? Prompts for AI — Getting Better Output by Asking Better Questions

byJDGresham

800 followers

4 months ago

Here is the post that was supposed to happen around 3 p.m. Sorry. RL got in the way. I will try to post the next one between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Get more from your AI by getting better at asking for it.

🤔 Ever asked ChatGPT something... and got a weird, robotic answer?

You’re not alone.

Maybe it went off-topic. Maybe it sounded like it was written by a bored intern. Or maybe it was just... wrong.

It’s not broken—it’s just doing exactly what you asked. The real problem? The prompt.

🧠 Why Prompts Matter More Than You Think

AI doesn’t read your mind. It responds to your instructions.
And the quality of your result? It’s tied directly to the quality of your input.

Think of it like giving directions to a stranger:
Vague = confusion. Clear = destination reached.

Compare these two:

• ❌ “Write a blog.”
• ✅ “Write a 500-word blog post for beginner bloggers about how to choose a profitable niche, with a friendly tone and 3 actionable steps.”

Same AI. Wildly different results.

🗂️ Prompt Formulas That Work

You don’t need to guess. Great prompts follow clear structures.

Here’s a universal formula:

[Do this] + [in this format] + [with this tone] + [for this audience]

Example:

“Create a 10-line poem + in haiku format + using a melancholic tone + written as if by an aging samurai reflecting on lost glory.”

You can also use frameworks:

• “Act as a [role] and help me [achieve outcome].”
• “Give me [X] ideas for [Y goal], sorted by difficulty.”
• “Summarize this text + at a 6th-grade reading level.”

🧱 3 Common Prompt Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)

1. Too Vague
2. • ❌ “Help me write better.”
   • ✅ “List 3 specific ways to improve sentence flow in my affiliate blog.”
2. No Defined Audience
3. • ❌ “Write a product review.”
   • ✅ “Write a review of this AI writing tool for busy bloggers with minimal tech skills.”
3. Missing Goal
4. • ❌ “Explain SEO.”
   • ✅ “Explain SEO basics so I can teach them in a 5-minute YouTube video.”

🔑 Build Your Own Prompt Library

Start saving prompts that work.

Here’s how:

• Create folders: Writing, Marketing, Affiliate Strategy, Idea Generation
• Use tags: tone, audience, format
• Bonus: Use Notion, Google Docs, or your WA Blog backend to store them

In WA, you can even start by turning solid prompts into blog templates, course outlines, or engagement posts.

🧘 Prompt Intentionally

Every time you talk to an AI, you’re setting a trajectory.

Treat it like a collaborator, not a vending machine. If you’re intentional, structured, and specific, the AI will meet you halfway—often more.

Bad input = bad output. But good prompts? They unlock everything.

💬 Let’s Hear From You

What’s the best (or worst) prompt you’ve ever used?

Drop it in the comments. Let’s share ideas—and laugh at a few AI flubs.

And if you’re ready to take it further, check out my next post:
👉 “Settings Protocol for ChatGPT+” — How to Align AI with Your Workflow, Memory, and Tone.