A prompt (the instruction you type into ChatGPT, an AI assistant you chat with in plain English) is only as good as the context you give it. Before using any prompt below, paste in a short “business context” block: what you sell, who your customers are, your service area, your tone, and anything the AI must never say (prices you don’t quote, guarantees you don’t make). Never paste customer personal data or anything confidential into a tool you haven’t reviewed.
The context block (use it every time)
You are helping [Business Name], a [type of business] serving [area]. Our customers are [who]. Our tone is [friendly/professional/plain]. Never promise results, quote prices, or give legal or medical advice. Ask me questions if something is unclear.
Marketing (1–7)
- Write 5 social posts about [service] for [season/month]. Each under 60 words, with one clear call to action.
- Turn these customer questions into an FAQ section for our website: [paste questions].
- Rewrite this service page so a busy homeowner understands it in 30 seconds: [paste text].
- Give me 10 blog topic ideas based on questions customers ask us before they buy.
- Draft a monthly email newsletter with one tip, one update and one offer: [details].
- Write a Google Business Profile post announcing [news], under 100 words.
- Create a brand-voice guide from these three examples of our writing: [paste].
Reviews and customer service (8–13)
- Draft a warm, specific reply to this 5-star review: [paste].
- Draft a calm, non-defensive reply to this negative review that invites them to contact us offline: [paste].
- Write a polite reply template for “do you service [area]?”
- Summarize the common themes in these reviews and what we should fix first: [paste, with names removed].
- Write a script for answering the phone after hours that tells callers what happens next.
- Turn our policy notes into a plain-English customer-facing explanation: [paste].
Sales and follow-up (14–19)
- Write a set of 3 follow-up messages for someone who requested a quote and went quiet.
- Draft a friendly reply to a new web lead that confirms we got their request and asks two questions to see if we’re a good fit.
- Rewrite this quote/proposal so the scope and next step are crystal clear: [paste].
- List likely objections to [service] and an honest response to each.
- Write a short referral request message for happy past customers.
- Draft a win-back email for customers we haven’t seen in 12 months.
Admin and operations (20–25)
- Turn these meeting notes into action items with owners and due dates: [paste].
- Write a job posting for a [role] that is clear about pay range, hours and expectations.
- Create a step-by-step checklist for [recurring task] that a new hire could follow.
- Summarize this contract and list questions I should ask before signing: [paste]. (Not legal advice – have a professional review it.)
- Help me plan next week: here are my tasks and deadlines [paste]. What could someone else do for me?
- Draft a simple internal AI-use policy for a [size]-person team: approved tools, data we never paste in, and who checks the AI’s work.
Make the answers better
- Ask for options (“give me three versions”) and pick the best.
- Tell it what to change (“shorter, less salesy, mention our warranty”).
- Check every fact, price and claim. AI can be confidently wrong, and you are responsible for what you publish – the FTC is clear that marketing claims need to be truthful and supported.[2]
Want the full system behind these prompts? Start with ChatGPT for small business, or see the course.
