Introduction
Good prompting is not magic, it is craft. Over hundreds of tests, certain rules prove themselves again and again. Think of them as the “commandments” of effective prompting: simple, memorable, and reliable. In this guide, we lay out ten rules with real examples, so you can check your prompts against a proven framework before hitting send.
Commandment 1: Know Thy Audience
Always state who the content is for. “Write a blog post for high school students” lands very differently than “Write a blog post for CFOs.” Audience anchors tone and examples.
Commandment 2: Be Specific, Not Vague
Replace “Write about marketing” with “Write a 500-word article about low-cost marketing tactics for startups, including three real examples.” Specificity drives relevance.
Commandment 3: Structure Saves
Provide a skeleton: introduction, body sections, conclusion. Without it, outputs can meander. With it, readers get a clear, logical flow.
Commandment 4: Guardrails Matter
Add what to avoid: “Do not use clichés like ‘game-changing.’” Guardrails stop the model from drifting into filler or tropes.
Commandment 5: Examples Anchor
Require at least one case study, story, or example. Abstract tips fall flat until grounded in reality.
Commandment 6: Tone Is a Tool
Tell the model how to sound: professional, friendly, witty, neutral. Without tone guidance, you risk generic output.
Commandment 7: Format the Output
Ask for bullet points, numbered steps, or a table when appropriate. Formatting boosts readability and makes content instantly usable.
Commandment 8: Mind the Length
Word count keeps outputs scoped. A 100-word summary is different from a 1,000-word article. Always set boundaries.
Commandment 9: Iterate, Don’t Expect Perfection
Great results rarely come in one shot. Use iterative prompting: first outline, then expand, then polish.
Commandment 10: Close With a CTA
Always tell the reader what to do next: download, subscribe, explore. Otherwise, engagement stops at reading.
Mini Case Study: The Checklist in Action
A startup founder used a vague prompt: “Write a pitch.” The result was generic and unusable. Applying the checklist, they rewrote: “Write a 300-word pitch for investors, targeting seed-stage VCs. Structure: problem, solution, traction, ask. Tone: confident but humble. Include one customer story. End with a CTA to schedule a call.” The new draft hit all ten commandments and got them two investor meetings.
Conclusion
Effective prompting is about discipline, not luck. By following these ten commandments, you ensure every request is clear, scoped, and actionable. Think of it as quality control for your AI conversations. Next time you type a prompt, run through this checklist. You’ll catch weaknesses before they waste your time.
Next step: Save this checklist to your notes app or print it as a desk reference. For a formatted version, download our free Prompt Commandments Card.
