2025 October 04 Archive - EXEIdeas – Let's Your Mind Rock

Let me paint you a picture that might feel a little too familiar.You’re staring at that blank AI chat interface, feeling that mix of excitement and frustration. You’ve heard all the hype about how AI can write your blog posts, create your marketing copy, even help with customer service. So you type in what seems like a perfectly reasonable request:“Write a blog post about gardening.”What comes back is… well, it’s words. Technically correct, soul-crushingly generic words that sound like they were written by a committee of bored robots. The content is surface-level, the tone is flat, and it’s about as exciting as watching paint dry.Sound familiar? I’ve been there too. In fact, I spent months getting mediocre results from AI tools before I had my “aha” moment.Here’s the truth nobody tells you when you first start using AI: The AI isn’t the problem—your prompts are.After countless hours of experimentation, documentation, and yes, plenty of failures, I discovered that crafting effective prompts is both an art and a science. And the good news? It’s a skill anyone can learn.Why Your Generic Prompts Are Failing YouThink of AI as the world’s most talented intern—one that can access nearly all of human knowledge, but has absolutely zero context about what you actually want unless you tell them specifically.When you say “write a blog post about gardening,” you’re essentially telling that intern: “Do that thing you do.” The AI has to make dozens of assumptions:What kind of gardening? Vegetable? Flower? Container?Who is the audience? Beginners? Experts?What’s the goal? Education? Inspiration? Sales?What tone should it use? Academic? Conversational?How long should it be? 500 words? 2,000 words?Every time the AI has to make an assumption, it defaults to the most generic, middle-of-the-road option. That’s why you get content that feels like it was written for nobody in particular.The secret I eventually discovered? Specificity is everything. The more precise your instructions, the better the output. It seems obvious in retrospect, but it took me months to internalize this truth.The Four Pillars Of Powerful PromptingThrough my experimentation, I’ve identified four key elements that transform weak prompts into powerhouse instructions. I call them the “Four Pillars of Powerful Prompting”—and yes, I’m ridiculously proud of that name.Pillar 1: Context Is King (And Queen, And The Entire Royal Court)Context is the single most important element most people leave out of their prompts. You might think you’re being clear, but without context, the AI is essentially working blindfolded.Let me show you the difference context makes:Weak Prompt: “Write product descriptions for our new line of shoes.”Strong Prompt: “You are a copywriter for a sustainable fashion brand targeting environmentally-conscious millennials. Our new line of shoes uses recycled materials and has a minimalist design aesthetic. Write product descriptions that emphasize both style and sustainability, using a tone that’s aspirational but authentic. The audience values transparency about materials and manufacturing processes.”See the difference? In the second version, the AI understands:Who it’s pretending to be (a copywriter for a specific brand)Who the audience is (environmentally-conscious millennials)What’s important to that audience (sustainability, transparency)The desired tone (aspirational but authentic)This single shift—from generic instruction to contextualized request—will improve your results more than any other technique.Pillar 2: Specificity Beats Creativity Every TimeMany people try to be “creative” with their prompts when what they really need is to be specific. You don’t need poetic language—you need precise instructions.Here’s a framework I use to ensure specificity in every prompt:Role: Who should the AI act as? (Expert botanist, friendly neighbor, industry analyst)Task: What exactly should it do? (Write, summarize, compare, brainstorm)Format: How should the output be structured? (Bullet points, paragraph, table, email)Tone: What voice should it use? (Professional, conversational, enthusiastic, authoritative)Length: How long should the response be? (Word count, paragraph count, character limit)Audience: Who is this for? (Beginners, experts, customers, colleagues)When you include these elements, you’re not leaving anything to chance. The AI knows exactly what you want and how you want it delivered.Pillar 3: Examples Are Your Secret WeaponI can’t overstate this enough: showing beats telling when it comes to AI prompting. If you want the AI to write in a particular style, give it examples of that style.Early in my AI journey, I struggled to get the right tone for my blog. I’d say things like “write in a conversational but professional tone,” and the results were always hit or miss. Then I tried something different—I included examples of my existing writing that had the tone I wanted.The transformation was immediate and dramatic. The AI wasn’t just guessing at what “conversational but professional” meant—it was analyzing my actual writing style and replicating it.Here’s how I structure prompts with examples:Weak: “Write a catchy headline for a blog post about morning routines.”Strong: “Write 5 catchy headlines for a blog post about morning routines. Here are examples of headlines I like: ‘The 5-Minute Habit That Transformed My Mornings,’ ‘Why Your Morning Routine Is Making You Unproductive,’ ‘From Night Owl to Morning Person: My Unconventional Journey.’ Create headlines with a similar style—specific, benefit-focused, and slightly provocative.”By providing examples, you’re giving the AI a style guide to work from. It’s like showing a painter a reference photo instead of just describing what you want painted.Pillar 4: Iteration Is Not Failure—It’s The ProcessHere’s something that might surprise you: my best AI outputs rarely come from a single perfect prompt. They come from a conversation with the AI.Think of your first prompt as a starting point, not the final instruction. The real magic happens when you start refining based on the initial output.My typical workflow looks like this:Prompt 1: Give a detailed initial prompt with context, specificity, and examplesReview: Read the output and identify what’s working and what’s missingRefine: Ask for specific adjustments (“Make it more conversational,” “Add more data points,” “Shorten the introduction”)Polish: Request final tweaks (“Fix any awkward phrasing,” “Check for consistency in tone”)This iterative approach takes a little longer, but the quality improvement is massive. You’re essentially collaborating with the AI rather than just giving it orders.Real-World Prompt Examples That Actually WorkEnough theory—let me show you some actual prompts I use in my blogging workflow, along with why they work.Blog Post Outline PromptThe Prompt:“Act as an expert content strategist specializing in SEO. Create a detailed outline for a blog post titled ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening.’ The target audience is urban dwellers with limited space who are new to gardening. The post should be comprehensive but approachable.Include:– A compelling introduction that addresses the reader’s pain points (limited space, beginner anxiety)– 5-7 main sections with 3-5 subsections each– Practical tips and actionable advice in each section– A conclusion that inspires confidence and provides next steps– Suggestions for relevant internal links to existing contentFormat the outline with clear headings and bullet points. Use a friendly, encouraging tone throughout.”Why This Works: This prompt provides clear role definition, audience context, structural requirements, and tone guidance. The AI knows exactly what to deliver and how to format it.Email Newsletter PromptThe Prompt:“You are writing a weekly newsletter for subscribers of ‘The Urban Gardener’ blog. This week’s edition should summarize our recent blog post about container gardening and encourage readers to try it themselves.Here are key points to include:– The benefits of container gardening for small spaces– 3 easiest vegetables to start with– A link to the full blog post– A call-to-action asking readers to reply with their gardening questionsUse a casual, friendly tone as if writing to a friend. Include some personal enthusiasm about gardening. Keep it under 300 words. Here’s an example of our previous newsletter tone: [paste example here]”Why This Works: This prompt establishes the format (newsletter), includes specific content requirements, sets word count limits, and provides tone examples for consistency.Advanced Techniques For Power UsersOnce you’ve mastered the basics, there are some advanced techniques that can take your prompting to the next level.The Persona Stacking MethodThis is one of my favorite techniques for complex tasks. Instead of asking the AI to be one expert, ask it to be multiple experts having a conversation.For example: “Act as three experts: an SEO specialist, a professional writer, and a gardening expert. Collaborate to create an outline for a comprehensive guide to indoor herb gardening that ranks well on Google, is beautifully written, and contains accurate gardening advice.”The AI will often generate more nuanced and comprehensive content when it’s “thinking” from multiple perspectives.The Constraints TechniqueSometimes, what you don’t want is as important as what you do want. I often include constraints in my prompts to avoid common issues.For example: “Write a product description for our new gardening tool. Do not use marketing clichés like ‘revolutionary’ or ‘game-changing.’ Avoid technical jargon that beginners wouldn’t understand. Focus on practical benefits rather than features.”By explicitly stating what to avoid, you steer the AI away from generic or inappropriate content.The Step-by-Step DecompositionFor complex tasks, break them down into steps and have the AI tackle them one at a time. This prevents the AI from getting overwhelmed and producing superficial content.For example, instead of “Write a comprehensive guide to composting,” try:“First, outline the main benefits of composting for urban dwellers”“Now, explain three different composting methods suitable for small spaces”“Next, provide a troubleshooting guide for common composting problems”“Finally, create a checklist for getting started with composting”This approach often yields more detailed and useful content than a single broad request.Common Prompting Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my prompting journey. Here are the most common ones I see—and how you can avoid them.Mistake 1: The Kitchen Sink PromptThis is when you throw every possible instruction at the AI in one massive prompt. The result is often confused, contradictory, or missing key elements.Solution: Break complex tasks into smaller, focused prompts. Use the iterative approach I mentioned earlier.Mistake 2: The Vague Compliment Prompt“You’re an amazing writer with extensive knowledge of gardening. Please write something brilliant about plants.” This might make you feel better, but it doesn’t help the AI.Solution: Replace flattery with specific instructions. The AI doesn’t have an ego—it needs direction, not compliments.Mistake 3: The Assumption PromptThis is when you assume the AI knows things about your specific context that it couldn’t possibly know.Solution: Always ask yourself: “If I gave this prompt to a new intern, would they have enough context to do this well?” If not, add more background information.Mistake 4: The One-and-Done PromptExpecting perfect results from a single prompt is like expecting a perfect painting from a single brushstroke.Solution: Embrace iteration. Plan to refine and adjust based on the initial output.Putting It All Together: My Prompting WorkflowBy now, you might be feeling overwhelmed with all these techniques. Let me simplify things by sharing my actual prompting workflow that I use for blog content creation.Step 1: Context SettingI start every AI session by establishing context, even if I’ve used the AI before. I’ll say something like: “We’re working on content for ‘The Urban Gardener’ blog, which helps