Prompt Engineering Guide
Master the art of crafting prompts that generate exceptional content with AI.
The Five Elements of a Great Prompt
Every effective prompt contains:
- Context - Background and setting
- Task - What you want created
- Audience - Who will read/view it
- Tone - How it should sound
- Requirements - Specific constraints
Quick Formula: ACTOR
Audience - Who is this for? Context - What's the situation? Task - What needs to be created? Output - What format/style? Requirements - What must be included?
Example
A: Young professionals interested in productivity
C: Monday motivation post for the start of the work week
T: Create an inspiring Instagram caption
O: Conversational tone with 3 actionable tips
R: Include 5 relevant emojis and end with a questionPlatform Templates
Instagram Feed
Create an Instagram post about [topic] for [audience].
Include:
- Attention-grabbing first line
- 3-4 key points
- Call-to-action
- 10-15 hashtags
- 3-5 emojis
Keep it 125-150 words.TikTok Script
Write a 30-second TikTok script about [topic]:
- Hook (0-3 sec): [attention grabber]
- Problem (3-10 sec): [relatable issue]
- Solution (10-25 sec): [your answer]
- CTA (25-30 sec): [action step]Facebook Post
Write a Facebook post about [topic] that encourages comments:
- Start with a question or poll
- Share brief insight (2-3 sentences)
- Include personal element
- End with discussion prompt
- Keep under 100 wordsPractical Examples
Product Launch
Create an Instagram post announcing our new eco-friendly water bottle.
Highlight: BPA-free, 24-hour temperature retention, 3 colors.
Audience: Health-conscious millennials who value sustainability.
Tone: Excited but informative, use nature emojis.
Include: Benefits, discount code HYDRATE20, shop link.Educational Content
Write a LinkedIn post sharing 3 productivity tips for remote workers.
Professional tone, actionable advice, 150 words.
Include a personal example and end with a question.Brand Story
Create a Facebook post about our founder's journey.
Focus on perseverance and community support.
Personal and authentic tone, 150-200 words.
Include throwback photo suggestion.Advanced Techniques
Role-Based Prompting
Assign AI a specific role:
You are a social media manager for a luxury fashion brand.
Create a product announcement that maintains exclusivity
while generating excitement. Use sophisticated language.Constraint-Based Prompting
Set specific limitations:
Write a LinkedIn post about remote work:
- Exactly 150 words
- No jargon
- Include 1 statistic
- 3 bullet points
- Professional tone
- End with a questionExample-Driven Prompts
Provide style references:
Create a caption similar to these:
"Monday mood: Powered by coffee and ambition ☕️💪"
"Turning dreams into plans, one goal at a time 📝✨"
Topic: Friday motivation
Keep the short, punchy style with 2 emojis.Brand Voice Guidelines
Defining Your Voice
Brand Voice: Friendly professional
- Conversational but knowledgeable
- Use "you" and "we"
- Avoid corporate jargon
- Include relevant industry terms
- Balance warmth with expertiseVoice Examples
Casual & Fun:
Write like a friend giving advice over coffee.
Use contractions, humor, and pop culture references.Professional & Authoritative:
Write like an industry expert presenting at a conference.
Use data, cite sources, maintain formal tone.Inspirational:
Write like a life coach encouraging their client.
Use powerful action words and positive language.Common Mistakes to Avoid
Too Vague
❌ "Write something about marketing" ✅ "Create a LinkedIn post about 3 digital marketing trends for B2B SaaS companies in 2024"
Missing Context
❌ "Make it engaging" ✅ "Make it engaging for Gen Z using memes and trending references"
No Structure
❌ "Tell people about our product" ✅ "Introduce our product with: problem it solves, 3 features, testimonial, offer"
Quick Templates
Product Launch
Announce [product name] launch:
- Problem it solves
- 3 unique features
- Launch offer: [discount/bonus]
- Urgency element
- Link to shopEducational Post
Teach [audience] about [topic]:
- Start with common misconception
- Provide 3-5 actionable tips
- Include real example
- End with challengeEngagement Post
Create discussion about [topic]:
- Thought-provoking statement
- Your perspective (2-3 sentences)
- Ask for opinions
- Include poll optionBest Practices Checklist
Before submitting a prompt:
- Clear objective defined
- Target audience specified
- Platform requirements included
- Tone/voice described
- Length requirements stated
- CTA included