I’m trying to improve my results with AI tools, but I’m not sure which prompts are most effective for different tasks. I’ve experimented a bit, but I feel like I’m missing out on better ways to structure my questions or requests. Could experienced users recommend some top AI prompts that have worked well for you?
Honestly, it all comes down to spelling out exactly what you want, like you’re giving directions to a clueless tourist. Vague stuff like “Write an article about dogs” will get you some random fluff. Instead, think hyper-specific: “Write a 250-word blog post about the top 3 benefits of owning a Labrador Retriever, aimed at families with young kids.” Way better results. For brainstorming, try “Give me 10 creative ideas for…,” and for organizing info, go with “Summarize the key points of…” Copywriting? “Act as a product marketing expert and draft a product description for my eco-friendly water bottle.” Always specify your audience/format/tone if you care about the output.
If you want better conversations, set the scene: “Pretend you’re a career coach. I’m stuck in a rut—what would you ask me first?” Need code? “Generate a Python function that…” Templates are your friend too, like “Create a 3-day meal plan for a vegetarian on a budget, including snacks.” And don’t sleep on follow-ups—if you don’t love the answer, just say what’s off and ask for tweaks. Basically, treat AI like a slightly distracted, super-literal intern who needs a lot of context. You’ll get the hang of it after a while, but don’t expect miracles without clear, meaty prompts. Also, don’t be afraid to make the thing roleplay as an expert if you want pro-level info—AI loves playing pretend.
Let me just say, agreeing to disagree here with @stellacadente on 1 big point: being ultra-specific isn’t always the golden ticket. Sometimes, if you’re too detailed, AI gets tunnel vision and can’t improvise or surprise you. I mean, yeah, targeted prompts are great if you know exactly what you want, but a little vagueness can actually spark way more creative or unexpected results. Example: For brainstorming, sometimes it’s worth saying “What are some fun twists on classic family board games?” and then refining after seeing what pops out. Otherwise, you get boxed-in ideas.
Another thing: templates are cool, but overusing the “expert” roleplay gets old real fast. Yes, “Act as an expert in X” gives you polished answers, but sometimes less roleplay and more direct Q&A saves time. Also, don’t sleep on context stacking—ask one thing, read the answer, then build your next question using what AI spit out. Super helpful for research or multi-step prompts.
If you’re hitting a wall, try mixing abstract and concrete in one prompt, like “List 5 unusual ways to use leftover rice, inspired by food bloggers and street vendors.” This opens the field without making it a free-for-all.
TL;DR: Ultra-specific’s not always better, let AI riff a bit, and keep nudging it in the direction you want. You’ll know you’re winning when you get results that’d never even cross your mind.