vancouver, BC. Write an email to staff that is professional, succinct, and a bit cheeky.”
Save your best prompts in a doc for easy reuse. It’s like having a playbook for all your AI queries.
4. Polish Emails and Proposals
We’ve all been there: staring at an email draft, wondering why it reads like a ransom note. ChatGPT is great for refining your message. You can say, “Make this sound professional but still friendly,” or “Add a clear call-to-action.” It’s like having your own editorial team without the overhead.
5. Create Agreements and Legal Docs (Carefully)
While I wouldn’t trust ChatGPT to argue my case in court, it’s surprisingly helpful for drafting agreements. Provide enough context, and it’ll suggest clauses you might not have thought of. Of course, double-check everything with a lawyer unless you’re feeling adventurous.
6. Analyze Data (Like a Boss)
Whether it’s website traffic or engagement metrics, ChatGPT can help make sense of it all. While it doesn’t crunch raw data, it’ll happily break down summaries or answer questions about trends. My co-founder even uses it to analyze his health stats—because why not?
7. Demystify Complex Issues
SEO got you tangled up in buzzwords? Ask ChatGPT. From flat vs. hierarchical URL structures to Google’s 200+ ranking factors, it can break things down into digestible pieces. Recently, it helped me settle a debate about website structures (spoiler: I was right. Kinda).
8. Share the Wisdom
ChatGPT’s share feature is a game-changer. Have a great conversation about local SEO strategies? Send it to your team or that one friend who still insists on using keywords like “best plumber 2024” everywhere.
9. Find Spreadsheet Scripts
Need a script to split names into separate columns in Excel? ChatGPT’s got you. It can even help with more advanced tasks. This was one of the first ways I used it, and let me tell you, it’s like having an IT genius on speed dial.
10. Create Content Like a Pro
In today’s world, we’re all part-time media companies. Blog posts, e-books, newsletters—content is king, and ChatGPT is the court jester that keeps it all fun. Use it to brainstorm ideas, refine drafts, or even storyboard your next video.
We recently used ChatGPT to polish a series of e-books for home service companies, and the results were spot-on. Check out an example book here.
So, Are You Using ChatGPT Yet?
That’s my list! But I’m curious—are you already using ChatGPT in ways I haven’t mentioned? Let me know. And if you’re still hesitant, start small. Who knows? It might just become your new favorite coworker (after me, of course).
Got questions about AI or digital marketing? The team at North Shore Digital is here to help!
PS – I have to finish on this… Every company has one person leading the charge when it comes to new tech tools. For us, that’s Ira. I guess this is the final tip: get someone to follow who can advise you on the latest and greatest new changes to the platform. Here’s something he threw our way…
Ask ChatGPT the following prompt: “based on what you know of me, draw a picture of what you think my life is like?”
Here’s what it created for me: ‘Flexiplensy’ anyone? And what’s that small yellow car all about? And who is she? Maybe I need to change the privacy settings…
And one final thing…
Here’s the prompt I used to review my draft article for this post:
“I’m writing a blog for a digital marketing agency website. The target audience is business owners e.g. our current clients throughout Canada who typically run local service companies like landscaping, plumbing. We also have some health practices such as dentists and private schools. The title of the blog is ‘The 10 Ways I Use ChatGPT as a Business Owner to Improve Work Productivity & Efficiency’. I want it to be more engaging, humourous and fun to read and in my style of writing. Check out my other blog posts here: https://northshore.digital/author/andrew-jackson/ Here’s the post… (copy and paste)”
How very meta of me. How did it do?
