Prompt engineering is the art of asking better questions to get better answers from AI. Whether you’re working with ChatGPT, Midjourney, DALL·E, Claude, or any other generative tool, your results depend heavily on how you prompt. This guide breaks down the basics and gives you examples you can copy, tweak, and test.
What Is Prompt Engineering?
Prompt engineering is writing clear, structured input that tells an AI what you want it to do. It’s not magic—it’s instruction design. Think of it as giving directions to a very smart assistant who needs you to be specific.
Why It Matters
- Saves time and cuts down revisions
- Produces more relevant and useful outputs
- Makes AI tools more predictable and efficient
Poor prompts waste your time. Great prompts deliver fast, useful results.
Core Principles of Prompt Engineering
1. Be Clear
Avoid vague or broad instructions.
Bad: “Write something about marketing.”
Better: “Write a 100-word LinkedIn post about why consistency matters in content marketing.”
2. Add Context
Tell the AI who it’s writing for or what the scenario is.
Example: “You are a UX writer. Draft microcopy for a sign-up form.”
3. Use Constraints
Set limits to guide the output.
Example: “List 5 AI tools for video editing. Each in under 20 words.”
4. Break It Down
Give step-by-step instructions to control structure.
Example:
- Write a short hook.
- List 3 pros of using AI in resumes.
- End with a CTA.
5. Refine and Repeat
Don’t stop at the first output. Adjust tone, format, or clarity until it works.
Text Prompt Examples (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
Educational
- “Explain the blockchain to a 5th grader in 2 paragraphs.”
- “Summarize the French Revolution in 3 bullet points.”
Blog Content
- “Create a blog outline for ‘Top 10 AI Tools for Designers.’ Include H2s and bullet points.”
- “Write a 100-word intro about the benefits of using AI in small business operations.”
Social Media
- “Write a tweet under 280 characters about AI writing tools. Include a light joke.”
- “Draft a LinkedIn caption for a new blog post about prompt engineering. Use a professional tone.”
Job Descriptions
- “Write a job ad for a freelance video editor. Mention software required and remote flexibility.”
Image Prompt Examples (Midjourney, DALL·E)
Product or Object
- “Photorealistic image of a modern smartwatch on a wooden table, soft shadows, overhead angle.”
- “Flat vector illustration of a coffee mug with steam, pastel colors, minimal design.”
Scene or Style
- “Futuristic Tokyo street at night, neon signs, rain reflections, anime style, wide shot.”
- “Fantasy-style forest with glowing mushrooms, soft lighting, cinematic composition.”
Book Covers or Graphics
- “Minimalist poetry book cover with a single feather on a white background, serif font.”
- “Sci-fi novel cover featuring a space station orbiting Earth, deep colors, bold title text.”
Audio & Voice Prompt Examples
Podcast Intro
- “Write a 30-second podcast intro for a tech trends show. Confident, energetic tone.”
Ad Voiceover
- “Create a 15-second script for a YouTube ad about an AI-powered note-taking app. End with a call to action.”
Technical Prompt Examples
Code
- “Write a Python script that converts Fahrenheit to Celsius. Include comments.”
Data Analysis
- “Explain how to calculate churn rate in SaaS with a simple formula and example.”
SQL
- “Generate SQL to find all customers who made purchases in the last 30 days.”
Marketing Prompt Examples
Subject Lines
- “Write 10 email subject lines for a product launch. Keep each under 50 characters.”
Ad Copy
- “Write Google ad copy (headline + 2-line description) for a task management tool. Focus on time-saving.”
Creative Prompts
Idea Generation
- “List 10 YouTube video ideas combining travel and generative AI.”
Recipes
- “I have eggs, spinach, and feta. Suggest 3 quick dinner recipes under 30 minutes.”
Final Tips
- Think like the output: Want a list? Ask for a list. Want a script? Ask for a script.
- Be specific about format, tone, and length.
- Save your best prompts and re-use them.
Prompt engineering isn’t complicated. It’s just clear thinking turned into clear instructions.