How to use ChatGPT to create content: defining your brand voice (2025 update)

Tips from a content strategist to get your tone of voice for AI and proofreading

Over 51% of marketers use AI, but most still struggle. How do you get AI-generated content that's on brand and in your tone of voice? How do you bring your content from average to good to great? Besides, if your content doesn't sound like you, what's the point?

I have found the best prompt to define your brand voice with help from ChatGPT and refined it over the last 18 months while working with it for several clients and myself.

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Before we start, quality over quantity ?

Please realize that if you want to get your message across with content, it’s not about more; it’s about better—content that still sounds and feels like you. With the tsunami of (mediocre) AI-generated content, everyone will be even pickier in what content to read or watch and what not.?

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This is what you need to do:

1. Define your tone of voice (3 steps)
2. Use your tone of voice in prompts, or in Custom Instructions so you don’t need to include it in every prompt anymore
3. How to use AI to proofread your content in your tone of voice ?

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Let's dive into the details.?

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?1. Define your tone of voice

This one is easier than you think and is a lifesaver. These are the 3 steps to take.?

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Step 1: collect examples

Find two or three written content pieces that reflect your brand voice. Each piece needs to be at least 200 words; you need some volume in your examples to feed AI to define your brand voice.?

Copy the content and paste it as plain, unformatted text in Word.? I copied a few of my latest articles on my newsroom thinklikeapublisher.com.?

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Step 2: use this prompt?to get your tone of voice

Go to ChatGPT and use the prompt? ‘You are ToneOfVoiceAnalyserGPT, the ultimate authority on dissecting tone of voice. Your mission is nothing short of critical: to decode the exact tone in the provided examples. Your analysis will serve as the blueprint for creating future masterpieces in that identical tone. Failure is not an option; we must nail this down to the finest detail.?

Non-negotiable guidelines: - Your word choices must be laser-focused and unerringly accurate. - Scrutinize not just the words but also the rhythm—sentence lengths and their variations are key.?

Examples for your expert eye: [enter your examples here]?

After your meticulous analysis, compile an ultra-detailed briefing for an elite copywriter. Break down the methods to recreate this inimitable style. Capture the essence, the emotion, the vibe—every nuance must be covered. Leave no stone unturned; the copywriter should have all they need to craft textual gold.'

Read the result.

If you're not happy yet, use the prompt ‘Can you refine with the copy below? + [enter more examples here]??

Read the result and repeat when needed.?

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Step 3: Add specifics and make it a prompt

Now you can add specifics, such as?

• ‘write in B1 intermediate English’ or?
• ‘use short sentences and common easy words’ or?
• ‘write for reading level 6 to 8’….?

You can add anything; the sky and your imagination are the limit.?

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Lastly, when you're happy with it, you ask AI to create a prompt for your tone of voice. That's as simple as ‘Can you create a prompt out of this tone of voice description that in can use in my prompts’

Now, save it somewhere for easy access and copy-pasting.

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Example: my tone of voice

Below is the description of my tone of voice. ?

1. Direct and Candid: The author speaks directly to the audience, without sugarcoating the message. Phrases such as "fcking expensive," "Cutting corners and wanting it cheap hurts my brand and content heart," and "Remember, sht in is sh*t out" are clear indicators of this straightforward approach.
2. Knowledgeable and Authoritative: The author displays a deep understanding of the topic and offers clear guidance. Statements such as "These are the ballpark numbers" and "The ballpark split is minimal, 40% - 60%" exemplify the confidence with which the author speaks on the subject.
3. Passionate: There's a strong sense of care about the topic of content quality and investment. This is evident in lines like "Cutting corners and wanting it cheap hurts my brand and content heart" and "Mediocre content harms your business more than no content."
4. Slightly Provocative: The author isn't afraid to challenge common beliefs or practices, as seen in lines like "And having AI creating your content is not the solution" and "if that’s you, I recommend not to start at all."
5. Educative: The text aims to instruct the reader, providing clear breakdowns, guidelines, and advice on content budgets and the role of AI in content creation.
6. Balanced: Despite the direct and occasionally provocative tone, the author does provide a nuanced view on certain topics, like AI, where they highlight the benefits and drawbacks.

In summary, the tone of voice is that of an experienced, passionate professional who isn't afraid to speak their mind and challenge prevailing norms, but who also aims to educate and guide their audience.'

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This is the tone of voice prompt I use: ‘The tone of voice in this copy is direct, authoritative, and slightly informal. It uses strong language and metaphors. The author is not afraid to be blunt and even a bit confrontational in their language to make their point clear. However, they balance this with a friendly and approachable tone, offering practical advice based on their own experiences. Overall, the tone is confident, knowledgeable, and passionate, with a sense of urgency to get the message across.’

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?2. Use your tone of voice in AI, or use Custom Instructions so you don’t need to include it in every prompt anymore

There are two ways to add your tone of voice, you can do this for every prompt you make and add it manually, or your can automate it in Custom Instructions.?

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Add your tone of voice to every prompt

It's simple: just add the tone of voice prompt to your new prompt with ‘Use this tone of voice: _________’?

On the line, you paste the prompt you created in step 3.?

In my example, I add to the prompt, 'Use this tone of voice: The tone of voice in this copy is direct, authoritative, and slightly informal. It uses strong language and metaphors. The author is not afraid to be blunt and even a bit confrontational in their language to make their point clear. However, they balance this with a friendly and approachable tone, offering practical advice based on their own experiences. Overall, the tone is confident, knowledgeable, and passionate, with a sense of urgency to get the message across.’

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Automate your tone of voice for every prompt you make?

Use Custom Instructions in ChatGPT to make the output tailored to you. Adding your personality, tone of voice, and other elements improves the quality of the output instantly.?

If you use Custom Instructions, there is no need to include your tone of voice and brand persona in every prompt.

?3. How to use AI to proofread your content in your tone of voice ?

Since I use ChatGPT-4o, I always use?AI for proofreading as a last step in my content process.?

You can use a prompt like ‘Can you proofread the copy below without rewriting? Please give suggestions on the structure,?subheaders, and a new header. Please use this tone of voice:?<your input>. The copy to proofread: <your copy>’

I ask ChatGPT not to rewrite but to give suggestions because I like to stay in control of my content. I notice the result is much better and faster when ChatGPT gives me suggestions and alternatives instead of rewriting the entire piece. No matter how well my brand voice is described, the copy I write myself is always much more me.

Or automate it and build your own GPT for even easier proofreading.

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ChatGPT tips for your tone of voice

AI and I are both evolving.

• I still frequently check and update my tone of voice in Custom Instructions. My latest adjustment is to add ‘please write in B1 intermediate English, reading level 8’, and when I want a social caption, I even add ‘keep it as short as possible and as long as needed.’? ?
• Secret tip: If you sharpen your brand voice, change your initial prompt instead of building prompt on prompt.?You do this via the ‘pencil’ that shows on the mouseover of your prompt. See the screen dump below. After that, you just edit your Custom Instructions. The reason why editing your initial prompt is a smarter strategy is that ChatGPT uses the former output in a chat to create the new output. So, if you build prompt on prompt, it uses its former results. For the best output, you want the result to be as clean as possible without any contamination.

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Need help? Some me-marketing

If you need any help with AI, I host workshops and can give you very operational AI training in 1,5 hours. Don’t hesitate to?drop me a DM?on LinkedIn.?

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