Generative AI prompts made simple

What are AI prompts?

Think of AI prompts as the questions or tasks you give to AI tools. They guide the AI, telling it to write text, create images or even make code. With clear prompts, AI can help you with different business tasks.

Types of AI prompts

Before diving into specific examples, it’s helpful to understand the various types of prompts you can use. While there isn’t a single category, the following types are the most common:

Instructional

• Direct commands or instructions that clearly specify the desired output
• Often used for generating specific types of content or performing well-defined tasks.
• Example: Create a detailed outline for a five-page white paper on the benefits of renewable energy.

Scenario-based

• Create a specific context or situation for the AI to respond to
• Can be used for generating creative content, exploring hypothetical scenarios or simulating real-world interactions.
• Example: You’re a financial advisor specializing in small businesses. A local restaurant owner is struggling to manage their cash flow. What are three practical strategies they can implement to improve their cash flow management?

Conversational

• Open-ended prompts that invite the AI to engage in a dialogue
• Can be used to explore complex topics, gather information or simply have a creative conversation
• Example: Given today’s economy, what are the risks and opportunities for small retail businesses?

Stylistic

• Focus on the desired tone, style or voice of the output
• Can be used to tailor the AI’s response to a specific audience or purpose
• Example: Write a persuasive sales email in a friendly and enthusiastic tone.

The best prompt type for you will depend on your specific goal, the capabilities of the AI model and the type of output you want from the AI.

AI prompt frameworks

AI prompt frameworks are templates or structures that help you write effective prompts. By using a framework, you can ensure your prompts are clear, specific and tailored to your desired outcome. Here are three common frameworks you can use:

Role-task-format (RTF)

This simple framework can be used for most tasks. It involves defining the role you want the AI to take, the task you want it to perform and the format you want the output in.

Example: Act as a copywriter. I need you to write a compelling email subject line for a limited-time discount offer on our software subscription.

Chain-of-thought (CoT)

This framework is useful for complex tasks that require the AI to reason through a problem. It involves breaking down the task into smaller steps and asking the AI to explain its reasoning at each step.

Example: What are the potential benefits and risks of implementing a new inventory management system for our e-commerce business? Let’s think step by step.

Context-ask-rules-examples (CARE)

This framework is designed to provide the AI with all the information it needs to generate a relevant and accurate response. It involves specifying the context of the request, the question you want to ask, any rules or constraints and examples of the desired output.

Example: We’re a small tech startup struggling to attract top talent due to limited resources and brand recognition. What are some cost-effective strategies to improve our recruitment efforts? Focus on cost-effective solutions that would appeal to young candidates. Offer flexible work arrangements. Partner with coding bootcamps or universities to offer internships or apprenticeships. Leverage online communities and forums.

How to write great AI prompts

Think of AI prompts as giving clear instructions to your most capable employee. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

AI prompts for different business needs

Best AI prompts for business startups

New businesses face unique challenges. Consider these AI prompts to help your startup thrive, being sure to insert the correct details where indicated:

• Brainstorming new ideas

“Brainstorm a list of 10 innovative business ideas that use the sharing economy model and cater to the unique needs and preferences of [millennial parents].”

• Crafting a compelling value proposition

“Craft a concise and persuasive value proposition for a new app that connects local artisans with customers seeking unique, handcrafted goods. Highlight the key benefits for both artisans (e.g. increased visibility, expanded customer base) and customers (e.g. convenient access to unique products, supporting local businesses).”

• Developing a revenue forecast

“Based on our pre-launch data for [brief description of your business], including [number of pre-orders] pre-orders at an average value of [average pre-order value] and our planned sales channels ([list of sales channels]) with a pricing strategy of [describe pricing strategy or estimated price range], generate a detailed revenue forecast for the next 12 months. Include projected monthly sales volume, estimated revenue and a breakdown by sales channel.”

Best AI prompts for marketing

Effective marketing is essential for business growth. Use the AI prompts below to refine your strategies:

• Campaign brainstorming

“Generate a list of creative marketing campaign ideas to promote our [product/service] launch, considering both online and offline channels.”

• Local promotion

“Assuming our value proposition is [briefly describe your value proposition] and we’re targeting [local demographics], suggest creative ideas for a limited-time promotional offer on Facebook and Instagram to attract new customers.”

• Budget allocation

“Our marketing campaign aims to drive website traffic and generate qualified leads. We plan to utilize a mix of content marketing (blog posts), email marketing and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns. Considering these goals and channels, suggest an optimal allocation of our [dollar amount] marketing budget.”

Best AI prompts for content creation

Creating high-quality content can be time-consuming. Let AI assist you with the following prompts:

• Brainstorm content ideas

“Craft a list of engaging content ideas (blog posts, videos, infographics) catering to busy professionals who want to make nutritious choices without sacrificing time.”

• Refine existing content

“We have a long-form blog post about the benefits of using a customer relationship management (CRM) system. It’s informative but a bit overwhelming for small business owners. Can you rewrite it using a clear and concise structure, highlighting the key features and benefits of a CRM system specifically for small businesses? [Paste the existing post here].”

