Comprehensive guide to designing effective AI prompts with proven techniques and strategies
Master the art of prompt engineering to create more effective, reliable, and consistent AI interactions. This guide covers proven techniques, common pitfalls, and advanced strategies for optimizing your prompts.
You are a senior financial analyst at a Fortune 500 company. Your task is to evaluate investment opportunities for Q4 2024. Consider the following market conditions:- Rising interest rates- Inflation concerns- Technology sector volatilityBased on this context, analyze the following investment proposal...
Use Role-Based Prompting
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Act as an experienced software architect with 15 years in distributed systems. Review the following system design and provide feedback on:1. Scalability concerns2. Security vulnerabilities3. Performance bottlenecks4. Recommended improvements
Analyze the customer feedback and respond in the following format:## Summary[Brief overview in 2-3 sentences]## Key Issues Identified- Issue 1: [Description]- Issue 2: [Description]- Issue 3: [Description]## Recommended Actions1. [Action item with timeline]2. [Action item with timeline]3. [Action item with timeline]## Risk Assessment[Low/Medium/High] - [Explanation]
Specify Data Types and Constraints
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Extract the following information and format as JSON:{ "customer_name": "string", "order_id": "string (8 characters)", "issue_category": "string (one of: shipping, product, billing, other)", "priority": "number (1-5 scale)", "resolution_required": "boolean"}
Let's solve this step by step:1. First, identify all the given variables in the problem2. Then, determine what we need to find3. Next, choose the appropriate formula or method4. Finally, calculate the result and verify it makes senseProblem: [Your problem here]
I need you to categorize customer inquiries. Here are some examples:Input: "My order hasn't arrived yet, when will it be delivered?"Category: ShippingUrgency: MediumInput: "I was charged twice for the same item"Category: BillingUrgency: HighInput: "How do I return this product?"Category: ReturnsUrgency: LowNow categorize this inquiry:Input: "The product arrived damaged, I need a replacement"Category: ?Urgency: ?
Create a product description with these constraints:- Maximum 150 words- Include exactly 3 key benefits- Use active voice only- Include one compelling statistic- Target audience: small business owners- Tone: professional but approachable- Avoid technical jargon
Use XML tags to create clear, parseable prompt structures with embedded variables:
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<task>Analyze the customer support ticket and provide a structured response</task><context><customer_info>Name: {{customer_name}}Tier: {{customer_tier}}Account_since: {{account_date}}</customer_info><ticket_details>Category: {{issue_category}}Priority: {{priority_level}}Description: {{issue_description}}</ticket_details></context><instructions><response_format><summary>Brief issue summary in 1-2 sentences</summary><analysis>Detailed problem analysis</analysis><solution>Step-by-step resolution plan</solution><timeline>Expected resolution timeframe</timeline></response_format><guidelines>- Use empathetic language appropriate for {{customer_tier}} customers- Include specific next steps with deadlines- Reference relevant help articles when applicable- If {{priority_level}} is "high", include escalation options</guidelines></instructions>
Task: Write a technical blog post about API security.Step 1: Create an outline covering these topics:- Authentication methods- Authorization patterns- Data encryption- Rate limiting- Input validationStep 2: Write the full article based on the outlineStep 3: Review your article and verify:- All topics from the outline are covered- Examples are accurate and current- Tone is consistent throughout- Length is 1200-1500 words
Situation: You're a product manager at a SaaS company facing declining user engagementTask: Develop a strategy to increase user retention by 20% in Q4Action: Analyze user data, identify drop-off points, and create targeted interventionsResult: Present a comprehensive retention strategy with specific metrics and timelines
Your task is to recommend a cloud architecture solution.Point: State your recommendation clearlyReason: Explain why this is the best choiceExample: Provide a specific use case or comparisonPoint: Restate your recommendation with confidence
Problem: [Clearly define the problem you're solving]Solution: [Your proposed solution approach]Benefits: [Expected outcomes and advantages]Please analyze the following scenario using this framework...
