Six simple ways to get better results from ChatGPT

ChatGPT can be a helpful assistant, but only if you know how to ask the right questions. If you’ve ever felt like ChatGPT's response was too vague or not what you expected, chances are the prompt wasn’t clear enough.

Writing a good prompt isn’t about being technical. It’s about being clear, specific, and intentional. Whether you’re writing an email, planning a campaign, or just trying to get out of a creative block, here’s how to get the most out of ChatGPT.

1. Know what you want before you type

Before you start typing, pause and ask: What do I need right now?

• Is it ideas?
• Is it help to write a draft?
• Do I want it in a certain tone or format?

Vague prompts lead to vague answers. Being clear saves time.

Instead of:
“Help me write something.”

Try this:
“I’m writing a blog about the benefits of remote work for small teams. Can you give me an intro that’s friendly and practical?”

The clearer your goal, the more useful the reply.

2. Give context, even if it feels obvious

Share a quick summary of the background. Who’s the audience? What’s the purpose? What do you want the reader to feel or do?

Example:

“I run a small agency in Melbourne. I’m writing to our clients to tell them we’ve rebranded. I want the message to sound honest, warm, and optimistic.”

A little context upfront leads to a much better output. Without it, ChatGPT is just guessing.

3. Be clear about format and tone

One of the easiest ways to get better results? Tell ChatGPT what kind of content you want and how it should sound.

Whether it's a list, paragraph, email, caption, or blog section—be specific.

Moreover, don’t forget tone. Do you want it to be professional, friendly, playful, or punchy?

Example:

“Give me 4 playful Instagram captions for a bakery launching weekend-only specials.”

That one line gives ChatGPT everything it needs to get it right the first time.

If you want ChatGPT to sound more natural and less robotic, how you ask really matters. We’ve shared a few simple tricks in our blog Six ways to make ChatGPT sound human that show how to bring more warmth and personality into your content.

4. Break big asks into smaller steps

When you have a big task like writing an entire blog or campaign, it helps to break it down. Dumping it all in one prompt usually leads to something too generic.

Take it one step at a time.

Start with:
“Can you suggest blog titles about saving time with automation tools?”

Then:
“Write a short intro for the second title, make it sound casual and confident.”

Then:
“Add some SEO keywords that will appeal to small business owners in Australia.”

This step-by-step approach helps you shape the content as you go. It’s faster, cleaner, and way more tailored.

5. Don’t hold back; just say what you really feel

If you’re not sure how to phrase something or want to be careful with tone, just write the message the way it naturally comes to you. You can use AI to clean it up after.

Here’s a great trick from John, Partner Account Manager at Zoho ANZ. He shared:

"At times, when I want to make sure my message comes across the way I intend, I’ll run the draft through ChatGPT. I don’t include any personal information, just the core message so it can help me word it clearly and professionally without any misrepresentations.”

This kind of approach is helpful when you’re sending something important and want to make sure it lands right, especially in work settings where clarity and tone really matter.

6. Review, refine, and use follow-ups to improve

Think of ChatGPT as a first draft machine. It gets you started and allows you to focus on managing the process and improving your results.

If something feels off, don’t scrap it. Ask ChatGPT to tweak it.

You can say:

• “Make this shorter.”
• “Use simpler words.”
• “Add a light joke at the end.”
• “Make it sound more confident.”

It’s all about shaping the response until it feels right. And the best part? ChatGPT doesn’t get tired or offended. Ask for changes or new ideas as many times as you want.

In conclusion

Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, smoothing out a rough draft, or double-checking your tone, tools like ChatGPT can support your process. But it’s still important to define your voice, your intent, and your judgement to shape the outcome.

So be clear about what you want, stay involved, and use it to bring structure to your thoughts—not replace them.

The better guidance you provide, the more useful it becomes.