How ChatGPT Helped Me Fix My Confusing Website Messaging (and Why It Can Help You Too)
*image created with OpenArt.ai
Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to update the SEO on my website.
I used to have a clear site description that was location-based, targeting Berlin-based entrepreneurs who needed help with their Squarespace websites. It was a pretty niche market, but it brought in a steady stream of organic traffic—warm leads who found me through Google searches. I’d typically get 1-4 inquiries per month, and about half of those leads became paying clients. Not bad!
However, things have changed. I’ve moved away from Berlin, expanded my services to include AI tutorials, and now work with platforms beyond Squarespace. I’ve also launched a new Substack newsletter where I share tips (and occasional tribulations) about living an alternative lifestyle outside the matrix.
But here’s the catch—my website blog is still a bit all over the place. Some posts focus on Squarespace and content marketing, while others dive into living life on your own terms. My top keywords happen to be:
- How to figure out what you want in life
- Self work
- What do I want in life
- What do you want in life answer
Notice anything? None of these keywords are directly tied to my web design and marketing services—aka how I make my living. The goal of any website is to get ranked by Google for your specific offerings, attract clients, and make money to pay the bills. But that’s not going to happen if I’m being ranked for keywords unrelated to my services. See my dilemma?
Here’s the thing—I never wanted my website to be solely dedicated to Squarespace, for example. Let’s face it - that would be SO boring! Sure, focusing purely on Squarespace content might please Google’s algorithm, and maybe after years of content, I’d land on the first page of search results, ensuring a steady flow of clients—so long as Squarespace remains relevant. But at what cost to my creativity? I’d be bored out of my mind.
So, to make a long story short (and get to the point), I turned to ChatGPT for help with this website conundrum. Here’s the exact prompt I put in:
"I need help. I have a website that features my offerings—web design, content marketing strategy—which is how I make money. But I also have a blog where I talk about living an alternative life, going against the status quo, and living life on your own terms. My target market is soulpreneurs and nonprofits, and I now offer tutorials on amplifying content marketing with AI. I feel like the messaging is confusing. My top keywords are: how to figure out what you want in life, self work, what do I want in life, what do you want in life answer."
And let me tell you, ChatGPT delivered. It suggested a new homepage headline: “Empowering Soulpreneurs & Nonprofits to Amplify Their Impact Online” and offered tips on integrating my keywords into future blog posts, like:
- “How to figure out what you want in life and apply it to your business”
- “Self-work for soulpreneurs: Building a life and business that align with your purpose”
The moral of the story: ChatGPT helped me connect the dots. I was ready to throw in the towel and start over, but with a few simple tweaks, I realized I could tie everything together without rebuilding from scratch. *Wipes sweat from brow*
ChatGPT is a TOOL, one that can help you strategize, edit, and create. Treat it like a friend, and you’ll be surprised by how helpful it can be in your creative process.
Need help getting started with Chat GPT? Reach out here for a one-hour tutoring session, where we’ll deep dive into your business, and I’ll show you how to maximize your impact using ChatGPT and other free AI tools.
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.
So You Wanna Be a Published Author? Here are 5 Key Things You Should Know
Skill Swapping
If you know me you know I love work trade and skill swapping.
That’s why when I saw a post pop up on a Skill Swap group on Facebook from a woman who was looking for someone to audit her website and give helpful feedback from a design perspective - I got excited! In exchange, she would dole advice about becoming a published author because she had gone through the process herself.
I’d been wanting someone I could talk to about the publishing world for some time because the path towards being published can be a daunting one. Because I’m a web designer who audits sites for a living, I reached out. She agreed to a meeting and the next day we scheduled an initial Zoom introduction.
At least that’s what I thought.
What ended up occurring was much more valuable than a meet and greet. During our 20 minutes together, she gave me a LOT of practical advice about not only getting published but also writing in general.
Here Were My Key Takeaways From My Brief Meeting With a Published Author
1/ If you find yourself waffling, or your brain is moving in lots of directions during your writing time, change up the medium.
Instead of click-clacking away at a laptop, pull out your trusty notepad and pen and write by hand instead. Your thoughts and ideas will become more clear when you are forced to slow down.
2/ If you are a nonfiction writer, don’t spend time writing a full manuscript.
Instead, focus on writing a great proposal and then reaching out to potential agents or publishers. Nonfiction agents will likely want to guide you during the writing process. If you submit a full manuscript there’s a good chance they will want to make lots of edits or tell you to rewrite completely. Save yourself the trouble!
3/ Allocate ample time to get samples of your writing published in various journals and media outlets.
Once your work is published on several sites you can submit these links along with your proposal when reaching out to agents. Or, in the case of the published author I spoke with, they might even reach out to you about writing and publishing a book.
4/ Network with the right people.
Getting published is highly dependent upon being in the right place at the right time…and on the connections you have. Increase your luck of being seen by making sure to follow publishers on social media platforms, interact with their content, and share links to your published articles on your platforms.
5/ Don’t expect to get rich.
Even if you do get signed, your publisher might ask for things such as additional pictures that you might have to pay out of pocket to obtain, for example. This can cut into your bottom line.
I have to be honest. Sometimes I wonder if my skin is tough enough to go through this process. I wonder if I have what it takes to stick it out until the end and not take all the rejection personally. And then sometimes the universe throws me a bone and says, keep going you got this. The meeting with a published author was my latest bone and I hope this blog post is YOUR bone.
As you go forth and navigate the publishing world, I recommend connecting with your why as often as possible. Ask yourself: Why do I want these ideas to spread? How do I want people’s lives to change after engaging with this content? Then print your answers on a big sheet of paper and hang it on your wall. That way when you do face rejection, you’ll be able to swiftly get back on that horse and try, try again.
