There’s a secret that top AI users know, and most new users miss. The secret? You don’t start by building a Custom GPT. You start by building your thinking and strategy inside a ChatGPT Project. Why? Because jumping straight to a Custom GPT without testing, refining, and structuring your content first is like trying to build a house before you’ve drawn the blueprint. It looks fine at first, until the foundation crumbles under pressure.
In this article, I’ll break down why starting in a ChatGPT Project will make your Custom GPT far more effective, and give you concrete examples to help you build better, smarter, and more confidently.
Projects Are a Thinking Lab. Custom GPTs Are the Final Product
Why this matters:
A ChatGPT Project gives you a flexible, persistent environment where you can test, break, fix, and improve your concept. It’s like whiteboarding with a genius assistant who remembers everything you said.
Example:
You’re creating a Custom GPT for your dealer network. You think your onboarding script is clear—until you test it inside a Project. Then you realize it’s missing key objections that keep coming up in the field. So, you refine it. Then you try a new prompt style. You also test your tone to match your dealers’ communication style. Only when it all comes together perfectly do you move it into a Custom GPT. That’s thinking like a strategist.
Projects Remember Everything. Custom GPTs Do Not
Why this matters:
Projects come with persistent memory, so they evolve with you. Custom GPTs are static; they don’t update unless you change the instructions or re-upload edited files.
Examples:
Let’s say you’re updating your product pitch mid-season. In a Project, you simply tell it: “We’re now emphasizing same-day installs and warranty coverage. Adjust all future responses.” Boom. It adapts. But if that was a Custom GPT, you’d have to manually rewrite instructions and/or upload new files—time-consuming and error-prone if you forget a step.
Test Prompts, Responses, and Documents in Real-Time
Why this matters:
You wouldn’t send your sales team into the field with untested materials right? Projects let you trial different prompt formats, test responses, and see what works in the field, before you formalize it in a Custom GPT.
Example:
You upload a PowerPoint deck on your newest product and say:
“Turn this into 3 versions of a pitch script: one for a homeowner, one for a property manager, and one for a commercial client.”
You get instant feedback and can fine-tune before locking the best version into your Custom GPT.
It’s Easier to Organize and Connect Content
Why this matters:
Projects let you create up to 50 distinct chat threads, each one focused on a different objective, rep type, or training module. It’s structured. Custom GPTs don’t give you this kind of sandbox for organizing refining your ideas.
Example:
Inside one Project, you can build threads for:
- Objection handling
- Dealer onboarding
- Seasonal promos
- Competitive one-liners
Later, when building the Custom GPT, you cherry-pick the best content and copy it into the final instructions and upload files.
Help Prevent “Set It and Forget It” Mistakes
Why this matters:
A rushed Custom GPT is like shipping a brochure before proofreading it. If you don’t test prompts and verify how the AI will respond in real-world contexts, your users will get confused, experience bad information, or worse, lose trust in the AI.
Example:
You launch a Custom GPT that’s meant to help reps handle sales objections. But it starts saying outdated pricing or misses the tone you wanted. Why? Because you never tested enough real-world scenarios first. If you tested this in a Project first, you’d catch that early and course correct before rollout.
The Smart Workflow: From Concept to Custom GPT
Here’s how to build the right way:
- Start in a ChatGPT Project
- Upload your decks, PDFs, and scripts.
- Simulate real conversations: sales calls, FAQs, pitches, rebuttals.
- Organize threads by function or audience.
- Refine Through Testing
- Try different prompt structures.
- Adjust tone and voice.
- Add memory context: “Going forward, treat this product as a premium solution.”
- Build the Custom GPT
- Transfer what worked: instructions, tone, best prompts, and refined documents.
- Use Custom GPT as your branded, rules-based AI assistant.
- Launch confidently, knowing you’ve already field-tested every element.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re serious about building a Custom GPT that truly works in the field, with real users, under real-world conditions, don’t skip the part where you think it through, test it smart, and refine the details. ChatGPT Projects aren’t just prep work. They’re your AI sandbox, your strategy studio, and your best shot at making your Custom GPT succeed the first time.
So before you build big, build smart.
Start in a ChatGPT Project, and launch with confidence.
Scott MacFarland | YourBrandExposed
#AlexandScottAI #ChatGPT #YourBrandExposed
Sources:
Image credit: Generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT
Ariel Brown and “Alex” Commentary video – Synthesia
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