5 ChatGPT prompts to make everything you write more compelling
Bad copy kills businesses. It finds its way into emails, Slack messages, memos and more. Copywriting is not a skill reserved for marketers. It’s everyone’s problem. Every member of your team should learn how to write compelling words and edit them until they sing. And who knows? If the HR manager wrote updates like a Buzzfeed journalist, you might even read until the end.
Use these prompts to upgrade the copy for everything you write, no matter how many people will actually see. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.
Improve your writing with 5 powerful ChatGPT prompts
Improve the hook
Grab attention with the first line or face an uphill battle from the start. Just because you have a fancy job title, doesn’t mean anyone will read your messages. Make them want to. Use this prompt to find a more compelling way of opening. Strike a chord, create an information gap. Make someone stand up and pay attention so they keep on reading. On Twitter you have a second to get someone’s attention. Keep that in mind when writing for anywhere else.
“I’m pasting a message I wrote, a [describe the nature of the message] designed for [describe the audience]. Your task is to help the first line grab the attention of the reader so they keep reading. Understand the copy and create a hook. The hook should be between 6-12 words long and aim to strike a chord, create an information gap or draw someone in. This should not be a question. Give me 5 options for new hooks for this copy so I can choose the best: [Paste copy here]”
Make it shorter
“I haven’t got time to read all that. Just tell me what it means.” If given that response, you’d tell them in a few sentences. Those are the sentences that matter. If in doubt, cut the fluff. The context can be a footnote for those interested in knowing more. Online or within your company, someone doesn’t need to be taken on a convoluted journey to find the single line that’s relevant to them. Make everything you write shorter. Pack a punch with your words, don’t make someone want to punch you.
“I’m pasting a message I wrote, a [describe the nature of the message] designed for [describe the recipients]. Your task is to make it shorter so my audience will read and understand it without needing to skim read. Look to remove waffle and additional words, and change any instances of passive voice to active. Remove repetition. Keep my tone of voice and keep the meaning of the text the same. Remove any information not essential to the main message and add as numbered footnotes at the end: [Paste copy here]”
Everyone’s favourite radio station
WII FM. What’s in it for me? It’s everyone’s favourite radio station and you need to take note. No one wants to read your diary. They want to know what information means for them. So make it easy. Re-read your copy with this in mind. Ask, why should they care? Ask, so what? Ask questions of your words and flip the script to gain longer reads.
“I’m pasting a message I wrote, a [describe the nature of the message] designed for [describe the audience]. Your task is to make sure it’s clear what’s in it for them. Make sure it’s clear why they should care about this message. Suggest edits, including additional lines or reordering of information, that will have this effect: [Paste copy here]”
Remove ambiguity
Confused customers don’t buy. Confused team members don’t read. Your task is to deliver information and not raise objections. So remove ambiguity from every line. Phrases you would say out loud often don’t translate written down. Being self-deprecating in prose will make you sound weak. Flippant or sarcastic, like a bit of a jerk. So edit. Use ChatGPT to find ambiguous terms and make them more simple. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
“I’m pasting a message I wrote, a [describe the nature of the message] designed for [describe the audience]. Your task is to remove ambiguity. Without changing the meaning, style, tone or anything that is not ambiguous, produce a new version that simplifies anything potentially confusing and avoids raising objections. Explain what you changed so I can understand: [Paste copy here]”
What’s the point?
There’s a reason you typed something, so make sure it’s known. Upon reading your words, make it abundantly clear what you want someone to do. Click a link, respond to an email, make a decision. Or maybe it’s just an FYI. Whatever is next, let them know. Make the call to action obvious, clear and compelling to stand the best chance of success. This applies to internal company memos and everything you share in public. We’re here to do business.
“I’m pasting a message I wrote, a [describe the nature of the message] designed for [describe the audience]. Your task is to ensure there’s a compelling call to action. When someone has read this, I want them to [describe the desired action]. Ensure this is clear in my copy. Provide 3 options for new wording and explain where this new wording should go for best chance of the call to action being followed. [Paste copy here]”
Re-work your writing to make more impact: ChatGPT prompts
You need to be a better writer, and this starts today. Make a pledge to send no more waffly, unclear or underwhelming messages under your name. Grab someone’s attention and keep them hooked until the end. Shape your request to their needs, make it as short as possible, remove all ambiguity, then tell them what to do. Get known for your directness, and don’t waste anyone’s time. Create better results with compelling copy.
