AI Prompt Templates That Actually Work
I’ve written thousands of prompts. These are the ones I reuse constantly.
Copy, customize, get better results.
The Framework
Every good prompt has:
- Role (optional): Who the AI should be
- Task: What you need done
- Context: Background information
- Format: How you want the output
- Constraints: Length, tone, what to avoid
Now let’s see this in action.
Writing Prompts
Professional Email
Write a professional email.
Context: [Describe the situation]
Recipient: [Their role/relationship to you]
Purpose: [What you want to achieve]
Tone: [Professional/friendly/formal/casual]
Keep it under [X] words. Include a clear call to action.
Example filled in:
Write a professional email.
Context: Following up on a sales meeting last week where the client seemed interested but hasn't responded
Recipient: Marketing director at a mid-size company
Purpose: Get them to schedule a second call
Tone: Professional but warm, not pushy
Keep it under 150 words. Include a clear call to action.
Blog Post Outline
Create a detailed outline for a blog post.
Topic: [Your topic]
Target audience: [Who will read this]
Goal: [What should readers learn/do after reading]
Length: Approximately [X] words final article
Include:
- Compelling headline options (3)
- Introduction hook
- 5-7 main sections with subpoints
- Conclusion with CTA
Focus on practical, actionable advice over theory.
Social Media Post
Write a [platform] post about [topic].
Goal: [Engagement/education/promotion]
Audience: [Describe them]
Tone: [Conversational/professional/humorous]
Requirements:
- Hook readers in the first line
- Keep it under [X] characters
- End with [question/CTA/statement]
- [Include/exclude] hashtags
Avoid: Buzzwords, emojis (unless specified), corporate speak.
Business Prompts
Meeting Summary
Summarize this meeting transcript.
[Paste transcript]
Create a summary with:
1. Key decisions made (bullet points)
2. Action items with owners and deadlines
3. Open questions that need follow-up
4. Next steps
Keep the summary under 300 words. Use clear, direct language.
Competitive Analysis
Analyze [competitor name] based on this information:
[Paste information about competitor]
Provide:
1. Their key strengths (3-5)
2. Their key weaknesses (3-5)
3. How they position themselves
4. Opportunities they're missing
5. Threats they pose to us
Be specific and actionable, not generic.
Job Description
Write a job description for: [Role title]
Company context: [Brief company description]
Team: [Who they'll work with]
Level: [Entry/mid/senior]
Include:
- Compelling opening paragraph
- 5-7 key responsibilities
- Required qualifications (5-7)
- Nice-to-have qualifications (3-5)
- What we offer
Tone: [Professional/startup casual/formal]
Avoid: Clichés like "rockstar" or "ninja"
Creative Prompts
Product Description
Write a product description for:
Product: [Name and what it is]
Key benefits: [List 3-5 main benefits]
Target customer: [Who buys this]
Price point: [Budget/mid-range/premium]
Differentiator: [What makes it unique]
Format: [Short paragraph/bullet points/both]
Length: [X] words
Tone: [Luxurious/practical/fun/professional]
Focus on benefits over features. Make the reader want it.
Headlines/Titles
Generate 10 headline options for:
Topic: [Your topic]
Type: [Blog post/email subject/ad/social post]
Goal: [Clicks/opens/engagement]
Mix of styles:
- 3 curiosity-driven
- 3 benefit-focused
- 2 number-based (lists)
- 2 question-based
Avoid clickbait. Make promises the content can keep.
Story/Narrative
Write a short story or narrative.
Purpose: [Illustrate a point/engage readers/brand storytelling]
Central message: [What should readers take away]
Characters: [Describe key characters if relevant]
Setting: [Where/when]
Length: [X] words
Style: [Conversational/literary/simple/dramatic]
Point of view: [First person/third person]
Technical Prompts
Code Explanation
Explain this code:
[Paste code]
Explain:
1. What it does overall (2-3 sentences)
2. Step-by-step breakdown of key parts
3. Why it's written this way
4. Potential issues or improvements
Audience: [Beginner/intermediate/advanced]
Code Generation
Write [language] code to:
[Describe what you need]
Requirements:
- [Specific requirement 1]
- [Specific requirement 2]
- Handle edge cases: [list any]
Include:
- Comments explaining key sections
- Error handling
- Example usage
Style: [Clean/performant/simple]
Documentation
Write documentation for:
[Paste code or describe feature]
Include:
1. Brief description (what it does)
2. Parameters/inputs explained
3. Return value/output
4. Usage example
5. Common errors and solutions
Audience: [Developers using this/end users/both]
Analysis Prompts
Text Analysis
Analyze this text:
[Paste text]
Provide:
1. Main argument or thesis
2. Key supporting points
3. Logical strengths
4. Logical weaknesses
5. Potential biases
Be critical but fair. Cite specific passages when relevant.
Decision Analysis
Help me decide between these options:
Option A: [Describe]
Option B: [Describe]
Option C (if applicable): [Describe]
My context:
- Goal: [What I'm trying to achieve]
- Constraints: [Budget/time/resources]
- Priorities: [What matters most]
For each option, provide:
- Pros (3-5)
- Cons (3-5)
- Best for: [When this option makes sense]
End with a recommendation based on my priorities.
Data Interpretation
Interpret this data:
[Paste data or describe dataset]
Questions:
1. What are the key trends?
2. What anomalies stand out?
3. What conclusions can we draw?
4. What additional data would help?
5. What actions should we consider?
Present findings clearly. Acknowledge limitations.
Meta Prompts
Improve This Prompt
Improve this prompt for better results:
[Paste your prompt]
Make it:
- More specific
- Better structured
- Clearer about desired output
Explain why each change helps.
Learn My Style
Analyze my writing style from these examples:
[Paste 3-5 examples of your writing]
Identify:
- Sentence structure patterns
- Vocabulary preferences
- Tone characteristics
- Unique quirks
Then write a paragraph in my style about: [topic]
Tips for Using Templates
Customize Every Time
Templates are starting points. Always adjust:
- Specific context
- Actual requirements
- Real constraints
Iterate
First output rarely perfect. Follow up:
- “Make it shorter”
- “More casual tone”
- “Add more examples”
- “Focus more on [X]”
Save What Works
When a prompt works well:
- Save it exactly
- Note what made it work
- Reuse for similar tasks
Version for Different AIs
Slight adjustments help:
- Claude: Add more context, handles nuance well
- ChatGPT: Be very specific about format
- Others: Test and adjust
Start Using These
Pick one template. Use it today for real work. Adjust based on results.
Better prompts = better outputs = less time editing AI responses.
The investment in good prompts pays off every time you use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good prompts are specific about the task, include context, specify format and length, and describe the desired tone. Vague prompts get vague results.
Mostly yes. Both respond well to clear, specific instructions. Claude sometimes handles nuance better, ChatGPT sometimes follows format better. The templates here work for both.
Start with templates, then customize. Templates give you structure that works. Customize the details for your specific needs.
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