How to get ChatGPT to write like you

As someone who regularly delivers AI training courses, I’m often surprised by how few delegates are aware of Custom Instructions in ChatGPT. This feature is incredibly valuable yet underutilised, which is why I’ve decided to write this blog post. Many people dismiss AI-generated content as generic or impersonal—sometimes calling it “AI slop.” This criticism is fair to some extent, as much AI-generated content can lack personalisation and creativity. However, Custom Instructions offer a solution by allowing you to tailor ChatGPT’s responses to reflect your unique creativity, style and preferences.

In this blog post, I’ll guide you through setting up Custom Instructions and share tips on how to use them effectively to get the best out of ChatGPT.

How to Set Up Custom Instructions in ChatGPT

Setting up Custom Instructions is simple and can significantly enhance your reader’s experience of ChatGPT generated content. For example, you can customise instructions to prioritise creativity and alignment with your brand tone. Alternatively, if you are creating materials for learning purposes, you could configure ChatGPT to use a more structured and formal tone. Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: Access the Settings

1. Log in to ChatGPT: Visit https://chat.com (ChatGPT has recently acquired this domain name) and log in to your account.
2. Open Settings:
   • On desktop, click on your profile picture or name in the bottom-left corner of the screen, then select Settings.
   • On mobile, tap the menu icon (☰), and then tap Settings.

Step 2: Enable Custom Instructions

1. In the Settings menu, look for the Customize ChatGPT option.
2. You’ll see two boxes where you can add your Custom Instructions:
   • Top Box: What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?
     • Here, you can provide background information or specific details about yourself, your work, or the purpose of your interactions. For example:
       • “I provide social media and AI training.”
       • “I create content for myself and clients who do XYZ for <audience>.”
   • Bottom Box: How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
     • Specify your preferences for tone, structure, or formatting. For example:
       • “Please use short paragraphs and avoid US English and technical jargon.”
       • “I want engaging, creative responses in a casual tone.”
3. Enter your preferences in these fields and save them.

Step 3: Test and Adjust

1. Start a conversation with ChatGPT to see how the Custom Instructions affect its responses.
2. If needed, revisit the Custom Instructions settings to refine your inputs. Adjustments may be necessary to align ChatGPT’s responses with your and your readers’ expectations.

Tips for Using Custom Instructions

To make the most of Custom Instructions, keep the following tips in mind:

Be Clear and Specific

For example, if you’re a writer looking for assistance with articles, you could specify, “Provide headlines and subheadings formatted in sentence case, and use a professional yet approachable tone.” This level of detail helps ChatGPT tailor its responses to your needs.

The clearer and more detailed your instructions, the better ChatGPT can align its responses with your needs. For example, instead of saying, “Make the responses engaging,” specify, “Use a casual tone with short paragraphs and avoid technical jargon.”

Experiment and Refine

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different instructions to find what works best for you. Over time, you’ll discover the nuances that make ChatGPT’s responses more effective and relevant.

Update Regularly

As your needs evolve, so should your Custom Instructions. Whether you’re working on a new project or shifting focus, updating your preferences will ensure that ChatGPT stays aligned with your goals.

Use for Multiple Contexts

If you use ChatGPT for various tasks—for example, social media content creation and personal projects—adjust the Custom Instructions accordingly. You can modify the instructions depending on the task at hand to ensure optimal results.

Why Custom Instructions Matter

Custom Instructions transform ChatGPT from a general-purpose assistant into a tool tailored specifically to your needs. For example, professionals can use it to ensure responses align with their industry standards and tone, while teachers might customise it to provide simplified explanations or structured study guides. This adaptability makes it an invaluable resource across diverse personal and professional scenarios. They address one of the most common criticisms of AI-generated content: its lack of personalisation. By providing ChatGPT with details about your preferences, work, and communication style, you can ensure that its responses are more relevant, engaging, and aligned with readers’ expectations.

For instance, as someone who provides social media and AI training, I’ve configured my Custom Instructions to ensure that ChatGPT uses UK English, avoids jargon, and produces short, actionable paragraphs. This setup allows me to save time while creating content that aligns with my brand’s tone and style.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt that ChatGPT’s responses were too generic or not quite hitting the mark, Custom Instructions can change that. By setting up and refining this feature, you’ll unlock a more personalised and productive experience.

Whether you’re using ChatGPT for professional projects, personal tasks, or learning, Custom Instructions allow you to shape the AI’s behaviour to suit your specific requirements. It’s a simple yet powerful way to make AI work better for you—and I encourage you to give it a try.

If you’ve already experimented with Custom Instructions or plan to set them up, I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below. If you’d like a Webdog Report on topic ideas for your blog for Custom Instructions to work with, get in touch.

Needless to say, this blog post was written with the help of ChatGPT.