How to Use ChatGPT for Your Small Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
Practical ways Australian small businesses can use ChatGPT today. From customer emails to social media — with real prompts.
AINow Take
The businesses getting the most out of ChatGPT aren't using it for everything — they're using it for specific, repeatable tasks. Find 3-5 tasks you do weekly and automate them with AI.
ChatGPT can save Australian small business owners hours per week. Here’s exactly how to use it, with prompts you can copy and paste.
1. Customer Emails
Instead of: Spending 15 minutes drafting each email.
Prompt:
Write a professional but friendly email to a client who has delayed payment on invoice #1234 for $2,500. The payment is now 2 weeks overdue. I want to be firm but maintain the relationship. Include options for payment plan if needed.Save: 10-15 minutes per email
2. Social Media Content
Instead of: Staring at a blank screen for your weekly posts.
Prompt:
Write 5 LinkedIn posts for my [your industry] business this week. Each post should be 3-5 sentences. Topics: industry tip, client success story, team spotlight, industry news take, and a question to engage followers. Tone: professional but approachable.Save: 1-2 hours per week
3. Responding to Reviews
Instead of: Writing each response from scratch.
Prompt:
Write a response to a Google review for my [business type]. The review says: [paste review]. If positive, thank them and invite them back. If negative, apologise and offer to make it right. Keep it under 100 words.Save: 5 minutes per review
4. Job Descriptions
Instead of: Writing job ads that don’t attract the right candidates.
Prompt:
Write a job description for a [position] at my [industry] business. Include: key responsibilities, required skills, what makes working at a small business special, and salary range of $[X]-$[Y]. Keep it to 300 words. Tone: warm and professional.Save: 30-45 minutes per job ad
5. Weekly Planning
Instead of: Wasting Monday morning figuring out priorities.
Prompt:
I run a [business type] with [number] employees. Here are my tasks for this week: [list]. Help me prioritise them by urgency and importance, and create a schedule. Include time estimates.Save: 20 minutes per week
Getting Started
- Start small — Pick one task from above
- Save your prompts — Create a document of prompts that work
- Review outputs — Always check before sending
- Iterate — Refine prompts based on what works
- Expand — Add one new use case per week
Australian Tip
When using ChatGPT for business, specify Australian spelling and context:
“Use Australian English spelling (colour, organise, centre). Refer to AUD prices. Use Australian business examples.”