When you use AI language tools, you can generate large amounts of content within seconds. But writers and editors who know how to write well-crafted prompts or briefs enjoy infinitely more refined results from AI.
Knowing how to formulate a prompt can mean the difference between cookie cutter outcomes and consistently valuable raw material for your content development.
Your prompts may begin with a keyword, a phrase, or a long paragraph. Whether you aim to create a single email or the next great novel, keep a few things in mind:
Using natural language programming, humans program AI tools to sound like humans. But the quality of output depends ultimately on your human sense and ingenuity for prompt formulation and editing output.
You can write endless formulas in a more open-ended tool, such as Open AI’s ChatGPT. Other tools, such as Jasper, are designed with built-in functions and templates to produce more specific types of content, such as marketing or business items.
The more general your prompt or command, the more general the results. Likewise, the more specific you are, the more specific the output is. The work of crafting and fine-tuning prompts is an indispensable skill called prompt crafting, prompt engineering, or promptology.
Through the practice of prompting, you can create article templates, improve gaps in documents, conduct research, brainstorm, optimize or analyze data, and write and rewrite innumerable projects.
Before you begin, get as clear as possible on your goal, whether you’re revising an existing blog, planning an email campaign, or even devising the perfect prompt. Consider the purpose of your content – whether to inform, entertain, or persuade.
As with any brief, include crucial parameters, such as word count, audience profile, format, tone, and writing styles. Here are a few pointers:
For instance, suppose you want to write a blog on the advantages of quality web content for independent realtors. You might write a prompt that says:
Write a blog on the advantages of quality web content for independent realtors.
However, your result will probably be quite generic. A better prompt to start with would be:
Write a 400-word blog post exploring the advantages of quality web content for independent realtors in Savannah, Georgia, and the surrounding areas. Keep the tone friendly and upscale for high-end buyers and sellers. Include one headline and at least two subheadings to break up the content for readers. Include the keyword “independent realtors.” Also, share examples of effective web content strategies, such as relevant keywords and client reviews, and how they can boost traffic to the site.
A more detailed prompt results in more thorough content that you can continue to refine. Expect your prompt engineering to be a process of testing and refining until you’re happy with the results. Be aware that the AI tool may be limited by its own data, depending on your needs or goals.
Think of AI generated content as rough drafts to be revised or edited with a human touch. You may need to simplify or rephrase prompts. With each iteration, you can discover or ask for new descriptors. For instance, you could introduce a negative prompt for what you don’t want to see:
Please rewrite the above blog, but this time, include content aimed at sellers only, not buyers.
Remember, you’re responsible for ensuring accuracy and originality. Always fact check and question output, no matter how confident the AI tool sounds. And remember, AI tools cannot claim values of truth, human insight, or common sense. Ultimately, you can turn your final prompt into a template to use over and over.
Tools such as quickref.me offer cheat sheets with quick prompts for tools like ChatGPT. As you practice, you should soon discover new ways to produce every kind of content with AI’s enormous power.
Content creators enjoy myriad advantages of various functions and capabilities across AI tools – from exploring ideas and building web content to performing translations and conducting research.
Open AI’s ChatGPT is a powerful playground for any format, ranging from innovative chatbots to deep research. At the same time, newer iterations offer menus for streamlining projects. The AI will even tell you when it’s made a mistake or will question your premises.
Tools such as Jasper are modeled after ChatGPT but are more specifically focused on generating content for marketing or business. Jasper provides dozens of templates and documents to help you write faster, with a focus on SEO. Tools such as Copymatic are geared more toward social media and content copy.
As natural language programs evolve and multiply, you’ll benefit by staying up to date with multiple sources. But by keeping quality content as your first priority, most tools can help you differentiate your brand, provide value with helpful content, and offer new perspectives or innovative stories.
Need help making your AI-generated content briefs polished and ready for use? Have a look at Proofed’s proofreading and editing services for AI-generated content and reach out to our team to find out how we can serve your content needs.
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