3 Limitations and 3 Benefits of Using ChatGPT
I recently shared a post where I talked about my three favorite AI tools that are helping me elevate my output and magnify my impact. My most used of these tools is ChatGPT. For those writers who might have hesitations about AI, I’m hoping this post eliminates some of the apprehension you have and encourages you to try it out because, at least not as of yet, ChatGPT is not a job stealer, a secret spy, or a grand threat - it’s a polite tool that can help you overcome writer’s block, get inspiration, formulate strategy, craft SEO friendly blog posts, and write comprehensive conclusions (I HATE writing conclusions.)
In this post, I want to share some of the platform's limitations as well as its benefits. Instead of hiding your head under a pillow and hoping it will all go away, I recommend jumping in and trying out the platform for yourself because while AI may not be taking anyone’s job soon, it will soon take the jobs of those who don’t learn how to use AI to maximize their output.
3 Limitations of Using ChatGPT
#1 It’s not funny…yet.
If you want your copy to be informative, you’ll be ok with an AI content writer, but if you want it to be sharp-witted and knock your socks off funny, it just isn’t there. You’d be better off hiring a self-deprecating millennial or a harshly honest Gen Z to deliver relatable quips.
#2 It’s not always factual.
I’ve found that AI sometimes lies, especially when quoting famous people or identifying book excerpts. I’m sure it also gets other statistics wrong. Again, you can use AI to help you set a structure for your writing and overcome writer’s block but don’t trust it to deliver accurate info, especially if you are a health professional. You’ll still need a savvy human researcher or professional to fact-check and edit.
#3 It’s easy.
This is a plus side because it can save you a lot of time, but I’ve found that when I am not in the mood to write something I am very capable of, I will sometimes use ChatGPT to help me. In other words, it’s easy to rely too much and become dependent on it. Again, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but once you start using AI to help you write content, you will begin to recognize others who use it, too, because it will sound very formulaic. Creativity is not its strong suit yet, so make sure you or someone on your team adds some flair, humanness, and relatability.
3 Benefits of Using ChatGPT
#1 It’s free (for now).
There are premium services and upgrades, but ChatGPT currently offers a basic plan that is free to use. They have recently implemented a limit on how many searches you can make per day, but I rarely ever reach the limit. And if I do, it’s usually because I am procrastinating on something important and just seeing how far I can go down the rabbit hole. That means if you master AI, you can save a TON of money on content marketing services.
#2 Time freedom.
Entrepreneurs often have the highest of aspirations. They expect not only to understand and master every aspect of their business but also to be high-income earners overnight, loving and adoring partners, friends, parents, and citizens, and physically and mentally in tip-top shape. It’s an unattainable goal, especially if you are starting, which means you will likely be lacking in a few areas of your life. Though creating content is my wheelhouse, implementing AI has freed up so much of my time that I can brainstorm for future business endeavors or spend time with people I love doing things that light me up. It’s funny when people complain that AI is making art, which wasn’t the future they hoped for, but I’ve had a different experience. Implementing AI has allowed me to spend more time crafting my art - I am currently illustrating an oracle deck I wrote a few years ago with the help of AI because I couldn’t find a human illustrator that was interested in helping me navigate the project, or they just straight up never emailed me back. AI, on the other hand, is always eager to help.
#3 More value added to the world.
If you are reading this, you are probably already a conscious business owner, nonprofit organizer, healer, or aspiring to be. You have likely dedicated your life to helping others but are struggling to make ends meet or stay on top of your business.
In conclusion (yes, I used ChatGPT to help me write this conclusion, LOL), while AI tools like ChatGPT may have their limitations, such as lacking humor, occasionally providing inaccurate information, and the potential for overreliance, they offer significant benefits that can elevate your work and free up your time. As entrepreneurs, creators, or professionals dedicated to making a positive impact, mastering AI can be a game-changer. It can save you money, provide valuable time freedom, and ultimately help you add more value to the world. The key is to approach these tools with an open mind and a balanced perspective, using them to supplement your creativity and expertise rather than a replacement. By doing so, you’ll keep pace with the evolving landscape and ensure you’re using AI to its fullest potential—enhancing your work while maintaining your unique human touch.
