Ever feel like ChatGPT just doesn’t get you? That used to be me—until I realized the problem wasn’t the AI. It was how I was asking.

I Thought ChatGPT Was Broken. Turns Out I Was Using It Wrong.

When I first started using ChatGPT to create images and draft blog posts, I kept running into the same wall: the results didn’t match what I had in mind. The tone felt off. The answers were too generic. It seemed like the tool just didn’t “get it.”

Then, while setting up my first Project inside ChatGPT, I noticed something I’d ignored before—a box labeled “Instructions.”

That tiny detail led me to explore how prompts actually work. That’s when I discovered the real secret: ChatGPT isn’t guessing. It’s responding based on the context you give it at the moment. That technique is called in-context learning.

Once I started giving ChatGPT a clear role, some background, and specific direction, the quality of the results jumped. I went from, “This isn’t working” to “This just saved me hours.”

Here’s how you can do the same.

Why Your Prompts Aren’t Working (And How to Fix Them)

Let’s get one thing clear: ChatGPT isn’t actually “intelligent.”

It’s more like a hyper-capable assistant who has read everything online but has no idea what’s relevant to your situation unless you explain it.

That’s why how you ask matters.

💡 The Golden Rule of Prompting:
Specificity + Context = Quality Responses

This one shift can completely change how helpful ChatGPT is for your business.

Weak vs. Strong Prompting: Real Example

Bad Prompt:
“Help me with marketing.”

Better Prompt:
“Act as a marketing consultant for small businesses. I run a local plumbing company and want to create a 30-day social media content calendar focused on home maintenance tips that will build trust with homeowners. Give me 10 post ideas with brief descriptions.”

The second prompt gives ChatGPT the role, audience, goal, and format—everything it needs to do great work.

The 9 Essential Prompting Techniques Every Business Owner Should Know

1. Be Ruthlessly Specific

Don’t just say “write an email.” Say what kind, for what purpose, and to whom.

  Try this:
“Write a follow-up email to a potential client who viewed our proposal but hasn’t responded in two weeks.”

2. Provide Rich Context

Give ChatGPT the why behind your request: your audience, your goals, and any constraints.

  Try this:
“I’m a financial advisor targeting busy professionals aged 35 to 50. I need a LinkedIn post that explains why everyone should have an emergency fund, using simple language. Keep it under 150 words.”

3. Assign a Role

Tell ChatGPT who it is in the conversation. It will adjust its tone and expertise accordingly.

  Try this:
“Act as an experienced business coach who works with solopreneurs.”

4. Control the Length

ChatGPT can generate anything from a tweet to an essay. Be clear about what you want.

  Try this:
“Summarize this in three bullet points.”
“Create a 500-word blog post.”

5. Break Down Complex Tasks (Prompt Chaining)

Instead of one giant request, split big tasks into smaller, step-by-step prompts.

  Try this:
Step 1: “Outline my client onboarding process.”
Step 2: “Now draft the welcome email for step 1.”
Step 3: “Create a checklist based on the outline.”

6. Use Examples (Few-Shot Prompting)

Want it to sound like you? Give it examples.

  Try this:
“Write posts like this:
‘Monday motivation: Your biggest competitor is your past self.’
‘Small biz tip: Track cash flow weekly. It’s the difference between steering and drifting.’
Now give me three more.”

7. Ask for Step-by-Step Thinking

When you need logic or strategy, tell it to think out loud.

Try this:
“Walk me through whether I should hire a full-time assistant or keep outsourcing. Consider costs, benefits, and long-term ROI.”

8. Refine and Iterate

Never settle for the first draft. Ask it to adjust tone, add examples, or rewrite for clarity.

Try this:
“Make this more conversational.”
“Add specific examples.”
“Rewrite this for someone new to the industry.”

9. Always Verify Important Info

ChatGPT isn’t a fact-checker. Double-check:

• Dates and statistics
• Legal or financial information
• News and current events
• Technical specifications

Choosing the Right ChatGPT Model for the Job

Each model has strengths. Here’s how to choose based on your task:

GPT-4o (Omni)

• Best for: Customer support, live chat, multimedia inputs
• Strengths: Handles text, audio, and images with excellent memory
• Use when: You need back-and-forth interaction across formats

GPT-4.5

• Best for: Writing, emotional tone, analysis
• Strengths: Most accurate and nuanced
• Use when: You’re writing blog posts, emails, or long-form content

GPT-4o Mini

• Best for: Speedy, everyday tasks
• Strengths: Fast and cost-effective
• Use when: You’re drafting social posts or quick research

o1 Model

• Best for: Strategic planning and logic-heavy work
• Strengths: High reasoning skills
• Use when: You’re outlining business models or making complex decisions

FIVE75 Pro tip: Start with GPT-4o Mini for most daily work. Upgrade when precision really matters.

Real Example: Transforming a Weak Prompt

Original Prompt:
“Write about customer service.”

Transformed Prompt:
“Act as a customer service expert writing for small business owners. Create a 400-word blog post titled ‘The 5-Minute Rule That Will Transform Your Customer Service.’ Focus on a simple strategy busy entrepreneurs can implement today. Use a real-world example and end with three actionable tips. Tone: friendly and encouraging.”

The difference? Night and day.

Your Action Plan for This Week

Rewrite One Prompt

Take a task you struggled with and rewrite it using Specificity + Context.

Experiment With Roles

Try giving ChatGPT two or three different roles for the same task and compare results.

Break a Big Task Into Steps

Use prompt chaining to turn a complex task into a simple sequence.

Compare Models

Run the same prompt through GPT-4o and GPT-4.5. Notice the difference.

Common Prompting Mistakes to Avoid

Information Overload
Don’t dump 10 ideas at once. Focus your request.

Vague Goals
Be clear about the outcome you want.

Ignoring the Audience
Always specify who the message is for.

Skipping Examples
Show what you mean, especially when tone or format matters.

Giving Up Too Fast
Prompting is a skill. Try, adjust, and try again.

🔜 What’s Coming in Part 4

Now that you know how to talk to ChatGPT, we’ll show you how to use it for something every business needs: content creation.

Part 4: ChatGPT for Content Creation
We’ll walk through how to generate blogs, social posts, emails, landing pages, and more. You’ll even get prompt templates you can copy and paste.

Catch up below:

Part 2 → How to Get Started with ChatGPT (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Part 1 → What Is ChatGPT and Why It Matters for Your Business

📌 Ready to put these prompting tips into action?

✅ BIG BONUS Content Creation Prompt Starter Pack
✅ Book a [15-Minute Strategy Call] to map your next move
✅ Or drop a comment: What prompt has stumped you lately? I might feature it in the next part.

Let’s level up how you talk to ChatGPT. Because better prompts mean better business.