Today's story started with a simple request from a client:
"Jamie, which CRM should I use for my consulting business?"
I thought I knew the answer. HubSpot for startups, Monday CRM for small teams, Copper for the Google workspace devotees.
I confidently started drafting my recommendations...
Then I decided to run it through ChatGPT's Deep Research feature, just to validate my choices.
Twenty minutes later, I sat staring at my screen, a bit embarrassed.
I had completely missed three new AI-powered CRMs specifically designed for solo consultants(cough Attio cough).
Tools that were a better fit given my client’s specific use cases.
My "expertise" was actually my blind spot.
Why This Matters
Whether you're running a business or a team, bad intel is expensive.
Whether you're:
Choosing software that will run your entire operation
Setting up workflows for your team
Researching compliance requirements
Planning your service offerings
The gap between what you know and what you need to know could be costing you thousands in inefficiency and missed opportunities.
Deep Research: Your New Secret Weapon
If you're still using the free version of ChatGPT, you're missing out on one of my favorite features.
Deep Research is like your dedicated McKinsey consultant.
Here's how it works:
Input your research question
ChatGPT creates a research plan
It browses current web sources
Delivers a detailed report with citations in 5-30 minutes
(Why is the 30 minute wait so satisfying? Because you know it’s REALLY thinking about it.)
Real Examples From My Week
Solo Consultant Strategy
A business coach needed to understand emerging trends in online coaching platforms:
Discovered 3 platforms with AI features that automated client notes tracking
Found case studies from coaches who'd doubled their client load
Identified pricing sweet spots based on market research
Located ROI data from similar businesses
Small Team Tools
For a 5-person marketing agency evaluating automation tools for a specific workflow:
Compared 5 solutions designed for small teams
Found integration capabilities with existing tools
Discovered user communities sharing templates and workflows
Located actual pricing for small business tiers
Compliance for Small Business
A solo practitioner needed to understand privacy requirements:
Found latest requirements for small businesses
Discovered affordable compliance tools
Identified common pitfalls to avoid
Located templates for necessary documentation
How to Use It
For ChatGPT Plus users ($20/month):
Add your prompt and select the Deep Research toggle
Be specific about your business size and needs
Answer its follow-up questions honestly
Give it time - good research takes 15-20 minutes
What would you use Deep Research for?
If you try this out, shoot me an email - I'd love to hear what you discover for your work!
Still discovering,
Jamie
P.S. Want to see my exact research prompts for small business tools? Reply to this email and I'll send you my template.