***I couldn’t have said it better myself, ChatGPT. Thank you for your thoughtful contribution :)
Want to learn how to amplify your impact with the help of ChatGPT and other AI tools? Book a one hour session with me where we will deep dive into your business and I’ll show you exactly how to create content effortlessly. More details can be found here.
3 AI Tools I'm Loving Right Now
Lately, much shade is being thrown at AI and content creators who use AI, but I’m here to be a contrarian. AI has the potential to offer business owners (especially my fellow soul-preneurs) - alternative, easy, and budget-friendly ways to amplify their impact.
The following AI platforms have transformed how I approach my client work as well as my passion projects, whether for illustration, writing, or video creation. Let me share the AI tools I’m loving lately and how they help me create more freely and efficiently.
#1 OpenArt.ai: A Game-Changer for My Illustrations - $75/ year subscription, 5000 credits/ month
When my publisher Rio Nuevo shut their doors, I found myself in a bind. My upcoming project, a Desert Animal Oracle Deck, was on hold, and I was scrambling to find a new illustrator. My initial thought was to reconnect with my previous illustrator, but her quote was well beyond my budget. Not only that, but she also failed to respond to my inquiries about the timeline, leaving me in the lurch. I contacted other illustrators, but the responses were delayed or inconsistent, and the time was ticking.
That’s when I discovered OpenArt.ai. Desperate for a solution, I explored the world of AI-generated art. I taught myself how to create AI art using this tool, and the results were terrific. OpenArt.ai has allowed me to produce high-quality illustrations without the headaches and delays of finding a traditional artist.
Using OpenArt.ai and Canva, I’ve crafted stunning visuals that perfectly capture desert wildlife's mystical and serene essence. The best part? I can tweak and refine the art as I see fit, ensuring that the final product aligns perfectly with my vision and that I don’t need to spend much money on it. Here are some sample cards….SNEAK PEEK…Shhhhhhh!
#2 ChatGPT: My Go-To Writing Assistant, FREE
Regarding AI chatbots, I must admit that I haven’t experimented much with the plethora of options available. Why? Because ChatGPT has everything I need. As a writer, the ability to brainstorm ideas, generate content, and even refine my work in real-time has been invaluable.
Whether drafting blog post ideas, developing content strategies, or polishing my rough drafts, ChatGPT has proven an indispensable tool in my creative arsenal. The ease with which I can communicate with the AI and get meaningful responses makes it feel like I have a dedicated writing assistant at my fingertips.
The versatility of ChatGPT is what sets it apart for me. It’s not just about generating text—it’s about the collaborative process that makes my writing more dynamic. I can ask for suggestions, get feedback, and even ask AI to tweak content based on my target audience. This level of interaction has taken my writing to new heights, allowing me to experiment and push boundaries in ways I hadn’t considered before.
#3 InVideo: Bringing My Words to Life Through Video, FREE or $20/month
As a writer, I’ve always been intrigued by bringing my stories and ideas to life through video. However, the technical aspects of video creation always seemed daunting—until I discovered InVideo. This AI-powered video creator has become my latest obsession, enabling me to quickly transform my writing into engaging visual content.
InVideo offers a range of templates and customization options that make video creation accessible, even for someone like me with little experience in the field. I’ve started experimenting with creating promotional videos for my writing projects, and the results have been spectacular. The platform allows me to integrate my text with images, animations, and music, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative that resonates with my audience.
