Make Better Branding Decisions With ChatGPT

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I've been building online brands for over 15 years.

In the old days, it was a LOT of work to go from 'rough idea' to a 'brand concept.'

Weeks researching competitors... hunting through design templates... and trying to piece together what the brand should look and feel like.

Today, I can do that same work in about 30 minutes using ChatGPT. And I'm going to show you exactly how. ⚡️

But first, we need to clear up something that trips up almost every business owner I work with: the difference between business decisions and branding decisions. 👇

Your Brain vs. Your Heart: Understanding Two Critical Types of Decisions

Think of business decisions as your brain. The logical stuff. When you first say "I want to start a business," these are the questions that pop up:

• What am I selling?

• How much should I charge?

• Where will I sell it?

• How will I deliver it to customers?

These choices set the foundation for what your company does and how it works.

Branding decisions? Those are all heart. These are the emotional choices that come up when you ask yourself, "How do I package and sell this?" They shape:

• How people feel about your business

• What personality your business shows

• The relationship you build with your audience

• Your style, voice, and energy

Here's why this matters: You can have the exact same product as your competitor, but if your branding connects emotionally with customers, they'll choose you every time. And pay more for it.

A Real-World Example: From Tech Layoff to Pet Brand Success

Let me show you exactly what I mean with a real example from when I spoke at the Marketing Automation and AI meetup in Austin last week.

I brought Elina on stage. She's the founder of Dood Woof, a grooming products company for doodle dogs. Her story? She got laid off from her tech job in 2023 and decided to solve a problem she faced with her own doodle, Oscar: finding clean, effective grooming products.

Here's what she had already figured out (her business decisions):

• Product: Natural detangler spray and 5-in-1 shampoo for doodles

• Ingredients: All-natural, human-grade, safe for dogs

• Sales: Online only, ships within the US

Pretty straightforward business model, right? But here's where it gets interesting.

How ChatGPT Transformed Her Branding Process

Instead of spending months on brand research like I used to, I showed Elina how to use ChatGPT to figure out her brand essence. The feeling of how to share her message with customers in a way that resonates both visually and emotionally.

I fed ChatGPT her business information and asked it to come up with branding recommendations. Here's what it suggested:

• Position it as "created by a doodle parent" with a real, relatable vibe

• Create a warm, down-to-earth, naturally premium feel

• Target owners who already invest in their doodles' care

• Lead with an honest, calm tone that builds trust without hype

• Make every touchpoint feel thoughtful, human, and personal

But here's where it gets really powerful...

From Words to Visuals: The Magic of AI Mood Boards

I didn't stop at just getting written recommendations. I had ChatGPT create visual mood boards to show what these branding decisions would actually look like.

The first style it created was warm and natural. Earth tones, soft textures, imagery that screams "I'm a fellow doodle owner who gets it." Think organic, premium, trustworthy.

Then I asked ChatGPT to go completely opposite. Show me something wild and different. It came back with this bold, playful, high-energy brand that celebrates doodles like luxury pets living their best, fluffiest lives. Bright colors, fun typography, over-the-top messaging.

Same exact product. Completely different brands. Both could work. They'd just attract very different customers.

Key insight: The branding you choose affects everything from your colors and fonts to your messaging to the way people talk about your business.

The $10,000 Coincidence That Proved AI's Power

Here's the wild part: Elina was actually in the middle of rebranding her website when we did this demo. The new design wasn't even live yet. Nobody had seen it.

When she saw the premium, natural mood board that ChatGPT created, her jaw dropped. It was almost identical to the rebrand her team had spent weeks developing. The colors, the artistic drawings, the overall feel. ChatGPT nailed it in minutes based solely on understanding her business fundamentals and brand story.

Think about how much time and money went into that rebrand. And ChatGPT captured the essence in one conversation.

What Your Customers Really Think (And Why Branding Matters)

Without strong branding, customers only care about these basic questions:

• Is this the best price?

• Does it have the features I need?

• How fast can I get it?

• Can I find it cheaper somewhere else?

• What's the return policy?

That's a race to the bottom you don't want to run.

But with strong branding, the questions change completely:

• Do I trust them more than others?

• Does this brand get me and my values?

• Do I feel good buying from them?

• Would I tell friends about this?

• Is their story inspiring?

• Am I proud to support this brand?

• Would I pay more for their version?

• Do I keep coming back even with other choices?

See the difference? Strong branding transforms transactions into relationships.

Your Action Plan: Start Building Your Brand With AI

Here's exactly how you can use this process for your own business:

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Business Decisions

• What do you sell?

• What makes it unique?

• Who buys it?

• How do they get it?

Step 2: Feed ChatGPT Your Information. Ask it to create a "brand essence" based on your business details and backstory.

Step 3: Request Visual Mood Boards. Have ChatGPT create mood board descriptions or use image generation to see what your brand could look like.

Step 4: Test Different Directions. Don't settle for the first idea. Ask for opposite styles, different approaches, various emotional tones.

Step 5: Extract the Elements Once you find a direction you love, have ChatGPT break down:

• Specific colors and hex codes

• Font styles and typography choices

• Image styles and textures

• Voice and tone guidelines

• Key messaging phrases

Watch this video to see how I do this manually right inside ChatGPT:

The Bottom Line: Your Brand Is Your Business Multiplier

You can have the best product in the world, but without clear branding, you're just another option in a sea of choices. Your brand is what makes people choose you, pay more for you, and tell others about you.

The beauty of using ChatGPT for this process? You don't have to start from scratch anymore. You can leverage AI tools that understand design principles, consumer psychology, and market positioning to give you a massive head start.

Remember: Business decisions are about what you offer. Branding decisions are about how you make people feel. Master both, and you'll create a business that stands out, commands premium prices, and builds loyal customers who come back again and again.

Want to see this process in action? I put together a free training called the Mood Board Method that walks you through every step I use with my clients. You can check it out at www.MoodBoardMethod.com.

Now it's your turn. What's one branding decision you've been struggling with? Take 10 minutes today, fire up ChatGPT, and see what insights it reveals about your brand. You might be surprised at what you discover.