Writing better AI prompts
The same AI delivers gold one minute, mediocrity the next — the difference is almost always the prompt. Here are the 7 basics that instantly get better answers out of ChatGPT, Claude & co. Beginner-friendly, no "magic" words.
The 7 basics
1. Give the AI a role
"You are an experienced tax advisor …" sets the answer to the right level. The role steers tone, depth and perspective.
2. Provide context & goal
For whom? Why? What happens next? "Write something about marketing" stays mediocre; "Write 3 subject lines for my newsletter to solo freelancers, goal: more opens" gets concrete.
3. State the format
List, table, 5 sentences, bullet points, JSON? If you don't specify the format, the AI guesses — usually wrong.
4. Give an example
A short example of the desired output works wonders. "Roughly like this: …" is the fastest shortcut to good results.
5. Set limits
What should NOT happen? "No emojis, no marketing speak, max 120 words." Limits are often more important than wishes.
6. Work in steps
Instead of all at once: outline first, then draft, then polish. You can steer at any point — prompting is a conversation, not a button press.
7. Check & improve
Don't like the answer? Say exactly what's missing ("too general, make it concrete with an example"). The second attempt is almost always better.
Prompt quality check
Tick what your prompt already includes. Runs in your browser, nothing is stored.
More checks = a more precise prompt = a better answer. Ready-made scaffolds: Prompt builder · Prompt improver.
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See premium — €69 lifetime → Try it free first →Common questions
How do I write a good AI prompt?
Give the AI a role, clear context, a concrete goal and the desired format. An example and clear limits help too. The more precise your instruction, the better the answer — prompting is a craft, not magic.
What's the most common prompting mistake?
Being too vague. "Write something about marketing" gives mediocrity. Instead say for whom, in what format, how long and with what goal. Context beats magic words.
Are there secret prompts that make everything better?
No. Anyone selling expensive "magic" prompt packs is mostly selling hype. The basics are public and free — the rest is trying and adjusting.
Related: Prompt builder · Prompt improver · Which AI for what?
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