Prompting
How to write better AI prompts
The gap between mediocre and great AI output is almost never the model — it's the prompt. This is the structure that consistently produces usable work.
The RCFC framework
Role, Context, Format, Constraints. Four lines, in order, before your actual task. It looks bureaucratic. It works because it removes ambiguity the model would otherwise invent.
Show, don't just tell
One example outperforms a paragraph of instructions. Paste a piece of work you love, label it "good", and ask the model to produce more like it.
- Voice samples for tone
- Past outputs for structure
- Competitor work for benchmarks
- Bad examples labeled 'avoid'
Constrain aggressively
Word count, banned phrases, required sections, reading level. Constraints don't limit creativity — they remove the noise so the creativity has somewhere to go.
Iterate, don't restart
If output is 70% there, don't rewrite the prompt. Reply with: "Keep everything. Change section 2 to ___." This is how professionals work — incrementally, not from zero.
Recommended workflow
Tools used in this workflow
Frequently asked questions
What's the single biggest prompt mistake?
Asking for output without describing the audience. 'Write a blog post about marketing' is a coin flip. 'Write a blog post for a series-A SaaS founder' is a brief.
How long should a good prompt be?
As long as it needs to be. Production prompts are often 200–400 words because they include role, audience, context, format, examples, and constraints.
Should I use few-shot examples?
Yes — one or two examples beat ten adjectives. If you have a piece you love, paste it and say 'match this.'
Why do my prompts work once and then drift?
You're relying on chat memory. Save the prompt as a template with fixed variables, then reuse it deliberately.
Does prompt order matter?
Yes. Role first, then context, then task, then format, then constraints, then examples. Models attend more to early and late tokens — put the task in both places if it matters.
Continue reading
Recommended stack for this workflow
Tools we'd reach for next — value first, never a popup.
Claude Pro
Long-context reasoning and analysis when the workflow gets dense.
Copy.ai
Workflow-based AI writing built around GTM teams.
Jasper
Brand-aware long-form drafting when one output isn't enough.
Some links on this page are partner recommendations. If you sign up we may earn a small commission — at no cost to you. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.