Are you on the path of getting published? What do you find is your biggest challenge?
To My Fellow Weirdo Writers, I See You.
Wired to Be a Weirdo
While attending the Hay House, Inc. #WritersWorkshop2022 over the weekend, I had an epiphany - I am a weirdo writer and I had to stop ignoring my calling.
For any fellow weirdo writers out there, you know the long lonely journey it is to be a writer. It’s such a lonely journey that many of us often resist the urge to translate ideas and share them with the world in order to pursue other endeavors. This rarely goes well. Instead of relishing in blissful ignorance, we end up tossing and turning in the middle of the night, pursuing unfulfilling jobs and relationships, and prioritizing the needs and desires of our loved ones above our own. In short, we suffer.
During the workshop, author, Rebecca Campbell gave a talk where she said something that deeply resonated with me. While traveling to meet her husband’s family for the first time she said that she was up late in the evening scribbling in her notebook. “He must have thought I was crazy,” she told the audience of 200. The audience laughed, but tears welled up in my eyes. How many times had I been scribbling notes frantically in the corner of a hotel room, or dimly lit living room, trying to make sense of the inspirational downloads I was receiving while also trying not to disturb my sleeping partner? Too many times to count, that’s for sure.
“When I write, I feel much larger than the limits of my body. There is a mystery you tap into that is much bigger.”
When Rebecca shared her experience with us, it made me realize that there were other weirdo writers out there! Despite how isolating it feels to be scribbling away in the middle of the night, I wasn’t actually alone. I suddenly felt seen, understood, and inspired.
And that’s the power of sharing.
Rebecca went on to say that being a writer was a weird thing to want to do. And because we were all sitting in that room we were heeding the call, and THAT was something we should be proud of ourselves for.
And you know what? She’s right.
I’m Not Selling Myself, I’m Sharing Myself
I struggle sometimes with the business part of the publishing business, specifically in the nonfiction realm. But perhaps that is my own inner critic succeeding in keeping me small. Perhaps I need to change the way I view “selling myself”. I’m not selling myself, I’m SHARING myself….my ideas, my unique perspective, and my vision for the future… and who knows, maybe it helps someone else feel less alone or inspired to follow their calling.
The truth is, I was wired to be a weirdo writer whether I like it or not. And it is no longer enough to keep my scribbles to myself, I have to start sharing my musings with others.
Does this resonate with you? Have you been ignoring your calling? Get in touch, I’d love to hear about it!
Get Out of Your Own Damn Way
I can’t tell you how long I’ve had “write NNM newsletter/blog” on my to-do list. I’ve been so busy juggling my paid clients that I kept pushing my own projects further and further down the list. This also goes for my other project, www.ReproJustice.com.
At one point, I even tried to wrangle my sister into the ReproJustice project so she could help me manage it while I spun other things. She seemed into the idea at first, but when I saw that she wasn’t fueling it with as much enthusiasm and passion as I wanted her to, I was a bit disappointed:
“This project was cool! We could really empower a lot of women. Why didn’t she get it?”
And then, the more logical voice in my head, answered back:
“Because she has her own life, dummy.”
Let me get this straight, this post is by no means an opportunity to say that my sister let me down.
My point is that she has her own damn life; she is a mama who happens to be raising the cutest, chubbiest, smartest little six-month-old. How could I expect her to attack MY dream with the same fervor and maniacal tenacity that I would? For the first time, it became very clear that I was actually the one copping out on myself. Go figure.
I was giving more priority to my clients’ dreams than my own. One of the reasons why I like to think my clients continue to work with me is that I’m dependable. When I say I’m going to do something, I do it. So why didn’t I have that same determination for my own projects?
Well, not anymore folks. I’ve been working really hard to reach that beautiful balance that makes me feel good about every single thing I give my time and attention to.
Here are the things that I need to prioritize, are they similar to yours?
- Traveling- I begin to get anxiety if I stay in the same place too long. While I love having a comfortable home environment, a tight-knit group of friends, and a familiar daily routine, I also crave adventure. This is why I always have a trip I've recently come back from, and one that I am planning...last stop, Budapest, next stop, Mallorca!
- Music- The one thing that has always remained constant in my life, is my love of music. The excitement I feel when I stumble upon a song that rattles my bones, makes me feel like a kid on Christmas, seriously. Here is the latest song I'm obsessing over.
- Writing- I write a lot for my clients. Some projects allow a bit more creative freedom than others, but none of them are nearly as satisfying as sitting down and writing my own stories.
And here is the funny part, the more honest I become with myself, the more balanced I become in my life, the easier it is to be happy during the in-between moments. It’s kind of like the idea of putting your own life vest on before saving someone else. How could I feel truly, and deeply satisfied helping other people’s ideas and dreams come to fruition if I didn’t first prioritize my own?
And then, like a gift from the hysterical universe, my accountant recently told me that I can start expensing my travel costs and concert tickets as long as I am writing about the experiences. SAY WHAT? So you mean I can 1. travel, 2. go to festivals/concerts and then 3. write about them? I am officially "living the dream".
Well played, universe.
And just to wrap things up, my sis is still one badass bitch. Though she isn’t playing the role that I was projecting on to her, (haha, sounds even sillier when I type it out), she is still helping out the project in many other ways. Occasionally she sends me interesting articles for the ReproJustice social media channels and recently she even coordinated a guest contribution for the site.
When you feel like things aren’t going your way, please realize that it is most likely your own self-doubt holding you hostage. Once you get out of your own damn way, you’ll start to realize just how many opportunities are out there, waiting for your embrace.
May your path be forever lined with a plethora of low-hanging fruit, ripe for the pickin'.