ChatGPT Prompts for Business Users - Chapter 4
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Under the Hood: The Prompt Formula
Master the art of AI prompting with context-driven frameworks that deliver precise, valuable outputs every time
Why Most Prompts Fail
When it comes to prompting, not all prompts are created equally. Your AI assistant knows a lot of words and can predict the next combination of words based on your input, but if you don't set the scene for it properly, you will just get generic and vague outputs.
The Human Assistant Analogy: It's not that different from working with a human assistant. When you give someone context and more information about whatever it is they must do for you, it's likely that they'll do a better job than if they're left in the dark.
Say you have a personal assistant and you ask them to write an email, declining an invitation to an important event.
ā Vague Prompt
"Write an email declining an invitation."
ā
Context-Rich Prompt
"Write a polite email declining the invitation to the quarterly board meeting on March 15th. I was invited as the marketing director to present our Q1 results, but I'm declining due to a family emergency. The tone should be professional but warm, expressing regret and offering to reschedule."
The difference: While a human assistant can often pick up on facts from social cues and bits and pieces of conversation, an AI assistant may have to be told things a little more bluntly.
The Context-Rich Prompt Formula
Essential Elements Template
CONTEXT: [What's the situation/background?]
ROLE: [Who should the AI be? What expertise?]
TASK: [What exactly do you want done?]
AUDIENCE: [Who will see/use this output?]
TONE: [How should it sound?]
CONSTRAINTS: [Any limitations or requirements?]
OUTPUT FORMAT: [How should it be structured?]
Quick Context Checklist
Before hitting send, ask yourself:
ā¢ Who is my audience?
ā¢ What's the specific outcome I need?
ā¢ What tone/style is appropriate?
ā¢ Are there any constraints or requirements?
ā¢ What background info would help?
Put It Into Practice
Transform your AI interactions by implementing these context-driven strategies. Check off each step as you master the prompt formula:
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Identify your specific audience - Replace "write content" with "write for small business owners struggling with social media marketing"
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Define the desired tone - Be explicit about whether you need professional, casual, persuasive, educational, etc.
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Provide relevant background - Give context about the situation, your goals, and any constraints
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Specify output format - Do you need bullet points, paragraphs, a specific length, or particular structure?
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Test and refine - Use follow-up prompts to fine-tune the output until it matches your vision
šÆ Key Takeaway
Tell your AI assistant about the tone you need, the audience's interests, and anything else that's unique and specific to the task. You'll be amazed at how much more useful the output will be.
