What Is Prompting?
Prompting is the art of writing instructions in a way that leaves no room for guesswork.
Ordering coffee illustrates this well:
“Coffee, please” → generic result.
“Medium cappuccino with soy milk, no sugar” → exactly what you want.
Prompting works the same. The more specific you are, the more useful the result.
Prompting is like feedback dialogue:
AI gives a first answer.
You evaluate it and consider improvements.
You refine your prompt.
You compare results and iterate.
Each revision brings you closer to the perfect result.
How to Write Prompts – Key Rules
Writing an effective prompt is about clarity and logic. Here are the most important rules:
1. Assign a Clear Role to the AI
Start with “You are…”
Example: “You are a sports nutritionist.” This helps the AI filter responses through the appropriate lens and use relevant terminology.
2. Provide Detailed Context
Who is the content for? What’s the goal? What’s the background?
Example: “I run a personal finance newsletter for first-year students. I need a text to encourage them to make their first investment.”
3. Define the Desired Format
Specify how you want the answer.
Example: “List five key points.” That will produce bullet points, not an essay.
4. Set Clear Constraints
Word limits, structure, tone—these prevent rambling and fluff.
Example: “Max 150 words, formal tone, no emojis.”
5. Show a Model Example
AI learns through mimicry. Provide examples of the style you want.
Example: “Match the tone and structure of this paragraph (paste example).”
6. Use Iterative Feedback
Refine the output using prompts like:
“Add two case studies”
“Remove repetitions”
“Use fewer adjectives”
Remember: prompting is a conversation, not a one-off command.
ChatGPT Prompts – Practical Examples
Here are 8 well-structured prompt examples:
1. SEO Copywriter Prompt
“You are an SEO copywriter. Write a 900-word article on solar panels in Poland in 2025, with H2 and H3 headings, expert yet easy tone, and keywords like ‘photovoltaic panels’, ‘installation cost’, and ‘ROI’. End with an FAQ section. Return the result in clean HTML. Here are example articles to model.”
2. Data Analyst Prompt
“You are a data analyst. Explain how to calculate the salary median in column C in Excel, highlight results below 5000 PLN in red, and provide a short VBA script to automate it. Present as a numbered guide.”
3. SaaS Sales Email Prompt
“You are a SaaS sales rep. Write a 200-word email to an HR director in a 200-person company, highlighting the benefits of an employee survey platform. Use a partnership tone, no jargon. End by offering two demo dates.”
4. TikTok Script Prompt
“You are a short-form content creator. Write a 45-second TikTok script about how to ask AI questions. Break it into: 5s hook, 35s content, 5s CTA. Use storytelling, 3 facts, and end with ‘What is a prompt?’ as the punchline.”
5. Personal Trainer Prompt
“You are a personal trainer. Create a 6-week, 3-day-per-week workout plan for a 40-year-old, 182 cm, 91 kg, aiming to lose 5 kg. Max 40 min/session, limited to 2×5 kg dumbbells and a stationary bike. Present as a table with days and reps.”
6. Python Code Prompt
“You are a Python mentor. Write a function that reads the ‘Price’ column from a CSV and returns the 5 most expensive products. Include a docstring and a pytest unit test.”
7. LinkedIn Content Strategy Prompt
“You are a content strategist. Suggest 10 LinkedIn posts for a marketing agency CEO. Each should include a 60-character title, 50-word summary, and a question-based CTA. Use keywords ‘ChatGPT prompts’ and ‘AI in marketing’. Return in Markdown table format.”
8. Scientific Summary Prompt
“You are a scientific editor. Summarize the article below (paste text) in max 300 words, including methodology and conclusions. Provide 3 future research questions.”
Each example follows the same structure:
Role – Task – Context – Constraints – Format – Example
Common Prompting Mistakes
Too vague
“Write something about marketing.” → Result: generic, shallow.
Fix: Be specific about audience, goal, and format.
No role or context
Without defining the AI’s “persona” and audience, responses lack direction.
Fix: Set role and target group in one line.
Conflicting instructions
“Be formal but casual.” → Confuses the model.
Fix: Choose one tone or split into separate prompts.
No limits or structure
Unrestricted prompts lead to long walls of text.
Fix: Add clear word count, bullet format, tone instructions.
No follow-up
Accepting the first answer is like settling for a draft.
Fix: Tweak: “Trim by 30%”, “Add Polish market example”, etc.
Final Checklist for Your Prompt:
Who is the AI (role)?
What’s the task?
Who is it for?
What tone/style?
What’s the scenario?
What should it mimic?
What format is expected?
If any of these is missing—revise.
Why Prompting Matters
When done right, prompting turns ChatGPT into a versatile productivity tool. And prompting itself becomes a key skill—not just a gimmick.
Refine your instructions, experiment, and focus on clarity. AI will reward you with faster, better, and more useful results.
Quick Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| prompt | A single instruction to AI |
| prompts | A collection of AI instructions |
| prompting | The act of crafting and refining prompts |
| prompt engineering | Systematic design of prompts for consistent results |
| language models | Algorithms that understand and generate human-like text |