Unlocking AI’s Potential
The more inputs given, the more AI tools can create complete works for you.
The burning question: Can you unlock its potential?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the game fast. By now, you’ve (hopefully) read the articles on this topic in other issues of SI.1 (If not, see the footnotes 1A and 1B at the end of this article.) You tried a few services and could be disappointed with the results. Is it you? Is it the AI tool? It could be a combination of both.
In short, AI is still learning — and it isn’t perfect. The biggest mistake made with AI is taking it at its word. However, with just a few tweaks in learning how to speak to AI, the best results are just a well-written prompt away.
The Right Tool For The Job
First, be sure to use the right AI tool for the job. As seen in previous articles, there are hundreds of tool options. What tool to use depends on the desired outcomes: written vs. design vs. video vs. audio.
Yes, tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or Google’s Gemini can do “all the things,” but their strengths — and weaknesses — become apparent after use. Those three are likely the best all-around tools, and each comes with an app for on-the-go AI needs.
After picking the AI tool, choose the paid version instead of the free version. Why? Because of privacy issues. Most AI tools use the data provided to them to train the AI responses. (Review the privacy policies on the AI tool to learn more.)
Additionally, paid versions typically have more storage (to remember previous prompts and inputs given) and won’t cut off prompts — meaning, some AI tools get overwhelmed, and suddenly you’re booted out.
I have the Claude app installed on my phone and use Jasper on my desktop. Note: Don’t think using a paid version makes the responses to prompts “better.” (See below for an example.) Google calls these inaccuracies to questions “hallucinations” inside its Gemini product. It sometimes happens when the tool gives bad answers. The pro-level prompting tips below can fix some of that. Always double-check the answers.
5 Prompting Tips
Let’s get to it. Here are five pro-level prompting tips for using AI:
1. Be Specific: AI works best knowing it has a defined role.
Weak Prompt: “Make it better.”
Strong Prompt: “Rewrite this blog/email/social media post using powerful words, but keep to a 6th-grade reading level and add emotional appeal.”
2. Give AI A Role: AI likes to know who it is. Like the first tip, getting granular with AI is a good thing.
Weak Prompt: “Review my email.”
Strong Prompt: “You’re a busy business owner who likes direct emails with calls to action. Review this email for tone and impact.”
3. Think Strategically: AI is not basic, so don’t treat it as such. Its bounds are unknown, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. Some of the best prompts I’ve seen others use are “What am I missing?” or “Tell me something about this product no one else has said.” Truly, think outside the box when giving prompts to AI.
Weak Prompt: “Write a blog post.”
Strong Prompt: “Read this blog post I framed and give me two prompts about what I’m missing.”
4. Ask For Options: You don’t have to settle for one response. Again, be as specific as possible, and don’t take the first answer as the “be-all and end-all.” Ask AI to review again and take more time to review the options provided.
Weak Prompt: “Write a headline.”
Strong Prompt: “Take your time to create five headlines based upon this body of work; make two controversial, two witty and one emotional.”
5. Request Analysis: You can ask for insights in addition to answers. Use AI as a sounding board — be it an editor, creative director or producer. Make it think. Give it a role and ask it to analyze the data inputted. Some AI tools won’t take URLs, and some allow for attachments (again, paid versions typically will do both). The more (good) information provided, the better responses received.
Weak Prompt: “Is this social media post good?”
Strong: “Evaluate this with a lens of persuasion principles and give me three suggested improvements.”
An Experiment
Let’s experiment with AI. I provided this prompt: “You are writing an article for businesses that need beginner-level instruction on using AI tools. What am I missing in this guide?”
Next, I inputted the above five suggestions. Below is the response provided:
From AI: “Your guide is already packed with great tips, but here are a few additional ideas to make it even more comprehensive and beginner-friendly.”
6. Iterate & Refine: AI thrives on iteration. Don’t be afraid to refine your prompts or build on its responses.
Weak Prompt: “Write a product description.”
Strong Prompt: “Write a product description, then refine it to make it more concise and add a sense of urgency.”
7. Set The Tone & Style: AI can adapt to different tones, styles or audiences if you specify them.
Weak Prompt: “Write a blog post.”
Strong Prompt: “Write a blog post in a conversational tone, similar to how a lifestyle blogger would write, and make it engaging for millennials.”
8. Leverage Context: Provide as much context as possible to help AI understand the task better.
Weak Prompt: “Write a marketing email.”
Strong Prompt: “Write a marketing email for a new eco-friendly water bottle targeting environmentally conscious consumers. Include a discount offer and a call to action.”
9. Experiment With Constraints: Adding constraints can lead to more creative and focused outputs.
Weak Prompt: “Write a tagline.”
Strong Prompt: “Write a tagline for a luxury skincare brand in under six words.”
10. Use AI For Learning & Skill Development: AI can be a great teacher. Ask it to explain concepts or provide step-by-step guidance.
Weak: “Help me write better.”
Strong: “Teach me how to write a compelling introduction for a blog post and provide examples.”
(Note how it kept the same style I used in the previous five examples. But also, its answers weren’t much different than the ones already provided — except the last example of asking AI to be a teacher. That wasn’t covered before.)
A Potentially Costly “Hallucination”
Recently, I was using the paid version Claude’s iOS app to find potential influencers for a LASIK procedure. The influencers needed to be in the Midwest, and I refined them to be large influencers in the lifestyle and athletic space.
At first, it provided good examples of folks who it said wore glasses off-court or talked about wearing glasses/contacts while working out. But then it went rogue and gave me influencers that didn’t exist.
When I told it I couldn’t find one of the recommended influencers (“Michelle Fenelon”) and to give me her social media links, the response was amusing: “I apologize for the error in my earlier analyses. You are correct to question this — I now realize I made a mistake in including ‘Michelle Fenelon’/‘That Midwest Girl’ without being able to verify her existence or social media presence. This appears to be an error on my part where I may have conflated or fabricated information.”
This is an example of a “hallucination” mentioned before. It is good to know asking the AI tool again for evaluation is an option to allow it to admit its mistakes.
Had I taken it at face value and given the client this influencer who doesn’t exist, it would have been an egg-on-the-face moment for me.
Parting Thoughts
Overall, the more information and context provided to the AI tool, the better. This is also where using a paid version comes in handy, as it will learn your brand voice and style of writing. The more inputs given, the more AI tools can create complete works for you — from building blogs to books — all using your business voice and writing style.
The free versions can also produce this, but as a society, we’re learning what content is coming from AI and what is written (or designed) in an authentic, human voice. (Like this article!) As an example, many are dissing LinkedIn posts written in AI as being gibberish and lacking value.
Furthermore, LinkedIn’s algorithms tend to deprioritize AI-generated posts, which receive 30% less reach and 55% less engagement, as noted in this recent article.2 Yes, use AI, but always double-check the results. Don’t just “copy and paste,” but add your style to the blog, post or article.
Footnotes:
1A. shootingindustry.com/discover/how-ai-can-help-your-business
1B. shootingindustry.com/discover/the-year-of-technology
2. cybernews.com/ai-news/ai-posts-failing-linkedin
