The Secret Recipe for Perfect ChatGPT Prompts Revealed

Think you know how to prompt AI? Here’s the framework that’ll level up your results.

Author

Aaron Wu
November 29, 2024

In partnership with

Imagine Gordon Ramsay asking you to make pizza and you serve him pineapple-on-toast instead.

Boy, I can imagine the look of disapproval on his face.

That's what happens when your prompts with ChatGPT (or any AI) aren't quite hitting the mark.

But here's the good news… crafting a prompt isn't rocket science, it’s more like following a recipe for your favorite dessert.

Get the ingredients and steps right, and you'll have a masterpiece.

In today's Byte Bits, we're diving into the art of prompting.

Whether you're chatting with ChatGPT, collaborating with Claude, or exploring Perplexity, these tips will help you turn AI tools into reliable creative partners.

TL;DR

  • Prompts = Clear directions for AI to shine

  • Why they matter: Better results, less time wasted, fewer headaches

  • Your new best friend: The ACE Framework (Action, Context, Extras)

Estimated reading time: 6 - 7 minutes.

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MAIN STORY QUEST

Stop Half-Baked AI Prompts

Just like baking requires the right ingredients in the right proportions, every AI tool—whether it's ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini—needs well-structured instructions to deliver its best work.

Think about it… you wouldn’t toss random ingredients into a bowl, stick it in the oven, and expect a perfectly baked cake.

Prompts, like recipes, work best when they’re clear, precise, and follow a logical order.

The good news? Modern AI tools have evolved.

For simple tasks like "What's the weather today?" you don’t need to overthink your instructions.

While AI tools can now handle casual queries like a pro, structured prompts unlock their full potential… especially for creative or complex tasks.

This is where the magic of prompts comes in.

Let’s look at why they matter.

Why Prompts Matter

A well-crafted prompt is like giving clear directions to someone who genuinely wants to help.

Here are 4 reasons why it matters.

  1. Accuracy & Relevance: Get what you need, not what you kind of-sort of asked for.

  2. Time Savings: No more "Thanks, but that's not quite what I meant" moments.

  3. Cost Efficiency: If you're using paid AI tools, better prompts = fewer tokens wasted.

  4. Satisfaction: Less frustration, more creating.

The ACE Framework

Here's a simple framework for crafting prompts:

A: Action

What do you want AI to do?

Use specific verbs: Write, summarize, list, brainstorm, explain.

C: Context

Who's this for? What's the situation?

Why does this matter?

E: Extras

Add special requirements:

  • Tone (professional, casual, friendly)

  • Format (bullets, paragraphs, tables)

  • Length (e.g. 300 words, 3-min read)

Bad vs. Good Prompts

So what’s considered a bad or a good prompt?

Here are some examples for your reference.

For Course Creators

❌ "Create a course module."

✅ "Create a 3-topic course module outline for beginners on using Canva for design. Include learning objectives and sample activities for each topic."

For Bloggers

❌ "Write about AI tools."

✅ "Write a 500-word blog post about 5 essential AI tools for content creators. Use a casual, friendly tone and include real-world examples of how each tool saves time."

For Social Media Managers

❌ "Give me ideas for social media."

✅ "List 10 engaging Instagram post ideas for a food blogger. Focus on reels and carousels. Include hook suggestions and hashtag strategies."

The Fine-Tuning Loop

Even great prompts need refining, it’s part of the process.

Think of it as refining your request.

Start with your best attempt.

Review what you got… Is it close enough or need adjustment?

Refine and try again.

Example:

  • First Try: "List benefits of AI."

  • Better: "List 5 benefits of using AI for small businesses."

  • Refined: "List 5 specific, practical benefits of AI tools for small business owners. Focus on time and cost savings. Keep it under 100 words and use concrete examples.

Common Pitfalls to Watch Out

  1. Prompt Overload: Asking for too many things at once. Break it into smaller tasks.

  2. Missing Context: Forgetting to specify who it's for or why it matters.

  3. Blind Trust: AI tools aren’t perfect, always verify important facts. Don’t forget they can hallucinate from time to time.

The Final Byte

That’s it for the basics of prompting.

Take a task from your to-do list—whether it's drafting a newsletter intro, brainstorming your next video script, or planning your next social media post—and try crafting a prompt using the ACE Framework.

Got a win or a hilarious fail? Share it with me!

Sometimes the misses teach us more than the hits.

A great prompt isn’t about “speaking AI”, it’s about being clear on what you want.

Start practicing today and turn “not quite right” into “nailed it!”

See you in the next one,

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