Is ChatGPT A GOOD COPYWRITING TOOL?

​ChatGPT is a cloud computing platform that uses AI technology to help you create content by having a conversation with a verbose chatbot from the comfort of your own personal or professional digital device. Skepticism aside, I’ve decided to look into it for my own frame of reference. As a professional writer, I am concerned that I’m being replaced by a robot, but as someone who likes to embrace efficiency as a freelancer and business owner, it intrigues me.

Where did ChatGPT Come From?

It seems like an overnight success. It was released in November 2022 by OpenAI and as of February 2023, nearly half of businesses that participated in the ResumeBuilder survey answered that ChatGPT was already a part of their operations. 

This was technology that was in the works for quite some time of course. Microsoft heavily invested in its success in 2019 so plenty of businesses were waiting eagerly for its arrival. 

Is ChatGPT Cost Effective?

Version 3.5 is free, so sure. It’s worth a whirl. It also doesn’t require the user to have any special training beyond knowing how to do what most of us know how to do by this point, which is chat on the internet. 

The pro version is $20/month which is not a lot of money to throw at experimenting with a new toy to make content writing a less time consuming process. However, if that is the goal, which is the goal of many considering using ChatGPT, make sure you’re investing in the basic tools of the trade first. Organization is the biggest hurdle for most content writing projects, not lack of brainstorming or ideas. 

How accurate is ChatGPT?

Chat GPT gives an upfront disclaimer that it’s not intended to give “advice.” Traditional fact checking methods are still required, which makes me sleep better at night knowing that copywriters and editors with a loud whistle such as myself are still needed in the world.

Is ChatGPT Safe for Businesses?

It depends. Here’s some more information that ChatGPT gives you when you log in that is not advice - “Don’t share sensitive information.” The conversations can and will be used to improve the company’s user experience. 

As a copywriter who has signed many non-disclosure agreements, I mind my p’s and q’s, but a good brainstorming session historically means a private conversation between me and a client and their staff, not a machine. I also remember the days where handing over the logins and passwords for social media accounts and Wordpress blogs between strangers wasn’t the airtight process it is now and we all survived. 

Is ChatGPT A Social Media Management Tool?

In short, no and it’s not a question of whether or not you’d like to reallocate some of the responsibilities of your current social media manager, which, depending on how much you’re currently investing in marketing, may just be you.

It can help you meet your social media calendar quota, but I have to say I’m not particularly impressed with this suggestion:

​I then gave it further instructions for shorter copy and the inclusion of a photo:

To be fair, I can edit this into something decent or research the suggested keywords but that’s what I’ve used programs like HootSuite or good old fashioned competitive analysis for. I also think that crafting a good social media post doesn’t need to be rushed. I’m an efficient writer but spending an extra 10 or 20 minutes is absolutely worth it when it comes to ensuring that your business is viewed in a professional manner. 

I’ve even had times where I’ve debated spending a bit of extra time on a post versus throwing something out there just for the sake of staying on a content schedule. I could keep discussing these issues with ChatGPT but it’s not going to be able to emulate my tone in the way that a good copywriter would.

ChatGPT is not something I am worried about but I don’t think it’s something that I am going to utilize as an integral part of a copywriting strategy. Maybe I’ll come around and sing its praises. It’s still fresh on the scene.

It kind of nailed this one:

​Have you used ChatGPT? Have you found it useful or are you already over it? Leave a comment!