Custom GPTs for Content Creators

Custom GPTs are everywhere now. Most are not worth your time. Some are genuinely useful.

What Makes a Good Custom GPT

The best custom GPTs do one thing well. They have clear inputs, predictable outputs, and save you time on repetitive tasks.

Bad custom GPTs try to do everything. They give inconsistent results. They require as much effort to use as doing the task yourself.

GPTs That Actually Help Creators

After testing dozens, here are the patterns that work:

1. Format Converters

GPTs that take content in one format and convert it to another. Article to LinkedIn post. Podcast notes to blog outline. Presentation to tweet thread.

These work because the task is mechanical. The creative work (your ideas) is already done.

2. Feedback Providers

GPTs that review your content and give specific feedback. Accessibility checkers. Readability analyzers. Tone consistency reviewers.

These work because they apply consistent criteria. The feedback is objective.

3. Research Assistants

GPTs that help you explore a topic before you write. They suggest angles, identify gaps, surface questions you had not considered.

These work because they expand your thinking without replacing it.

4. Template Fillers

GPTs with specific templates built in. Alt text writers. Meta description generators. Social media caption creators.

These work because the format is fixed. Only the content changes.

What Does Not Work

Avoid GPTs that:

Claim to write entire articles for you

Promise to "go viral" or guarantee engagement

Require extensive prompting to get usable output

Give different results every time for the same input

If using the GPT takes as long as doing the task yourself, it is not helping.

Building Your Own

Sometimes the best GPT is one you create. Here is what to include:

Clear Instructions

Tell the GPT exactly what you want. Include:

The specific task

The format of expected output

Examples of good output

What to avoid

Consistent Persona

If you want outputs that match your voice, include examples of your writing. Tell it to match your tone, vocabulary, and style.

Constraints

Limitations make GPTs better. Specify:

Word count ranges

Required elements

Forbidden words or phrases

Output structure

My Workflow

I use custom GPTs for:

1. **First drafts of alt text** - I review and edit, but the GPT gets me started

2. **Outline suggestions** - Based on my bullet points, it suggests structure

3. **LinkedIn post variations** - It gives me 3 versions to choose from

4. **Accessibility review** - It flags potential issues before I publish

For actual writing? I do that myself. The voice has to be mine.

Getting Started

Pick one repetitive task in your content workflow. Something you do every week that follows a pattern.

Create a custom GPT for just that task. Make it specific. Test it until it works consistently.

Then add another. Build your toolkit one tool at a time.

The goal is not to automate your creativity. It is to automate the mechanical parts so you have more time for the creative parts.