How to Create a Custom GPT That Actually Sounds Like You 

AI is cool and all, but let’s be real – most bots sound like they were raised in a windowless office by a team of corporate jargon enthusiasts and LinkedIn “thought leaders” all ‘shouting into the void’. And nobody wants that.

If you want a custom GPT that actually sounds like you (or your brand) – not some personality-deprived, beige-suit-wearing AI intern – here’s the game plan.

Step 1: Actually Create a Custom GPT (Not as Scary as It Sounds)

Alright, first things first – you need to actually set up your custom GPT inside ChatGPT. And no, it’s not some techy nightmare that requires a secret coding degree. 

One catch? It’s only available on the ChatGPT Plus (paid) plan – but honestly, it’ll be the best $20(ish) per month you’ve ever spent.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the browser version of ChatGPT (at the moment it’s not possible to create a custom GPT using the app).
2. Go to “Explore GPTs” which will open up a new window. 
3. Click “Create”
4. Follow the guided setup – OpenAI will hold your hand through naming it, defining its personality, and setting specific instructions.
5. Keep reading this guide so you know exactly what to feed into it.

Boom. Step one: done. Now, let’s train this thing so it doesn’t embarrass you online…

Step 2: Get Crystal Clear on Your Brand Voice

Your brand voice is just… you. 

The way you talk to clients, how you write an email, even the random rants you go on in your Instagram stories – that’s your brand voice. It’s not some polished, corporate-approved “tone” you have to force. It’s literally how you communicate every day.

For me? My voice is like if Bridget Jones, a sarcastic business owner, and a sweary copywriter had a baby. It’s irreverent, conversational, a bit chaotic – but always packed with actual value.

So instead of overthinking it, just ask yourself:

• If I was explaining my business to a friend, how would I actually say it?
• What phrases do I say all the time? 
• What do I not sound like?

Now, let’s put this into words. 

Pick 3-5 traits that describe how you naturally talk:

• Casual but clever (I want to sound like a smart friend, not a professor)
• Funny but not cringe (No “epic wins” or forced Gen Z slang here)
• Direct but warm (I’ll call out nonsense, but with love)
• A little sweary (because, well, that’s just how I talk)

Once you’ve got these nailed down, your GPT will finally stop sounding like an AI customer service rep and start sounding like… you.

Step 3: Teach Your GPT to Write Like You

ChatGPT isn’t a mind reader (yet). So if you want it to actually sound like you, you need to show it how you write.

You can upload your best content directly into your Custom GPT – emails, blog posts, social captions, anything that sounds unapologetically you (not something you wrote with AI). BUT, if you want to really dial in your voice (and make sure it’s not just winging it), I recommend running it through the ToneOfVoiceAnalyserGPT first.

How to Use the Tone of Voice Tool

1. Go to Custom GPT > Explore GPTs > ToneOfVoiceAnalyserGPT
2. Paste in a chunk of your best writing (something that sounds exactly like you’d say it out loud and not just posts that have previously been generated from AI content 😒)
3. Use this prompt:

You’ll get something like the below example of exactly why your writing sounds like you. (The actual report will be way more detailed than this example, but I figured you didn’t need a massive screenshot taking over your screen.)

Once you get the analysis, feed BOTH the breakdown + your best content into your GPT setup.

This way, your GPT isn’t just mimicking your words – it’s actually learning your style. And trust me, that’s the difference between AI that sounds like you and AI that sounds like it learned ‘casual’ from a LinkedIn post.

Step 4: Test & Tweak

Your first version? Probably not great. And that’s fine. You can (and should) keep tweaking it – even after you’ve hit publish. 

Here’s how to check if your GPT actually sounds like you:

• Would you say this out loud? If reading it makes you cringe, change it.

• Does it match your energy? If your emails are normally fast and fun but your GPT is writing like it just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel, fix that.

• Does it get to the point? If it’s waffling on like a bad wedding speech, cut the fluff.

Step 5: Use It, but Stay in Control

Your GPT is a tool, not your ghostwriter. Let it help you, not replace you. It’s a slippery slope once you start letting AI take over everything. 

Here’s a few different ways I actually use mine:

• Brainstorming ideas for when the brain ain’t braining. (Give me five blog ideas on X topic)

• Looking at a topic from different perspectives. (Say I’m writing a social media post – I might ask for three angles: one focused on the problem, one raising awareness, and one offering a solution.)

• Getting it to interview me so my personal perspective comes through. (Ask me deep-dive questions on X topic.)

• Pasting in voice note or meeting transcripts and pulling out social post ideas. (Because there’s always gold in there – I just don’t have the patience to dig for it.)

• Repurposing content across platforms. (How can we turn this blog into social posts?)

• Giving feedback on my writing. (Is this clear? Is it engaging?)

Your GPT, Your Rules

At the end of the day, your GPT is only as good as what you put into it. If you train it well, tweak it when needed, and actually use it to support your business (instead of expecting it to magically “get” you), it’ll become a seriously powerful tool.

Will it be perfect from day one? Nope.

Will it save you hours of work once it’s trained properly? Absolutely.

But if your schedule is already hanging by a thread, I’ll do it for you – because nailing it properly isn’t a five-minute job (sorry!).

I’ll train it in your voice, your style, your personality – so it actually sounds like you and not a LinkedIn bro who just discovered emojis.

Or you can carry on battling it out with ‘crickets’ all the way into the ‘abyss’ (how many times have we seen that one).

Your choice. 

Custom GPT FAQS

Can ChatGPT voice be customised?

Yes! You can train a custom GPT to match your tone, style, and personality by feeding it your own content, setting clear instructions, and tweaking its responses until it sounds like you. It won’t just “get it” automatically, but with the right setup, it’ll start sounding less like a corporate chatbot and more like a natural extension of your brand.

Are custom GPTs private?

Yep! Your custom GPT is private by default, meaning no one else can access or use it unless you choose to share it.

How can I test and refine my custom GPT to ensure it accurately reflects my voice?

Ask yourself these questions: 

• Would you say this out loud?
• Does it match your energy?
• Does it get to the point? 

If not, change it. Even after publishing, you can go back and tweak its instructions, upload better content, and refine responses.

Which model of ChatGPT is best for writing?

Right now, GPT-4 is your best bet. It’s the most advanced model, meaning better writing, stronger context awareness, and fewer weird AI quirks (though it still has its moments). If you’re using a free version, you’ll be on GPT-3.5, which is decent but not as sharp when it comes to matching tone and style.

What data does ChatGPT save?

OpenAI may store conversations to improve its models, but with custom GPTs, you can manage data controls inside your settings.

Can ChatGPT learn the tone of voice?

Yes – but only if you train it properly. The more examples you give of your own writing, the better it understands your unique style. 

How to train ChatGPT to sound like you?

• Run your own content through ToneOfVoiceAnalyserGPT
• Upload the summary along with examples of your own content into ChatGPT
• Test, tweak, and refine
• Keep editing over time