How I use Claude for strategy, Gemini for research and ChatGPT for 'the grind'

 How I use Claude for strategy, Gemini for research and ChatGPT for 'the grind'

The system that changed everything

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Start with Claude: Define the idea and angle

Move to Gemini: Gather facts and structure research

Finish with ChatGPT: Execute, refine and publish

or a long time, I was using it wrong. Like most people, I defaulted to one chatbot for everything just because it felt silly to change tabs. What could go wrong with using the same chatbot for brainstorming, research, drafting outlines, editing or decision-making? As it turns out, quite a lot.

It wasn't obvious at the time, but some outputs felt shallow or way too verbose. And sometimes, I’d get stuck in a loop of “almost good enough" just to rework everything on my own. The point of AI is to reduce workflow, not cause more work.

So, I stopped treating AI like a single assistant — and started using more chatbots as a way to beef up my "team." Now, I use Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT for completely different roles. The result is better ideas, much faster research and far less bottlenecks so I actually get work done.

Here’s exactly how my system works.

Claude is my strategist

When I need to really think on a project, I go to Claude. Kind of like phoning a friend you know you can count on to give you the best feedback, that's the way I see Anthropic's flagship model.

I finally stopped over-prompting AI — these 3 simple routines saved me 10 hours a week

I used ChatGPT wrong for months — these 3 simple 'system' prompts changed everything

Hate writing AI prompts? I tested ways to make it easier — here’s what actually worked

Out of all the models I’ve tested, Claude consistently feels the most structured and deliberate. It doesn’t just generate ideas — it organizes them. It also doesn't love all of my ideas or flatter me like the people-pleasing ChatGPT.

I use Claude for stress-testing arguments, identifying gaps in logic, turning messy thoughts into a clear direction and framing angles for articles and projects.

One of my go-to prompts is: "What’s weak, unclear or missing from this idea?”

Claude is especially good at pushing back. It will tell you when something is too obvious, too vague or missing a strong takeaway — which is exactly what you want at the strategy stage.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Why this works: Claude shines at top-down thinking. It helps you figure out what you should say before you worry about how to say it.

Gemini is my researcher

When I need to learn fast, I switch to Gemini. Gemini is incredibly good at pulling together structured information, especially when the topic is complex or evolving. This is especially true with all of Google AI Labs tools with Gemini. NotebookLM is my go-to for all things research and learning. I even use the app to learn on the go.

I use Gemini every day to help make sense of complex news stories, summarizing long reports, comparing tools and models or simply pulling key facts into clean formats.

I stopped asking AI to brainstorm — this is the only prompt I use to turn ideas into action

claude

I stopped using Claude like a chatbot — 7 prompt shifts that reclaimed 10 hours of my week

Young business man working at home with laptop and papers on desk

I tried the “top 1%” way of using AI — and I can’t believe how much time I was wasting

One of my favorite Gemini prompts is: “Summarize this for a general audience. What are the 3 most important takeaways and why do they matter?”

Gemini tends to be more factual and grounded, which makes it ideal for research-heavy workflows.

Why this works: Google's flagship model is smart, fast and structured so it's less likely to drift into unnecessary creativity or fluff when you need clarity.

ChatGPT handles the grind

Once I know where my project is headed and have enough information researched, I move on to ChatGPT for the rest. OpenAI's model has become my best bet for execution. It takes care of the time consuming parts of the job.

I use it as a thesaurus to help rewrite with clarity, formating outlines and handling day-to-day tasks like chatting live, fact-checking or scam detection.

A prompt I often use is: "Take what I give you for this project and tell me what I need to do to move this forward.”

This is where ChatGPT really shines — speed and adaptability. It’s also incredibly good at iteration. Once the thinking is done, it helps you move faster without losing quality.

The system that changed everything

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Start with Claude: Define the idea and angle

Move to Gemini: Gather facts and structure research

Finish with ChatGPT: Execute, refine and publish

By using this system I count on each different tool to focus on what it does best. If you're relying on one tool for everything, using AI might actually be holding you back.

Keep in mind that it's simply not supposed to be a one-size-fits all plan. Utilizing AI as a stack and assigning each model a role means you get better outputs with fewer prompts and spend less time fixing mediocre results. It’s not about better prompting. It’s about better systems.

