MonDive#15: The Smart Guide to ChatGPT Models

Welcome to the MonDive

Today in MonDive, we’re breaking down all the ChatGPT models—what they do best, when to use them, and why picking the right one matters more than writing the perfect prompt.

If you’ve ever felt stuck tweaking prompts with mixed results, this guide will show you how model switching can instantly level up your output.

ToC

• Deep Research you can actually trust

• Why Choosing Right ChatGPT Model Matters

• Choosing the Correct Model > Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT Models - Explained

• The Bottom Line

Deep Research you can actually trust

Don't risk your reputation on a black-box AI. Get a fully-sourced, editable report you control.

But the real magic is what's next: iteratively enhance any section, ask deeper questions, or have the AI insert new analysis, all while being LLM-agnostic. It's research that evolves with you.

Why Choosing Right ChatGPT Model Matters

Have you ever noticed how sometimes ChatGPT’s answers are spot-on, and other times they seem a bit off? That's because ChatGPT isn't just one tool—it's actually a collection of different models, each with unique strengths.

If you’re like most people, you probably stick to one ChatGPT model for everything.
But what if I told you that switching models strategically can 10x the quality and clarity of your content?

In this issue, we’ll break down a workflow that smart creators are using to produce higher-impact blogs, carousels, emails, and scripts—without prompting harder or learning new tools.

We’ve tested every major ChatGPT model—from 4o to o3-pro to the lesser-known 4.1-mini—and discovered exactly how to combine their strengths for frictionless, scalable content creation.

Let’s dive right in.

Choosing the Correct Model > Prompt Engineering

Stop rewriting prompts. Start choosing better models.

When ChatGPT underperforms, most people assume their prompts need fixing. But more often, the issue isn’t your prompt—it’s the model you’ve picked.

But here’s the truth: if you’re using the wrong model, no prompt will fix it.
It’s like trying to win a race with the wrong gear.
You’re not prompting poorly — you’re just prompting the wrong engine.

🔄 Prompt Engineering vs Model Switching

Prompting is a skill. But model selection is a multiplier.

You don’t need to learn 100 prompt frameworks. You just need to know which model to use when.

ChatGPT Models - Explained

Here’s a breakdown of the current lineup (as of 2025), and how to use each like a pro:

*Capacities vary based on plan and performance fluctuations.

🧠 Your New Creative Stack (Model Matchmaking)

You don’t need more prompts. You need better model awareness.

Prompt engineering is important. But model switching is smarter.
When you combine intentional model usage with clear goals, your outputs level up instantly.

Drafting (GPT-4o)

Begin with your core content creation: blog outlines, email drafts, or carousels.
GPT-4o is fast, balanced, and can also generate images, making it your go-to model for everyday tasks.

✅ Best For:

• Blog post drafts

• Newsletter writing

• LinkedIn carousel outlines

• Generating cover images or thumbnails

🧠 Prompt Example:

“You are an experienced newsletter strategist. Write a 4,000-character, professional and insight-rich newsletter on this topic…”

Real-Time Research (GPT-o3)

Need real-time insights or validation from current data?
Use GPT-o3 with web browsing enabled. It’s ideal for fact-checking, sourcing examples, and pulling trends.

✅ Best For:

• Web-sourced data

• Citing trends

• Market comparisons

• Validating claims

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Search the web and add 3 timely stats and one real-world example to this blog draft.”

Polish with GPT-4.5

Take your rough draft and let GPT-4.5 refine the tone, voice, and clarity.
It excels at rewriting content to be crisp, natural, and human-sounding.

✅ Best For:

• Rewriting for clarity

• Editing for tone and voice

• Flow and structure improvements

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Rewrite this newsletter in plain, engaging language with a friendly tone—make it easy to read and structured.”

Generate Visuals with GPT-4o

Since GPT-4o is multimodal, it can create images directly from prompts.

✅ Best For:

• Blog/Newsletter graphics

• Carousel illustrations

• YouTube thumbnails or cover images

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Generate a 1920x1080 visual for ‘Step 1: Optimise – Make Your Profile Stand Out’.”

Credit: This tutorial was originally shared by Paul Couvert.

Go Deep with ChatGPT’s Research

When you need more than just a quick answer, use ChatGPT’s Deep Research mode.
It generates a structured, fully-sourced, editable report—perfect for market analysis, trend breakdowns, and insight-driven content.

Unlike normal browsing, Deep Research gives you real-time sources, inline citations, and a sidebar of follow-up prompts. It’s like having a research assistant inside ChatGPT.

✅ Best For:

• Trend-backed blog posts

• Market or competitor research

• Insight slides for pitches or decks

• Building report-ready content with citations

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Create a deep research report on the AI video generation market—include top tools, user growth trends, and real-world use cases.”

Note: GPT-o3 with browsing is great for quick fact-checking. But if you want clean formatting, editable reports, and sourced references, Deep Research with GPT-4o is the clear winner.

Quick Snippets (GPT-4.1-mini)

This one’s a fast, no-frills model for quick turnarounds.
Need short answers, code snippets, or fast content structuring? Use GPT-4.1-mini.

✅ Best For:

• Short-form ideas

• Taglines or titles

• Light code/Q&A

• Structuring bullets or slides

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Give me 5 catchy taglines for an AI newsletter, each under 8 words.”

Rapid Ideas with GPT-o4-mini

Need quick content ideas, fast feedback, or to rephrase something?
GPT-o4-mini is fast, snappy, and great for lightweight content generation.

✅ Best For:

• Short content refresh

• Idea variations

• Meta descriptions / summaries

• Quick analogies or metaphors

🧠 Prompt Example:

“Give me 3 creative analogies that explain why AI is like a power tool for marketers.”

Credit: This tutorial was originally shared by Paul Couvert.

Using Custom GPT (@ Feature)

ChatGPT now lets you access any Custom GPT instantly—right inside your chat—just by typing @.

You can:

• Use prebuilt GPTs from the Explore GPTs menu

• Or build your own Custom GPT with specific instructions, tone, or use cases
  Once created or selected, just type @GPT-Name and it will jump into your current conversation.

✅ Best For:

• Summarizing content with a specific tone

• Repurposing chats into different formats

• Running specialized workflows (e.g., outline builder, slide formatter, tone adjuster)

• Saving time across recurring tasks

📌 Pro Tip:
Create a Custom GPT once for your brand voice or preferred format—and reuse it with @ anytime, in any conversation. Total flexibility, zero context-switching.

🚀 The Bottom Line

Most creators try to get more out of ChatGPT by prompting harder.
But the real edge? Switching smarter.

By using each model for what it’s best at, you can create faster, clearer, and more effective content, without extra tools or hacks.

This workflow doesn’t just improve your results—it makes AI feel like a true creative partner.

The Smartest AI Library on the Internet🎉

Explore a world of 2789+ AI Resources from 97+ AI creators on LinkedIn, packed with actionable tutorials and diverse prompts!

Know someone who may be interested?