Mastering AI Prompts (plus a free template)
Though I never use AI to write my newsletter, my workflow has no doubt benefited from using this tech.
ChatGPT works best to generate ideas. Using AI to generate actual text or content for your marketing isn’t recommended, based on comments from a forty-year marketing veteran. “It’s just not there,” they say, and I agree. Using AI text outright can make your copy read as clunky and inhuman (no surprise there… it’s written by a robot).
(Keep reading for a free prompt template!)
Instead, consider these uses for ChatGPT you might not have thought of. You can implement these today:
Social media strategy: Use AI to generate ideas for posts. Ask it to give you the best times to post, how often to post, suggest hashtags, and analyze your strategy against your competitors.
Generate SEO keywords: AI can scour the internet and tell you what keywords are best for your business.
Blogging: Generate twelve months of blog post ideas, with relevant keywords and image suggestions, in one fell swoop.
How do I do this myself?
Every prompt should contain three key elements:
“I need you to act as a… for a…”
“I am going to give you…”
“Ask me any questions before you start.”
Here is a sample prompt based on this list:
I need you to act as a social media marketing expert for a screenwriter and author. I am going to give you a link to my website, and I need you to create the best social media posts using this content to help increase my engagement and grow followers for Instagram, Facebook, X, and Pinterest. For each category, give me 10 posts that have three relevant hashtags and include 3 ideas of what visual I should include with the posts. Before you start, ask me any questions.
Another example:
I need you to be an expert copywriter for an architect. I am going to give you a five-page whitepaper, and I need you to give me a one-paragraph synopsis of the text. Give me five options, and write them in the style of my industry. Before you start, ask me any questions you might have.
And another:
I need you to be an expert in SEO for a web design company. I am going to give you my website, along with five competitor websites, and I need you to study them all. Then tell me what SEO keywords my competitors rank best in. Then tell me what I can do to improve my website SEO, and how to best implement your suggestions. My website is nola-creative.com and my competitor websites are (here is where I would list my competitors). Before you start, ask me any questions you might have.
Use this fee template to generate your own prompts:
I need you to act as a [insert role for AI to play] for a [insert your industry or business]. I am going to give you [explain the source you will supply]. [Include the source.] [Add details about your desired output. The more specific you are, the better results you will get.] Finally, ask me any questions you have before you start.
Have fun experimenting with these prompts!
Here’s one final tip:
If you are worried about ChatGPT using your content to help others write content, you can turn this feature off with a paid plan. Look for Settings > Data Controls > Improve the model for everyone > OFF.
As always, Happy designing!
About Jon Hébert
I’m a former newspaper editor, radio DJ, art director, and rock n’ roll front man who ventured into graphic design as a hobby. After receiving my art and design degree from LSU, I worked at several marketing firms before opening Jon Hébert Creative in 2003. I’ve since helped hundreds of clients with their graphic design, digital strategy, storytelling, and more. I’m also a musician and writer.
Created without the use of AI.
