What are ChatGPT secret codes?
“ChatGPT secret codes” usually means short labels people place before a request to suggest a role, tone, format or task. Examples include /brief for a concise answer, /teacher for a teaching style, and /seo for search-focused content.
These labels are generally informal prompt shortcuts—not official ChatGPT commands or hidden modes. The slash itself does not unlock a special capability. The model may infer what you mean from the word, but results can vary if the instruction is vague or conflicts with the rest of your request.
That approach follows the core principles of effective prompting: be clear, provide relevant context, describe the output you need and refine the answer after reviewing it. See the official OpenAI prompting guidance for more.
Popular ChatGPT prompt shortcuts at a glance
Try these labels as a starting point. If ChatGPT misunderstands one, replace it with a plain-language instruction. Use the copy buttons to move quickly.
/briefAsk for a concise answer without unnecessary background.
/eli5Ask for a simple explanation using familiar examples.
/expertAsk for a specialist-level answer with assumptions and limitations.
/stepsAsk for a practical sequence of actions.
/tableAsk for information arranged in a comparison table.
/criticAsk for weaknesses, risks and ways to improve an idea.
/seoAsk for search-focused structure and useful topical coverage.
/ideasAsk for a range of distinct ideas instead of one option.
ChatGPT codes for writing and productivity
The prompts below work without any special syntax. Replace the text in square brackets with your own information and adjust the instructions to fit the task.
1. /human — Natural writing
Make a draft sound more natural without losing its meaning.
Rewrite the text below so it sounds natural, clear and conversational. Keep the meaning accurate, remove clichés and avoid exaggerated claims. Audience: [audience]. Text: [paste text]2. /brief — Short answer
Get the key points when you are short on time.
Answer my question in 5 concise bullet points. Lead with the answer, use plain language and include only details needed to make a decision. Question: [your question]3. /eli5 — Explain simply
Understand a complex topic in everyday language.
Explain [topic] to a beginner using simple words and one everyday analogy. Define technical terms and give one practical example. Finish with three key takeaways.4. /expert — Specialist review
Ask for a deeper, structured answer—not an automatic guarantee of expertise.
Act as an experienced [field] specialist. Assess [problem] using the information provided. State assumptions, explain the reasoning behind your recommendation, identify risks and flag anything that needs verification. Do not invent facts.5. /steps — Step-by-step guide
Turn an overwhelming task into manageable actions.
Help me achieve [goal]. Assume I am a beginner. Give me one step at a time, explain what to do, what result I should see and how to check whether it worked. Ask for missing details when they materially affect the instructions.6. /critic — Find weaknesses
Pressure-test a plan before spending time or money on it.
Review this idea honestly: [idea]. Identify the three biggest weaknesses, assumptions that might be wrong, likely risks and practical improvements. Be constructive rather than agreeable. Separate facts from opinions.7. /table — Compare options
Make options easier to compare and evaluate.
Compare [option A], [option B] and [option C] in a table. Include cost, benefits, drawbacks, effort, risks and best use case. Mark unknown information as unknown instead of guessing, then recommend an option for [my situation].8. /ideas — Generate options
Explore different directions instead of settling for the first idea.
Generate 15 distinct ideas for [goal] aimed at [audience]. Avoid repeating the same concept with different wording. Group ideas by approach and score each for effort, potential impact and cost. Suggest the best three to test first.9. /summary — Summarise content
Extract the useful points from long documents or notes.
Summarise the content below for [audience]. Start with the main message, then list key facts, decisions, risks and action items. Preserve important numbers and caveats. Content: [paste text]10. /email — Draft an email
Create a clear message for a specific recipient and outcome.
Draft a [tone] email to [recipient] about [purpose]. Include the context [context], make the requested next step clear and keep it under [word count] words. Do not invent names, dates or commitments.ChatGPT prompts for digital marketing
Use AI to speed up research and first drafts—but validate strategy, audience assumptions, tracking data and campaign results before acting on them.
