ChatGPT Plugins and Apps for Marketers

#01What's inside a plugin?

OpenAI's plugins article lists four parts: skills (instructions and workflows), connected apps (accounts, information and actions), app templates (for admins) and extensions (interactive views, item mentions, file editing and forms). The Plugin Directory replaced the App Directory in July 2026, and is available across plans, though individual plugins depend on plan, workspace, role and region.

#02Which setups help marketers most?

Availability changes often, so search the directory rather than relying on any list.

#03How do you install and use one safely?

1. Open Plugins, select the plugin and read which apps and skills it includes.
2. Install and sign in only to the account that should be used.
3. Open the app's permission settings and choose when ChatGPT asks before reading or acting.
4. Test with a read-only request first.

USE A PLUGIN
@[plugin] Find the three most recent docs about the [campaign]
launch and summarise decisions, owners and open questions.
Read only. Don't edit or share anything.

CROSS-TOOL SUMMARY
Using Slack and Drive: what changed in the [launch] plan this
week? List decisions with links to the message or doc.

#04What about Sites?

Sites are interactive web pages ChatGPT builds and hosts, on Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise. OpenAI says there's no fixed limit on the number of Sites, building counts toward Codex usage and each Site has a 10 GB database. Business members can build private workspace Sites using supported connected apps, if admins allow it. Marketers use them for campaign trackers, internal asset finders and simple calculators. They're not a replacement for your public website.

Our view: connect fewer tools than you can. Two well-permissioned plugins you use daily beat ten that might act on the wrong account.

#05Worked example: Ledgerline's plugin setup

Ledgerline is a fictional accounts-payable tool. Details are illustrative.

Ledgerline's marketing team installed Google Drive and Slack plugins in their Business workspace. Admin settings required approval for any write action. The team's main use became a Monday "what changed" summary across the launch channel and the plan doc. A third plugin for a social scheduling tool was tested with read-only prompts for two weeks before anyone let it create drafts.

#06What should you check before the next lesson?

• Install at most two plugins and set their permissions.
• Run the cross-tool summary prompt.
• Note which plugins support events for lesson 13.
• Claude's equivalent is covered in Claude MCP connectors for marketers.

Next: Building repeatable workflows with scheduled tasks. Or return to the ChatGPT for Marketers track.

#07Common questions

What is the difference between a plugin and an app in ChatGPT? An app connects ChatGPT to a service such as Slack or Google Drive. A plugin bundles apps with skills and other tools for a task. Some plugins contain only skills.

Does installing a plugin give it access to everything? No. OpenAI says installation cannot bypass provider or workspace permissions, and app permission settings decide when ChatGPT asks before reading or acting.

Can I build a dashboard in ChatGPT? Yes, with Sites on Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise. Sites are hosted interactive pages; building them counts toward Codex usage.