One of the things I love most about InVideo is its user-friendly interface. It’s designed to be intuitive, so I don’t have to spend hours learning how to use it. Instead, I can focus on the creative process, experimenting with different elements until I achieve the desired effect. Whether it’s a book trailer, a promotional clip, or just a fun visual experiment, InVideo has become an essential tool in my creative toolkit. Here’s a video I had fun making last night - I used text from a project I am working on about Exiting the Matrix. Not bad for a newb!
Embracing the Future of Creativity
AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s a tangible resource revolutionizing how we create. Tools like OpenArt.ai, ChatGPT, and InVideo have empowered me to take control of my projects, allowing me to produce high-quality work without the usual hurdles. By integrating AI into my creative process, I’ve explored new mediums, experimented with innovative ideas, and brought my visions to life with unprecedented ease.
If you’re a creative professional looking to expand your toolkit or a business owner seeking to amplify your purpose, I highly recommend these AI tools. Whether you want to create stunning visuals, enhance your writing, or delve into video production, an AI solution can help you achieve your goals. The future of creativity is here, and it’s more exciting than ever.
And yes - I did enlist AI's help to write this blog post :)
Want to know more about how to use AI to amplify your impact? I’m currently offering a $77 one-hour Zoom session where you and I will dive deep into the inner workings of your business. During the session, you will learn how to create engaging, authentic content that resonates with your audience, saves time AND aligns your message with your mission. More details here.
Why I'm Switching from Flodesk to Substack
After doing a ton of research I decided to sign up for Substack, “a website providing a user-friendly platform for writers and journalists. Substack cuts through the complexities and costs of traditional publishing, allowing creators to share their work and directly monetize it.” - Source
I am hoping Substack will satisfy my newsletter management needs and help me gain a wider reach. In this article, I will explain why I am switching to Substack and away from Flodesk, my current newsletter management system.
Why I Am Saying Goodbye to Flodesk
The cost - When I started using Flodesk it was only $19 a month. While still on the pricier side of things when it came to newsletter management I LOVED the designs of the templates and just the whole energy over there. LOL. Yes, websites and platforms can have a vibe. I liked that they seemed to cater to women entrepreneurs probably because the founders were women themselves. It was a no-brainer for me. Last year, however, despite my long-time membership, they jacked the price to $60 a month. Being the master negotiator I am, I asked them to let me have another year at the introductory price. and they agreed. But as my subscription is about to run out again, I do not want to go through this process all over. Substack is, however, free to join. They take 10% of your profit from paid memberships.
Stagnant subscriber count - Of all the years I’ve been slinging newsletters on Flodesk, my subscriber list has remained pretty stagnant. Part of that is my fault because I rarely talk about it and I haven’t been consistent with updating my lead capture pop-ups on my website - but the truth is Flodesk doesn’t aid in this process. Substack, however, allows you to give shoutouts to other Substackers in your newsletters, provides a place to build community, allows other people to give you shoutouts in their Substacks, and my favorite feature, automatically sends out an email every time you make a post. When I blog on Squarespace, for example, I have to manually insert the link into a Flodesk email and send it out.
Monetization - With Substack, monetization is built in. Because they only get paid when you get paid, they make it easier for you to get money.
When I first began to create content, it was in the days of “give content away for free and “they” will come”. True, my blog has allowed clients to find me organically but they rarely convert to newsletter subscribers and those newsletter subscribers rarely convert to new or repeat business. Again, a lot of this is my fault for not having a clear strategy in place from the beginning but also because the topics I talk about are all over the place. But not anymore. My new Substack will be dedicated to helping curious souls build a life they don’t have to escape from.
Getting Over Being Cringe
I’m not going to lie, being a writer is HARD. We are sensitive creatures who feel things very deeply. We are fine-tuned to see the details that make life beautiful but also repulsive and we’ve been given the gift/curse to translate what we are feeling into words so that thicker-skinned souls can feel these things too.