11. /seo — SEO content brief
Plan a useful page around search intent, not just keyword repetition.
Act as an SEO strategist. Create a content brief for [keyword/topic] for [target audience] in [market]. Identify likely search intent, the reader's questions, a logical H1/H2 outline, related subtopics, internal-link opportunities and a useful title/meta description. Avoid keyword stuffing and do not promise rankings. Flag assumptions that need SERP research.12. /keywords — Keyword clustering
Organise keyword lists into useful groups for planning.
Group this keyword list by search intent and topic. Label each cluster informational, commercial, transactional or navigational. Suggest a primary keyword, supporting terms and suitable page type for each cluster. Do not invent search volume or CPC. Keywords: [paste list]13. /googleads — Google Ads structure
Build a campaign plan with budget, lead quality and tracking in mind.
Plan a Google Search Ads campaign for [service] in [location]. Ideal customer: [audience]. Minimum acceptable job value: [value]. Budget: [budget]. Propose tightly themed ad groups, high-intent keyword ideas, negative keyword themes, landing-page recommendations and conversion tracking requirements. Separate hypotheses from verified data.14. /metaads — Meta ad concepts
Generate distinct creative angles for Facebook and Instagram ads.
Develop 5 Meta ad concepts for [offer] targeting [audience] in [market]. For each, provide the customer problem, angle, opening hook, primary text, headline, CTA and creative direction. Avoid unsupported claims, misleading urgency and guaranteed outcomes. Suggest what to A/B test.15. /content — Content calendar
Plan consistent content without posting random ideas every day.
Create a 30-day content calendar for [business] targeting [audience]. Use these pillars: education, proof, objections, behind-the-scenes and offer. For each day include platform, topic, format, hook, key point and CTA. Keep ideas distinct and realistic for a team of [team size].16. /landingpage — Landing page audit
Find barriers that could stop a visitor from enquiring.
Review this landing page for [offer] and [audience]: [paste page copy or URL if browsing is available]. Assess message clarity, relevance to the ad, proof, objections, CTA visibility, form friction and mobile usability. Prioritise the five highest-impact changes and explain how to measure each one. Do not assume data you have not seen.17. /analytics — Report insights
Turn campaign data into practical questions and next actions.
Analyse the marketing report below. Summarise performance, compare results with the stated goal, identify meaningful changes, highlight data-quality limitations and recommend the next three tests. Distinguish observed facts from possible explanations. Do not infer causation from correlation. Report: [paste data]18. /competitors — Competitor analysis
Understand market positioning and spot opportunities to differentiate.
Compare [my business] with these competitors: [names or URLs]. Use only information provided or verified through available research. Compare positioning, target audience, offer, messaging, content themes and visible conversion paths. Identify gaps and opportunities without copying competitor content. Cite sources for factual claims.ChatGPT prompts for business growth
19. /strategy — Make a plan
Translate a broad goal into priorities and a realistic plan.
Act as a business strategy adviser. My business is [business], my customer is [customer], and my goal is [goal] within [time period]. Current constraints: [budget, team, skills]. Recommend three strategic options, trade-offs, the best option and a 30-day action plan. State assumptions clearly.20. /customer — Understand customers
Prepare research questions instead of treating guesses as facts.
Build a customer research plan for [product/service]. List the assumptions to validate, 10 non-leading interview questions, likely buying triggers, objections and decision criteria. Label any suggested customer behaviour as a hypothesis until research confirms it.21. /offer — Improve an offer
Clarify the value customers receive and why it matters.
Evaluate this offer: [offer]. Target customer: [audience]. Price: [price]. Alternatives: [competitors]. Identify unclear value, likely objections, proof needed and three ways to make the offer more compelling without misleading claims or unsupported guarantees.22. /meeting — Meeting agenda
Make meetings more focused and easier to follow up.
Create a 30-minute meeting agenda for [purpose] with [attendees]. Include time blocks, decisions required, preparation, questions to resolve and action items to capture. Keep the meeting focused on outcomes.23. /sales — Sales conversation
Focus sales calls on the customer’s needs and fit.
