You don’t need fancy prompt-engineering language or special syntax to get good results out of AI. You need to be specific, give real context, and be clear about what you actually want back.
Here are five templates that have worked over and over, pulled straight from real projects — not hypothetical examples.
1. The “Catch You Up” Prompt
Use this any time you’re starting a new project and the tool doesn’t know your business yet.
“I run [type of business]. Here’s the situation: [describe the real problem in plain language, the way you’d explain it to a new employee]. Here’s what I already know or have already tried: [list it out, even messily]. I need help with [specific outcome]. Ask me clarifying questions if you need to before you dive in.”
The “ask me clarifying questions” line matters. It stops the tool from guessing at assumptions and gets you a more useful first response.
2. The “Organize What I Already Know” Prompt
This is the one behind most real business wins — you’re not asking it to invent something, you’re asking it to take your own scattered knowledge and turn it into a plan.
“I already understand [the general area — SEO, my pricing, my process, whatever it is], but I’ve never had time to sit down and actually organize it into something usable. Here’s what I know: [dump it all, unordered is fine]. Turn this into a clear, step-by-step plan I can actually execute, in the order I should do it.”
3. The “Match My Voice” Prompt
Use this any time you want writing that doesn’t sound like a generic AI wrote it.
“Here are a few examples of how I actually write: [paste 3-4 real texts, posts, or emails you’ve written yourself]. I need you to write [the new thing] in that same voice — same tone, same rhythm, same level of polish. Don’t make it sound more professional or polished than my examples. If it starts sounding like marketing copy, that’s wrong — pull it back.”
4. The “Poke Holes in This” Prompt
Use this on a second AI platform, after you’ve already built something on the first one.
“I built this [plan / piece of copy / system] using another AI tool. I want you to be skeptical, not encouraging. Find the weak spots, the assumptions that might not hold up, and anything a smart competitor or a critical customer would push back on. Don’t just tell me it looks good.”
5. The “Double-Check This” Prompt
Use this on anything with a specific fact, number, or claim in it before it goes anywhere important.
“Here’s a fact/number/claim I’m not 100% sure about: [state it]. Verify this is accurate and current, and tell me plainly if you’re not certain rather than guessing.”
The Habit Underneath All Five
Notice the pattern: be specific about the outcome, not just the topic. “Help me with marketing” gets you generic advice. “Help me write three social captions for a lawn care job I just finished, in a casual tone, under 150 characters each” gets you something you can actually use.
If the first answer is generic, don’t settle for it. Say what’s wrong with it and ask again. The second round is almost always better than the first.
These are 5 of 7 prompt templates from Appendix C of Small Business, Smart Tools. The other two — plus the full stories behind each one — are in the book.
