If you want the best results from generative AI tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney, there’s something you need to master — writing good AI prompts.

Prompt writing is a highly prized skill. Top performers can earn up to $375,000 per year.

The good news is — you don’t need a background in tech. Forrester expects 60% or more of professionals in various fields to be trained in prompt writing over the next couple of years.

Why not get a head start? 

This guide gives you the lowdown on writing good AI prompts. You’ll find out what prompts are, the different types, and how to optimize for the best possible results.

What is an AI Prompt?

Prompts are the instructions you give to an artificial intelligence tool to get it to produce something. 

For most tools, AI prompts are conversational questions or commands that you type or speak. For example, you might prompt an AI chatbot to “Give me an overview of the main EU economic policies since 2018”.

If you’re using an AI image generation tool, a prompt is written text that describes the image you want to see. You can also write prompts that give you code snippets or analyze datasets.

What are the Different Types of AI Prompts?

There are several types of AI prompts. Which one you use depends on what you want to achieve. 

• Creative: Create unique content such as text, images, audio, and videos, often stylized to meet specific instructions, e.g. “Write in the style of Charles Dickens.”
• Instructional: Offer guidance, such as customer service. An instructional prompt could be: “Explain the steps a customer needs to take to upgrade their account.”
• Informational: Gather and synthesize information, either from training data or uploaded resources such as PDF files. Use informational AI prompts to get summaries or insights.
• Listicle: Compile lists, from simple to more detailed and structured ones. For instance, ask the AI to generate a list of blog titles or theme ideas. 
• Interactive: Mimic real-life conversations, such as mock interviews or role-playing scenarios.
• Reasoning: Analyze information and draw conclusions. For example, use a prompt to identify a target market from sales data.
• Keyword: Point your AI tool in the right direction, whether pulling insights from data or creating images by using specific keywords. 

How Generative AI Works in Response to Prompts

Artificial intelligence systems use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML). The AI models are trained to understand the way humans speak and write. They also get smarter with time, as they learn from every interaction.

Some AI tools, especially commercial chatbots, have something called “intent recognition”. This helps them figure out what you’re really looking for, not just from the words you use, but also the sentiment and context.

Let's say you're using a customer service chatbot on a banking website. You type in, "I'm worried I made a mistake on my last transfer". A chatbot with intent recognition understands the underlying worry, responding in a way that reassures you while checking your transaction history and suggesting how to rectify any issues found.

What are the Benefits of Prompt Engineering? 

• Saves time: Instead of going back and forth with the AI trying to get it to understand what you want, a well-engineered prompt gets it right (or nearly right) the first time. 
• Streamlines complex tasks: Automate the more complex, yet tedious elements of your workflows with good prompts. For example, you can automate data processing or report generation. You can also prompt AI to break down complex tasks into smaller parts, making them easier to handle.  
• Improves accuracy: Better prompts get responses that are more aligned with your needs. This reduces frustration as you’re less likely to need follow-ups and corrections.
• Results in better outcomes: When you prompt AI well, you get more consistent results. This is important if you’re using it for customer-facing tasks like answering queries. 
• Boosts the user experience: Tailored prompts lead to more relevant AI responses, which improves user experience and satisfaction.

9 Effective AI Prompt Best Practices

1. Start simple

Begin with straightforward prompts that are clearly written. This helps you establish a baseline understanding with the AI and avoid overwhelming it. You can always build up from there with follow-up prompts.

Prompt examples:
"List the steps involved in making an omelet."
"Summarize the main plot of the novel '1984' by George Orwell."
"Describe the basic rules of soccer."

2. Be specific

Make sure you get relevant responses with specific requests that dial in the details. This helps the AI sift through the mountain of available options and provide more focused and useful output. 

Prompt example: 

Can you recommend a restaurant in Paris that offers vegetarian options, has outdoor seating, and is located within a 10-minute walk from the Louvre Museum? I'm looking for a place with a romantic atmosphere and good reviews.

3. Provide context

Set the tone by telling the AI who the information is for. Directing the AI carefully with context means you’ll get responses from a specific perspective.

Prompt example: 

Analyze the attached sales data from the past five years and current economic trends to identify which product categories will likely see increased demand, considering recent online shopping behavior shifts. Present your findings clearly for the marketing team.

4. Give examples

Giving the AI examples shows what you expect and provides a template to follow. Include examples of text, data layouts, or snippets of code. 

Prompt example: 

Create an ad for our eco-friendly T-shirts highlighting comfort, durability, and environmental benefits. Use a youthful, energetic tone for eco-conscious consumers in their 20s and 30s.

