Forget those old PDFs and courses that nobody buys anymore. In 2025, there’s a whole new way for service businesses to make money and get more clients without working extra hours. It’s a digital product that feels super personal and solves real problems, so people are happy to pay for it. We’re talking about custom GPTs, and they’re changing the game.
Why Old Digital Products Don’t Work Anymore
Think about it: people are drowning in free information. Another ebook or checklist just doesn’t cut it. Take Mike, a lawyer who made DIY contract templates for small businesses. He spent weeks on them, priced them at $37, but almost no one bought them. The few who did never even used them. Why? Because these business owners didn’t just want a template; they wanted someone who understood their specific situation and could offer personalized help, even if they couldn’t afford full-on legal fees.
The Solution: Custom GPTs
So, how do you give clients that personal touch without working 24/7? The answer is custom GPTs. These are like personalized versions of ChatGPT that you can train with your own knowledge. Most people are using them just for themselves, but the real opportunity is offering them as a product. Imagine a digital version of you that can write in your voice, answer questions, and give advice just like you would, or even handle specific tasks your clients struggle with, like writing sales emails or troubleshooting tech issues. It’s like cloning your expertise and making it available 24/7.
Key Takeaways
- Personalization is Key: Clients crave tailored solutions, not generic templates.
- Custom GPTs Offer Scalability: Deliver your expertise to many clients without being personally available.
- Easy to Create: With a ChatGPT Plus subscription, you can build one in an afternoon.
- Multiple Revenue Streams: Use them as free lead magnets or paid, low-cost products.
How to Build Your Own Custom GPT
Creating a custom GPT is surprisingly simple. Here’s the basic process:
- Get ChatGPT Plus: This costs about $20 a month and lets you create and share custom GPTs.
- Upload Your Knowledge: Feed it your blog posts, transcribed videos, FAQs, or just your raw expertise. Don’t worry about making it polished; just brain-dump everything.
- Define Its Behavior: Tell the GPT how to act. Set its personality, tone of voice, and specific instructions for answering questions or completing tasks.
- Make It Sharable: Set the GPT to be accessible to anyone with the link.
- Share the Link: Distribute the link however you see fit.
Once done, people can interact with your GPT just like regular ChatGPT, but it has all your knowledge and personality. It feels like a one-on-one session, but you’re always available.
Real-World Examples
Instead of just dumping generic content, focus on a specific problem your clients face. For instance:
- Financial Planner: A "Budget Breakthrough GPT" that helps users analyze spending, find savings, and create a personalized plan. Users can even ask for custom scenarios, like saving for a vacation.
- Virtual Consultant: A GPT that acts as a digital version of you, offering advice in your area of expertise.
This is a great time to jump in because custom GPTs are valuable but not yet common. They’re new enough to be exciting but practical enough to be genuinely useful.
Using Custom GPTs in Your Business
There are two main ways to use custom GPTs:
1. Free Lead Magnets
Why give away something valuable for free? To build your email list – your list of future clients. Email marketing still offers the best return on investment. A custom GPT is the perfect thing to get people to hand over their email address.
- Example: Zola, a wedding planning platform, created a "Split the Decisions GPT." Engaged couples answer questions, and the AI creates a personalized to-do list split between partners. It even acts as a mediator. By offering this free tool, Zola helps couples and naturally directs them to their own resources.
How to set it up:
- Set your GPT to share with anyone who has the link.
- Create a simple signup page where visitors enter their name and email for access.
- Set up an automated email that welcomes them and provides the GPT link.
2. Paid Tiny Offers
These low-priced products can create new income streams and act as a stepping stone for bigger sales. People who buy a small, affordable GPT are much more likely to become high-paying clients later.
- Example: Online business expert Rick Mully offers his "Pick Rick’s Brain GPT" for a monthly fee. He uses his hundreds of podcast episodes as training material. Clients get 24/7 access to his marketing and business advice, and Rick makes money without being constantly available.
How to set it up:
- Create a sales page highlighting the GPT’s benefits.
- Set up a payment system that grants instant access.
- These typically sell well between $7 and $50.
To make sure you create a GPT that clients actually want, watch the next video. It shows you how to use AI to find out exactly what your clients need help with right now. Click here to get started!
Rodney Laws is an ecommerce expert with over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs build and grow online businesses. He specializes in reviewing ecommerce platforms, optimizing user experience, and guiding brands toward higher conversions. His insights have been published on leading industry sites including UsabilityGeek, G2, Spendesk, and PPC Hero.
As the editor at EcommercePlatforms.io, Rodney combines hands-on knowledge with clear, actionable advice to help business owners choose the right tools and strategies. When he’s not testing the latest software or analyzing trends, he’s sharing practical tips that make complex ecommerce decisions simple.
