5 ways to get better results with ChatGPT

October 5, 2023

By Kim Komando

I’ve been playing with ChatGPT almost daily since it dropped in November. At this point, I’ve got this art down to a science.

Sometimes, I toss in an oddball question to see what happens. It can be a delightful journey into the creative capabilities of AI. Last week, I threw in a peculiar prompt asking, “What if cats could fly?” The response was a whimsical tale of feline aerial adventures that left me in stitches. (By the way, ChatGPT wrote those last three sentences.)

With months of experience under my belt, it feels like high time to share some of the best tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way.

First, how to use ChatGPT

Dive into the world of AI by heading online to OpenAI’s website or downloading the app for iOS or Android.

Now, here’s the scoop: The free version gives you a good taste of ChatGPT’s capabilities and is good for general, basic use. With the free tier, you’re using ChatGPT-3.5.

The paid version amps up the experience with faster response times, priority access to new features, more queries and an ad-free experience. With this version, you’re using ChatGPT-4. I pay for it since I use it as a business tool. Up to you to decide if that’s worth it for you.

1. Honey, not vinegar

Like a human, ChatGPT responds better to politely phrased prompts. It might feel strange to say “please” and “thank you” to a computer program, but subtle positive responses tell AI it’s on the right track.

2. Put on your thinking cap

Three magic words will improve the quality of answers: “You’re an expert.” It could be “You’re an expert in home improvement” or “You’re an expert on ancient Roman history,” depending on what you need.

Imagine you want to market your company or pet project. Ask ChatGPT to generate a blog or social media post to share — and get a better answer if you simply preface with: “You’re a marketing expert.”

Now, ChatGPT will do its best to think as if it’s a marketing professional. This kind of specificity can help get more detailed and specific answers. Its language can sometimes be vague or generic, so asking it to answer from a position of expertise adds to its authority.

3. Explain it like I’m 5 

Think of this one as the inverse of the last tip. You will get very different results if you tell ChatGPT that it’s speaking to a kindergarten class or a corporate boardroom. Think about the kind of audience you want it to write for and include that in your prompt.

4. Give before you get

Using examples as part of questions helps ChatGPT generate what you’re looking for. You can say, “You’re a marketing expert. Write 10 social media posts promoting a daily newsletter that tells readers about the technology news and tips they need to know in a fun and readable way. Here’s a sample post:”

If you don’t have a complete sample, give as many details as possible about the outcome you want.

5. Refine, refine, refine

This is what separates pros from novices. By refining your question or asking for different kinds of answers, you can improve results until you actually get what you need. 

Let’s say those social media posts you asked for were too formal. Say, “Please rewrite those social media posts in a more casual and conversational style.” Or you had it draft an email to your boss asking for a raise — and it’s way too goofy. Oops. “Write three more versions for me to pick from.”

Just like that, you’re a ChatGPT pro like me.

Kim 🤝 ChatGPT: FYI, I’ve caught ChatGPT making things up. AI “hallucinations” happen more often than you’d think, so always fact-check anything you plan to use for business, academic or any other important reason.