Crafting AI Prompts That Deliver Results

How to Write Prompts That Actually Work

Stop Blaming ChatGPT—Start Asking Better Questions

Why This Article Matters

Most people don’t get the answers they want from ChatGPT.

But it’s usually not ChatGPT’s fault.

It’s the “prompt”.

What is a Prompt?

A “prompt” is the instruction or question you give to an AI.

Think of it like a request you type into a search bar—but smarter, deeper, and more flexible.

Good prompt = good answer. Bad prompt = confusion, general advice, or worse: nothing useful.

The Problem Most Users Face

People say: “I asked ChatGPT and it didn’t help.” But what they really did was:

• Typed something vague.
• Gave no context
• Expected a magic result

Example of a bad prompt:

Help me.

Example of a clear prompt:

“I’m writing an email to a customer about a late delivery.” Can you write a professional but friendly apology message?

Commanding ChatGPT vs. Prompting ChatGPT

There’s a difference.

A command is short and lacks detail:

“Write me a blog post.”

A prompt includes instructions, tone, structure, context:

“Write a 300-word blog post for small business owners about how to reduce email overload. Use a friendly tone. Include 3 tips.”

ChatGPT isn’t a mind reader. It follows patterns. It needs direction.

What Makes a Prompt Effective?

Here’s what to include:

• Context — What is this for? Who is it for?
• Objective — What do you want the AI to do exactly?
• Format — Bullet points? List? Script? Paragraphs?
• Tone — Casual? Professional? Excited? Calm?
• Length — Short answer? 100 words? 3 examples?

Real Example

Weak Prompt:

Explain marketing.

Strong Prompt:

Explain the basics of digital marketing in simple language for a beginner starting an online store. Keep it under 200 words and give 3 examples of tools they can use.

Which one will give you a useful, focused answer? Always the second one.

Use This Prompt Template

Here’s a fill-in-the-blank guide:

You are a [role or tone]. Your task is to [specific goal]. Give the answer in [format/length]. Here is what I need: [Your input, problem, or topic]

Sample:

You are a productivity coach. Your task is to suggest 5 practical habits to improve focus for remote workers. Give the answer in a bulleted list. Here is what I need: I keep getting distracted while working from home.

This kind of prompt gives you high-quality answers. Every time.

Why This Works

AI doesn’t think like a human. It doesn’t guess your intention. It looks for patterns in your words.

So your prompt becomes the entire instruction manual.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• One-liners with no detail
• Open-ended commands with no context
• Asking multiple unrelated things in one line
• Skipping tone or format requests
• Typing like you're texting a friend

Final Thought

The better you ask, the better it answers.

Before you say “ChatGPT didn’t help me,” ask yourself:

• Did I give it enough information?
• Did I guide it properly?
• Would a stranger understand what I’m asking?

If not, rewrite. Be specific. Be clear. Be direct.

And then? You’ll stop getting random results… and start getting results that feel made just for you.