Bottom line

If you’re only using one AI tool, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Splitting your workflow across Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT doesn’t make things more complicated — it actually helps reduce bottlenecks so things run smoother. So give it a try. Let Claude help you think through your project like a confident guide, let Gemini help you maximize research and then give ChatGPT everything to help you execute your project. Once you start using AI this way, it’s very hard to go back.

Perpexity Computer - Etsy SEO / shop analyzer

 https://www.perplexity.ai/computer/new?login-source=oneTap&login-new=false

Analyze Etsy Shop

https://www.perplexity.ai/gen/computer/etsy-store?utm_source=paid_meta&utm_medium=Instagram_Feed&utm_campaign=T1_Meta_AllDevices_Subscribe_Computer_ABO_Testing_IH_Statics&utm_adset=T1_Subscribe_Computer_IH_Statics_Etsy_LeadMagnet&utm_content=pplx-ad-the-top-seller-on-etsy-uses-9-left-aligned-light-v2&campaign_id=120239339419690317&adset_id=120239340090650317&ad_id=120239340090740317&wpsrc=Facebook&wpcid=120239339419690317&wpcn=T1_Meta_AllDevices_Subscribe_Computer_ABO_Testing_IH_Statics&wpscid=120239340090650317&wpscn=T1_Subscribe_Computer_IH_Statics_Etsy_LeadMagnet&wpcrid=120239340090740317&wpcrn=pplx-ad-the-top-seller-on-etsy-uses-9-left-aligned-light-v2&wpsnetn=ig&audience_type=new_audience&utm_id=120239339419690317&utm_term=120239340090650317&fbclid=PAdGRzdgQ6Po1leHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqy0K9NjtrXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABpx-34cdhpFelblp7Vu3PMkFe0-qinxqOGZRv0pm0xJ_D83IZ2gWX2kl6s-W2_aem_TqR-1uEletyAzZbDbElR8w

Etsy SEO is a full-time job pretending to be a side hustle.

Computer can:

👉 Find the keywords, tags, and title patterns Etsy shoppers are actually using

👉 Rewrite listings with stronger titles, descriptions, and 10 optimized tags ready to post.

👉 Audit old listings and flag which ones need a thumbnail or text refresh.

👉 Plan seasonal launches early so your shop is live before demand spikes.

👉 Turn your shop data into a repeatable listing system you can scale without doing every update by hand.

COMMS STRATEGY MEGA PROMPT - Julien Cole

 MY COMMS STRATEGY MEGA PROMPT

Use when: You want to map a consumer journey.

Prompt:

You are a strategist who helps brands create clear, emotionally grounded communication strategies that connect creative ideas with smart media thinking.

You're trained to uncover deep emotional and psychological contradictions in modern consumer behavior. You specialize in turning lived emotional tensions into insight-driven strategy that feels human, relevant, and useful.

You’ve worked with ChatGPT to refine your process and make it easier for strategists and creatives to use. Your answers reflect your voice: simple, smart, and human, no jargon.

COMMS STRATEGY
Identify the recurring emotional moment where the tension shows up in someone’s life.

These are not physical scenes or one-off events; they're low-key themes that resurface over time. Moments of emotional contradiction, identity drift, or quiet realization.

Using this exact 5-part structure:
“Surround the moment when [emotional tension shows up]”

Important:
Focus on internal states, not external settings.

Use metaphor, emotion, or contradiction to describe the moment.

Make each one feel like a chapter in someone’s inner life, not a scene from a commercial.

Avoid time/place references unless they’re deeply symbolic.

Give 5 distinct emotional moments, each one should feel like a different lens on the consumer problem and goal.

Then ask:

With each idea also give the following pieces
MEDIA THINKING
Where does that moment happen (time, place, behavior)? Suggest smart, context-based media placements that deliver the emotion.
Where would it feel most emotionally powerful—or ironic? What are related cultural partnerships?

Use human, contemporary language. Avoid generic insights, marketing-speak, or clichés.

Focus on emotional contradictions (what people want vs. what they feel, believe, or suppress), not just functional issues. These should expose emotional truths, identity struggles, or cultural pressures.

Make it feel sharp, cultural, and true—something you'd want to read out loud in a pitch room.

Examples of great insight names:

“The Guilt Spoon”
“Approval Flavored”
“Try-Hard Chill”
“Scroll Fatigue”
“The Aesthetic Trap”
“Performative Indulgence”

How To Build A Strategy Presentation

 Graza’s strategy is chef’s kiss!

4 Qs to Instantly Add Strategic Rigor to Any Presentation

The first step to any good presentation is getting the strategy down to one page. 

