This post is part of my new ongoing series documenting my learnings along the journey of building my business. If you’re curious about how AI can support your entrepreneurial journey, stick around as I document my experiences and share insights along the way!
ChatGPT can be an incredible business asset, but most people (myself included when I first started) use it incorrectly. I was asking vague questions, and *gasp* accepted surface-level answers, and failed to refine its output.
The result? Generic, uninspired responses that add little value.
Over time though, I realised that if you want expert-level responses, you need to use ChatGPT like a strategic partner not a content vending machine that just spits out what you put in.
This article I break down the most common mistakes I and many other business owners make and how to fix them.
1. Mistake: Asking Generic, Low-Quality Prompts
2. Mistake: Accepting AI’s First Answer as the Best Answer
3. Mistake: Using ChatGPT Like a Static Tool Instead of a Thinking Partner
4. Mistake: Ignoring AI’s Potential for Advanced Strategy
5. Mistake: Not Fact-Checking AI’s Responses
What Most People Do:
Ask for incredibly broad and generic responses like "Give me marketing ideas."
This is too broad, leading to bland, overused suggestions. AI can only generate quality ideas if you provide quality inputs.
Expert-Level Fix:
"I run a [business type] that helps [target audience] achieve [key result]. Give me five unique marketing ideas that leverage [specific marketing channel] and stand out from competitors."
Key Takeaway: Be specific and directive to get tailored, actionable insights.
What Most People Do:
They take the first response at face value and assume it’s the best AI can do.
Expert-Level Fix:
Key Takeaway:
AI’s first response is just the starting point. Iterate and iterate until you get something high-value.
What Most People Do:
They treat ChatGPT like Google, asking for information instead of insights.
Expert-Level Fix:
Instead of asking for generic answers, get AI to think critically with you:
Key Takeaway:
AI isn’t just for generating ideas. It’s for stress-testing and improving them.
What Most People Do:
They only use AI for content creation, ignoring its potential for decision-making and business strategy.
Expert-Level Fix:
Use ChatGPT for high-level business insights:
Key Takeaway:
AI can refine strategies, analyse competition, and improve decision-making if you ask it the right way.
What Most Business Owners Get Wrong:
Better Approach: Shift the focus from cost to long-term benefits and transformation.
What Most People Do:
They assume everything AI says is accurate.
Expert-Level Fix:
Key Takeaway:
AI is a tool, not an authority. Always verify before acting on its advice!
Don't prompt this:
"Write a blog about marketing."
Expert: Prompt this instead:
"Write a blog about 2024 marketing trends, focusing on AI-driven strategies for small businesses."
Don't do this:
Accepts AI’s first response.
Expert: Do this instead:
Iterates, refines, and challenges AI’s responses.
Don't do this:
Uses AI for content only.
Expert: Do this instead:
Uses AI for strategy, problem-solving, and competitor analysis.
Don't do this:
Asks for general advice.
Expert: Do this instead:
Gets AI to stress-test and challenge ideas.
Don't do this:
Takes AI’s output at face value.
Expert: Do this instead:
Fact-check and fine-tunes response you receive.
If you’re getting bland or generic AI responses, it’s not the tool, it’s how you’re using it. The difference between average and expert-level AI results comes down to:
Most people let AI think for them. The smartest ones use AI to think better. The choice is yours.
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