What Most “Prompt Guides” Get Wrong

If you’ve ever searched for “best ChatGPT prompts,” you’ve probably ended up with a giant list of copy-paste templates that don’t actually work.

They sound great in theory. But when you try them? Generic sludge. Or worse, something that sounds like a robot’s résumé.

Here’s why:

Most people think of prompts as magic spells, when, really, they are just conversations. The real magic happens when you give it context.

Instead of:

“Write a sales email for my new offer.”

Try:

“I’m launching a time management course for busy graphic design freelancers. The tone should be casual but confident. Most of my audience struggles with procrastination and wants practical help, not theory. Can you draft a short email that highlights the course and sounds like me?”

See the difference?

One way to get better results?

Use the R.A.C.E. prompt framework from our AI Quick Tips blog:

• Role: Tell ChatGPT who it’s pretending to be
• Action: Tell it what you want it to do.
• Context: Share what’s happening or what you need
• Expectation: Be clear about the tone, format, or goal - what you want from it
  
  

You don’t need to memorize it. Just pause before you type and think:

• Who’s this for? 
• What do I need? 
• What do I want it to sound like?

Most prompt guides skip that thinking. But it’s what turns ChatGPT into a decent writing partner instead of a wordy disappointment

When you learn how to give better instructions, ChatGPT becomes a very decent thinking partner.