If you’ve ever tried using ChatGPT and thought,
“It’s not giving me what I want…”
Here’s the truth:
It’s not the tool. It’s the prompt.
The difference between basic results and game-changing outputs comes down to prompt engineering—the way you ask ChatGPT to do something.
Once I learned how to properly prompt, ChatGPT became my best virtual team member.
Here’s exactly how I do it.
Rule 1: Be Specific About the Output
Vague in, vague out.
Instead of saying:
“Write a marketing email,”
I say:
“Write a 3-paragraph email for a fitness coach promoting a 7-day transformation challenge. Tone: inspiring and urgent. End with a call to action to book a free call.”
The more details you give, the better the result.
Rule 2: Give It a Role
ChatGPT performs better when you assign it an identity.
Examples:
- “You are a high-converting email copywriter.”
- “You are a growth consultant for coaches.”
- “You are a landing page expert who writes in a casual tone.”
This gives the AI a reference point for how to respond.
Rule 3: Define the Audience
Your message should sound different if you’re talking to a corporate CEO vs. a personal trainer.
Prompt Example:
“Write a DM for a 25-year-old hair stylist who wants more Instagram clients. Make it sound casual, fun, and helpful.”
Knowing your audience makes your output resonate.
Rule 4: Show, Don’t Just Tell
Give ChatGPT an example of what you want.
Prompt Example:
“Here’s a blog post I wrote. Now write a similar post on this new topic using the same tone and structure.”
You can even say:
“Use the format of this Apple ad.”
“Write like Gary Vee.”
“Make it sound like a Joe Rogan podcast.”
Rule 5: Use Follow-Up Feedback Like a Boss
The first response might only be 70%. That’s fine.
Just reply with:
- “Make it shorter.”
- “Add more emotion.”
- “Replace the intro with a question.”
- “Can you make the tone more persuasive?”
Treat it like a junior writer you’re training. With each round, the output improves.
Bonus: My Go-To Prompt Formula
Here’s the formula I use most often:
“You are [ROLE] helping [AUDIENCE] achieve [GOAL]. Write [FORMAT] that [DESIRED OUTCOME]. Use a tone that is [TONE].”
Example:
“You are a copywriter helping barbershops attract more weekday clients. Write a 3-sentence text message offering a $25 mid-week cut special. Use a casual, friendly tone.”
Simple. Repeatable. Effective.
Final Thought: Learn to Prompt Like a Pro
The better your prompt, the better your business runs.
ChatGPT is not just a magic tool—it’s a skill. And once you master prompt engineering, your content, emails, funnels, and ads get done faster, better, and at scale.