beginners grow food in small spaces. Our tone is friendly, encouraging, and practical.”Step 2: Specific RequestI then make my specific request using the framework I shared earlier (role, task, format, tone, length, audience).Step 3: Example ProvisionIf I have examples of the style I want, I include them. If not, I might ask the AI to generate some options first: “Give me three tone examples for this article, and I’ll tell you which one to use.”Step 4: Initial ReviewI read the output looking for what’s working and what’s missing. I’m not editing yet—just assessing.Step 5: RefinementI ask for specific improvements: “The introduction is too technical—make it more beginner-friendly.” Or “Add more practical examples in section three.”Step 6: PolishFinally, I ask for polishing touches: “Check for consistent tone throughout” or “Make sure all advice is actionable for complete beginners.”This workflow might seem involved, but it becomes second nature with practice. And the time investment is worth it for the quality improvement.The biggest shift in my AI journey wasn’t learning fancy techniques—it was changing my mindset from ‘giving commands’ to ‘having a conversation.’ When I started treating AI as a collaborative partner rather than a magic content machine, everything changed.Your Prompting Action PlanReady to transform your AI results? Here’s a simple action plan to get you started:Audit your current prompts: Look at your recent AI interactions. Where were you too vague? What assumptions did you make?Practice the four pillars: Take one prompt you’ve used recently and rewrite it with better context, more specificity, relevant examples, and plan for iteration.Create prompt templates: Develop reusable prompt structures for your most common tasks (blog outlines, email newsletters, social media posts).Embrace experimentation: Try one new prompting technique each week. Take notes on what works and what doesn’t.Share and learn: Join communities where people share successful prompts. Learning from others accelerated my progress dramatically.Remember, prompt engineering is a skill that develops over time. Be patient with yourself as you learn. Even small improvements in your prompting will lead to significantly better AI outputs.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)How long should a good AI prompt be?A good prompt should be as long as necessary to provide adequate context and specificity. While there’s no strict word count, most effective prompts I write are between 100-300 words. The key isn’t length itself but ensuring you’ve included all necessary context, specific instructions, and examples when helpful.Should I use different prompting techniques for different AI tools?While the fundamental principles of good prompting apply across AI tools, some platforms have specific features or limitations that might affect your approach. I recommend starting with the universal techniques I’ve shared here, then adjusting based on the particular AI tool you’re using and its documentation.How many iterations should I expect to do with the AI?For most content tasks, I typically do 2-4 iterations. The first prompt generates the initial content, the second refines major issues, the third handles smaller adjustments, and a final polish ensures consistency. Complex tasks might require more rounds, while simple ones might need fewer.What’s the most common mistake beginners make with AI prompts?Without a doubt, the most common mistake is being too vague. Beginners often underestimate how much context the AI needs and overestimate what it can infer. Remember: if you wouldn’t give that instruction to a new human assistant and expect good results, don’t expect it from AI either.Can I use AI for technical or specialized content?Yes, but with important caveats. AI can help with technical content when you provide sufficient context and specific terminology, and when you have the expertise to verify the accuracy. I use AI for technical topics, but I always fact-check thoroughly and never rely on it for critical safety or medical information.How do I get the AI to write in my specific voice?The most effective method is to provide writing samples in your voice and explicitly point out what characterizes your style. Say things like “Notice how I use short sentences for emphasis” or “See how I include personal anecdotes in technical explanations.” The more examples you provide, the better the AI can mimic your voice.What should I do when the AI keeps giving me the same type of generic response?When you’re stuck in a generic response loop, try changing your approach dramatically. Use the persona technique, add constraints like “avoid clichés,” or ask for the opposite of what you’ve been getting. Sometimes starting a new conversation entirely can help break the pattern.Is it better to write one long detailed prompt or several shorter ones?For complex tasks, I’ve found that several focused prompts work better than one massive one. Break down your request into logical steps: outline first, then sections, then polish. This gives you more control and often produces better-organized content.How can I use AI prompts to improve my existing content?AI is excellent for content improvement tasks. Try prompts like “Rewrite this paragraph to be more engaging for beginners” or “Suggest ways to make this introduction more compelling” or “Identify areas where this article could use more examples.” I frequently use AI to refresh older blog posts with great results.What’s the best way to learn prompt engineering?The absolute best way is practice with intentional experimentation. Set aside time to try different prompting techniques, keep notes on what works, and learn from others. Many successful prompt engineers share their approaches in online communities and through resources about SEO-friendly content creation that can provide additional insights.I hope this guide helps you transform your AI interactions from frustrating to fantastic. Remember, every expert was once a beginner who kept practicing. What prompting technique will you try first?Happy prompting!