Artificial Intelligence (AI)

how to cook up the perfect ChatGPT prompt

By Jim Harvey

Posted on 11th November 2024

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How to cook up the perfect chatGPT prompt

In this simple post, we show you how to cook up the perfect chatGPT prompt to ensure that you get the results you want every time, presented in an ideal way for you. In this previous series of posts we share our recommendations for the very best research, writing and image AI apps available on the market today.Think of ChatGPT as a willing but directionless chef. Someone who can cook anything you might want, but needs clear guidance to do the job well. If you just say, “Make me a delicious breakfast,” she will. But that mountain of fat, protein, and fried food she serves might not be exactly what you imagined. Next time, tell her precisely what you’re thinking: “Make me a high-protein, low-fat breakfast with no more than 400 calories, featuring eggs, tomatoes, and gluten-free bread.” See the difference?In the same way, when using ChatGPT, writing the right prompt is key to getting the specific, valuable information you need. Let’s explore how to write an effective prompt using the example of writing a sales pitch.I run a software business. We sell technology into the energy industry, and we have developed a suite of tools to help energy users and retailers get more out of their data. I want to focus our sales efforts for 2025 on selling whole enterprise solutions to energy retailers and to help me create the right sales messages for our marketing efforts. To do this effectively, I need to understand what energy leaders in the US care about, what they worry about, what they want and what would help them.  I decide to use ChatGPT’s research capability to help me do this.

A Poor Prompt

Let’s start with a simple prompt:“How do energy leaders feel about their business?”This might seem like a reasonable question, but it’s a bit like saying, “Make me a delicious breakfast.” It’s vague and open-ended. As a result, ChatGPT will generate a very generic answer like:

“Energy leaders are focused on growth, operational efficiency, and sustainability. They care about their business’s financial health and are looking for ways to improve customer service and adapt to changes in the energy market.”

Sure, it’s an answer, but it’s not particularly insightful—especially if you’re trying to craft a targeted sales pitch. It lacks depth and specificity because the prompt didn’t give enough direction.

A Better Prompt

To get a much richer, more useful answer, think about what you actually need to know. Imagine you are preparing a specific dish, not just any “breakfast” but one designed for someone with particular dietary needs and preferences. In the context of using ChatGPT, that means telling it who you are interested in, what aspects matter, and which roles you are targeting.Here’s an improved prompt:“Provide me with insights into how energy retail leaders in the US feel about their business. Specifically, focus on their market challenges, their goals, and measures for success. Break down their needs and wants across different leadership roles, including CEOs, Operations leaders, Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, and Energy Trading. Highlight what these leaders prioritize and any recent trends they are addressing.”See how much more specific this is? With this prompt, ChatGPT now knows you’re interested in energy retail, in the US market, and wants details on challenges, goals, and measures for success, along with specific departments and C-suite roles. You’re giving the chef a detailed recipe rather than asking for something vague.

The Result of a Detailed Prompt

With this enhanced prompt, you might get an answer like this:

“Energy retail leaders in the US are currently navigating significant market challenges, such as fluctuating energy prices, regulatory pressure for decarbonization, and increased customer demand for renewable energy options. Their primary goals include enhancing customer experience, improving operational efficiency through digital transformation, and expanding renewable offerings to maintain competitive advantage.For CEOs, the focus is on long-term growth, regulatory compliance, and managing stakeholder expectations around sustainability. Operations leaders prioritize supply chain optimization and resilience in energy sourcing, while Sales teams are concentrating on customer acquisition and expanding service packages to meet the evolving needs of both residential and commercial clients.Customer Service leaders are focused on enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing churn by leveraging AI and personalization strategies. Marketing leaders are working to reposition their brands as “green” and customer-centric, capitalizing on the growing interest in renewable energy. Energy Trading leaders are dealing with market volatility and seeking tools that provide better forecasting and risk management.Overall, these leaders are looking for innovative technology solutions, streamlined processes, and strategies that help them remain agile in a rapidly changing energy landscape.”

I could then go on to ask for the source of their information, the key individuals in leadership roles in any or every state in the US, and whatever else I wanted to help me get a real undrestanding of the target audiences for my marketing efforts.

Writing Your Own Effective Chat GPT Prompts

The key to crafting an effective prompt is specificity. Consider the following when writing your prompt:

• Audience: Specify who you want information about. Are they energy leaders? Which sector? Which country?
• Focus Areas: Mention what aspects you want to explore—market challenges, goals, trends, etc.
• Details: Break it down even further by highlighting roles or departments you’re interested in.
• Purpose: Think about the final dish. Do you need insights for a sales pitch? A report? Make sure your prompt reflects that purpose.

The more precise your prompt, the more value you’ll get from ChatGPT’s response. Just like giving a chef clear instructions results in the perfect dish, giving ChatGPT detailed guidance results in insightful, targeted information that meets your needs.

Ready to Take Your AI Skills to the Next Level?

Start writing your own detailed prompts and see how ChatGPT can transform the way you work. Whether you’re preparing for a sales pitch or looking to understand a market better, remember—it’s all about the recipe you provide.Treat the AI bot as if they were that helpful and eager to please cook who will do only and everything you ask them to the letter. Oh, and you might say thank you once in a while too!And if you want more effortless advice, training, and resources from the brightest minds, subscribe to our FREE newsletter today. Let us help you leverage AI tools to present yourself effectively to the world, one well-crafted prompt at a time.