Dr. Ayse Ozturk

The following list is not something I have written, but it is something I have been thinking of. There are just too many elements to think about when prompting on a chatbot. I wanted to list those items, so I asked ChatGPT and below is the list of items you can consider when prompting.

Although the list can seem overwhelming, I believe it is important to know what to say and how to say it when prompting. Like “tone” and “examples” are things I keep in mind. On the other hand, we are seeing that the newest AI models are so much improved already, that we may not really need to know the best way to prompt because these AI tools can figure out our purpose and fill in the gaps or guide us to prompt better by asking carification questions. That is why prompt engineering has evolved from being one of the hottest jobs on the market to something not much on demand these days. Yet, prompts still matter and here are the consideration elements when prompting:

Prompt Customization Essentials

1. Tone Guidance – Indicate the emotional flavor or mood (e.g., neutral, empathetic, assertive, warm).
   Example: “Keep the tone upbeat but professional.”
2. Style Direction – Define the stylistic approach (e.g., conversational, academic, narrative, persuasive).
   Example: “Use a casual, blog-like style suitable for social media.”
3. Format Preference – Specify the content layout (e.g., list, Q&A, mini-article, infographic-ready).
   Example: “Present this as a 5-point checklist.”
4. Structural Layout – Suggest organization elements (e.g., headings, subheadings, bullet points).
   Example: “Use bold subheadings and short paragraphs.”
5. Role Perspective – Assign a specific voice or role (e.g., advisor, customer, expert, critic).
   Example: “Respond as a product manager advising a junior team.”
6. Purpose Clarity – Define the content’s primary goal (e.g., educate, persuade, challenge, summarize).
   Example: “The purpose is to simplify this topic for first-time users.”
7. Audience Targeting – Describe the intended reader (e.g., CEOs, undergraduates, freelancers, non-tech users).
   Example: “Target this message to time-strapped startup founders.”
8. Context Briefing – Provide background or assumptions to guide accuracy.
   Example: “Assume the audience knows basic SaaS metrics but not LTV/CAC.”
9. Scope Definition – Set boundaries for content coverage (e.g., industry, region, timeframe).
   Example: “Focus on U.S. fintech trends from 2020 onward.”
10. Keyword Emphasis – List terms or concepts to highlight or include.
    Example: “Use ‘AI-powered’, ‘automated insights’, and ‘scalability’.”
11. Terminology Guidance – Specify terms to explain, use, or avoid.
    Example: “Avoid buzzwords and define terms like ‘retention rate’.”
12. Constraint Parameters – Impose limits (e.g., word count, format, tone).
    Example: “Keep it under 100 words, no acronyms, and easy to skim.”
13. Comparative Analysis – Ask for side-by-side evaluations or pros and cons.
    Example: “Compare the benefits of Slack vs. Microsoft Teams.”
14. Use of Examples – Include illustrative examples to clarify points.
    Example: “Explain it using a customer onboarding scenario.”
15. Case Study Inclusion – Add relevant real-world stories or brand examples.
    Example: “Reference a startup that grew using referral marketing.”
16. Data & Evidence Use – Support claims with facts, figures, or stats.
    Example: “Include data from a recent McKinsey report if relevant.”
17. Quote Integration – Include expert quotes or relevant citations.
    Example: “Add a quote from Satya Nadella on digital transformation.”
18. Storytelling Approach – Frame the message as a story with characters or conflict.
    Example: “Tell a short narrative about a failed product launch.”
19. Analogy or Metaphor Use – Use comparisons to explain complex topics.
    Example: “Explain cloud storage like renting space in a digital warehouse.”
20. Visual Element Suggestion – Suggest charts, graphics, or diagrams.
    Example: “Include a simple timeline of the customer journey stages.”
21. Call to Action (CTA) – End with a clear prompt or next step.
    Example: “Encourage readers to schedule a demo at the end.”
22. Cultural Relevance – Request region-specific idioms or local references.
    Example: “Use examples relevant to the Australian job market.”
23. Ethical Framing – Highlight fairness, inclusivity, or responsible messaging.
    Example: “Avoid gendered language and address privacy concerns respectfully.”
24. Editing & Modularity – Make it easy to reuse or adapt content.
    Example: “Write this as 3 short blurbs for potential newsletter use.”
25. Future Outlook – Explore future trends or predictions.
    Example: “What does the future of remote work look like by 2030?”
26. Historical Background – Provide brief history or evolution of the topic.
    Example: “Include a short history of email marketing practices.”
27. Hypothetical Exploration – Introduce “what if” scenarios or creative thinking.
    Example: “What if Amazon entered the healthcare space tomorrow?”
28. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Generate common questions and concise answers.
    Example: “Include a short FAQ section for new users.”
29. Problem-Solution Framing – Present issues followed by clear solutions.
    Example: “Start by identifying a common pain point and how to fix it.”
30. Strengths & Weaknesses Assessment – Provide a balanced view.
    Example: “List the strengths and potential drawbacks of using freemium pricing.”

Notes:

– The list was created using ChatGPT.