ChatGPT Prompting Guide

Specificity: The Key to Precision

Think of AI as a very literal assistant. The more focused and detailed your prompt, the better the AI understands exactly what you want.

This gives AI clearer direction on tone, audience, and purpose, producing content that requires less editing and hits the mark faster.

Context: Providing Essential Background

AI doesn't have memory of your brand or campaign details beyond what you supply in the prompt. Providing background information prevents confusion and helps the AI tailor its response for a cleaner fit.

For example, including details like your industry, target customer, or campaign goals helps AI shape text that fits your marketing voice and strategy.

Clarity: Avoiding Ambiguity

Avoid ambiguous language or jargon that might confuse AI. Write prompts as if you were giving instructions to a new team member—clear and straightforward.

Effective Prompt Structure Includes:

• A direct request (e.g., "Write a blog introduction")
• The content type or format (e.g., "in 150 words")
• The desired tone or style (e.g., "friendly and conversational")
• Any extra constraints or examples (e.g., "include a call to action to subscribe")

Pro Tip: Ask for Clarification Questions

One way I increase the chances of getting what I want is to add this text to my prompt: "Ask me up to 5 questions if you need clarification. Ask me those questions one at a time so that we can arrive at the best possible solution."

I specify a number because if I don't, I risk AI getting too granular and asking too many questions. Remember that these tools are iterative. When you answer a question, that answer helps them narrow things down and ask better questions.

Layering and Chaining Prompts

Think of this like building a house room by room instead of all at once. Start by asking the AI for a broad outline:

Then, once you have the outline, feed each section back to the AI with more specific prompts:

This refinement approach breaks down complex content into manageable parts, much like we do whenever we're taking on large tasks. Breaking things down improves focus and coherence.

Using Examples and Tone Customization

AI responds well when you show it what you want. If you want a formal email, you can say:

Or adjust tone on the fly:

Providing samples or specifying tone steers AI to produce outputs aligned with your brand voice and audience. Give it that ugly first draft we're told to hide. In many cases, it can pick out the nuggets, build on that, and you have a better chance of coming up with a piece that fits better.

Iterative Refinement

Don't expect a perfect answer right away. Use AI-generated text as a draft, then improve your prompt based on what's missing or off.

For instance, if the first draft feels too generic, follow up with:

This back-and-forth tuning often yields richer, more personalized content than single-shot prompts. With practice, these techniques become natural tools in your creative process, empowering you to get the most from AI while staying fully in control of your message.

Headline Generation

Instead of struggling with catchy titles, try a prompt like:

This targets the audience and topic precisely, saving you brainstorming time. Sample outputs might range from "Green Your Routine: Sustainable Packaging Tips for Millennials" to "Why Eco-Friendly Packaging is the Future of Shopping."

Email Sequences

For nurturing new subscribers or customers, use prompts that add warmth and structure:

This could include an introductory welcome, an overview of best-sellers, and a special offer, all linked by consistent tone and messaging.

Social Media Copy

Quickly generate engaging posts with specific instructions:

The AI might create posts that mix quick tips, encouraging calls to action, and relatable anecdotes designed to increase clicks and shares.