As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude become more accessible, it’s more important than ever to learn how to talk to them effectively. That’s where prompting comes in.
Whether you're trying to write better content, get help with coding, summarize documents, or brainstorm ideas, the quality of your prompt directly affects the quality of the response.
Let’s break down what prompting is and how to get better at it.
💬 What Is Prompting?
A prompt is the instruction or question you give to an AI. Think of it as your message to a very literal, but very helpful assistant.
You wouldn’t walk into a coffee shop and say, “Give me something.” You’d say, “I’ll take a medium iced caramel latte with oat milk.” AI needs the same clarity.
✍️ How to Write Better Prompts
Here are some proven tips that can transform how AI responds to your requests:
✅ 1. Be Clear and Specific
The vaguer your request, the more generic the response.
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❌ “Write about marketing.”
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✅ “Write a 300-word blog post about how small businesses can use email marketing to grow customer loyalty.”
✅ 2. Give the AI a Role or Voice
Framing the prompt as a character or expert helps the AI tune its tone and style.
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“You are a senior product manager. Write a short update for our app users about a new feature.”
✅ 3. Set Format or Length Constraints
Tell the AI how long, what tone, or even what kind of list or structure you want.
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“List 3 pros and cons of remote work, and summarize in less than 100 words.”
✅ 4. Iterate and Refine
Don't settle for the first answer. AI improves with feedback.
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“Now rewrite that in a casual tone.”
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“Can you turn that into a tweet?”
🔁 Common Prompt Patterns to Try
Here are reusable prompt templates:
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“Act as…”
“Act as a nutritionist. Plan a week of meals under 2,000 calories.” -
“Summarize…”
“Summarize this article in 3 bullet points.” -
“Rewrite in…”
“Rewrite in a more persuasive tone.” -
“Compare…”
“Compare ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot in a table with pros and cons.”
🧠 It’s a Learning Process
Prompting is a skill that improves over time. Don’t be afraid to play, tweak, and test things. Every prompt is a chance to learn what gets the best results.
🔗 Bonus Tools for Prompting
Here are some great resources to help you craft better prompts:
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🌟 PromptHero — Library of prompt ideas
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🚀 FlowGPT — Trending prompts and templates
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🧠 PromptPerfect — AI-assisted prompt optimizer
💡 Final Thoughts
In a world increasingly powered by AI, the ability to communicate clearly with these systems is a powerful skill.
From marketers to educators, developers to designers — learning to write better prompts means saving time, boosting quality, and unlocking creativity.
Want more like this?
🔗 Read the full blog archive at Think Like a Bot
Have your own prompt tricks or favorite use cases? Drop them in the comments!
