Let’s say you open ChatGPT and type:

“Tell me about dogs.”

What you get back is… fine. Some facts, a breed or two, probably the word “loyal” thrown in there.

But if you ask:

“Can you give me five fun facts about golden retrievers written in a friendly tone, like I’m talking to a kid?”

Now we’re talking.

That’s the difference prompting makes.

🤔 So What Is Prompting, Exactly?

Prompting is the fancy word for how you talk to an AI tool. It’s the question, command, or instruction you type in. The clearer your prompt, the better the output.

Think of it like ordering at a restaurant. If you just say, “Food,” you’ll get… something.

But if you say, “I’d like a grilled cheese with extra cheddar on sourdough, hold the onions,” you’re going to get exactly what you want.

Same with AI. The more specific and thoughtful you are, the more helpful it becomes.

🎯 Good Prompting = Better Results

Here are a few ways to get better answers out of AI — without needing a tech degree.

🧠 1. Add Context

Don’t just say:
“Write a welcome email.”

Do say:
“Write a warm, friendly welcome email for new subscribers to our parenting newsletter. Keep it under 200 words, and make it feel personal.”

Why? AI works best when it knows who it’s talking to — and what you’re trying to do.

🎨 2. Set the Tone

Want it casual, professional, quirky, or poetic? Say so.

Try this:
“Explain how AI works like I’m five.”
or
“Rewrite this paragraph to sound like a TED Talk speaker.”

You’re the director — the AI is just your script assistant. And, seriously, try to have some fun with this. If you wanna sound like Snoop, Shakespeare, or Seinfeld then just tell AI that.

🔍 3. Use Examples

You can even give AI a sample to mimic.

Like:
“Here’s how I usually write my emails. Can you match this tone?”
or:
“Summarize this article like you’re writing a text to a friend.”

📝 4. Ask It to Try Again

Didn’t like the first answer? No problem. Just type:

“Try that again, but make it more concise.”
or
“Can you make this sound more confident, more business-like, more casual… you are the director?”

AI doesn’t take it personally. (Yet.) Well, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t. Yet oddly I feel compelled to be polite to AI — but enough about my hang ups.

🛠️ Prompting Tips You Can Steal

• “Explain [topic] like I’m [age] or [background]”
  e.g., “Explain blockchain like I’m a 9th grader.”
• “Give me [number] ideas for [task] in a [tone] tone”
  e.g., “Give me 5 blog title ideas for a real estate agent, upbeat tone.”
• “Summarize this in [X] words”
  e.g., “Summarize this article in 100 words.”
• “Act like a [role] and help me [task]”
  e.g., “Act like a resume coach and improve this summary.”

🤯 Why This Actually Matters

The better you prompt, the more useful AI becomes. This will become super clear the more you use AI.

Whether you’re a teacher writing lesson plans, a small business owner making social posts, a parent organizing a fundraiser, or a student doing research — great prompting saves time, energy, and frustration.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to treat AI like a collaborator, not a mind reader.

👀 Coming Up Next:

• AI at Work: Making Your 9-to-5 Easier
• Top Prompting Mistakes: (And How to Avoid Them)
• The Beginner’s Guide to AI Ethics: (Without the Headache)

✅ Ready to Try Prompting?

• Explore our Other Blogs!
• Purchase Getting Started With AI
• Or just ask ChatGPT: “What can I use you for today?”