Episode #121: [AI in Action] ChatGPT vs. Custom GPT: The Secret to Faster, Better Results

Have you been spending endless hours crafting the perfect AI prompts, only to still end up with content that needs serious editing? I totally get it!

In the latest episode of Tech Savvy 101: AI & Automation Made Simple, I share a complete game-changer that’s revolutionized how I use AI in my business, and it could do the same for you.

If you’ve been using ChatGPT but feeling frustrated by the constant back-and-forth needed to get usable results, consider this your wake-up call.

In this episode, I conduct a live, side-by-side comparison showing exactly how custom GPTs stack up against standard ChatGPT prompting, and the difference wasn’t just noticeable, it was dramatic!

Listen to this Episode Here

What’s the Difference Between Regular ChatGPT and Custom GPTs?

Before diving into the results of our Custom GPT vs. standard prompt showdown, let’s quickly clear up what we’re talking about.

A regular ChatGPT prompt is when you go to ChatGPT and type your request from scratch, either creating it yourself or copying it from somewhere else (because it seems like everyone and their brother is sharing “the best ChatGPT prompts!” on the internet right now!)

Either way, you’re starting with a blank slate and explaining what you want every single time…. over, and over, and over, again….

A custom GPT, on the other hand, is like your own personal AI assistant that’s been pre-trained with your specific instructions, brand voice, and preferences.

Think of it this way: using a regular ChatGPT prompt is like giving directions to a complete stranger, while a custom GPT is like giving directions to your bestie who’s been to your house a hundred times.

One needs ALL the details. The other just gets you with a look across the room. One brain, instant understanding.

Custom GPT vs Regular Prompt: The Head-to-Head Showdown

In my live demonstration, I put both approaches to the test using Pinterest content creation as our challenge:

• Regular ChatGPT Prompt Results: I had to provide detailed instructions and the full podcast transcript, resulting in 10 basic Pinterest titles, a handful of keywords, and 3 generic descriptions.
  
• Custom GPT (PiperBot) Results: I simply uploaded the transcript with a brief request and immediately received 20 Pinterest titles in various styles (curiosity-driven, SEO-friendly, and list formats), more targeted keywords, and 6 engaging descriptions divided into three strategic categories!

The custom GPT not only delivered double the content but also provided much more variety and better optimization, all without needing to be told how to format the content or what types of titles work best on Pinterest.

Why Custom GPTs Matter For Business Automation

Custom GPTs have absolutely exploded in popularity… and for good reason! Since their launch in November 2023, the number of public GPTs has increased by a whopping 732%, from 19,100 in November 2023 to over 159,000 as of December 2024.

As Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, put it: “The future of AI isn’t just in general models, it is in personalizing AI assistants to work the way businesses need.”

This perfectly aligns with what I hear from my clients and students, that the biggest frustration they experience with AI tools is the time spent editing and going back and forth to get usable results. General AI simply doesn’t know your style, workflow, or preferences.

If you’ve listened to previous episodes of Tech Savvy 101: AI & Automation Made Simple, then you know I love to say that “AI is your intern, Chad.”

If you don’t bother to train Chad, you’ll always get basic, bleh results from your unpaid, untrained intern. But… take the time to train Chad about your business and brand? Congratulations… you’ve just created SuperChad!

The Time-Saving Benefits of Custom GPTs for Content Creation

When we look at the stats, the benefits are clear:

• According to McKinsey and Company, automating content creation with AI saves businesses an average of 40% on time spent per task
  
• That percentage jumps dramatically when using custom GPTs instead of starting from scratch
  
• Creating optimized Pinterest content (the example I used in this head to head showdown) typically takes 30-45 minutes of research and writing per post, with a custom GPT, it’s done in 2-3 minutes
  
• Properly optimized Pinterest pins can see up to 30% higher engagement rates than generic ones – and that higher engagement rate can translate to any type of content that a Custom GPT can be created for!

Beyond time savings, custom GPTs offer built-in platform expertise, consistency across your content, and significantly better results because you’re using optimized instructions and adding all that super juicy knowledge right from the start.

You’re taking the time to teach the GPT everything you know, all the best practices, and dump alllll the information into the instructions when you build your “bot” – because you only have to do it once.

Whereas if you’re prompting ChatGPT (or any other AI tool) every time, you’re more likely to leave out all those amazing details and knowledge tidbits because it takes extra time to repeat it over and over again.

“The future of AI isn’t just in general models, it is in personalizing AI assistants to work the way businesses need.” – Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI

4 Business Areas Where Custom GPTs Deliver Amazing Results

If you’re wondering where to use custom GPTs in your business, here are some perfect applications:

1. Content creation: Blog posts, social captions, newsletters, YouTube scripts, podcast outlines
   
2. Marketing materials: Ad copy, CTAs, email sequences, landing page content
   
3. Client communications: DM responses, FAQs, personalized onboarding materials
   
4. Administrative tasks: SOP generators, meeting notes, project planning

You can even create fun, personal GPTs, like the Buddy the Elf GPT I created over the holidays that planned my entire Elf on the Shelf calendar.
My kids thought I was a holiday genius, but honestly, it was just my custom GPT doing the heavy lifting!

The key question to ask yourself: Where are you spending the most time on repeatable tasks? That’s your custom GPT sweet spot!

Transform Your Business with AI Assistants Today

If you’re spending too much time rewriting, reformatting, or prompting AI the same way over and over again, it’s time to consider a custom GPT!

Creating one might sound technically challenging, but that’s exactly why I’m here to help.

If you want your own custom GPT perfectly tailored to your business, check out the link in the resources section below to get started.

Still on the fence? Shoot me an email to chat about how this could work for your specific business.

Remember: AI assistants aren’t just for big businesses, they’re for ANY entrepreneur who wants to reclaim their time while getting better results!

Resources for Getting Started with Custom GPTs

Custom GPT Services – Have me build your custom GPT, perfectly tailored to your business needs
Watch This Episode on YouTube – See the full screen share demonstration of custom GPTs vs. regular prompts
Episode #120 – Custom GPTs 101: How AI Assistants Can Save You Hours Every Week
AI Evergreen Content Machine Course – Get access to PiperBot (the bot I demo’d in this episode!) and other tons of other AI resources for content creation inside this course
Email Contact – Reach out with any questions about custom GPTs for your business

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The AI Content Lab is an eight-episode private podcast that teaches you how to create evergreen content that works for your business 24/7. 

Learn to break free from the social media grind, save hours each week, and generate long-term results with high-quality content that attracts leads, drives traffic, and boosts sales – without the need for constant posting. It’s free, easy, and designed to make content creation stress-free.

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