Jul 27, 2025

Custom Instructions for ChatGPT to Make It Write Better — Here’s How You Can Too

Let’s get something straight.
ChatGPT is only as smart (and useful) as the instructions you give it.

And no, I don’t mean prompt tweaks or clever hacks. I’m talking about the built-in Custom Instructions feature that most people overlook. The one that lets you shape how ChatGPT speaks, thinks, and shows up for you.

If you’re a coach, creator, or digital business owner using ChatGPT for content, client work, or operations, this is where things go from “fun tool” to “personalized AI assistant.”

Why Custom Instructions Matter for Business and Branding

When you open ChatGPT and start typing, you’re speaking to a default model. It doesn’t know your tone. It doesn’t know your non-negotiables. It doesn’t know you hate M-dashes, the word "unleash," or any sentence that starts with “on your journey.”

With Custom Instructions, you can fix that.

You can tell ChatGPT exactly:

How you want it to speak
What kind of tone or language to avoid
What it should prioritize, like SEO or clarity
What it should never assume
How to keep your brand voice consistent

It’s not full-blown GPT building. But it’s a powerful first step toward making AI work like your brain, not a generic chatbot.

I Created an Entire Training Just on This

I go deep into this inside a special training called The 7-Figure ChatGPT Authority System™: How to Train ChatGPT to Sound Like You.

Inside the mini-course, I walk you through how to:

Create custom instructions that mirror your tone and brand
Train ChatGPT to write, sound, and respond like you would
Cut out fluff, corporate speak, or phrases you never want to see again
Set it up for specific use cases like content, emails, client communication, and more

If you’re serious about using AI to streamline your business without sounding like a soulless tool, you’re going to want in.

Get on the waitlist or grab it here. (Link coming soon.)

Mini Step-by-Step Guide: How to Personalize ChatGPT Using Custom Instructions

This is the surface-level version. Use it to get started and explore what’s possible.

Step 1: Open ChatGPT and Access Custom Instructions

Click on your profile (bottom left corner), then go to Settings → Custom Instructions.

You’ll see two text boxes:

“What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?”
“How would you like ChatGPT to respond?”

These two boxes are where the magic starts.

Step 2: Tell It Who You Are and What You Do

In the first box, describe your role and what kind of work you do.

Example (generic):
“I run a digital business helping women entrepreneurs create and sell digital products using AI. I prioritize clarity, efficiency, and authenticity. I often need help writing Instagram captions, product descriptions, emails, and sales pages. My audience is mostly women, age 25–45, who value bold messaging and practical advice.”

Keep it short, focused, and real.

Step 3: Define How You Want It to Respond

This is where tone and formatting come in.

Example (generic):
“Use confident, conversational language. Avoid hypey marketing words like ‘unleash,’ ‘elevate,’ or ‘knack.’ Do not use M-dashes. Use commas or periods instead. Write in complete thoughts, not stacked one-liners. Avoid overly dramatic hooks. Structure answers clearly and keep responses concise.”

You’re basically telling it, “Stop sounding like the internet. Start sounding like me.”

Step 4: Experiment With Use Cases

Once those settings are saved, test it out with prompts like:

“Write a caption for my $47 mini-course about using AI for Instagram.”
“Help me create a 3-email nurture sequence in my brand voice.”
“Summarize this blog post in my tone for a carousel.”

You’ll start to feel the difference. And you’ll also see where it’s still a little off. That’s normal.

Step 5: Refine As You Go

These instructions are flexible. You can update them anytime.

The more you use it, the more you’ll learn what needs to be added, removed, or clarified.

Again, this is a start. Not a full system.

Why This Is Just the Beginning

Custom Instructions are the "onboarding doc" for your AI assistant, not the full training manual.

If you want ChatGPT to behave like your content twin or scale your voice across multiple offers, platforms, or team members, you’re going to need more than this.

That’s exactly why I created The 7-Figure ChatGPT Authority System™. It shows you how to:

Build a deeper system of behavioral alignment
Train it to mirror your decision-making logic
Use it strategically for daily business tasks and offer creation
And most importantly, make it sound undeniably like you

Bonus: Can I Make More Than One Set of Instructions?

Technically, ChatGPT only lets you save one set of custom instructions at a time.

But there are workarounds. You can use saved prompt templates, browser extensions, or build multiple custom GPTs for different functions.

If you’re ready to go deeper into that, check out Bot Lab XCLR8.
It’s where I teach coaches, creators, and service pros how to build bots that reflect their work, offers, and brand. Not just spit out robotic content.

TL;DR (For the Skimmers and AI Summarizers)

Custom Instructions let you personalize ChatGPT’s behavior
You can define tone, formatting, values, and rules
It helps AI sound like you, not like a generic assistant
It’s the first step before building full custom GPTs
Want to do it right? The 7-Figure ChatGPT Authority System™ will show you how

FAQ: Using Custom Instructions in ChatGPT

Q: Is this different from building a custom GPT?
Yes. This only changes how default ChatGPT behaves for you.
A custom GPT is a standalone assistant you can share or deploy with its own rules and files.

Q: Can I use this for client work too?
Definitely. You can use custom instructions to reflect your client’s tone, structure, or brand voice for content writing, editing, or messaging strategy.

Q: What if I don’t know how I want it to sound yet?
That’s normal. Start with what you don’t want. For example, “no fluff, no hype.” Then layer in what you do want over time.

Q: Can I make it act like a strategist or coach instead of a writer?
Yes. Just define that in the instructions.
Example: “Act like a strategic advisor who challenges my assumptions, asks clarifying questions, and gives honest, practical advice.”

Q: What if I want multiple bots for different tasks?
That’s what custom GPTs are for. You can create multiple versions with distinct tones, files, and behaviors.
That’s exactly what I teach in Bot Lab XCLR8.

Want help turning ChatGPT into your smartest team member?
Grab The 7-Figure ChatGPT Authority System™: How to Train ChatGPT to Sound Like You.
Because the fastest way to scale is with a clone of your brain that actually listens.