Having to put ourselves OUT THERE, being SEEN, just feels so cringe and misaligned. But if you want to reach a wider audience, and if you want to get paid to share ideas, you have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. I believe that my ideas are valuable and can help change people’s lives for the better. I also believe that people value things MORE when they pay for them, so that is why I will be offering premium content for a premium price. Not to mention all the people who should not have platforms because they are spreading negativity and fear in the world yet they just keep getting up every day and doing it, THE AUDACITY!! So, why shouldn’t I simultaneously carve out a cute little hopeful path forward - and also feed myself at the same time?
Will it work? I have no idea but I’ll never know if I don’t try.
Want to support my work? Think my ideas are valuable? Join my Substack here.
What to Expect from Squarespace Circle Day + Germany Circle Day Meetup Deets
This just in…following the Squarespace Circle Day on August 24th, I'll be co-facilitating and speaking at the *virtual* Circle Day Germany Meetup on August 30th. Woo!
Before I go into details about what to expect at the Circle Day Germany Meetup, I’d like to take a moment to discuss what the heck Circle Day is and who is it for…
What is Squarespace Circle Day?
According to the website, Squarespace Circle Day claims to be the “summit for Squarespace Creators” which pretty much includes anyone who 1. currently has a Squarespace website, 2. is thinking about hopping on the Squarespace bandwagon, or 3. creates Squarespace sites for others. But honestly, after seeing the lineup of keynotes and workshop facilitators, I think Squarespace Circle Day is for any web designer or digital creator. Even if you are NOT a Squarespace fan or user, you will get something out of this summit.
Here is a list of the entire agenda. Some of the sessions will take place in person live in NYC, but a lot of them will be virtual. Unfortunately, all the tickets for the in-person summit are spoken for, but don’t be discouraged because there is a lot of value to be had on the inter-web version. Here are the sessions I am most looking forward to:
Turn Your One-Time Project Into Recurring Revenue by Clarrie Johnson
The Price is Right: How to Charge a Premium for Your Offering by Victoria Marcouillier
Brand Story Time: Building Sites That Captivate and Convert by Laura Scholes
Circle Live with Squarespace CEO and Founder, Anthony Casalena
And What About the Circle Day Germany Meetup?
The Circle Day Germany Meetup will be a place for you to stop by virtually to say hi, connect with other web designers or digital creators, and share key takeaways from the main event. There will be a few presenters including:
Myself, Webdesigner
Sarah Stark, Branding Expert and Webdesigner
Eleanor Mayrhofer, Webdesigner
Victoria Weber, Webdesigner
In addition to the aforementioned presentations, there will also be an introduction and a discussion afterward where attendees can address topics of interest related to Circle Day, give feedback, and ask questions.
If you are located in Germany and are a professional web designer or digital creator, a Squarespace fanatic, or just a curious little monkey, you can register for the virtual Germany Circle Day Meetup here.
Here's Why I Don't Offer Customizations
A long time website client recently had a request, she’s been slowly revamping her 7.0 site (instead of making the big switch to 7.1) and she wanted to create tables to showcase her offerings. She saw it on another site and liked the way it broke up the information.
I had hesitations and even drafted up a version in Squarespace that didn’t include a table which she promptly rejected. She had her heart set on a table and I wanted her to be happy so I obliged. I began the process of problem-solving, a process I usually enjoy because normally I land on a solution. But for the life of me, I could not find one this time around. Which drove me mad.
My philosophy with website building has always been “less is more”. Too many sites, especially those built DIY style, tend to be bloated, showcasing too much of the unnecessary stuff and making the actual important stuff hard to reach. Stop playing hard to get, will ya?
Anyways. I fought with it for a while and was <this close> to writing the client and telling her I give up when I had an idea, I would purchase a table-making widget, especially for Squarespace but wouldn’t you know, that turned out to be a big DISASTER. And then I had another plan, I would try outsourcing my work to one of those handy freelancer sites.