Example:

Headline: Wear the Change You Want to See

Body: Feel the difference with our EcoWear T-shirts — crafted for comfort, built to last, and designed for the planet. Every shirt is made from recycled fabrics, perfect for trendsetters who care about the future and fashion.

Call to Action: Grab your T-shirt today and make sustainability trendy!

Please ensure the ad embodies our brand's voice and targets the same customer demographic.

5. Say exactly what you do and don’t want

Don’t leave your prompts open to interpretation. Be really clear and tell the AI tool exactly what to deliver and what to avoid. 

Prompt example:

Act as if you are my running coach. Create a 12-week marathon training schedule. Do include a mix of long runs, interval training, and rest days. Don’t include any workouts that require gym equipment or any running on consecutive days.

6. Offer a frame of reference

Getting the AI chatbot to adopt a persona boosts relevance and precision. Giving the AI a role to play aligns its answers with a particular perspective or area of expertise. 

This is especially useful when you need to draw out domain-specific knowledge or use the right tone and terminology for the situation.

Prompt example: 

Imagine you are an experienced industrial engineer working in a manufacturing plant. Please create a detailed checklist for daily maintenance of the factory’s conveyor belt system. Include safety protocols, essential tools, and a step-by-step process for checking the belts, motors, and sensors. Ensure that new technicians can easily follow the instructions.

7. Mention the tone of voice and target audience 

If you want content that lands well with your target readers, you need to specify the tone and style. 

Prompt example: 

Write a blog post for expectant mothers about the benefits of prenatal yoga. The tone should be supportive, calming, and encouraging, as if speaking to a friend. Include practical tips on how to get started, what to expect in a typical class, and the physical and mental benefits of prenatal yoga. Ensure the language is accessible and reassuring, avoiding any medical jargon that might be confusing.

8. Break complex tasks into multiple easy prompts

Do you feel better when you’re given one big complex project to handle or several smaller, simpler tasks? AI is the same. Step-by-step instructions help the AI build up the kind of response you want.

Prompt example: 

Create a detailed outline for a white paper titled ‘Transforming Factories with Industry 4.0 Technologies’. The outline should include an introduction that defines Industry 4.0 and its relevance to modern manufacturing. Break the body into sections covering the following key areas:

- Smart Manufacturing: Discuss the integration of IoT, AI, and machine learning in factory operations.

- Predictive Maintenance: Explain how advanced analytics and sensors can predict equipment failures before they happen.

- Cyber-Physical Systems: Describe the interaction between physical production processes and digital technologies.

- Data-Driven Decision Making: Highlight the role of big data and real-time analytics in enhancing production efficiency.

- Challenges and Solutions: Identify common challenges in implementing Industry 4.0 technologies and propose potential solutions.

- Case Studies: Include examples of factories that have successfully adopted Industry 4.0 technologies and the benefits they’ve experienced.

Each section should have at least three subsections providing detailed information and insights. Conclude with a summary that outlines the future of Industry 4.0 in manufacturing.

9. Give feedback

Treat the AI like a teammate and give it feedback to improve the generated content. After a response, let the AI know what parts worked well and what could be better. If something’s off or incorrect, point it out so the AI can adjust and learn from it.

Prompt example: 

This is a great start, but can you make the tone a bit more casual and friendly? The structure is good, but let’s change a few phrases to make it sound less stiff and more conversational.

Different AI Prompt Examples & Templates by Use Case

Content writing prompts

A clear and detailed prompt helps guide the AI to produce high-quality, relevant written content. For instance, you can use ChatGPT to generate content for your brand for social media posts, blog posts, emails, etc.

• Opret et blogindlæg med titlen: '10 fede spil at spille med din hund.' For hvert spil, angiv 1) et kreativt og fængende navn, 2) et praktisk scenarie, hvor spillet kan spilles, og 3) en indsigtfuld forklaring på dets fordele for både hunden og ejeren. 
• Skriv en overbevisende e-mail rettet mod en potentiel kunde, der er interesseret i vores produktivitetssoftware. De tøver på grund af budgetmæssige bekymringer. Fremhæv softwareens værdi, tilbyd mulige finansieringsmuligheder, og fremhæv de langsigtede besparelser og produktivitetsfordele. Skriv i en venlig og empatisk tone.
• Skriv en produktbeskrivelse for vores EcoMax Isolerede Drikkeflaske. Fremhæv disse funktioner: dobbeltvægget vakuumisolation, bæredygtige materialer, 24-timers koldebeholdning, 12-timers varmebeholdning, og lækagefri design. Nævn fordele som at opretholde drikketemperaturen, miljøvenlighed og egnethed til udendørs og daglig brug. Brug en entusiastisk tone.