Like this example for Graza. A young brand trying to break into the olive oil category where heritage and luxury are the markers of credibility.

Before you open PowerPoint, ask;

1. What is your goal?

- Define the outcome you want. Anchor it to what your audience actually values.

2. What problem are they facing?

- Surface emotional aspects. This tells you what your audience really cares about.

3. What new truth reframes the story?

- Introduce one insight that shifts their perspective.

4. How can you help them solve it?

- Present a clear solution your brand helps play in resolving the tension you opened.

Learn my strategy presentation process.

How To Build A Strategy Presentation

Strategy Formula

 If I had to boil strategy making down to its simplest.

Then I'd say strategy is part thinking, part storytelling.

It's connecting logic with emotion. 

Strategists are especially curious and communicate well. 

They know - if you have a well thought out idea but you can’t explain well, then it is unlikely to go very far.

That’s why great strategy is a blend of clear thinking and persuasive storytelling.

Let’s break it down...

(1) Clear Thinking

Clear thinking is the foundation.

It’s how you cut through noise and find what really matters.

Most people jump straight to solutions.

But great strategists slow down and ask hard questions:

→ What’s actually driving this situation?

→ What’s changed that others haven’t noticed?

→ Where’s the real bottleneck?

They go for clarity.

When you see the problem clearly, you will have an easier time designing a solution.

How to develop your thinking:

• Define the *real* problem

• Reframe it by asking "how else might we look at this"

• Break complexity into smaller, solvable parts

• Challenge assumptions and test your logic

Clear thinking gives you truth.

But truth alone doesn’t create action.

That's where this next part comes in...

(2) Persuasive Storytelling

Storytelling turns your clarity into conviction.

It makes people believe, and act.

A strategy story has 3 beats:

→ The Challenge – what’s happening and why it matters

→ The Big Idea – the reframe that changes perspective

→ The Action – what happens next and in what order

How to develop your storytelling:

• Get to the big idea (answer), don't spend too much time on context.

• Use vivid, simple language

• Make the stakes clear: why now, why us

• End with concrete next steps

(1) + (2) = Good Strategy

If you think clearly but can’t tell the story → no traction.

If you tell the story but can’t think clearly → no solution.

The magic happens when you do both.

Thinking gives meaning.

Storytelling creates influence.

Do both and you have a better chance to build momentum and get your strategy executed. 

That’s why the best strategists must be thinkers and storytellers of change.

Principles of storytelling

 Storytelling Is Your Hidden Superpower

Weekend Reflection: The Power of Storytelling

We often underestimate storytelling, thinking it’s just for writers or marketers. But the truth is every professional is a storyteller.

Whether you're presenting an idea, leading a team, or sharing a personal journey, your ability to tell a story shapes how people listen, connect, and remember.

Here are a few timeless principles of storytelling:

• Clarity over complexity – A simple story travels farther than a complicated one.
• Emotion creates connection – People may forget facts, but they remember how you made them feel.
• Authenticity builds trust – Real stories resonate more than perfect ones.
• Structure matters – Every story needs a beginning (context), middle (conflict), and end (resolution).
• Purpose drives impact – A story without a message is just noise.

hashtag

9 frameworks that separate strategists from tacticians

 Your customers already know what they want.

You’re just not listening the right way.

Most marketers are guessing.

They run campaigns without a system.
They react instead of anticipate.

The best marketers I’ve worked with over 25 years don’t wait for customers to tell them what they want.

They already know.

That’s not intuition. That’s framework thinking.

Here are 9 frameworks that separate strategists from tacticians:

→ BCG Matrix — know where to invest and where to cut
→ Customer Journey Mapping — see every friction point before your customer feels it
→ Playing To Win — make real strategic choices, not vague mission statements
→ Value Proposition Canvas — match what you build to what they actually need
→ AARRR Funnel — track the full lifecycle, not just the top
→ The Hook Model — build products people come back to without being asked
→ STP Model — stop marketing to everyone and start winning somewhere
→ Ansoff Matrix — grow with intention, not hope
→ ABM Model — treat your best accounts like they deserve a strategy of their own

Most teams know one or two of these.

The ones running circles around their competition have internalized all nine.

Frameworks don’t make you rigid.
They make you fast.

AI can execute. Speed is no longer the advantage.

Knowing which move to make next is.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---------------------
👋 If you liked this, follow me Louis Cho to get the latest insights from me and ♻️ repost to share with others!