As a freelancer, I am not a big fan of these sites, you can read more about that here, but I had never tried them as a contractor. I signed up on Freelancer.com and placed the details of my project there. Within a few minutes, I was getting bombarded with offers ranging from 35 euros to 285 euros. I was also getting harassed in my messages by VERY eager people who wanted to work on the project. I quickly blocked them.
The varying offers had a lot to do with the country of origin and ultimately I decided on a woman living in India who had decent reviews and made a mutually beneficial offer. I accepted. Overall the experience was pleasant, she definitely delivered and even helped me tweak certain things with the code after the project was closed.
But…
Ultimately I decided to steer the client away from the customization altogether. Here’s why:
1/ Upon further inspection, the code was going to be cumbersome for the client to manage on her own. Every time she would need to edit the text or tweak the fonts/colors she would need to hire me. Or if I wasn’t sure, we’d have to ask the developer. This would quickly turn costly, something I am thoroughly against.
2/ When you install code or mess with the CSS on Squarespace you run the risk of distortion or misalignments on varying devices. Which is exactly what happened. When I viewed the tables on mobile, the text ran completely off the table. Not cool.
3/ Squarespace offers a lot in terms of design and functionality. You are literally paying an annual fee to use their professionally crafted designs and customer support, might as well get your money’s worth! It’s like people who stay at 5-star hotels and then spend the whole day and night out and about sightseeing. I’m the person who’d rather chill and enjoy the pool and amenities instead and catch a museum on the way to the airport.
My 2 cents: The whole thing was a good reminder of why I don’t typically offer customizations to clients and instead advise them to stick with the robust offerings of the Squarespace platform. And I advise you to do the same, especially if you are a conscious business owner who is just getting their website up and running.
Wanting to Give Your Site a Revamp? Get in Touch.
Flodesk Link Preview Not Working in Linkedin? Try this!
I recently created a full page form in flodesk for an offering, 20 euros off a website audit when you sign up for my newsletter.
Everything was going well until I went to share the link on Linkedin and the link preview was NOT the image for my form, but an advertisement for Flodesk. I quickly deleted the post and went back to Flodesk.
Once in Flodesk, I edited the link preview. To do that you’ll go to the “Forms” page and click the three dots in the right-hand corner of the form you want to share. Then you’ll hit “edit link preview”
From there, you can add the title, image, and description you want to be displayed when you share your link on social media, for example.
But, when I saved my link preview and then went to share it on Linkedin, it didn’t work. Instead, the same Flodesk advertisement popped up. FML. I deleted the post and went to bed, hoping that it was a cache issue on Linkedin’s end and that it would be resolved the next day.
But the next day… the same thing happened. Flodesk Ad instead of my form’s image.
That’s when I did a little research and found out about Post Inspector, a tool that allows you to submit the updated URL to Linkedin, which updates the URL within Linked and allows your new link preview to pop up instead. If you DON’T take this step, however, it can take Linkedin 7 days to update your link preview after editing it. Sheesh!
So here you go, hope it helps!: https://www.linkedin.com/post-inspector/
Did that work for you? If not, reach out and I’ll try to help troubleshoot.
How AI Can Help You Write Content Faster
Recently, I had lunch with a video editor friend of mine and we started joking about how AI is going to eventually take over the world. That’s when he looked me in the eye and said very earnestly, “Nicole, they are coming after content marketers first.”
At first, I laughed. But then when he began explaining how sophisticated AI was at creating content my ears perked up. I went home after our meeting and began playing around with ChatGPT.
I quickly realized that AI may certainly be a helpful tool, but robots aren't here to take my job away — at least not yet. What they are here to do, however, is help me do my job better and more efficiently! AI technology is the perfect assistant for content marketers like me, taking some of the gruntwork out of creating great content.
No longer does a marketer need to spend hours sorting through data or researching topics; robots can quickly and accurately handle those tasks for me. AI robots can also generate ideas for content and even write drafts that require minimal editing from their human counterparts. This frees up time for more important tasks like analyzing analytics or brainstorming creative strategies — tasks robots aren't able to do (yet.) AI is also quite shit at creative writing and is not very funny.
