Learn These 11 ChatGPT Hacks and Be 10X More Efficient
Kevin Meneses
SFMC Consultant|SAP CX Senior Consultant |SAP Sales and Service Cloud|CPI|CDC|Qualtrics|Data Analyst and ETL|Marketing Automation|SAPMarketing Cloud and Emarsys
Introduction: Common Challenges When Starting with AI
Many people dive into ChatGPT expecting an all-knowing assistant, only to be met with frustration. Here are three common problems beginners face:
I remember when I first started using ChatGPT. I asked it to help me “improve my writing.” The response? A list of generic grammar tips. But when I refined my prompt to “rewrite this paragraph with a more engaging tone,” the result was far more useful. Like any tool, mastery comes from understanding its capabilities.
the quality of the ouputs depends on the quality of the inputs
Let’s evolve our ChatGPT skills together with these 11 essential tips.
1. Start with Clear, Specific Prompts
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is asking broad or vague questions. Imagine asking a chef, “How do I cook?” You’d get an overwhelming answer. Instead, if you ask, “What’s the best way to cook a steak medium-rare on a stovetop?”, you’ll get a much clearer and actionable response.
I personally improved my productivity by refining my prompts when asking for marketing strategies. Initially, I asked ChatGPT, “Give me marketing ideas.” The answer was too broad. But when I changed it to, “Give me five social media marketing strategies for a tech startup on a low budget,” the response was immediately more useful.
Instead of: “Tell me about marketing”, try: “Explain three digital marketing strategies with examples.”
2. Always Ask Follow-Up Questions
Think of ChatGPT as a conversation rather than a one-time interaction. Imagine you’re talking to a mentor — would you just take their first answer and leave? No, you’d ask, “Can you elaborate on that?” or “What are some real-world examples?”
I once needed help structuring a blog post. The first draft ChatGPT provided was decent but not great. By following up with, “Can you make it more persuasive?” and “Add a call to action,” the final version was much more engaging.
After receiving a response, refine it by asking ChatGPT to clarify, expand, or provide alternatives.
3. Assign a Role to ChatGPT for Better Context
If you want high-quality answers, give ChatGPT a role. For example, rather than saying, “Help me write a sales pitch,” try “Act as a professional copywriter and improve this sales pitch.”
I use this technique when crafting LinkedIn posts. By instructing ChatGPT to “act as a LinkedIn content strategist,” I receive better engagement-focused posts rather than generic content.
Just like hiring an expert for advice, defining a role helps the AI deliver responses tailored to your needs.
4. Use ChatGPT’s Memory to Maintain Context
If available, enabling memory allows ChatGPT to track previous interactions. This is similar to talking with a colleague who remembers past discussions rather than explaining everything again from scratch.
Once, I was working on a multi-part research project. Instead of re-explaining my topic every time, I asked ChatGPT to “act as my research assistant” and provide summaries of previous responses. This saved me hours of rework.
5. Leverage Output Formatting for Readability
Imagine reading a large block of text with no breaks — it’s overwhelming. That’s why you should structure responses properly. Instead of receiving a dense paragraph, ask ChatGPT to format it as bullet points, tables, or numbered lists.
I often use this when drafting reports. Instead of getting long-form text, I ask for structured outputs like: “Summarize this article in bullet points.” This makes information easier to scan and digest.
6. Use Custom Instructions to Personalize Responses
Wouldn’t it be great if ChatGPT understood your preferences without you repeating them? You can do this by setting custom instructions. It’s like setting up a personalized assistant who knows your preferred tone and writing style.
After setting my custom instructions to favor a “concise and data-driven” approach, ChatGPT started delivering responses that aligned much better with my needs, saving me editing time.
7. Upload Documents for Analysis
If you’re using GPT-4 Plus, you can upload PDFs, spreadsheets, and other files for ChatGPT to analyze. Imagine a virtual assistant scanning lengthy reports and summarizing key insights for you.
I once uploaded a long financial report and asked ChatGPT to “highlight key takeaways and trends.” The summarized insights helped me prepare a presentation in half the usual time.
8. Use Web Browsing for Up-to-Date Information
AI is powerful, but it has knowledge cutoffs. By enabling web browsing, you ensure ChatGPT pulls real-time data rather than outdated information. Think of it as switching from an old textbook to the latest research paper.
When researching investment trends, I enabled web browsing and asked for “the latest investment strategies in 2024.” The real-time data provided a much more accurate perspective than static AI knowledge.
9. Experiment with Different Prompt Structures
Prompts are like recipes — change the ingredients, and you get different results. Try these structures:
Once, I asked for productivity hacks, but the response was too generic. Using the GCA method, I restructured my prompt: “My goal is to write a book in three months. I work full-time and have two hours a day available. How should I structure my writing schedule?” The resulting plan was far more actionable.
10. Brainstorm and Generate Ideas Faster
If you’ve ever faced writer’s block, ChatGPT can be your creative partner. Ask it for name ideas, marketing slogans, or storytelling prompts. It’s like having a brainstorming buddy available 24/7.
When launching a new project, I asked ChatGPT for “20 unique brand name ideas for a health-focused startup.” This saved me hours of ideation time.
11. Understand ChatGPT’s Limitations
While ChatGPT is impressive, it’s not perfect. It sometimes provides inaccurate or biased answers. Always verify important information — think of it as a knowledgeable but occasionally mistaken colleague.
I once relied on ChatGPT for legal advice, but after double-checking, I realized the information was outdated. Since then, I use ChatGPT for brainstorming but verify critical details from expert sources.
Conclusion: Unlocking ChatGPT’s Full Potential
Mastering ChatGPT is about learning how to communicate effectively with it. As Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” By refining how you interact with AI, you’ll turn it from a simple chatbot into a powerful tool for productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Keep experimenting, refining, and evolving — soon, you’ll be using ChatGPT like a pro!