How to Write with ChatGPT
If you make a living writing, an AI language model might sound a little daunting. However, ChatGPT isn’t meant to replace the writer—it’s a valuable tool that both makes the writer’s job easier and makes the writing process more enjoyable.
Let’s take a closer look at how to use ChatGPT for copywriting and learn more about how this AI can make your work easier—and actually improve it. I can already tell you that, as a copywriter, you don’t need to break a sweat when you hear the words “artificial intelligence.”
What is AI?
You know AI as artificial intelligence—that is, technology designed to mimic human intelligence. But over the past year, AI has advanced at an explosive pace with the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022.
It may be the most talked-about and hyped AI tool ever—and for good reason. ChatGPT represents a new level in language modeling, capable of generating human-like text like never before.
Before we move on, let's take a quick look at how ChatGPT describes itself:
The data on which ChatGPT is based consists of large amounts of text from the internet and other sources, which the bot can analyze and replicate in new formats.
You can quickly and easily generate responses that match the input you provide to the bot. You do this using what are called prompts—these are essentially commands that tell the bot what you want it to respond to. The more information you provide, the better the text the bot “spits out.”
As ChatGPT says, it has neither experience nor emotions. And that is precisely why human intervention is still needed to create original and personal texts—but we’ll come back to that.
How do I use AI as a copywriter?
In an age when technology is advancing at lightning speed, it is essential for copywriters to view artificial intelligence—including ChatGPT—as an ally rather than a competitor.
When I write texts, I always use a rhetorical template that dates all the way back to antiquity. First, I work on generating ideas (inventio); next, I structure my text (dispositio); and finally, I make sure to adapt the language (elocutio). Throughout all these phases, I focus on my target audience and the context in which I’m writing (intellectio).
Since I started using ChatGPT, I've discovered that not only have these stages become easier—but they've actually helped me produce better writing.
Idea Generation
ChatGPT can help suggest topics, angles, and perspectives that you might not have considered on your own.
➤ Prompt idea: “I’m working on a [describe the purpose of your text, e.g., article, presentation, marketing campaign] about [describe the topic or main theme]. I’m looking for some fresh and original ideas or angles that can make my text more engaging and informative. Can you help me come up with some creative ideas or suggestions to enrich my text?”
Structure
With ChatGPT's help, you can organize your arguments and ideas more quickly in a logical and persuasive way.
➤ Prompt idea: “I’m working on a [describe the purpose of your text, e.g., blog post, email, article] about [describe the topic or main theme]. I need help organizing my ideas and creating a coherent structure for the text. Can you give me suggestions on how to divide the text into sections or headings and arrange my ideas in a logical order?”
Language
ChatGPT can provide suggestions for tone of voice, word choice, synonyms, grammar, and general stylistic elements that tailor your text to your target audience.
➤ Prompt idea: “I’m writing a [describe the purpose of your text, e.g., blog post, landing page, or product description] aimed at [describe your target audience, e.g., technical experts, general consumers]. I’d like some help tailoring the language to suit the target audience. Can you give me advice on how to make the text [select the relevant criteria, e.g., more technical, more accessible, more formal, more informal]?”
Target Audience
the company's brand by feeding ChatGPT relevant information. If you have access to the GPT-4 model, you can also include links that the bot can analyze and use to provide advice.
➤ Prompt idea: “I need to write some copy for [your company name or a brief description of your company]. We primarily target [describe your target audience, e.g., young professionals, small businesses, technical experts]. I need to write copy that aligns with our brand and appeals to our target audience. Can you help me understand our company’s identity and tone of voice, and offer advice on how I can best tailor my copy to our target audience’s preferences and needs?”
It may take a little practice to learn how to prompt ChatGPT effectively, but I promise that once you’ve cracked the code, you’ll be able to write at a whole new level like never before.
Another little trick is to have the bot write your prompt. You just tell it what you need help with and ask if it can write a prompt for it. I've actually done that for all of the examples above.
5 Tips for Using AI in Digital Marketing
AI isn’t just part of the future of digital marketing —it’s already part of the present. With ChatGPT as your digital assistant, you’ll have a reliable colleague who never takes a vacation, never gets tired, and can help you with your daily tasks.
When navigating the digital marketing jungle, it can be a challenge to keep up with the latest trends and tools. And it’s precisely in situations like this that you should turn to ChatGPT.
1. Create compelling ad copy
When it comes to digital ad formats like Google Ads or social media ads, the battle for attention is fierce. ChatGPT can help you craft sharp, compelling ad copy that not only catches the eye but is also optimized to convert curious clicks into solid leads.
2. Write SEO-friendly web content
ChatGPT can refine your web content to ensure that it’s not only engaging and informative but also SEO-friendly. This means your content is ready to climb Google’s rankings so your audience can find you at the top. Want to learn how to publish hundreds of high-quality articles at once? Read more about AI-powered programmatic SEO here.
3. Optimize Your Email Marketing
ChatGPT can help you personalize your email marketing by generating tailored content that appeals to different segments of your target audience. AI can help you write subject lines that increase open rates, as well as text that drives clicks and conversions.
4. Develop creative campaign concepts
With its ability to generate creative ideas, ChatGPT can help you come up with unique campaign concepts that stand out in a crowded digital world. The AI can suggest themes and slogans and even help outline the content for entire campaigns, saving you a lot of work.
5. Upgrade to GPT-4:
The latest ChatGPT model, GPT-4, has a number of features that can be used in digital marketing. For example, you can generate images, analyze data, upload files, and retrieve information directly from the internet.
ChatGPT – A Collaboration Between Human and Machine
The world is evolving, and so is technology. Just as the steam engine revolutionized industry and the computer transformed the modern workplace, AI is now setting the stage for the next wave of technology.
During industrialization, too, people had to adapt their work and get used to new and more optimized work processes than they were accustomed to. The same is true today.
Of course, the major advances in AI also present challenges for writers. As AI becomes more advanced, some may fear that tools like ChatGPT will undermine our ability to think critically and stifle our creativity.
Of course, this fear is not unfounded, but it overlooks an important perspective: ChatGPT is not meant to be a substitute for the human insight that copywriters provide. It is meant to complement it.
Think of ChatGPT as a kind of digital assistant—it can offer ideas, suggestions, and even draft text, but you’re the editor. You’re the one who decides which ideas to pursue and what direction your text should take. So use ChatGPT to break through writer’s block, come up with new perspectives, or fine-tune your language.
But don’t forget that it’s your creativity, critical thinking, and ability to evaluate sources that ensure the quality of the text. For example, I would never dream of using a text from the internet—with information I wasn’t sure about—without fact-checking it first.
By and large, the role of a copywriter has simply changed since ChatGPT came along. Before, it was primarily about writing for people. That’s still the case, but the role is now two-sided. We also need to be able to communicate with robots.
Learn Even More
Whether you're a generalist or a specialist in marketing, our experts have put together a number of helpful tips for you on our blog.
