Running an online store means you’re not just a founder; you’re the head of marketing, the lead copywriter, and the entire customer service department rolled into one. Staring at a blank screen, trying to write the perfect product description, a compelling ad, or a helpful email can feel like a daily battle against the clock.
You’ve likely turned to AI tools like ChatGPT for a shortcut, only to be disappointed. You ask for a product description and get a generic, lifeless paragraph that sounds nothing like your brand. You ask for marketing ideas and get a vague list you could have found with a simple Google search. It’s frustrating, and it can feel like the AI is just creating more work for you to fix.
Here’s the secret: The problem isn’t the AI, it’s the question you’re asking.
This guide is built on that simple principle. We have thrown out the useless, one-line prompts that lead to poor results. Instead, we’ve crafted a comprehensive toolkit of detailed, strategic prompts designed to give ChatGPT the exact context it needs. These prompts force you to think like a strategist by asking for your target audience, your brand voice, and your specific goals.
Think of this guide as the instruction manual you’ve been missing for ChatGPT. The prompts inside will help you create ads that sell, emails that connect with customers, and product descriptions that stand out. You’ll spend less time staring at a blank page and more time confidently growing your business.
To use these prompts, simply replace the placeholder text inside the [brackets]
with your specific business details, and paste the complete prompt into ChatGPT.
Phase 1: Business Foundation & Market Research
Before you sell a single item, you need a solid plan. Use ChatGPT as your initial research analyst to validate ideas and understand your market landscape.
- Niche & Business Idea Generation:
Act as a seasoned e-commerce strategist. I am interested in the[broad niche, e.g., 'sustainable home goods']
market. Generate 10 innovative e-commerce business ideas within this niche. For each idea, include the primary target audience, a unique selling proposition (USP), and one potential challenge. - Competitive Analysis:
Analyze my potential competitor,[competitor website url]
. Based on their public-facing website, provide a summary of their: Apparent target audience, brand voice and tone, key product categories, pricing strategy (budget, mid-range, or premium), and unique selling proposition (what makes them stand out?). - Target Audience & Customer Persona:
Create a detailed customer persona for my e-commerce brand.- Brand:
[Your Brand Name]
- Products: We sell
[product category, e.g., 'handmade leather wallets']
. - Brief Customer Description:
[e.g., 'young professionals who value craftsmanship and minimalism']
Your task is to generate a persona named ‘Alex’ including their demographics, goals, daily frustrations (pain points), motivations for buying our product, and their preferred social media platforms.
- Brand:
Phase 2: Product & Brand Identity
With your research done, it’s time to build a brand that resonates and product listings that convert.
- The Ultimate Product Description:
Act as an expert e-commerce copywriter specializing in direct-to-consumer sales. Write a compelling product description for my new product.- Product Name:
[Product Name]
- Product Category:
[e.g., 'Skincare', 'Kitchen Gadgets']
- Target Audience:
[e.g., 'Busy moms aged 30-45', 'Tech-savvy students']
- Key Features (list 3-5):
[e.g., 'Made from 100% organic cotton', 'Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity', 'Dishwasher safe']
- Key Benefits (link each to a feature):
[e.g., 'Gentle on sensitive skin', 'Unbreakable, fast connection', 'Easy cleanup']
- Tone of Voice:
[e.g., 'Playful and witty', 'Luxurious and sophisticated', 'Technical and precise']
- Keywords for SEO:
[e.g., 'vegan leather bag', 'eco-friendly laptop case']
Your task is to format the output with a short, catchy title, a 2-3 sentence introductory paragraph, a bulleted list of 3-5 key benefits, and a concluding sentence that creates a sense of urgency.
- Product Name:
- Brand Voice & Tone Guide:
Create a Brand Voice & Tone guide for my company,[Company Name]
. We sell[products]
to[target audience]
. Our core brand values are[value 1, e.g., 'Sustainability']
,[value 2, e.g., 'Simplicity']
, and[value 3, e.g., 'Craftsmanship']
. The output should be a table with four columns: Characteristic (e.g., ‘Friendly’), Description (how we embody it), Do (example phrase), and Don’t (example phrase). - Product Naming:
Generate 20 potential names for a new[product description, e.g., 'caffeine-infused eye cream']
. The names should evoke a feeling of[desired feeling, e.g., 'energy and freshness']
and be easy to pronounce and spell. Avoid using the words[words to avoid]
.
- Writing compelling descriptions is a form of direct response copywriting. To master this skill and generate high-converting text for all your needs, from product pages to ads, check out our complete list of Copywriting Prompts.
Phase 3: Website Content & SEO
Your website is your storefront. It needs to be clear, trustworthy, and optimized for search engines.
- SEO Keyword Research:
Act as an SEO specialist. My e-commerce store sells[product category, e.g., 'custom dog collars']
. Generate a table of 30 keywords. The table should have three columns: Keyword, Search Intent (Informational, Commercial, or Transactional), and a suggested content idea (e.g., Blog Post, Product Page, FAQ) for that keyword. - Core Website Page Content (About Us):
Write the content for the ‘About Us’ page for my website,[Your Website Name]
. Our mission is[your mission statement]
. I started this company because[your founder story in one sentence]
. We are different from competitors because[your unique selling proposition]
. The tone should be[e.g., 'inspiring and personal']
. - FAQ Page Generation:
Generate a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for my e-commerce store. I sell[product type]
. Cover questions related to: Product specifics ([e.g., 'Are your materials ethically sourced?']
