Summarizing content efficiently is one of the most valuable skills in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Whether you’re distilling complex reports, articles, or long-form blog posts, you need to capture the essence without losing the message. Thankfully, tools like ChatGPT are redefining how we approach this task, offering flexibility and precision in summarizing large amounts of information.

But here's the thing: Not all summaries are created equal. Depending on the goal of your summary, different techniques can provide better alignment. After working with ChatGPT for a while, I’ve come across five techniques that stand out in terms of providing structured, clear, and relevant summaries.

1. Extract Main Points: The Classic Approach

When you want a quick and accurate summary, the "extract main points" technique is a no-brainer. This is by far the most common method used, and for a good reason—it’s straightforward, and it works. The idea is simple: focus on key points and leave out the fluff.

I like to use this method when dealing with reports or articles that are heavy on detail but only require a high-level overview. It’s efficient, gets to the heart of the matter, and allows me to quickly understand the essence of the text without getting bogged down in excessive detail.

How to Prompt:

"Can you extract the main points from this text?"

This works best when you need clarity and brevity. No frills—just the key information.

2. Abstract Summary: Flexibility Meets Precision

There are times when you want a summary that’s more than just bullet points. In those cases, an abstract summary can be more useful. It allows for a bit of interpretation and paraphrasing, meaning the summary will be more flexible and easier to adapt to different contexts.

For example, when I’m summarizing a long-form article for a blog post or LinkedIn update, I don’t want a robotic list of facts. I want a summary that feels cohesive and natural. This method allows for more creative freedom, which can help when you need to engage with your audience.

How to Prompt:

"Provide an abstractive summary of the following text."

This approach allows ChatGPT to generate a more nuanced summary, perfect when you want to maintain the tone of the original piece but shorten it considerably.

3. Sequence of Events: The Storytelling Tool

Let’s face it—stories stick with people. If you’re working with narrative content or need to emphasize a sequence of actions, summarizing with a focus on events can be a game-changer. Whether you’re outlining a case study, detailing an event, or recounting a process, keeping the structure clear is essential.

This method is incredibly useful for storytelling content or anything that follows a chronological order. It brings clarity to the sequence and ensures that the reader can follow along step-by-step.

How to Prompt:

"Summarize the following text while highlighting the sequence of events."

Using this prompt makes sure that ChatGPT doesn’t just give you key points, but organizes them into a clear, logical progression.

4. Context-Specific Summaries: Customization is Key

When summarizing for specific audiences or purposes, context matters. Sometimes, it’s not just about what happened or what was said—it’s about how those details impact a particular aspect of your work. This technique allows you to focus the summary based on a particular context or goal.

Let’s say I’m working with a brand that’s implementing AI in their workflow. I don’t just need a general summary of a technical article. I need to know how that article addresses the AI’s impact on workflows, team dynamics, or efficiency. A context-specific summary gets to the core of the information I need without having to sift through irrelevant data.

How to Prompt:

"Based on the following text, summarize how AI is impacting workflows and its relation to skills gaps."

Tailor your summary to your specific needs, and ChatGPT will give you a more targeted response. This method is great for niche content.

5. Key Takeaway: Short, Sweet, and To the Point

Sometimes, the most important thing you need from a piece of content is its single biggest insight. Whether it’s for a tweet, a quick LinkedIn update, or an elevator pitch, the "key takeaway" technique distills everything down to the core message.

This is ideal when you’re pressed for time and just need to know the one thing that makes the content worth reading. I use this a lot for quick social media posts, where the challenge is to deliver maximum impact with minimal words.

How to Prompt:

"Based on the following text, what is the most important takeaway?"

The result? A clean, concise nugget of information that you can turn into a powerful headline, social post, or email subject line.

Bonus Technique: Extract + Generate

This approach takes the best of both worlds. First, you extract key points from the text, and then generate an abstract summary based on those points. This hybrid method gives you a more in-depth summary, especially when working with dense or technical content.

It’s like breaking down the content, analyzing the important pieces, and then having ChatGPT stitch it back together in a meaningful way. This is particularly useful when working with larger bodies of text that need to be simplified into digestible parts, without losing the context.

How to Prompt:

- Step 1: "Extract key points from the following text."

- Step 2: "Use the key points to provide an abstract summary."

By following these steps, you ensure that the summary captures both the key points and presents them in a more fluid, readable way.

Final Thoughts

Content summarization isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your audience, the complexity of the material, and the platform you’re using, you may need to adjust your approach. That’s why these five techniques—along with the bonus method—can make all the difference.

Remember, it’s not just about shortening the text; it’s about making sure the key messages shine through. Whether you’re summarizing for a report, blog post, social media, or an internal memo, the method you choose will affect how well the information resonates with your audience.

I’ve found these techniques invaluable in making sure I capture what’s important, without losing the meaning behind the words. So next time you’re summarizing, consider what your ultimate goal is—and choose the technique that gets you there.

Now, get out there and summarize like a pro.

I am an Ad-Age, Emmy, Shorty, Telly, and Webby Award-Winning Social Media Strategist and Content Creator for outdoor lifestyle, adventure, travel, and recreation brands. With over two decades of experience, I’ve collaborated with key players in the outdoor lifestyle, adventure, food, beverage, music, and broadcast sectors to craft resonant stories. My expertise lies in developing innovative social media strategies and compelling narratives that engage audiences and elevate brand presence across digital platforms.