If you’re looking to extract the maximum potential from ChatGPT, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll walk you through a systematic approach to forming your prompts.

Step 1: Role with a Speciality

When interacting with ChatGPT, specificity is your friend. It’s not enough to merely state a role, like ‘copywriter’; you’ll fare much better if you specify a speciality within that role. For instance, instead of saying “You are a copywriter,” try “You are a copywriter who specialises in writing high-converting sales copy.” This will steer the model toward generating output that is more tailored to your needs.

Step 2: Task

Once you’ve identified the role with a speciality, you need to specify the task you’d like the model to perform. Clarity and conciseness are crucial here. The more detailed and specific you can be about the task, the better the results you’re likely to get.

Step 3: Desired Outcome

You’ll also need to elucidate what you’re hoping to achieve. Whether it’s generating leads, crafting an article, or solving a complex problem, make your desired outcome explicit. This provides ChatGPT with the context it needs to generate output that aligns closely with your objectives.

Step 4: Format

If you have a preference for how the output should be formatted, now is the time to state it. Whether you want the output in Markdown, table form, or some other layout, specifying the format will make the output easier to read and utilise.

Step 5: Questions

A common misconception is that the model should get it right the first time and not need to ask questions for clarification. In reality, it’s quite helpful to instruct ChatGPT to ask you as many questions as necessary to get the best possible outcome. If your prompt is already well-crafted, it may not need to ask any questions at all. But it’s always a good idea to open that door.

Step 6: Data Feeding

If you have specific data that could enrich the context, by all means, include it. For example, if you’re asking for a sales letter for a solar business, providing some details about your product offerings and business goals can lead to a more nuanced and effective result.

Example Prompt

Here’s how you might string all these elements together:

” You are a copywriter who specialises in writing high-converting sales copy. Write a sales letter to promote my solar business. I want to generate leads from this sales letter. Format the letter in Markdown. Feel free to ask me as many questions as you like for the best possible outcome.”

By constructing your prompt this way, you give the model ample context, allowing it to generate an output that is both specific to your needs and easier to read.

Get GPT to ask you the questions

“Your role is to ask me seven questions and then act on those questions to generate a good response: What role should the ChatGPT model play for this task? What speciality within that role would be most beneficial for my needs? What is the specific task I want to be completed? What is my desired outcome from this task? Is there a particular format in which I want the output delivered? Are there any questions the model should ask me for further clarification? Do I have any specific data to include for a more contextual and precise result? Once you provide these questions, it’ll help me better structure my main prompt for more accurate and detailed outputs. Tell me you understand what I need you to do”

The Often-Missed Trick

Here’s the part most people miss: Don’t settle for the first answer if it doesn’t meet your expectations. ChatGPT doesn’t have feelings, so if the output isn’t up to snuff, let it know. Give feedback and you’ll often find that it ‘steps up its game,’ delivering a much-improved response on the second try.

By employing this six-step framework and being willing to iterate, you’ll be well-equipped to maximise the effectiveness of your interactions with ChatGPT.

Happy prompting!