), Shipping ([e.g., 'How long does shipping take to [country/region]?']
), Returns ([e.g., 'What is your return policy?']
), and Order issues ([e.g., 'What if my order arrives damaged?']
). Write clear, concise, and helpful answers for each question. - Policy Page Templates:
Generate a professional template for a Shipping Policy page for an e-commerce store. Include sections for: Order Processing Times, Shipping Methods & Costs (with placeholders for domestic and international), Shipment Confirmation & Order Tracking, and Damages. Use clear and simple language.
Phase 4: Marketing & Customer Acquisition
Attract new customers through strategic content across multiple channels.
- Social Media Content Calendar:
Act as a social media manager. Create a 1-week social media content calendar for my brand,[Brand Name]
, to be posted on[social media platform, e.g., Instagram]
. Our goal for the week is[goal, e.g., 'to drive traffic to our new product launch']
. Our audience is[target audience]
. The calendar should be a table with columns for: Day, Post Theme (e.g., Educational, Behind-the-Scenes), a full caption draft, 5-7 relevant hashtags, and a clear Call-to-Action. - Email Marketing Campaign Sequence:
Act as an email marketing expert. Design a 4-part ‘Welcome’ email sequence for new subscribers to my newsletter. My store,[Store Name]
, sells[products]
.- Email 1 (Sent immediately): Welcome the user, deliver the promised discount, and introduce the brand’s mission.
- Email 2 (Sent 2 days later): Showcase our best-selling products.
- Email 3 (Sent 4 days later): Share our brand story or a piece of valuable content.
- Email 4 (Sent 7 days later): A final reminder to use their welcome discount with a touch of urgency.
For each email, provide a catchy subject line and the full body copy.
- Ad Copy for A/B Testing
Act as a performance marketing copywriter. Write 3 distinct versions of an ad for[Facebook/Google]
.- Product:
[Product Name and what it does]
- Target Audience:
[Target Audience]
- Offer:
[e.g., 'Free Shipping', '20% Off First Order']
- Version 1: Focus on the main pain point the product solves.
- Version 2: Focus on the product’s unique features.
- Version 3: Use a strong testimonial or social proof.
Provide a Headline and Primary Text for each version.
- Product:
- Blog Content Strategy & Creation
Act as a content strategist. My store sells[product category, e.g., 'specialty coffee beans']
. First, generate 10 blog post titles that will attract and engage my target audience of[target audience, e.g., 'at-home brewing enthusiasts']
. The titles should be SEO-friendly and solve a problem. After I choose a title, you will then create a detailed article outline for it, including an introduction, H2 and H3 headings for the main sections, and key bullet points to cover under each heading.
- Once you have your calendar, you need to fill it with great content. For dozens of additional prompts on brainstorming ideas, writing killer captions, and creating engaging posts, dive deeper with our dedicated list of powerful Prompts for Social Media.
- Attract new customers through strategic content across multiple channels. For a comprehensive look at generating ideas for full campaigns, SEO strategy, and more, be sure to explore our master list of Prompts for Marketing.
Phase 5: Customer Service & Retention
Keep your customers happy and turn them into loyal, repeat buyers.
- Customer Service Email Templates:
Create a set of empathetic and professional customer service email templates. The tone should be helpful and align with our brand voice, which is[brand voice, e.g., 'friendly and reliable']
. Generate responses for the following scenarios:- Responding to a shipping delay inquiry.
- Handling a complaint about a damaged item (offer a clear solution).
- Replying to a request for a return/refund.
- Thanking a customer for leaving a positive review.
- Proactive Customer Review Request:
Write a friendly, non-pushy email to a customer asking them to leave a product review. The email should mention their name[Customer Name]
and the product they purchased[Product Name]
about[14 days]
ago. Make them feel valued, explain why their feedback is important, and provide a direct, easy link to the review page[paste your link here]
.
Phase 6: Strategy & Operations
Use ChatGPT for high-level thinking to analyze data and scale your business.
- Promotional Campaign Planning:
Act as an e-commerce manager. I want to run a[e.g., 'Black Friday']
promotion for my store. My main goal is[e.g., 'to clear out old inventory']
. Brainstorm a complete promotional plan in a markdown table. Include columns for: Tactic (e.g., Tiered Discount, BOGO, Email Blast), Description (A brief explanation of the tactic), Target Audience (e.g., All Customers, VIP Members), and Timeline (e.g., ‘1 week before sale’). - Analyzing Customer Feedback for Insights:
I will paste a collection of customer reviews for my product,[Product Name]
, below. Act as a product development analyst. Read through all the reviews and provide a summary of:- The top 3 most-praised features.
- The top 3 most common complaints or issues.
- One actionable suggestion for product improvement based on this feedback.
[Paste your customer reviews here]
- Use ChatGPT for high-level thinking to analyze data and scale your business. To apply this same prompt-based approach to other areas like sales, internal operations, and more, explore our complete collection of copy-paste Prompts for Business.