ChatGPT prompts for business: free copy-and-paste examples for NZ small business

How to write a good prompt

A good prompt is a short brief. The more clearly you say who you are, who it is for and what you want, the less editing you will do afterwards. Use this structure:

Role: "Act as a marketing assistant for a New Zealand [type of business]."
Context: what the business does, where, and who your customers are.
Task: exactly what you want written or worked out.
Tone and format: length, style, bullets or email, New Zealand English.
Limits: what to avoid, such as hype, jargon or claims you cannot prove.

If the first answer is not right, reply with what to change ("shorter", "more casual", "add a price") instead of starting again.

Before you paste anything in

Leave out personal information. Remove customer and staff names, contact details and anything private. You are responsible for personal information under the Privacy Act 2020.
Check the facts. AI can sound confident and still be wrong about prices, laws or statistics.
Edit before you publish. Treat the result as a first draft and make it sound like you.
Check your tool's settings. Look at the data and privacy controls to see how your conversations may be used.

Marketing and social media

A week of social posts

Act as a social media manager for a New Zealand [type of business] in [town or region]. Write 7 short Facebook posts for next week. Our customers are [who they are]. Our tone is friendly and down to earth, with no hype. Mix useful tips, behind-the-scenes and one soft offer: [offer]. Keep each post under 80 words.

Google Business Profile post

Write a 120-word Google Business Profile post for [business name], a [type of business] in [suburb]. Mention [service or offer], who it suits, and end with a clear call to action to [call, book or visit]. Use New Zealand English.

Turn one idea into five formats

Here is one idea from my business: [idea]. Turn it into: a Facebook post, an Instagram caption, a short email to customers, a Google Business Profile update, and a 30-second video script. Keep the same friendly tone in each.

Product or service description

Write a product description for [product or service]. Audience: [customer]. Key benefits: [benefits]. Include one line that answers the most common objection: [objection]. 100 words, plain English, no clichés.

Ad copy variations

Write 5 Facebook ad headlines and 5 primary texts for [offer] aimed at [audience] in [region]. Each primary text under 40 words. Lead with a benefit, not a feature. Do not make claims we cannot prove.

Customer-friendly blog outline

Create an outline for a 900-word blog post that answers the question "[customer question]" for a New Zealand [type of business]. Include a headline, five sections, and the points a local customer would want to know.

Sales and customer emails

Quote follow-up email

Write a short, polite follow-up email to a customer who received a quote for [job] [number] days ago and has not replied. Do not sound pushy. Offer to answer questions and say when the quote expires: [date].

Reply to an enquiry

Here is an enquiry I received: "[paste enquiry with any personal details removed]". Write a warm, helpful reply from me, [your name] at [business]. Answer their questions, give a rough price range of [range], and suggest the next step.

Cold outreach to a local business

Write a short, friendly email introducing [business] to a [type of business] in [town]. Explain in two sentences how we could help them with [benefit]. Ask a single question to start a conversation. No attachments and no hard sell.

Handle a price objection

A customer says our price for [service] is too high. Give me three honest ways to respond that explain our value without discounting straight away. Include one line I could say on the phone.

Win back past customers

Write an email to customers who have not bought from us in over [number] months. Remind them what we do, mention [new thing or offer], and make it easy to book or reply. Keep it under 120 words.

Customer service

Reply to a negative review

Here is a public review of our business: "[paste review]". Write a calm, professional reply that thanks them, acknowledges the issue without arguing, and invites them to contact us at [phone or email]. Under 100 words. Do not admit legal liability.

Reply to a positive review

Write five different short replies to a 5-star review that mentions [detail from review]. Each should sound genuine and personal, not copied.

FAQ for the website

Based on these notes about our business: [notes], write 10 frequently asked questions with short, clear answers a customer would actually search for. Use New Zealand English.

Complaint response

A customer has complained that [problem]. Draft a response email that apologises where appropriate, explains what we will do, and gives a realistic timeframe of [time]. Keep it respectful and factual.

Everyday admin and operations

Summarise a long document

Summarise the following in plain English as 5 bullet points, then list any dates, costs or actions I need to take. Text: [paste text with personal details removed].

Meeting notes to action list

Turn these rough meeting notes into: a three-sentence summary, a list of decisions, and an action list with who does what by when. Notes: [paste notes].

Write a procedure

Write a simple step-by-step procedure for new staff on how to [task]. Use short numbered steps, add a "common mistakes" section, and keep it to one page.

Polite chaser for an overdue invoice

Write three overdue-payment reminders for invoice [number], due [date], for [amount]: a friendly nudge, a firmer follow-up, and a final notice. Keep them professional and respectful.

Spreadsheet help

I use [Excel or Google Sheets]. Explain, step by step, how to [what you want to do] with columns like [column names]. Give me the exact formula and an example.

Hiring and team

Job ad

Write a job ad for a [role] at a small New Zealand [type of business] in [town]. Hours: [hours]. Pay range: [range]. Include what the day looks like, the skills needed, and why someone would enjoy working with us. Avoid jargon and make clear what is essential and what is a bonus.

Interview questions

Give me 8 interview questions for a [role], including two about real situations they have handled. For each question, tell me what a good answer would look like.

Induction checklist

Create a first-week induction checklist for a new [role], including health and safety basics, who to meet, and a simple goal for each day.

Planning and thinking

Pressure-test an idea

I am thinking about [idea] for my business. Act as a sceptical adviser. List the five biggest risks, the questions I should answer first, and a cheap way to test it in a month.

Simple marketing plan

Create a 90-day marketing plan for a New Zealand [type of business] with a budget of $[amount] a month. Our main goal is [goal]. Split it into month 1, 2 and 3 with the three most valuable actions each month.

Competitor comparison

Here is information about three competitors from their public websites: [paste]. Compare them to us on price, services and positioning, and suggest where we could stand out. Treat this as a starting point to check, not as fact.

Explain it simply

Explain [topic] to me as if I am a busy business owner with no technical background. Use a real example from a [type of business], keep it under 200 words, and end with the one thing I should do next.

Questions about ChatGPT for business

Is ChatGPT free to use?

Yes. ChatGPT has a free plan you can use in your browser at chatgpt.com or in the mobile app. The free plan has usage limits and may offer less capable models than the paid plans, but it is enough for most of the prompts on this page. Plans and limits change, so check OpenAI's own site for what is currently included.

What is the best way to write a ChatGPT prompt for business?

Give it a role, the context, the task, who the audience is, the tone and the format you want. For example: "Act as a marketing assistant for a New Zealand plumber. Write a 100-word Facebook post for homeowners in Christchurch about winter hot water cylinder checks. Friendly tone, one clear call to action."

Can I put customer information into ChatGPT?

Be careful. Avoid pasting names, contact details, health, financial or other personal information about customers or staff. Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 you are responsible for how you handle personal information. Remove identifying details first, and check the privacy and data settings of any AI tool you use.

Will ChatGPT replace my staff or my marketing agency?

Not by itself. It is useful for first drafts, ideas and routine writing, but its output needs checking and editing by someone who knows your business, your customers and the facts.

Can ChatGPT make mistakes?

Yes. It can state wrong information confidently, including prices, laws and statistics. Always check anything that matters, and never publish a claim you cannot back up.

Want to ask something specific? Ask the Alliance assistant (free), or talk to us about training. Prompts are general examples, not professional advice. This page is independent and is not affiliated with OpenAI or any AI company.