Word of the Day: Prompting
What it is: Prompting is simply the act of giving instructions to an AI. Your “prompt” is whatever you type into ChatGPT, Claude, or any other AI tool to get it to do something.
Why it matters: The quality of your prompt directly determines the quality of your output. A vague prompt gets a generic, unhelpful response. A specific, well-structured prompt gets exactly what you need, and often on the first try.
Think of it this way: Prompting is like giving directions. “Meet me downtown” might get someone to the right city, but “Meet me at the coffee shop on the corner of 5th and Main at 2pm” gets them to your table.
The good news? Prompting is a skill anyone can learn. And today’s newsletter is going to teach you exactly how to do it.
Skill of the Day: Writing the Perfect AI Prompt
A 5-Minute Guide Anyone Can Follow
Think of AI like a really smart new employee on their first day. They’re capable of amazing work, but they need clear instructions. The better your instructions, the better their output.
Here are 7 simple steps to get exactly what you want from AI.
Step 1: Give the AI a Role
What it means: Tell the AI WHO to be before you ask it to do anything.
Why it works: When you give AI a specific identity, it taps into knowledge and writing styles that match that role.
How to do it: Start with “You are a...” and pick someone who would naturally excel at your task.
Example:
Bad: “Write me some Instagram captions.”
Good: “You are a social media manager for trendy fashion brands who specializes in creating viral, engaging content.”
Step 2: Tell It Exactly What to Do
What it means: Be specific about the task. Use action words like “write,” “create,” “analyze,” or “explain.”
Why it works: Vague requests get vague answers. Specific requests get specific answers.
How to do it: Start with a verb. If the task is complex, break it into numbered steps.
Example:
Bad: “Help me with my resume.”
Good: “Rewrite my resume summary to highlight my leadership experience. Follow these steps:
Step 3: Add Your Requirements
What it means: Spell out the rules—length, tone, format, or anything else that matters.
Why it works: This prevents the AI from guessing what you want and getting it wrong.
How to do it: List out your must-haves. Think: How long? What style? What to include or avoid?
Example:
“Write a thank-you email to a job interviewer.
Step 4: Give Background Info
What it means: Share relevant context so the AI understands the bigger picture.
Why it works: The AI can’t read your mind. Context helps it tailor the response to your actual situation.
How to do it: Briefly explain who you are, who your audience is, or why this matters.
Example:
“I run a small bakery in a college town. Most of my customers are students aged 18-24 who care about sustainability and local businesses. I’m trying to increase weekday morning sales.”
Step 5: Show What You Want
What it means: Give 1-3 examples of the kind of output you’re looking for.
Why it works: Examples are worth a thousand words (or in this case “Tokens”). They show the AI exactly what “good” looks like to you.
How to do it: Provide a sample input and your ideal output. Even one example helps, but add five to 10 if possible.
Example:
“Turn boring product features into exciting benefits.
Example:
Now do the same for: ‘24-hour battery life’”
Step 6: Add Final Notes
What it means: Include last-minute reminders, warnings about common mistakes, or how to handle tricky situations.
Why it works: This catches edge cases and reinforces what’s most important.
How to do it: Add a “Notes” or “Remember” section at the end with quick reminders.
Example:
“Notes:
Step 7: Format It Clearly
What it means: Use headers, bullet points, and spacing so your prompt is easy to scan.
Why it works: Just like you’d get confused reading a wall of text, AI performs better with organized prompts.
How to do it:
Use a hashtag (#) before section titles to create headers
Use a dash (-) at the start of a line to create bullet points
Leave blank lines between sections so it’s not one big wall of text
Putting It All Together
Here’s what a complete prompt looks like using all 7 steps:
# RoleYou are a personal fitness coach who specializes in helping busy professionals stay healthy with minimal time investment.
# TaskCreate a 4-week workout plan that I can do in 20 minutes or less per day, 5 days a week, with no gym equipment.
# Requirements- Each workout should include warm-up, main exercises, and cool-down- Alternate between cardio and strength focus- Include rest days on weekends- Difficulty should increase slightly each week
# ContextI'm a 35-year-old who works from home, sits most of the day, and hasn't exercised regularly in 2 years. My goal is to build a consistent habit and increase my energy levels.
# Example Format**Week 1, Day 1 (Cardio Focus)**- Warm-up (3 min): Jumping jacks, arm circles- Main (15 min): [exercises with reps]- Cool-down (2 min): Stretching
# Notes- Assume I have zero coordination for dance-style workouts- If an exercise might strain lower backs, offer an alternative
The Quick Cheat Sheet
One Last Tip
You don’t need all 7 steps for every prompt. For simple questions, just ask. But when you’re not getting the results you want, come back to this list and add more structure.
The golden rule: If a smart stranger couldn’t complete your request perfectly with only your prompt to guide them, add more detail.
Now go write some killer prompts!
Coming Next: Claude Projects — The Secret Weapon That's Saving Business Owners Hours Every Week (Step-by-Step Setup Guide)
Thanks for reading. Have a tool or news story we should cover or need help implementing AI at your business? Just reply to this email…