Beginner’s Guide to ChatGPT

1. Getting Started with ChatGPT

1. Sign Up

• Go to chat.openai.com

• Create an account using your business email.

• Choose a free or ChatGPT Plus plan (paid version unlocks GPT-4, better for business use).

2. Choose Your Model

• Free: GPT-3.5 (good for basic tasks).

• Plus: GPT-4 (stronger for strategy, accuracy, and longer documents).

3. Upload Files & Images (in Plus version)

• You can upload PDFs, Word docs, or spreadsheets.

• You can also share images (e.g., marketing materials, product photos) for feedback or description.

• ChatGPT can summarise, analyse, or rewrite your files.

4. Conversations, Not Commands

• Think of ChatGPT as a helpful team member.

• The more context you give, the better the output.

• Example: Instead of “Write an email”, say “Write a friendly email to customers announcing our new product, keep it under 150 words.”

2. Teaching ChatGPT About Your Business

ChatGPT doesn’t know your company automatically. But you can train it within a conversation:

Start with a Background Prompt

• I run a company called [Business Name].  

• We are based in [Location].  

• We provide [Products/Services] for [Target Audience].  

• Our tone is [Professional / Friendly / Innovative / Local].  

• Our key points of difference are [Unique Selling Points].  

• Please remember this context for the rest of our conversation.

Upload Reference Material

• Drop in your brochures, PDFs, or web text.

• Ask: “Read this file and create a summary of our business in 3 bullet points.”

• Ask: “Extract our service list from this document.”

Test With Training Prompts

• “Based on what you’ve read, draft a 50-word company description for LinkedIn.”

• “Summarise our services in plain English for a customer brochure.”

• “Create three tagline options for our business that match our tone.”

3. Everyday Business Prompts

Here are some copy-and-paste prompts to make life easier:

Emails

• “Write a professional email to customers letting them know we’ll be closed on Labour Day.”

• “Draft a follow-up email thanking a customer for attending our event and offering them a 10% discount.”

Blogs

• “Write a 600-word blog explaining the 5 most common mistakes people make when [industry topic].”

• “Turn this PDF into a blog post that explains the benefits of our services.”

Social Media Posts

• “Write 3 LinkedIn posts promoting our new product launch. Keep them under 100 words and use a professional, upbeat tone.”

• “Create 5 Instagram captions about why customers should choose us, each with a call to action.”

Internal Use

• “Summarise this meeting transcript into bullet points with key actions.”

• “Turn this long article into a one-page briefing note.”

• “Generate a checklist for onboarding a new client.”

4. Tips for Best Results

Be specific: say length, tone, and audience.
Use examples: “Write in the same style as this blog [paste example].”
Always review & edit: AI drafts are a starting point, not a finished product.
Keep sensitive data private: don’t upload anything confidential unless you’re comfortable it being processed by AI.

Key Takeaway

ChatGPT is like a junior assistant who learns fast. The more context you give (your business story, files, tone), the better the output. Use it for day-to-day tasks — from emails to blogs to social posts — so you can focus more time on running and growing your business.