1.2 – Getting Started With ChatGPT Lesson

Lesson Overview

This lesson is designed as your first real introduction to ChatGPT, focusing on what it is, how it operates, and how to get started using it for SEO content tasks. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. It’s capable of understanding your queries and generating responses in natural, human-like text. This makes it valuable for many writing-focused tasks, such as creating blog posts, brainstorming content ideas, and researching keywords—all important functions in SEO.

You’ll start by setting up a free account, which gives access to most core features you’ll need for SEO and content creation. The Plus tier is mentioned for anyone who starts leaning on ChatGPT heavily or wants higher usage limits and image generation, but a free account is fine for beginners and most use cases in this course.

You'll also get a tour of the ChatGPT interface, including where to find the message bar, how to access your conversation history, and the role of GPTs—specialized models you can use or make for targeted tasks. Essential best practices are introduced so you’ll know how to write effective prompts, follow up for clarity, and adjust the tone of generated content. These skills are foundational for using ChatGPT effectively as an assistant for SEO content.

Who This Is For

If you are starting to create SEO-driven content or want to explore how AI can help with your writing workflow, this lesson is for you.

• Content creators wanting AI support for blogs and articles
• Marketers seeking better SEO research and ideation
• Small business owners handling their own website content
• Students or educators exploring modern AI tools
• Anyone new to ChatGPT and curious about its real uses
• Individuals comparing free and paid AI tools for content
  

Where This Fits in a Workflow

Getting up and running with ChatGPT is the first step in using AI to streamline SEO content creation and research. This lesson lays the groundwork for every SEO or writing project that follows in the course. For example, before you start drafting a new blog post or researching keywords, you need access to ChatGPT and a basic understanding of its features. Returning to your chat history lets you track and refine your ideas over time, while learning to ask specific questions ensures you get detailed and actionable responses with each use.

Technical & Workflow Benefits

Before tools like ChatGPT, brainstorming content, finding long-tail keywords, or tweaking writing styles for SEO required switching between several resources or collaborating back-and-forth with editors. With ChatGPT, those steps are simplified into a single conversation. For instance, instead of searching for examples online and piecing them together, you can request ChatGPT to generate sample content, explain SEO concepts, or adjust the tone of a paragraph on the spot. This not only saves time but also keeps your writing process organized and contained within one workspace. Using chat history and custom GPTs further speeds up research and helps maintain consistency across projects.

Practice Exercise

Try using ChatGPT for a real-world scenario:

1. Visit ChatGPT.com and either create a new free account or sign in with an existing Google or Microsoft account.
2. Once logged in, ask ChatGPT: “Can you explain what long-tail keywords are and suggest five for an organic skincare blog post?”
3. Review the response, then follow up by asking, “Can you rewrite the answer in a professional tone suitable for a business blog?”

Reflect: Was the response detailed enough for your needs? How did changing the tone of your request affect the output?

Course Context Recap

This lesson is the start of your hands-on journey with ChatGPT in the context of SEO content creation. After understanding what ChatGPT is and seeing how to set up and use your account, you’re now prepared to use its core features throughout the rest of the course. The skills and habits developed here—clear prompts, following up, and using chat history—will be revisited as we move into topics like on-page SEO optimization. Continue through the course to build on this foundation and see how ChatGPT can transform your SEO writing workflow.