What is Prompt Engineering?
The skill of writing effective instructions (prompts) to get better results from AI tools.
Prompt engineering is the practice of crafting effective instructions (prompts) to get the best possible outputs from AI language models like ChatGPT and Claude.
Why Prompt Engineering Matters
The quality of your prompt directly affects the quality of the AI's response. A vague prompt gets a vague answer. A specific, well-structured prompt gets a targeted, useful response.
Key Prompt Engineering Techniques
1. Be Specific
Instead of "Write about dogs," try "Write a 200-word article about the best dog breeds for apartment living, including size and exercise needs."
2. Provide Context
Tell the AI who you are and what you need: "I'm a small business owner. Help me write a social media post announcing our summer sale."
3. Use Examples
Show the AI what you want: "Write a product description in this style: [example]"
4. Specify Format
Request specific formats: "Present this as a numbered list" or "Create a table comparing..."
5. Assign a Role
"Act as an experienced marketing expert" helps the AI adopt the right tone and expertise.
Common Mistakes
- Being too vague
- Not iterating on responses
- Accepting first output without refinement
- Not providing enough context
Examples
- 1Basic: 'Write a cover letter' vs. Better: 'Write a cover letter for a marketing manager position at a tech startup, highlighting my 5 years of experience'
- 2Add: 'Act as an HR professional reviewing applications'