If like me you have been using AI in your daily workflow but always felt that you could get more out of it by improving the way you frame your problem, this guide is for you. We are going to cover the best practices for writing emails, creating blog articles, websites and much more.
Who Can Do What?
By understanding the strengths and limitations of these tools, you can leverage AI to improve your marketing strategies and streamline your workflow.
How to craft an efficient prompt
1. Define Your Task with Crystal Clarity
Think of crafting an AI prompt like giving a detailed task to an intern who don’t know anything about your company. The more specific you are, the better the result. Your task should be:
- Clearly defined
- Complete with output format requirements
Pro Tip: Instead of saying "Write an email," try "Write a professional follow-up email to a potential client, highlighting our recent project success and next steps."
Here are some examples of tasks you can perform:
- Emailing
- Brainstorming
- Building tables
- Summarizing documents
- Categorizing
2. Add a persona
You want the AI to act as if it was a person so that the output sounds more natural. To do so, you can give it a persona. For example:
- “Act as a Brand Manager”
- “Act as an Email Copywriter”
- “Act as an HR Manager”
- “Act as a Digital Marketing Strategist specializing in eCommerce”
3. Provide Rich Context
Context is the difference between a generic response and a tailored masterpiece. Don't just state what you want – explain the entire landscape. For instance:
- Team dynamics
- Current project status
- Communication preferences
- Specific challenges
Example: Rather than "Write about our project," say "Write a project update email for our 12-person software development team, addressing a two-week delay caused by unexpected third-party API changes, while maintaining team morale."
4. Include Relevant References
Want truly exceptional output? Provide examples. Screenshots, previous successful outputs, or detailed descriptions can guide the AI to exactly what you're looking for.
5. Provide an output format
You might want the output to be a table or an email or a csv file so that you can import it in Google Ads editor. Be precise and specify the output format. Here are some examples:
- Organize that data into a table
- Write a product description in HTML format with separate sections for features, specifications, and benefits
- Output the data as json
- Quantitative Requirements
- Word/character counts: "Provide a 500-word blog post"
- Section lengths: "Include 3 paragraphs per section"
- Time estimates: "Create a 30-minute presentation outline"
- Structural Requirements
- Headers and subheaders: "Use H2 for main sections, H3 for subsections"
- Formatting: "Include bold text for key terms and italic for examples"
- Lists and tables: "Present data in a 3-column table with sortable headers"
- Style Guidelines
- Tone: "Write in a conversational but professional tone"
- Language level: "Use conversational language"
- Technical depth: "Explain concepts assuming no prior technical knowledge"
6. Evaluate Critically
Don’t take the output at face value. Remember that you are working with a tool that behaves as if it were an intern who freshly started your business. Always double-check that the work done is what you expect. Take it as a draft and rework it until you are satisfied with the output.
After receiving the AI-generated content:
- Check for factual accuracy
- Verify the tone matches your requirements
- Ensure it meets all specified guidelines
7. Iterate and Refine
Prompting is an art, not a one-shot deal. Don't expect perfection on the first try. Analyze the output, provide feedback, and refine your prompt.
Example of a well-structured prompt:
Persona
Context
Task
I'm a marketer working for an eCommerce marketing agency. Our client is planning the launch of a new haircurler that dries hair in no time. The primary audience is young female adults. The product is reaching the end stages of development, and I need help creating a timeline before it goes live. Provide a rough timeline for the year leading up to its launch. Also, provide some pre-launch ideas to help generate buzz around the product.
Avoiding Common AI Pitfalls
Beware of Hallucinations
AI can sometimes generate impressive-sounding but completely fictional content. Always fact-check the output against reliable sources.
Recognize Potential Biases
Remember, AI models are trained on human-generated content. They might inadvertently reflect certain biases. Stay vigilant and review content with a critical eye.
Best Practices to Level Up Your Prompting Game
- Break complex prompts into shorter, more digestible sentences
- Introduce clear constraints (word count, target audience, tone)
- Be specific about formatting requirements
- Use clear, conversational language
- Provide step-by-step guidance when complexity increases
Practical Prompt Structure Template
Persona : [Specific Role]
Context: [Detailed Background]
Task: [Precise Instruction]
Output Format: [Specific Requirements]
Constraints: [Length, style, target audience]
Ready to get the most out of Generative AI? Start refining your prompts today and watch your marketing content soar!