Why Most Business Owners Get Rubbish Results from ChatGPT
If you've tried ChatGPT and got back generic nonsense that sounds like it was written by a robot, you're not alone. Most small business owners in Norfolk and Suffolk tell me the same thing: "I tried asking it to write something for my business, but it was complete rubbish."
The problem isn't ChatGPT itself – it's how you're asking it questions. Think of it like hiring a new apprentice who's eager to help but needs very specific instructions. Give vague directions, get vague results.
The good news? With the right prompts (that's just a fancy word for "questions" or "instructions"), ChatGPT becomes incredibly useful for your business. Let me show you exactly how.
The Golden Rule: Be Specific
Before we dive into the prompts, here's the most important rule: always tell ChatGPT exactly what you want, who you are, and who you're talking to.
Instead of: "Write me a social media post"
Try: "I'm a plumber in Norwich. Write me a Facebook post about why people should get their boiler serviced before winter. Make it friendly and mention that we offer free quotes. Keep it under 100 words."
See the difference? The second version tells ChatGPT your profession, location, topic, tone, key message, and length. That's how you get useful results.
Essential ChatGPT Prompts for Your Business
Customer Communication
These prompts help you write better emails, letters, and messages:
- Follow-up emails: "I'm a [your business type] in [your area]. Write a polite follow-up email to a customer who requested a quote 2 weeks ago but hasn't responded. Keep it friendly, not pushy."
- Thank you messages: "Write a thank you text message to send to customers after completing work. I'm an electrician and want to encourage reviews. Keep it under 160 characters."
- Appointment confirmations: "Create a professional but friendly email template to confirm appointments. Include spaces for [date], [time], and [service]. I run a cleaning business."
Marketing Content
Stop staring at blank social media posts. Use these instead:
- Seasonal posts: "I'm a gardener in Suffolk. Write 3 Facebook posts about autumn garden maintenance. Make them helpful, not salesy. Include a call-to-action for bookings."
- Before/after posts: "Write a LinkedIn post about a kitchen renovation project. I'm a builder and want to showcase the transformation while highlighting the craftsmanship. Professional tone."
- Educational content: "Create an Instagram caption explaining why regular gutter cleaning prevents expensive repairs. I'm a roofer. Make it informative but easy to understand."
Customer Service
Handle tricky situations with confidence:
- Complaint responses: "Help me respond to a customer complaint about delayed work due to bad weather. I'm a landscaper. Be empathetic, professional, and offer a solution."
- Price objections: "A customer says my quote is too expensive. Write a polite response explaining the value I provide. I'm a painter and decorator with 15 years experience."
Real-World Example: Sarah's Plumbing Success
Sarah runs a small plumbing business in Ipswich. She was spending hours each week writing social media posts and always felt stuck. Here's how ChatGPT transformed her marketing:
Sarah's prompt: "I'm a female plumber in Ipswich with 8 years experience. Write me 5 Facebook posts for this week. Topics: emergency call-outs, bathroom installations, why choose a local plumber, winter pipe protection, and customer testimonial request. Make them conversational and mention that I offer free quotes."
ChatGPT gave her five ready-to-post updates that sounded like her voice. Sarah tweaked a couple of details and had her entire week's content sorted in 10 minutes instead of 2 hours.
The result? Her social media engagement doubled, and she booked three new jobs directly from Facebook that month.
Quick Tips to Get Better Results
- Always mention your business type and location – it helps ChatGPT understand your context
- Specify the tone you want – friendly, professional, urgent, reassuring, etc.
- Set word limits – "Keep it under 50 words" or "Write about 200 words"
- Ask for multiple options – "Give me 3 different versions" lets you choose the best one
- Include your key message – what do you want people to do or remember?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't ask: "Write me something about my business."
Don't expect perfection first time – you might need to ask follow-up questions like "Make that shorter" or "Sound more professional."
Don't forget to personalise the results – add your own touches, local references, or specific details about your business.
Start This Week
Pick one prompt from this list and try it today. Don't overthink it – just copy one of the examples above, swap in your business details, and see what happens. You'll be surprised how much time ChatGPT can save you on everyday business tasks.
Remember, ChatGPT is like any tool – the more you use it, the better you get. Start with these simple prompts, and you'll soon be creating your own variations that work perfectly for your business.
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