Making ChatGPT Sound Like You
TL;DR:
- Give ChatGPT specific context and examples, not vague requests
- Show it your successful content to teach your writing style
- Treat it like briefing a new team member – the more detail, the better
- Use examples instead of describing what you want
- Generic prompts create generic content that nobody wants to read
Most people ask ChatGPT to "write me a sales email" and wonder why it sounds robotic. The problem isn't the AI – it's the briefing.
When you hire a copywriter, you don't just say "write something good." You explain your product, your audience, what's worked before, and what tone you need. ChatGPT needs the same treatment.
Give Context, Not Commands
Bad prompt: "Write a sales email for my course."
Better prompt: "Write a sales email for my £299 web design course. My audience is small business owners who've tried DIY websites but feel overwhelmed. Previous emails that worked well focused on time-saving rather than technical features. Keep it conversational, not pushy."
The difference is night and day. ChatGPT can work with specifics, but it can't guess what you need.
Show, Don't Tell
Instead of saying "make it sound friendly," paste an example of your writing that hits the right tone. ChatGPT learns faster from examples than descriptions.
Try this: "Here's an email I wrote that got good responses: [paste example]. Write something similar for this new product launch, keeping the same conversational tone."
This works because you're showing ChatGPT what success looks like in your voice, not asking it to interpret "friendly" or "professional."
Build Your Style Guide
Create a document with examples of your best content. Include:
- Email snippets that got replies
- Social posts that sparked engagement
- Website copy that converted
- Your common phrases and expressions
Feed these to ChatGPT bit by bit. It starts recognizing patterns in how you communicate and mirrors them back.
Refine Through Feedback
ChatGPT's first attempt won't be perfect. Tell it what to adjust:
"This is close, but make it less formal. I'd never say 'I trust this finds you well' – I'd start with something like 'Quick question about your website.'"
Each round of feedback teaches it more about your voice. Think of it as training a new team member who learns quickly but needs clear direction.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't ask for "creative" or "engaging" content without examples. These words mean nothing without context.
Don't dump a massive brief and expect perfection. Break it down into specific elements: audience, goal, tone, key points.
Don't use it once and give up. Like any tool, it gets better with practice and refinement.
FAQs
How long does it take to train ChatGPT to write in my style?
You'll see improvement within 2-3 iterations if you provide good examples. It's not permanent training though – you need to remind it of your style in each new conversation.
Can I use ChatGPT for different types of content once it knows my style?
Yes, but you'll need to specify the format. Your email tone might not work for LinkedIn posts. Give examples for each content type you want to create.
What if ChatGPT keeps producing content that's too formal or robotic?
Show it informal examples of your writing. Most people underestimate how casual their actual voice is compared to what they think sounds "professional."
Jargon Buster
Context: The background information about your audience, product, and goals that helps ChatGPT understand what you need.
Iteration: Each round of feedback and refinement you do with ChatGPT to improve the output.
Voice: Your distinctive writing style – the words you choose, how you structure sentences, and the tone you use.
Wrap-up
ChatGPT isn't magic, but it's a powerful tool when you brief it properly. The key is treating it like a skilled assistant who needs clear direction, not a mind reader.
Start with one type of content and get that right before moving on. Build up your examples and refine your prompts. Once you've got a system that works, you'll save hours while producing content that actually sounds like you.
The goal isn't to replace your voice – it's to amplify it and handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on strategy and refinement.
Join Pixelhaze Academy to learn more advanced ChatGPT techniques for content creation.