How to Train ChatGPT for Effective Social Media Copy
Most people use ChatGPT for quick content fixes without realising its true potential. Instead of starting from scratch or re-explaining your tone and goals every time, you can create a customised version of ChatGPT that acts like a VA, one that remembers your brand’s nuances and gets better with every interaction.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to customise ChatGPT for social media copywriting. You’ll learn to train it like a team member, make precise prompts, and fine-tune outputs so your copy is consistent and authentically you.
ChatGPT often doesn’t work for social media copy
Using ChatGPT for social media might seem like a time-saver, but the “plug-and-play” approach often leads to frustration. I’ll explain why:
Generic outputs feel off-brand: Let’s say your brand voice is warm, encouraging, and relatable like the coach who always empowers their client. But untrained AI might create something stiff and lifeless, like a school principal’s announcement:
Your Voice: “You’ve got this! Small steps today lead to big changes tomorrow. What’s one thing you’ll do for yourself today?”
AI’s Version: “It’s important to take small steps towards success. Share your plans in the comments.”
AI’s version isn’t “wrong,” but it lacks heart. And that heart is what your audience connects with most.
Constant repetition: Without customisation, you’re re-explaining your brand voice, audience, and goals every single time. This can quickly become frustrating and time-consuming.
Inconsistent messaging: A one-size-fits-all approach can lead to a mishmash of tones, making your brand feel inconsistent and unreliable. One post might feel chatty, while the next reads like a textbook.
Wasted time on revisions: More often than not, AI drafts need so many tweaks to match your vision that the time you thought you were saving gets swallowed up by endless edits.
Lack of Connection: Impersonal, robotic posts can make your audience scroll right past, preventing you from building a valuable connection with them.
You can prevent this all by training ChatGPT to understand your brand the same way a trusted writing assistant would. A bit of work upfront means you’ll save time, stay consistent, and keep your audience happy!
Step 1: How to train a GPT
Training your GPT is like onboarding a new assistant. You wouldn’t throw a new hire into the deep end without guidance, right? Same with ChatGPT, it’s only as good as the context you provide.
Here’s what works:
First, create your GPT by going to “Explore GPTs and then “Create”.
Set clear roles: Tell ChatGPT exactly what you need. Try something like:
“Act as a social media copywriter for a wellness coach focusing on stress management.”
Upload tone of voice documents: Your tone sets your brand apart. Are you approachable and empowering? Playful but professional? Share detailed descriptions, examples, or even favourite phrases.
Ask it what it needs: You can ask your GPT builder: “What information do you need to create social media content that perfectly aligns with my brand’s personality and audience?” You’ll be surprised how helpful these questions can be.
Share examples: Upload past captions, blogs, or email copy that perfectly embodies your voice. OpenAI’s memory features will then remember these references.
Tip: AI can “forget,” so regular updates are essential to keep its knowledge fresh. Feed it new content, audience insights, and campaign results to ensure it stays aligned with your ever-growing strategy.
Step 2: How to write effective prompts on ChatGPT
Always remember that input is output with AI. If your instructions are vague or incomplete, the output will reflect that, often leading to content that’s generic, irrelevant, and far from what you were looking for.
For example:
Vague prompt:
Specific prompt:
The difference is like night and day. Specificity saves you time, improves quality, and makes your GPT feel like someone who understands what you’re looking for.
Step 3: How to fine-tune your ChatGPT outputs
The first draft is rarely perfect. Your tweaks and feedback will help your GPT learn and improve. I’ve written out a workflow to polish generated content into something post-worthy:
Generate content: Use your well-crafted prompts to get a draft.
Edit for tone: Does it sound like your brand? If not, remind ChatGPT of your tone. For example:
“My tone is warm and conversational, like chatting with a supportive friend, can you adjust this caption?”Request feedback: Treat ChatGPT as a collaborator. For example, you can ask: “Here’s my revised version of your draft. Can you get rid of the dashes, splitting up the sentences? Also, what more would you improve on this post?”
4. Final polish: Add your human touch. A sprinkle of humour, an extra word of encouragement, or a tweak to phrasing can turn a good draft into an amazing one.
Tip: you can also upload the images of videos that you want to post together with the captions and ask for feedback to see if your captions goes well with the visuals.
Step 4: How to optimise social media posts with hashtags
So you have a great caption, now we want to make sure the right people see it. Hashtags play a big role in expanding your reach. Here’s how ChatGPT can help save you hours of hashtag research:
Prompt GPT for hashtag suggestions: Ask specific questions like:
“Suggest five relevant hashtags for an Instagram post about stress management for life coaches. Focus on reach and engagement.”
“What are niche hashtags related to [keyword]?”Cross-check for relevance: Don’t just take AI’s suggestions at face value, ensure the hashtags are a fit for your audience and your goals.
Make a hashtag list: Save time by keeping a database of your go-to hashtags. Over time, you’ll build a personalised library tailored to your audience and niche.
Tip: Combine high-traffic hashtags with niche ones for the right balance. For example:
High traffic: #lifecoach
Niche: #stressmanagementtips
ChatGPT gets better with time
The more you work with your GPT, the better it gets. With every prompt, every example, and every bit of feedback, you’re teaching it to better think and write like your brand.
I hope this guide was helpful. If you’re still unsure about where to start or how to make it all come together, book a free strategy session. Together, we’ll make a step-by-step plan to write authentic, engaging social media copy that is true to your brand.
