Configuring Conversation Starters

Conversation starters are pre-written prompts that appear when someone opens your GPT. They show users what your GPT can do and make it easy to get started.

Why Conversation Starters Matter

When users first see your GPT, they might:

• Not know what to ask
• Be unsure of its capabilities
• Want to quickly test it out

Good conversation starters solve all three problems.

Where to Add Conversation Starters

1. Go to the Configure tab in GPT Builder
2. Find the Conversation starters section
3. You can add up to 4 starters
4. Each appears as a clickable button

Anatomy of a Good Starter

Effective conversation starters are:

Quality	Example
Specific	"Write a thank-you email to a client" not "Help me write"
Action-oriented	"Create a meal plan for this week" not "Tell me about meal planning"
Demonstrative	Shows a key capability of your GPT
Inviting	Easy to click without overthinking

The Four Starter Strategy

Design your four starters to showcase different capabilities:

Examples by GPT Type

Writing Assistant GPT

1. "Help me write a professional email declining a meeting"
2. "Rewrite this paragraph to be more concise"
3. "Create an outline for a blog post about [topic]"
4. "What types of writing can you help with?"

Study Buddy GPT

1. "Quiz me on [subject]"
2. "Explain [concept] like I'm 10 years old"
3. "Create a study schedule for my exam next week"
4. "What subjects can you help me study?"

Recipe Helper GPT

1. "What can I make with chicken, rice, and broccoli?"
2. "Give me a healthy dinner recipe under 30 minutes"
3. "Convert this recipe to metric measurements"
4. "Suggest meal prep ideas for the week"

Interview Coach GPT

1. "Ask me a common interview question"
2. "How should I answer 'Tell me about yourself'?"
3. "Give me feedback on this answer: [paste answer]"
4. "What questions should I expect for a [role] interview?"

Writing Starters: Do's and Don'ts

Do:

• Use clear, natural language
• Include specific examples in brackets when helpful
• Cover your GPT's range of abilities
• Make them enticing to click

Don't:

• Use jargon users might not understand
• Make them too long (keep under 10 words when possible)
• Duplicate similar prompts
• Leave them generic ("Ask me anything")

Placeholder Technique

Use brackets to show where users can customize:

Testing Your Starters

Before publishing:

1. Click each starter yourself
2. Check that responses match expectations
3. Have someone unfamiliar with your GPT try them
4. Observe: Do they understand what to do?

Updating Starters Based on Usage

After your GPT is live:

• Notice what users actually ask
• Add starters for common requests
• Replace starters that don't get clicked
• Refine wording based on confusion

Conversation Starter Template

Example: Complete Starter Set

GPT: Personal Finance Coach

#	Starter	Purpose
1	"Review my budget and find savings"	Quick win
2	"Help me create a plan to pay off debt"	Core feature
3	"Calculate how much I need to save for retirement"	Advanced
4	"What financial topics can you help with?"	Explore

Key Takeaway

Conversation starters are your GPT's first impression. Use all four slots to showcase capabilities, make actions clear, and help users get started instantly. In the final lesson, we'll cover how to publish and share your GPT with the world.