Dear {{customer_name}},Thank you for your {{interaction_type}} regarding {{product_name}}. Based on your {{customer_tier}} status, I can offer the following resolution:{{#if priority_customer}}- Expedited processing within 24 hours- Dedicated support manager assignment- Complimentary premium features for 3 months{{else}}- Standard processing within 48 hours- Priority queue placement- 10% discount on next purchase{{/if}}Best regards,{{agent_name}}
Variable Validation
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Before processing this prompt, verify that all required variables are present:- customer_id: {{customer_id}}- order_date: {{order_date}}- product_category: {{product_category}}If any variable is missing or invalid, respond with:"Error: Missing required variable [variable_name]. Please provide [expected_format]."
Test with ideal inputs and conditions to ensure the prompt works as expected
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Test Input: Complete customer data, clear issue description, standard priorityExpected Output: Structured response following all guidelines
Test with unusual or extreme inputs
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Test Cases:- Empty or minimal input- Extremely long input- Special characters and formatting- Multiple languages- Contradictory information
Ensure graceful handling of problematic inputs
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If the input contains insufficient information, respond with:"I need additional information to provide an accurate response. Please provide: [specific requirements]"
After generating the response, verify:□ All required sections are present□ Format matches the specified template□ Tone is appropriate for the context□ Key information is accurately represented□ Length meets the specified constraints□ No hallucinated or inaccurate information
Optimize your prompts for token usage:- Remove redundant phrases- Use concise language- Eliminate unnecessary examples- Focus on essential instructions onlyBefore: "Please kindly analyze the following data that I am providing to you..."After: "Analyze this data:"
Problem: Vague or unclear directions leading to inconsistent outputs
Poor Example: “Make it better”
Solution: Be specific about what “better” means
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Improve this email by:- Reducing length by 30%- Adding a clear call-to-action- Using more professional tone- Including specific next steps
Problem: Too much context overwhelming the core task
Solution: Structure information hierarchically
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Primary Task: [Main objective]Essential Context:- [Key point 1]- [Key point 2]Additional Background (reference only):- [Supporting detail 1]- [Supporting detail 2]
Problem: Outputs vary in structure and format
Solution: Provide explicit formatting templates
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Response Format (do not deviate):TITLE: [Brief title in caps]OVERVIEW:[2-3 sentence summary]DETAILS:• Point 1• Point 2• Point 3NEXT STEPS:1. [Action item]2. [Action item]
Problem: AI loses focus on the main objective
Solution: Use reminder anchors
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Remember: Your primary goal is to [main objective].[Context and instructions]Final check: Does your response directly address [main objective]?
Customer service prompts should include:- Empathy and understanding language- Clear escalation paths- Brand voice guidelines- Compliance requirements- Resolution timelinesTemplate:"Respond with empathy and professionalism. Acknowledge the customer's concern, provide a specific solution, and include next steps with timelines."
Technical prompts should specify:- Target audience skill level- Required depth of explanation- Code example formats- Accuracy requirements- Version-specific considerationsTemplate:"Write for intermediate developers. Include working code examples, explain complex concepts in simple terms, and verify all technical details."
Content prompts should define:- Target audience demographics- Brand voice and tone- SEO requirements- Content structure- Call-to-action placementTemplate:"Create content for [audience] that [objective]. Use [tone] and include [specific elements]. Optimize for [SEO keywords]."
Prompt Evaluation Rubric:Clarity (1-5): How clear and unambiguous are the instructions?Completeness (1-5): Does the prompt provide all necessary information?Specificity (1-5): How specific are the requirements and constraints?Efficiency (1-5): Is the prompt concise while being comprehensive?Reliability (1-5): How consistent are the outputs across multiple runs?Total Score: ___/25
Step 1 Prompt: "Analyze this customer complaint and identify the core issues"Step 2 Prompt: "Based on the issues identified: {{issues}}, research our company policies"Step 3 Prompt: "Create a response using the policies: {{policies}} to address: {{issues}}"
Use dynamic responses based on input characteristics:
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Analyze the customer type:{{#if enterprise_customer}} Use formal language and include technical details{{elseif small_business}} Use friendly but professional tone, simplify technical concepts{{else}} Use casual, helpful tone with step-by-step explanations{{/if}}
After providing your response, evaluate it against these criteria:1. Does it fully address the user's question?2. Is the tone appropriate for the context?3. Are all technical details accurate?4. Is the response length appropriate?If any criterion scores below 4/5, revise your response accordingly.