Help me prepare a consultative sales conversation for [product/service] with [prospect type]. Give me discovery questions, ways to diagnose the need, common objections and honest responses. Avoid pressure tactics. End with a clear, low-friction next step.24. /prioritise — Choose what matters
Decide what to do first when everything feels important.
Prioritise these tasks for [goal]: [paste tasks]. Rank by expected impact, urgency, effort, cost and dependency. Explain the top three priorities and what should be postponed, delegated or removed. Ask about missing deadlines if necessary.ChatGPT prompts for learning new skills
25. /teacher — Personal tutor
Learn through guided practice rather than reading a long explanation.
Teach me [skill] as a beginner. First assess what I already know with three short questions. Then create a learning path with small lessons, practical exercises and checkpoints. Wait for my answer before moving to the next lesson.26. /quiz — Test understanding
Check what you understand and find gaps in your knowledge.
Create a 10-question quiz on [topic] for [level]. Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer. Explain why the correct answer is right and why my answer may be wrong. Track the topics I need to revise.27. /flashcards — Revision cards
Convert notes into quick revision material.
Turn these notes into 15 study flashcards. Each card should have one clear question on the front and a concise answer on the back. Include important definitions, examples and common misconceptions. Notes: [paste notes]28. /interview — Interview practice
Practise answering role-specific questions and improve your responses.
Act as an interviewer for a [role] position at [level]. Ask one realistic question at a time. After I answer, give specific feedback on clarity, evidence, structure and relevance, then suggest how to improve it. Do not invent experience on my behalf.How to get better ChatGPT answers without secret codes
Good prompting is less about memorising special words and more about making your request clear. For complex tasks, use the following simple checklist.
| Prompt element | What to include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | What you want ChatGPT to do. | Plan a Google Ads campaign. |
| Context | Business, audience, location and relevant background. | A local plumbing company in Perth. |
| Output | Format, length and level of detail. | Give me ad groups in a table. |
| Boundaries | Budget, exclusions, must-haves and what not to assume. | Exclude DIY searches; do not invent CPC data. |
| Review | Ask it to identify gaps and uncertainty. | List assumptions and what I should verify. |
Example: weak prompt vs. stronger prompt
Weak prompt
“Give me SEO keywords.”
The topic, market, customer and output are unclear.
Stronger prompt
“Suggest keyword themes for a Perth landscaping company targeting projects above AUD 3,000. Group by search intent, separate high-intent service terms from DIY and small-job searches, and do not invent search volumes. Tell me which metrics to verify in Keyword Planner.”
For current facts, market data, platform settings and prices, ask for reliable sources and verify the information. For important business decisions, treat AI output as a starting point—not a substitute for your own judgement or professional advice.
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Frequently asked questions about ChatGPT secret codes
What are ChatGPT secret codes?
They are informal labels or shortcuts—such as /brief or /seo—that people use to suggest a style or task. They are generally ordinary text prompts, not official commands that unlock hidden features.
Do ChatGPT slash commands really work?
They can influence a response when their meaning is clear, but they are not guaranteed features. For consistent results, define the shortcut or write the instruction in plain language.
What is the best ChatGPT code for SEO?
A label like /seo can be a reminder, but specify the topic, audience, market, search intent, format and quality requirements. Always verify search data and review the page before publishing.
Can ChatGPT secret codes make content go viral?
No shortcut can guarantee virality, conversions or search rankings. Use AI to generate and refine ideas, then add original experience, test performance and verify claims.
Can I use these prompts for other AI tools?
Most of these are plain-language instructions, so you can adapt them for other AI assistants. Results may differ between tools, models and settings.
How can I learn ChatGPT for digital marketing?
Practise with real tasks such as keyword research, ad copy, campaign planning, analytics interpretation and content strategy. Practical training can help you build repeatable workflows and learn how to evaluate AI output.