• Develop targeted content

“I’d like you to write a [length, e.g., 500-word] article for my company based on the following outline: [Paste your detailed article outline here]. The article should be targeted towards [target audience, e.g. busy professionals seeking productivity tips]. The goal of the article is to [content goal, e.g. educate readers on time management strategies]. Please adhere to our company’s style guide, which you can find here: [Provide a link to your style guide or paste relevant excerpts].”

Best AI prompts for image generation

Visuals can make or break your brand. Craft compelling images with AI prompts based on the following models:

• Visual brainstorming

“Generate five different image ideas for our upcoming social media campaign promoting our new [product/service]. These images should appeal to our target audience of [description] and capture the essence of our brand, which is [describe brand personality and values].”

• Image refresh

“We have a stock photo of a generic handshake for our website’s About Us page. Considering our company specializes in building strong team cultures, use this image as a base and add elements that convey a sense of collaboration and teamwork in a more creative way.”

• Product showcase

“Create a product image for our new line of gourmet chocolates. Our brand identity is luxurious and sophisticated, with a focus on premium ingredients and artisanal craftsmanship. Use a dark colour palette and high-quality lighting to showcase the elegance and mouthwatering appeal of the chocolates.”

Best AI prompts for social media

Maximize your social media impact and foster engagement with AI prompts like the following:

• Product launch

“Craft a social media caption (Instagram) for our new line of organic skincare products. We’re launching next week and want to generate excitement! Our brand voice is friendly and approachable, and emphasizes the natural ingredients in our productline. Keep the caption concise and visually engaging, using language that resonates with our target audience of young, environmentally conscious consumers.”

• Audience interaction

“Create three social media polls or questions related to [your product/service/industry] that will encourage audience engagement and spark conversation.”

• Repurposing content (blog post)

“I have a blog post titled ‘[blog post title]’ that discusses [brief summary of the blog post topic]. Please generate:

1. A short, attention-grabbing teaser for [social media platform], highlighting a key takeaway or question that the blog post answers and including a link to the full article.
2. A visual quote from the blog post suitable for sharing on [social media platform], incorporating our brand colours and logo.
3. A brief thread for [social media platform] that summarizes the main points of the blog post and encourages discussion or questions in the comments, with a link to the full article.”

Best AI prompts for optimizing operations

Try these prompts to optimize your business processes and improve efficiency:

• Safety checklist for a construction company

“Generate a comprehensive safety checklist for a construction site, covering key areas such as personal protective equipment, hazard identification and emergency procedures.”

• Waste reduction strategies for a wood manufacturing business

“What are some effective strategies for reducing waste in the wood products and furniture manufacturing process? How can we optimize material usage and minimize scrap?”

• Streamlining order fulfillment for an e-commerce business

“What are some best practices for optimizing the order fulfillment process for an e-commerce business? Consider strategies for inventory management, order processing, packaging, shipping and returns, to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the customer experience.”

Best AI prompts for human resources

Make your HR tasks easier and improve how you find and keep talented people with AI prompts following these examples:

• Job description optimization

“Review this job description for the position of [job title]: [paste job description]. Suggest improvements to make it more inclusive, appeal to a wider range of qualified candidates and align with current industry standards.”

• Interview question enhancement

“Given the following interview questions for the position of [job title]: [list questions], provide feedback on their effectiveness and suggest alternative or additional questions to better assess the candidates’ skills and experience.”

• Performance review summary

“Summarize the key points and feedback from this performance review for [employee name]: [paste review]. Highlight areas of strength, areas for improvement and any agreed-upon goals or action items.”

Best AI prompts for leadership coaching

Become a better leader and create a positive work environment. The following AI prompts can help:

• Enhancing communication skills

“How can I improve my communication as a leader? My primary strength is [describe primary strength]. However, I tend to [list one or two specific weaknesses] when [describe a specific scenario or context]. What strategies can I use to improve my [indicate one or two specific communication skills you’d like to improve] and how can I create a more inclusive and collaborative environment?”

• Building a strong company culture

“Considering our company’s core values of [list values], what are some specific actions or initiatives we can implement to strengthen our company culture and ensure that our values are reflected in our daily work and interactions?”

• Delegation action plan

“My team of [number of employees] is currently struggling with [specific challenge, e.g. meeting deadlines, low morale]. Help me create a step-by-step action plan for delegating tasks and responsibilities more effectively to address this challenge. Include specific tasks to delegate, potential team members to assign them to and clear guidelines for communication and accountability.”

AI prompts are a big help for entrepreneurs using generative AI. By understanding the different types of prompts and how to craft them effectively, you can use AI to tackle a wide range of business tasks. Give it a try! Start experimenting with AI prompts today and see how they can help your business grow. The more you use them, the better you’ll get at writing them.

Next step

Discover how to prepare your business for artificial intelligence with BDC’s free guide Get your Business AI-Ready.