Training

March 2, 2026 · Last updated on March 5, 2026

Bellevue Small Business Jam

# Small Business

A resource hub for participants of our March 5 small business jam in Bellevue

⭐ Quick Links

Today's Slides - Follow along on your computer.

Sample files - Use these files during the workflows for practice, or use your own.

GPT Templates - Adapt one of these four templates during the afternoon build session, or build your own from scratch.

Small Business Community - Access resources and connect with peers to continue learning on OpenAI Academy.

Agenda

9:00–9:30 — Registration & breakfast

9:30–10:00 — OpenAI welcome remarks

10:00–11:30 — Session 1: ChatGPT intro + workflow demos + warm-up

11:30–12:00 — Partner & small business owner remarks

12:00–1:00 — Lunch & networking

1:00–2:30 — Solution Studio (design + start building your solution)

2:25–2:45 — Break

2:45–3:45 — Solution Studio (finish + make it reliable)

3:45–4:15 — Show & tell + wrap

Your goal for today

By the end of the day, you should have:

One reusable solution you can run again next week

At least one real output you’d actually use (message, plan, checklist, reply, chart)

Your work saved (prompt pack, Project, GPT, or downloaded file)

Quick Tips

If your results are too generic, off-target, or missing details, use this sequence:

Step 1 - Force clarification Paste this at the top of your chat:

Before you answer, ask me 3 clarifying questions you need.

Step 2 - Add the missing context Use this meta-prompt:

I’m trying to get help with ____. Here’s my prompt so far: ____. What details should I add to get a more useful result?

Step 3 - Lock the output format Add one line:

Respond with: (1) ___ (2) ___ (3) ___ in a checklist/table.

Prompting basics

A strong prompt usually has three parts:

Task: what you want ChatGPT to do

Context: what it should know (your business, constraints, examples)

Output: what “done” looks like (format, length, tone)

If you get stuck, narrow the scope: one user, one job, one output format.

If you want a quick upgrade, ask:

How can I improve this prompt to get a more useful output?
[Paste prompt]

Warm-up activity (work in pairs)

You’ll take a vague prompt and make it specific enough to reuse. Then we’ll share the best “prompt upgrades.”

Warm-up prompts:

Write marketing for my business.

Make me a flyer for this promo.

Respond to this negative review.

Analyze these reviews and tell me what to do.

Make a plan to improve my business.

⚙️ Today’s workflows (Watch → Try → Share)

Workflow 1: Local Marketing & Customer Comms Kit

What it does: Turn one offer into customer-ready messaging plus a simple promo visual you can reuse. Helpful tool: Projects (optional) to keep files, instructions, and outputs organized.

Project Instructions

Your job is to create assets to use during promotions and other customer-facing communications. Audience: commuters and nearby businesses Use the attached files for reference. Business type: cafe in Bellevue, serving coffee/tea, pastries, and sandwiches. Open 7 AM to 3 PM.\

Upload to Sources:

WF1_Lakeside_Cafe_Info.docx

WF1_Brand_Voice_Examples.docx

Copy/paste starter prompt (written kit)

In a new chat within your Project, paste this prompt:

Task Create a mini-campaign for this offer. Context Offer: Buy any drink + get 20% off one pastry. Dates: March 9–13 (Mon–Fri). Time: 7:00–11:00 AM. Constraints: keep it simple; no coupons; mention hours; friendly tone; include pickup option. Output Respond with: Core message (1-2 sentences for the barista to say to customers) Instagram caption Text for a chalkboard A-frame sidewalk sign One short SMS for repeat customers

Follow-up prompt (create an image)

In the same Project, but in a new chat window, paste this:

Task Come up with 3 ideas of a simple promo image for our Spring Sale that works for Instagram. Context Offer: Buy any drink + get 20% off one pastry. Brand: warm, local neighborhood cafe Visual style: bright, modern illustration (not photoreal)
Output Give me a short name & description for each idea, plus a one paragraph (2-3 sentences) image generator prompt.

Optional power-ups

Document your brand voice with this powerful prompt.

Create beautiful assets with Canva using Apps.

Add timely/local context with Search (when relevant).

Tutorial links: Projects | Apps + Canva | Creating Images | Web Search Prompt links: Brand Voice

Workflow 2: Customer Feedback → Action Plan

What it does: Turn reviews + messages + a simple sales snapshot into themes, fixes, draft replies, and a weekly checklist. Helpful tool: Data analysis — upload a CSV/Excel file and ask questions in plain language.

Copy/paste starter prompt

Task Analyze the attached reviews and sales snapshot.
Output Top themes (with example quotes)
Top 3 operational fixes we can do this week (specific + low-cost)
Draft replies for 2 negative reviews (calm + helpful + brief)
A weekly checklist for staff (10 items max)
Then ask me 3 clarifying questions that would make this plan more specific to my business.

Optional sample files

WF2_Customer_Reviews_Sample.csv

WF2_Sales_Snapshot_Sample.csv

Optional power-ups

Add credible context with Deep Research (when relevant).

Work from your docs with Drive/SharePoint (Apps).

Tutorial links: Data analysis | Deep Research | Apps

Solution Studio

You’ll build your own solution in the format that fits your problem. We’ll build one GPT together as an example of good solution design.

Choose your build format

Prompt pack: 3 reusable prompts + output formats (fastest)

Project: a workspace with your files + instructions (best for consistency)

Custom GPT: a reusable assistant for one job (best for repeatable workflows)

Data workflow: upload CSV → insights → actions (best for numbers and trends)

5-step build recipe

Define the job-to-be-done (one sentence).

Inputs + steps (what to use; how to think; what to do if info is missing).

Output format (structure, length, tone).

Guardrails + quality checklist (don’t guess; human check).

Test set (5 prompts: 3 normal, 1 edge case, 1 missing-info). Fix what breaks.

Not sure where to start? Try one our four GPT templates.

Follow this guide to build one of these GPTs:

Local marketing & customer comms kit Turn a promotion, event, or announcement into ready-to-use messaging. Best for: promos, launches, reminders	Customer feedback to action plan Turn reviews and simple data into themes, fixes, and replies. Best for: reviews, surveys, weekly ops
Customer comms copilot Draft calm, clear customer messages that match your policies. Best for: email, SMS, DM, service replies	Ops checklist coach Turn routines into checklists, SOPs, and training FAQs. Best for: opening/closing, onboarding, handoffs

Definition of done

Runs end-to-end with one example input

Saved in your chosen format (prompt pack / Project / GPT / workflow)

Output is exportable (doc/spreadsheet/checklist)

Includes a quick human-check step

After the event (keep learning)

Use your solution once this week, then revise based on what broke.

Share your best prompt or GPT with the Academy community.

Try one new power-up tool next: Apps, Search/Deep Research, data analysis, or images.

Community link: OpenAI Academy Small Business Community

Comments (0)

Popular

Table Of Contents

Bellevue Small Business Jam

A resource hub for participants of our March 5 small business jam in Bellevue

⭐ Quick Links

Agenda

Your goal for today

Quick Tips

﻿

Prompting basics

Warm-up activity (work in pairs)

⚙️ Today’s workflows (Watch → Try → Share)

Workflow 1: Local Marketing & Customer Comms Kit

Project Instructions

Copy/paste starter prompt (written kit)

Follow-up prompt (create an image)

Optional power-ups

Workflow 2: Customer Feedback → Action Plan

Copy/paste starter prompt

Optional sample files

Optional power-ups

Solution Studio

Choose your build format

5-step build recipe

Not sure where to start? Try one our four GPT templates.

Definition of done

After the event (keep learning)

Popular

Related