Write Clear and Specific Prompts

One of the most common mistakes in prompt engineering is being too vague. AI models work best when they understand exactly what you want.

The Problem with Vague Prompts

Vague prompt:

Write about marketing

Problems:

• Too broad - could be about any aspect of marketing
• No specific format or length specified
• No target audience defined
• No particular focus or angle

The Power of Specificity

Specific prompt:

Write a 500-word blog post about email marketing best practices 
for small business owners who are just starting with email campaigns. 
Include 3 actionable tips they can implement immediately.

Why this works:

• Clear format (blog post)
• Specific length (500 words)
• Defined audience (small business owners)
• Clear scope (email marketing best practices)
• Specific deliverable (3 actionable tips)

Quick Specificity Checklist

Before sending your prompt, ask yourself:

• What format do I want? (email, blog post, list, summary, etc.)
• How long should it be? (word count, number of points, etc.)
• Who is the audience? (beginners, experts, specific profession, etc.)
• What tone should it have? (professional, casual, friendly, etc.)
• What specific outcome do I need? (persuade, inform, entertain, etc.)

Examples of Adding Specificity

Before and After

Before: "Help me with my presentation"
After: "Create an outline for a 10-minute presentation about renewable energy benefits for a high school science class, including 3 main points and suggested visuals"

Before: "Write a social media post"
After: "Write a LinkedIn post (150 words max) announcing our company's new sustainability initiative, targeting B2B decision-makers with a professional but enthusiastic tone"

Before: "Explain this concept"
After: "Explain machine learning in simple terms for a 12-year-old, using everyday analogies and avoiding technical jargon"

Pro Tip: Use Constraints

Constraints actually help AI models perform better. Don't be afraid to be specific about:

• Word limits
• Format requirements
• Style preferences
• What to include or exclude
• Target audience characteristics

The more specific you are, the more likely you'll get exactly what you need on the first try.