This is how start-ups can use ChatGPT for themselves

ChatGPT opens up a multitude of new worlds for start-ups, because the language model can help to identify aspects of topics that founders do not always have on their radar. But how can you proceed to get answers that are as meaningful and helpful as possible?

In order to use ChatGPT optimally as a start-up, as is so often the case, a structured approach with a clear goal is important. This means that as a founder, you first have to be clear about which topics you want answers to. You also need the context and finally a clear question.

In the following I would like to highlight two topics that are important for founders and where the use of ChatGPT can provide useful assistance.

1. ChatGPT for startups: pitch to sell a product or service

Let’s assume a start-up has developed a product or service and now needs a corresponding pitch for the offer, aimed at a specific target group. ChatGPT can help in several ways in this scenario.

a. Who is the target group for the product?

On the one hand, the founders could develop ideas for which target group the product or service is useful at all. You could contact ChatGPT with the following prompt:

“Assume you are an expert in marketing and sales. We have developed the following product/service: [Beschreibung des Produktes/ der Dienstleistung].

The product/service has the following outstanding features/USPs: [Beschreibung der Merkmale]. Our product/service can be used particularly well in the following situations: [Beschreibung der Situationen].

Describe to us for which target groups our product would be helpful. First name the individual target groups. Then justify why you named this target group. Create the description from a list.”

b. When and how can problems arise?

In the second step, the founders can get help to understand where there may be problems in selling the product or service. To do this, you can connect to the prompt created above and now ask ChatGPT the following:

“You just created a list of target groups for whom our product/service makes sense and is helpful. Now describe for the target groups you named what challenges or obstacles exist to buying our product/service from us. Act as devil’s advocate and take into account challenges, objections and obstacles that are rarely considered.

c. ChatGPT for startups: create a pitch

In the third step, ChatGPT can now help to create an appropriate pitch for the product or service:

“Develop a convincing pitch to sell our product/service [Beschreibung]. The target group for the pitch is: [Beschreibung der Zielgruppe, wie oben unter a. von ChatGPT entwickelt].

Use the AIDA model (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) to develop the pitch. Consider the following challenges of selling to this audience [Beschreibung der oben unter b. entwickelten Herausforderungen für die jeweilige Zielgruppe].

Explain why the pitch meets the criteria of the AIDA model and how it deals with the challenges of selling to the target group mentioned above.”

In this application, ChatGPT can help very well to identify interesting target groups and to understand how to address these target groups and what hurdles there are in addressing the respective target group. The answers may not be the ultimate answer. But for a good start that you can then continue to work on, it’s definitely enough. The further analysis can then go further in depth depending on the target group.

2. ChatGPT for start-ups: dealing with criticism of a product/service and generating recommendations

Let’s say a startup has developed a product or service and wants to sell it. The founders now have two questions: On the one hand, they want to understand which arguments potential interested parties could put forward or why they are not considering a purchase. On the other hand, they want to get enthusiastic buyers to recommend the product or service.

a. Identify possible arguments and objections

In the first case, the founders need ideas to prepare for potential arguments. The following prompt could be used for this:

“Assume you are an expert in marketing and sales. We have developed the following product/service: [Beschreibung des Produktes/ Dienstleistung]. The product/service has the following outstanding features/USPs: [Beschreibung der Merkmale].

The product/service would be of interest to the following target group for the following reasons: [Nennung der Zielgruppe und Darstellung der Gründe]. Describe possible arguments and objections that people from the target group can bring up against the purchase of the product/service.

Describe arguments and objections that are often mentioned, but also rarely mentioned. Then provide step-by-step instructions on how to counter these arguments and objections so that the arguments and objections are invalidated.”

In this use case, ChatGPT will show which potential objections could be raised at all, so that the founders can deal with them and be prepared for them. ChatGPT will give the answer from the point of view of sales experts and in particular will name unusual objections.

b. initiate recommendations

In the second case, the founders need ideas with which recommendations can be initiated. You could start with the following prompt:

“Assume you are an expert in marketing and sales. We have developed the following product/service: [Beschreibung des Produktes/ der Dienstleistung]. The product/service has the following outstanding features/USPs: [Beschreibung der Merkmale].

Analyze our product/service and come up with ten ideas how we can get our customers to recommend it to our customers. In particular, the ideas should benefit our existing customers through the recommendation in the form of a reward or an advantage.

Present typical ideas as well as atypical ones that are rarely used. To do this, create a list in which the ideas for generating recommendations are given first. Then describe how this idea can be implemented in concrete terms. Finally, show what resistance must be expected with the respective idea.”

On the one hand, this prompt helps to generate ideas for recommendations at all. On the other hand, ChatGPT will give an initial implementation of the idea in the answer and also draw attention to resistance and challenges. In this way, founders can start directly with the implementation.

Conclusion: ChatGPT can help start-ups to generate approaches

ChatGPT is currently unable to provide conclusive answers to certain questions. This is particularly evident when ChatGPT formulates the same question several times in a row or clicks on “regenerate” after a response has been created.

However, ChatGPT is very good at generating ideas and approaches. This is particularly helpful for founders when it comes to dealing with a specific topic for the first time and getting initial inspiration for implementation.

ChatGPT answers should be used with some caution. Because these are always based on the data with which the AI ​​was trained. However, it is of course also possible to take a specific response from ChatGPT and then have it analyzed again by the AI, taking into account a wide variety of aspects and in different scenarios. In this way, founders always get numerous new perspectives and can then think through the idea further and further.

How do you use ChatGPT and with which prompts have you had good or bad experiences or got good and less good results – and why? Write me your scenarios in the comments – I’m very curious about your experiences.

Also interesting: