Three ChatGPT Prompt Mistakes That Kill Your Small Business Results

Your ChatGPT output depends on your input quality. Period.

Small business owners use AI to save time on repetitive tasks. But most write terrible prompts and get terrible results.

Here are three mistakes you're probably making - and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Writing Vague Prompts

You write prompts like:

• "Write something about my business"

• "Help me with marketing"

• "Make a social media post"

  
  

ChatGPT can't read your mind. These prompts waste your time.

Fix it:

Give specific details about what you want:

Bad: "Write something about my business"

Good: "Write a 150-word paragraph introducing my Toronto landscaping company to new clients. We specialize in eco-friendly lawn care for small commercial properties."

Bad: "Help me with marketing"

Good: "Suggest three email subject lines for a spring promotion offering 15% off monthly bookkeeping services for small businesses."

The clearer your prompt, the better your result. No exceptions.

Mistake 2: Skipping Format Instructions

You ask for help but don't say how you want it delivered.

ChatGPT can write emails, social posts, tables, checklists, or scripts. But you need to specify which one.

Common errors:

• Asking for help without saying if you want bullet points or paragraphs

• Forgetting to define tone (formal, casual, professional)

• Not explaining where you'll use the content (social media, website, internal docs)

Fix it:

Include format and tone instructions.

Try these:

"Write a LinkedIn post (maximum 3 paragraphs) in a professional but friendly tone. Include a call to action to download our free AI guide."

"Create a checklist in bullet points that outlines the steps to set up a Make.com workflow for automating weekly Mailchimp emails."

"Write a short FAQ (Q&A style) that explains to small business owners how ChatGPT can help reduce time spent writing email replies."

You're the director. ChatGPT follows your lead.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Your Audience

Your AI output is only useful if it speaks to the right people.

A blog post for first-time business owners should read differently than one for seasoned marketers.

Clarify these details:

• Who is your target audience (new customers, internal team, industry professionals)

• What level of knowledge they have (beginner, intermediate, expert)

• What action you want them to take (buy, sign up, book a call, follow a process).

  
  

Try this:

"Write a short, easy-to-understand blog post for small business owners who are new to AI. Explain what ChatGPT is and how it can save them 5 hours a week."

"Create onboarding text messages for new hires at a healthcare facility. Keep the tone warm, encouraging, and informative."

"Draft an internal memo to my team about using Make.com for automating invoice reminders. Include step-by-step instructions and mention time savings."

Know your audience. Write for them.

Your Next Steps

Take one repetitive task you do every week.

Ask yourself: "How can I give AI enough detail to take this off my plate?"

Then write a specific prompt that includes:

• Clear instructions

• Desired format and tone

• Target audience details

  
  

You'll save hours every week.

Start today.

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Book a free consultation to discuss how AI can streamline your specific business processes.

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