How Small Businesses Can Get ChatGPT to Output in Their Brand Voice and Style Consistently
For small businesses, maintaining a consistent brand voice is key to building trust and recognition. But when leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT, ensuring that the content reflects your unique style can feel challenging. The good news? With the right strategies, you can train ChatGPT to create content that consistently aligns with your brand’s tone and style.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help your small business get ChatGPT to output content in your brand voice and style.
1. Define Your Brand Voice Clearly
Before you can teach ChatGPT your brand’s voice, you need to define it. Think about how your brand communicates with your audience. Ask yourself:
Is your tone formal, casual, playful, or professional?
Do you use humour or keep things straightforward?
What words, phrases, or expressions represent your business?
Action Step:
Create a one-page Brand Voice Guide summarising:
Your tone: e.g., friendly, professional, motivational
Your audience: e.g., busy parents, entrepreneurs, eco-conscious consumers
Words to use: e.g., "expert guidance," "personalised solutions"
Words to avoid: e.g., "cheap," "difficult," technical jargon
Example:
"Our tone is conversational yet professional. We aim to simplify complex topics for small business owners in a relatable and actionable way."
2. Provide ChatGPT with Examples of Your Voice
One of the best ways to train ChatGPT to write in your brand’s style is by sharing examples of your existing content. This can include social media posts, website copy, or marketing materials.
Prompt Example:
*"Here are some examples of our brand voice:
'Get your dream website with zero stress—because you deserve to stand out!'
'Ready to grow your business? Let’s make it happen, together.'
Generate a social media post for our new SEO package using a similar tone."*
3. Be Specific in Your Prompts
The more context you give ChatGPT, the better the output. Vague prompts lead to generic results, while detailed prompts produce content that’s tailored to your needs.
Good Prompt Example:
"Write a friendly Instagram caption promoting our eco-friendly cleaning services. Use a playful tone, include a call-to-action, and mention the phrase ‘sparkling clean, guilt-free.’ Target eco-conscious parents."
Poor Prompt Example:
"Write a social media caption for cleaning services."
4. Use Iterative Feedback to Refine Outputs
Think of ChatGPT as a collaborator. If the initial output doesn’t match your brand voice, provide feedback and ask it to revise.
Example:
Your Feedback:
"This is too formal. Can you rewrite it with a more playful tone and include the phrase ‘stress-free cleaning’?"
ChatGPT’s Updated Output:
"Say goodbye to stress and hello to sparkling clean spaces! 🌿 Our eco-friendly cleaning services make it easy to stay green and stress-free."
Over time, this iterative process helps ChatGPT learn your preferences.
5. Embed Brand Guidelines in Your Prompts
If you want ChatGPT to consistently output content in your brand voice, incorporate elements of your Brand Voice Guide into your prompts.
Example Prompt:
"Write a 200-word blog introduction about the importance of SEO for small businesses. Use a professional yet conversational tone. Address small business owners who feel overwhelmed by digital marketing, and include the phrase ‘tailored solutions for your growth.’"
This ensures every output aligns with your defined voice.
6. Leverage Systematic Prompts
Use structured prompts to guide ChatGPT’s tone, content structure, and audience focus.
Prompt Structure Example:
"Write [content type, e.g., an email, Instagram caption, blog post] for [target audience]. Use a [tone, e.g., friendly, professional] voice, and include [specific details, e.g., key phrases, calls-to-action]."
Example Prompt:
"Write a 100-word LinkedIn post targeting local entrepreneurs. Use a motivational tone and end with a call-to-action to book a consultation."
7. Save Time by Creating Prompt Templates
Create reusable prompt templates tailored to your business needs. This ensures consistency and saves time.
Template Example:
"Write a [content type] promoting [service/product]. Use a [tone] voice, target [audience], and include [specific keywords or themes]."
Template in Action:
"Write an Instagram caption promoting our web design services. Use a professional yet approachable tone, target small business owners, and include the phrase ‘tailored designs that convert.’"
8. Test and Monitor Performance
Evaluate how AI-generated content performs compared to your manually written content. Track engagement metrics like clicks, shares, and comments to identify what resonates with your audience.
Tip:
Use A/B testing to compare AI-generated and traditional content. For example, run two versions of an email campaign and see which drives more responses.
9. Update Prompts as Your Brand Evolves
Your brand voice may shift as your business grows. Periodically review your prompts and examples to ensure they reflect your current messaging and tone.
Example Update:
If your business expands to a premium market, adjust prompts to say, “Use a sophisticated and polished tone that conveys exclusivity.”
10. Add the Human Touch
AI can streamline your process, but your final review ensures the content feels authentic. Add personal anecdotes, adjust cultural references, or tweak phrasing to better align with your business’s personality.
Example:
If ChatGPT writes, “Discover affordable services tailored for you,” you might revise it to, “Explore customised solutions that fit your goals and budget.”
Final Thoughts
ChatGPT is a powerful tool for small businesses to create content at scale, but the key to success lies in maintaining your unique voice and style. By providing clear instructions, refining outputs with feedback, and staying consistent in your prompts, you can make ChatGPT an extension of your creative team.
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A: Treat ChatGPT as a collaborator. If the output isn’t perfect, refine your instructions or provide specific feedback.
Example:
If ChatGPT produces something too formal, say:
“This is too stiff. Rewrite with a more conversational tone and include a question to engage the audience.”
Iterative feedback helps ChatGPT learn your preferences. -
A: A brand voice guide should include:
Tone (e.g., playful, professional, conversational)
Key phrases and words to use
Words or styles to avoid
Examples of past content that reflect your desired voice