How to AI Prompt Effectively
Generative AI is only as good as the instructions you give it. Enter AI prompts – the instructions that tell your AI what to do. A good prompt can save you hours of work. A messy prompt can get you useless answers at best and harmful ones at worst.
Here’s how to write an effective AI prompt:
What Is an AI Prompt and How Does It Work?
AI prompts act like instructions for your AI. You type in a prompt, the AI responds, and you build off each response like a conversation.
Prompts can be:
- A simple phrase
- A complex sentence
- Even a whole page of instructions
Think of your AI as a “machine you program with words.” The better your instructions, the better your output.
Example of a strong AI prompt:
“Write a 200-word email for a small business explaining why multi-factor authentication matters, in a friendly tone.”
There’s a lot going on in this one sentence: length, audience, topic, and tone. That’s what makes it a good prompt.
We’ll break that down shortly. But first…
Common Prompting Mistakes to Avoid
Here’s what not to do when prompting AI.
Example of a bad AI prompt:
“Write me an email about marketing.”
This is what we’d call a lazy prompt. It’s too vague, unfocused, and gives your AI far too much freedom to create…well, garbage.
Generative AI sources its responses from data – typically found on the internet. When you give unclear instructions, it fills in the blanks with whatever information is easiest to find, not the most accurate.
Common AI Prompting Mistakes
Here are some AI prompt mistakes for you to avoid:
Not descriptive enough:
Not enough detail will get you inaccurate and unpredictable responses.
Going too complex:
Jamming too many questions into one prompt can confuse the AI and result in unfocused responses.
Not understanding AI limitations:
Generative AI is not magic, and it’s far from all-knowing. Bad prompts lead to bad, and potentially harmful, outputs.
Entering confidential information:
Most AI tools aren’t private systems. Don’t enter any sensitive client or business data into an AI you aren’t okay with sharing publicly.
Remember, your AI will follow your instructions literally. If your instructions are unclear, you’re going to get messy results.
5 Common AI Prompts
There are plenty of AI prompts, but these five can get you started.
1. Zero-Shot Prompt
Simple instructions with no examples.
Ex: “List out five friendly dog breeds.”
2. Few-shot Prompt
Provide examples so the AI can match the requested style.
Ex: “Here are three slogans. Write me one in the same style.”
3. Instructional Prompt
Use verbs like “write,” “explain,” or “compare.”
Ex: “Explain how CRM systems operate in under 200 words.”
4. Role-Based Prompt:
Ask the AI to take on a specific role.
Ex: “You are a small business owner comparing two accounting software platforms for your company.”
5. Contextual Prompt:
Provide background or framing.
Ex: “This is a compliance regulation. Explain it to me in simple terms.”
There are many more types of prompts, but with these five, you can really start getting the best out of your AI.
Our 5 Top Tips for Writing Better AI Prompts
These are the most effective ways to improve your AI prompts immediately.
1. Assign a Role
Ask your AI to “act as” someone. This could be an IT consultant, customer support agent, or marketing manager.
2. Clarify the Format
Tell AI how you want the output:
- Bullet list
- Table
- Summary
- Step-by-step guide
3. Define Your Do’s and Don’ts
Tell AI what to avoid:
- “No jargon”
- “No sales language”
- “Don’t mention competitors”
4. Explain Your Audience and Tone
Who is reading this? Employees? Clients? Business owners?
What’s the tone? Friendly? Formal? Simple?
5. Build From There
Your first prompt is just the start. From here, refine it:
- “Make it shorter”
- “More casual”
- “Add an example”
The sky’s the limit. Don’t settle for the first result, keep refining until you’ve got exactly what you’re looking for.
The Limitations of AI
Prompts are powerful, but generative AI has some important limitations.
Incorrect results
AI can get facts wrong. Always verify important information before using it.
AI Hallucinations
Sometimes AI confidently makes things up. These are called “hallucinations.” Never assume your AI is right without checking.
Plagiarism risk
AI Content is inherently derivative. Always review, edit, and fact-check before publishing anything publicly.
Better Prompts = Better Results
Clarity is the name of the game. The clearer your AI prompts, the better your results.
Yes, it takes some trial and error, but when you use the tips from this guide, you’ll find your AI output improving faster than ever.
If you’d like help setting up AI tools for your business, that’s what we’re here for. At The 20 MSP, we’ve built a dedicated team focused on helping small businesses adopt AI safely and with confidence.
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About The 20 MSP
As a leading provider of managed IT services, The 20 MSP serves thousands of businesses nationwide, including single and multi-location organizations, delivering white-glove service, secure and streamlined IT infrastructure, and 24/7/365 support. We believe in building lasting relationships with clients founded on trust, communication, and the delivery of high-value services for a fair and predictable price. Our clients’ success is our success, and we are committed to helping each and every organization we serve leverage technology to secure a competitive advantage and achieve new growth.
