The 8-step prompt strategy
A prompt is more of a conversation than a specific request. Even trusted media prompts may need to be altered. Those new to using prompts often give up in frustration before getting the desired result. A quick way to know if you have delivered all the information is to use Who, What, Where and How, instead of “Who, What, Where and When.”
To break this down, Who (and to whom), What (be specific and ask for help), Where (as in Where to find it, i.e., a URL), and How (tone and example). Here is how it works:
WHO
1. Tell AI who to behave like
Many experts start their prompts with “As a …”
* As a CEO, draft a company memo on…
* As a manager, draft “how to” instructions for using our CMS.
*As an editor, draft a weekly email using URLs from …
2. Identify a target audience
AI may also know to whom the content is addressed, whether a customer or an employee.
WHAT
3. Identify the type of content and specify everything required in the format with specific instructions
Is this an essay, white paper, social post, summary, or letter? What is the length? AI does best with more, very specific instructions.
Examples:
* …include a catchy opening sentence, five bullet points, and a closing sentence in 300 words or less.
* …Write a letter from the publisher about this month’s topics from January 30 to February 30, using the information in nichepublisher.biz/feed. Give a brief opening paragraph to state the argument, three paragraphs of explanation, and a summary. Include quotes and sources from the articles from the last month in the same RSS feed (Url/feed).
4. Ask AI to tell you what to say in the prompt
This is a neat trick that can save a lot of frustration.
Example:
* Tell me what words to use in the prompt to create an audio script for a radio show, and remove any unspoken directions from the script.
WHERE
5. Specify an RSS feed (url/feed) or Url
To avoid most hallucinations and copyright issues, use Chat GPT 4, which has a link reader, and give AI a URL that sources your own content. Minimally ask AI to include the source and link back to it.
The RSS feed includes publication dates so AI can pull from a specific date range.
Example:
Create a paragraph summarizing articles that mention Cats or Dogs from Jan 3, 2023, to February 3, 2023, at NichePublisher.biz/feed.
HOW
6. Specific the style and tone
Academic language differs from a news article or an informal email aimed to sound authentic, so include the tone.
Examples
*…use “formal language”
* …use a casual conversational tone
* …use a first-person voice and instructions in a second-person voice.
*… write a humorous, catchy hook in the first sentence
*…use a headline that includes a pun
7. Say what AI should not include
This is one of the most essential and overlooked parts of prompt strategy. Most people pick up on what AI includes that is inappropriate for the requirement during the query, but it saves time to anticipate uneeded or unwanted elements in a response..
Examples:
* …write a radio script for a story on an article at this URL, but omit unspoken instructions.
8. Give AI an example to use
Giving an example avoids the need to deconstruct a complex set of requirements and specify each one by one.
Examples:
*….write a weekly newsletter, and copy this exact format with the same headers and content.
* ….Look at this spreadsheet and generate a summary similar to this example.
Have a tip for us? Send it in to alisa@nichmediainsider.com Happy prompting!