But for creating content — it’s AWESOME! For example, I was recently able to write 4 - 800 word blog posts for a movement facilitator client in just under 4 hours. That same task would have taken me at least twice as long without AI assistance.
So - if you are a content marketer, rest assured, the bots are not going to take your job, but they will take the jobs of content marketers who refuse to use the power of AI. If you haven’t already, it would be wise to start learning how to use AI. And if you are a conscious business owner hoping to boost your SEO and bring in more organic traffic from the web, get in touch so I offer an AI Coaching Session where I show you how to use the power of AI to help create authentic, relatable, and effective content for your business in no time.
Happy Robot-ing.
Need human assistance on how to get started integrating AI into your business? Want to know more about how to use AI to amplify your impact? I’m currently offering a $77 one-hour Zoom session where you and I will dive deep into the inner workings of your business. During the session, you will learn how to create engaging, authentic content that resonates with your audience, saves time AND aligns your message with your mission. More details here.
How to Add a Dual Language Footer to Your Squarespace Site
UPDATE OCTOBER 12, 2023- the following blog post is obsolete since the latest Squarespace update. Instead, I recommend you follow this tutorial on how to make a dual-language site and then leave your footer general (with only social media icons, logo, and opening hours).
Lately, I’m being asked to build a lot of dual-language sites within Squarespace (rightly so, since I live in Berlin and most people speak 2+ languages.). While building the site in two languages is fairly straightforward (more on that in a future post) - the footer was still an enigma for me….until today! I finally cracked the code (with the help of a few forums).
In the text below I break down how to add a dual language footer to your Squarespace site. Hopefully, it makes sense. If not, don’t hesitate to holla!
Here’s how to add a dual language footer to your Squarespace site.
First, add this widget to your Chrome browser. It will highlight the section ID number on your Squarespace site.
Next, create 2 Footers (if you have already created one, you can just use the duplicate button and then translate your new one). To add a dual footer you can: Edit Site Footer > Click Plus icon > Add Blank Section (or just duplicate). The footer on top should be your site’s main language. The bottom footer should be your second language.
Then, using the Chrome extension, you need to identify what the Section ID is for each footer. I would recommend jotting down each footer’s section ID on a text doc.
Ex. Top footer/Main language= 6040bbd67f8d8741ab77457c,
Bottom footer/2nd language= 5ffdc44eeebe5c34a6cad988
Finally, you have to insert a little bit of code onto EACH PAGE. To do that, click the Gear button next to each page > Click Advanced > Click Page Header Code Injection.
Here’s the code to use:
For all of your Main Language pages insert this code:
<style>
[data-section-id=“SECTIONIDFORSECONDLANGUGEFOOTER”] {
display: none;
}
</style>
2. For all of your Second Language pages insert this code:
<style>
[data-section-id=“INSERTSECTIONIDOFYOURMAINHERE”] {
display: none;
}
</style>
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line!
Having a "Good Enough" Website Isn't Good Enough
Recently I worked on a project that I am super proud of. A previous client of mine referred me to a wedding/special events DJ who goes by the name of Señor Amor. Señor was in need of a website revamp and sought out my services.
Whether you sell a product or service, your website is often the first (and only) impression a potential customer has of you. Unlike real life impressions, digital impressions are much more fleeting. If your site isn’t mobile friendly or if you don’t capture a customer’s attention right away, they will bounce on to the next Google search. Bye Felicia!
Here was what Señor's site looked like before:
Here is his site now:
I work with a variety of budgets, industries, and time constraints. If you (or someone you know) are in need of a website revamp, please get in touch. If you are unsure if you need a website revamp, enter your URL into this free widget created by Google. It will let you know if your site is mobile friendly or not.