Online tools like PDF converters and BMI calculators generate millions of visits every month.
The good news is, you don’t need to be a software engineering expert to create these tools for your own website.
With the help of AI like ChatGPT, you can build useful web-based tools without writing a single line of code.
In this post, we’ll walk through the process of creating an “Instagram Post Screenshot Generator” using just a few ChatGPT prompts. But you can adapt it to any tool that you want to create. The concept is the same.
Step 1: Decide on Your Online Tool Idea
The first step is to come up with an idea for a simple online tool that would be valuable for your website’s niche or topic. You can ask ChatGPT for inspiration by providing a prompt like:
"I have a website about [your niche or topic]. Can you suggest some simple online tools that would be useful for my audience?"
For this example, we’ll create a tool that generates attractive screenshots for sharing on Instagram.
Step 2: Break Down the Tool into Simple Features
To make the process manageable, it’s best to start with a basic version of the tool and then iteratively add more features. Provide ChatGPT with a clear description of the core functionality you want in the initial prototype. Be as detailed as possible.
For our Instagram screenshot tool, we might start with:
- A button to randomize the background gradient color
- Ability to download the generated image
Step 3: Generate the Code with ChatGPT
Now it’s time to ask ChatGPT to generate the actual code. Use a prompt like:
"Create a simple web-based tool called 'Instagram Post Screenshot Generator' with the following features:
[List out the features from Step 2]
Please use a responsive design and include the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a single file. I will be inserting this into a WordPress page, so no need to include the full HTML structure."
ChatGPT will generate a code snippet that you can copy and paste into the Custom HTML block of a new WordPress page. Preview the result to make sure the initial version is working as expected.
Step 4: Iteratively Add More Features
With the basic prototype in place, you can now ask ChatGPT to add more features one at a time. For example:
"Awesome, the tool is working great! Now please update the code to add the ability to upload a custom image that will appear on top of the gradient background."
Paste the updated code into your WordPress page, test it out, and repeat this process until you have all the desired functionality. Remember to be as specific as possible in your prompts to guide ChatGPT in the right direction.
Step 5: Create an SEO-Friendly FAQ Section
Finally, to help your tool rank well in search engines, ask ChatGPT to generate an FAQ section that you can add below the tool on your WordPress page:
"Using Markdown formatting, please generate an SEO-friendly FAQ section about the 'Instagram Post Screenshot Generator' tool. Use conversational language and focus on questions users are likely to have. This should be a separate section from the tool code."
Paste the generated FAQ content below your tool, make any necessary tweaks, and publish the page. Submit it to search engines like Google and Bing, and with a bit of luck and the right keyword targeting, your new online tool could start attracting organic traffic in no time!
Conclusion
Creating online tools doesn’t have to be intimidating or require advanced coding skills. By leveraging the power of AI assistants like ChatGPT, you can build useful web-based tools for your audience with just a few prompts and some copy-pasting.
The key is to start simple, iterate gradually, and provide clear, detailed instructions to guide the AI. So give it a try and see what helpful tools you can create for your website!
