Default ChatGPT Icons Are Giving You Away (Here’s How to Fix It)
I’ve been seeing a lot of this lately.
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The default ChatGPT icons are everywhere—on LinkedIn posts, email newsletters, blogs, and even on company websites. And while most casual readers might scroll past them without a second thought, those of us who use AI tools regularly? We notice.
And when we do, it says one thing:
“I copied this from ChatGPT and hit publish.”
Let me be clear—I use AI every day. I built a business around it.
But when your content still includes the same default emojis, formatting, and phrasing that ChatGPT hands you in draft one, it signals something you probably didn’t mean to say:
I didn’t really write this
I used AI but didn’t make it my own
I might not have even read it all the way through
And once people start to pick up on that, they tune out—no matter how valuable the information might be.
How to Fix It
The good news? This is an easy problem to solve:
Delete or replace the icons
You don’t need them. If you do use them, make sure they serve a purpose and fit your voice.Add a line or two (or more) of personal insight
Context matters. What does this post mean to you? Why did you write it?Make it sound like you
Your tone, your phrasing, your rhythm. Let people hear you in the words.Tell ChatGPT what you want
Literally say:“Don’t use emoji or icons in the output.”
It will listen.
Yes, I Used ChatGPT to Help With This Post
But the idea started with me. The tone sounds like me. I edited it to make sure it fit my voice—and to make sure it reflected what I believe.
How to Make ChatGPT Sound Like You by Default
If you're already using ChatGPT (and you should be), here’s how to take control of the voice it uses—so it sounds like you without needing to rewrite everything from scratch.
1. Use Custom Instructions
Go to Settings > Custom Instructions, and fill in:
How you’d like it to respond
(e.g., “Write in a clear, conversational tone with light dry humor. Avoid fluff. Prioritize short paragraphs and real-world examples.”)What it should know about you
(e.g., “I run a consulting business for small businesses. My tone is casual but professional. I avoid jargon and like clean, clear messaging.”)
2. Feed It Writing Samples
Paste in blog posts, emails, or social captions you’ve written, then prompt ChatGPT with something like:
“Analyze my tone and style. Now write future content to match this voice.”
Or:
“Rewrite this post to sound more like my writing style, based on the samples I provided.”
3. Build Your Own Custom GPT
If you’re a ChatGPT Plus or Pro user, you can create your own Custom GPT—your own personal AI writing assistant.
You can:
Set default tone and style
Upload writing samples or brand guidelines
Lock in how it should behave
Name it something like Strategence Writer or BrandVoiceGPT
Note: This feature is not available to free-tier users (yet).
4. Save Reusable Prompt Templates
Instead of writing a new prompt every time, save your favorites:
“Write a LinkedIn post in my voice: clear, confident, and helpful. Hook > insight > takeaway.”
“Summarize this blog for small business owners who are curious about AI but not super technical.”
You can also preload these into your Custom GPT for even more consistency.
5. Edit the First Draft
The most important thing: don’t publish the first thing ChatGPT gives you. Use it as a solid starting point—then shape it.
Try edits like:
“Make this more conversational”
“Use contractions”
“Add a little personality”
“Swap out buzzwords for real-world language”
AI works best as your creative partner, not your ghostwriter.
Final Thought
Your content deserves better than default settings.
With just a few tweaks, AI can help you create content that’s faster, more consistent, and still sounds like you.
And when it does? People pay attention.
If you want help making AI your secret weapon—whether it’s for writing, branding, or client engagement—reach out here, or connect with me on LinkedIn.