How to Write Better Prompts: 5 Real-World Tips for Business Leaders Using AI

Want better results from AI? Stop guessing and start prompting with purpose.

Most people open ChatGPT and type something generic like:

“Write a blog post on marketing trends.”

Then they’re disappointed when it sounds like a middle school book report.

Here’s the thing: Prompting is a skill. And it matters more than the tool you’re using.

After writing thousands of prompts, here are the exact techniques I use to turn AI into a strategic asset inside my agency (and in my day-to-day work).

1. Assign a role: “Act as…”

This one tip will change everything.

When you tell AI who it is, you give it direction.

• Instead of: “Write a caption”
• Try: “Act as a social media strategist writing for a B2B manufacturing company”

You just moved from generic to gold.

2. Give it context like a teammate, not a robot

AI is smart, but it is not a mind reader. If you want a relevant response, provide the situation.

• Tell it your audience
• Share your goals
• Explain what you’ve already tried
• Mention your tone or brand style

The more you feed it, the more useful it becomes. Garbage in, garbage out.

3. Be specific about the format you want

This is a big one. If you want a carousel, outline, Slack message, caption, or script — say so.

Also tell it what to avoid. I say “no em dashes” a lot.

Give it fences, and it’ll color inside the lines.

4. Iterate. Edit. Refine. Repeat.

AI is not magic. It is a creative collaborator.

I rarely use the first answer. I poke, prod, and ask for edits:

• “Now make it shorter”
• “Give me three versions”
• “Make it more like me”
• “Now write it in a way my clients would say it”

The magic is in the back-and-forth.

5. Talk to it like it’s human

You don’t need to be formal.

I write like I talk: “Let’s try this again.” “You got this.” “We’re getting closer.”

And you know what? It works better when I do.

Tone matters. Direction matters.

AI meets you at your level of clarity.

If you are a marketer, business owner, or leader trying to make AI work with your workflow, these prompts are your competitive advantage.

What’s one prompt you’ve used that actually worked better than you expected?

If you’re experimenting with these tools or want to dig deeper into AI workflows for your team, let’s connect. I’m always up for a conversation around smart strategy and tech that drives results.