Dataanalyseopfordringer

Dataanalyse handler om at afdække mønstre og korrelationer, og AI kan hjælpe. Her er nogle eksempler på dataanalyseopfordringer designet til at hjælpe dig med at få indsigt fra dine data.

• Undersøg forholdet mellem vores online markedsføringsbudget og omsætningsvækst over det sidste kvartal. Identificer hvilke specifikke kampagner der gav det højeste ROI. Giv indsigt i, hvordan man optimerer fremtidige annonceudgifter for bedre ydeevne.
• Analyser engagementmetrics fra vores seneste Instagram-markedsføringskampagne. Opdel dataene efter type af indlæg (billede, video, karussel), tidspunkt på dagen og målgruppe demografi.
• Analyser webtrafikmønstrene på vores e-handelsplatform over det forløbne år. Identificer perioder med høj salg og korreler dem med markedsføringsaktiviteter, produktlanceringer og sæsonbestemte tendenser. 

AI kunstopfordringer

Brug AI-kunstgeneratorer til at skabe alt, hvad du ser i dit sind's øje. Gode AI-billede-genererende opfordringer handler om at bruge beskrivende sprog til at få det ønskede output.

• Tegn et livligt abstrakt digitalt billede af bylivet om natten. Brug neonlys, geometriske mønstre og dynamiske linjer til at give en følelse af energi og bevægelse.
• Tegn et olieportræt af en futuristisk rumutforsker med en slank, højteknologisk dragt, neonlygte og lysende gadgets. Sæt karakteren mod baggrunden af en fjern galakse, fyldt med farverige nebulas.
• Generer et roligt kystlandskab med blide bølger og sandstrande. Inkluder palmetræer i forgrunden. I baggrunden, tegn en solnedgang med livlige nuancer af orange og pink, der reflekterer over vandet.

Programmeringsopfordringer

Brug opfordringer, der hurtigt genererer kodeuddrag. Vær opmærksom på, at du skal kontrollere koden for fejl, da AI ikke altid gør det rigtigt, især for mere komplekse kodningsopgaver.

• Opret et Python-script, der sorterer en liste af elevkarakterer i faldende rækkefølge ved hjælp af quicksort-algoritmen.
• Udvikl en JavaScript-funktion, der verificerer, om en given sætning er et palindrom, idet der ignoreres mellemrum, tegnsætning og store bogstaver. 
• Design et regulært udtryksmønster for at validere URL'er, og sørg for, at de begynder med 'http://' eller 'https://' og inkluderer et domænenavn og valgfrie sti-parametre.

Kundeserviceopfordringer

Forbedr din kundeservice med gennemtænkte svar, genereret ved hjælp af den rigtige opfordring. 

• Opret detaljerede og personlige svar på kundehenvendelser om fordelene og anvendelserne af vores fitness tracking enhed. Sørg for, at hvert svar fremhæver nøglefunktioner som hjertefrekvensovervågning, GPS-tracking og søvnanalyse, og giv forslag til, hvordan disse funktioner kan forbedre deres fitnessrejse.
• Skriv et medfølende og beroligende svar til en kunde, der har oplevet en forsinket leverance af deres gaveordre. Undskyld for ulejligheden, forklar årsagen til forsinkelsen, og tilbyd en løsning såsom ekspreslevering eller en rabat på deres næste køb.
• Skriv en række af tre opfølgnings-e-mails til nye husejere, der for nylig har købt ejendomforsikring. Den første e-mail skal byde dem velkommen og give en oversigt over deres policys fordele. Den anden e-mail skal tilbyde tips til at opretholde sikkerheden i hjemmet og reducere risici. Den tredje e-mail skal udtrykke taknemmelighed for deres forretning og invitere dem til at give feedback om deres erfaring.

Over til dig!

Nu er det din tur til at skrive nogle AI-opfordringer, der gør dit liv lettere. 

Husk at holde ting enkelt, specifikt og kontekstdrevet for at få de bedste resultater. 

Hvis du leder efter en måde at samle din virksomheds viden og nemt søge i den — inklusive dokumenter, chats og apps — alt i en grænseflade, så prøv Guru GPT. Det gemmer virksomhedens indhold, både internt og eksternt, til fremtidig brug. Alt, hvad du skal gøre, er at skrive en samtaleopfordring for at få de oplysninger, du har brug for. 

Med Guru's AI-drevne værktøjer kan du centralisere virksomhedens oplysninger og få adgang til dem nemt. Tilmeld dig Guru i dag.

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