Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: prompt engineering is a term everyone should retire. Why? Because it’s cringe, misleading, and makes you sound like you’re trying too hard at a party. Cool? Great. Now that we’ve dodged that awkward buzzword, let’s dive into the good stuff—how to create killer prompts for ChatGPT. These ChatGPT prompting tips and techniques will easily supercharge your results (without calling yourself an engineer).
Be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to it later as a reference.
Prefer listening? Tune into the podcast version below.
Tip #1: Start Your ChatGPT Prompt With “Act As”
One of the easiest and quickest techniques to level up your prompts? Use “act as” scenarios. Want ChatGPT to behave like a seasoned lawyer, an experienced therapist, or a retarded coworker? Just tell it! Example: “Act as a career coach with 20 years of experience. Help me write a compelling LinkedIn bio.” It’s like hiring whoever you want, but free (or $20/month if you’re rich enough to afford ChatGPT Plus).
“Act as” activates the knowledge ChatGPT has on that subject so it can use it for your pleasure. Without “act as,” you might get a similar output, but generally it won’t be as good or refined.
Tip #2: Be Direct: Assign ChatGPT a Task
ChatGPT thrives on clarity. Don’t beat around the bush—tell it exactly what you need. Example: “Your task is to generate a list of 10 actionable email marketing tips for a SaaS startup.” Starting with “Your task is…” sets the stage and keeps things simple. Think of it as briefing a brilliant but mildly autistic intern.
Tip #3: The Prompting Rule of Context: More Is More
ChatGPT is like a dog with instructions—give it more detail, and it performs tricks you didn’t even know it could do. Don’t just say, “Write a story.” Say, “Write a 500-word mystery story about a detective who’s allergic to cats but adopts one to solve a crime. Make it humorous and set in 1980s London.” Context matters. Lay it on thick with this technique. Do not assume ChatGPT will know something. Give it the details. With that said, just don’t give it so much that you start contradicting your instructions.
Tip #4: Break It Down, Daddy!
Do you have a complicated project that requires multiple steps and actions to accomplish it? Don’t dump the WHOLE thing into one massive prompt and hope for the best. Instead, break it into smaller, digestible prompts to complete the project incrementally. This is especially true if you’re working with ChatGPT’s Data Analyst tool or similarly intricate tasks. It keeps ChatGPT on track and you sane.
Tip #5: Check Your Facts (And ChatGPT’s)
Here’s the deal: ChatGPT doesn’t always tell the truth. These are called “hallucinations.” And no, the robot isn’t taking mushrooms.
It’s confident, but it’s also wrong sometimes. Like your overly confident friend who always misquoted movie lines. Fact-checking is non-negotiable, especially if the stakes are high. Bonus tip: Ask ChatGPT to cite its sources, then verify those sources using tools like Perplexity or ChatGPT’s Search feature.
Tip #6: Think Like a Teacher: Give ChatGPT Examples
Examples are more helpful than you think. Want a specific tone, format, or style? Show ChatGPT what you’re aiming for. Example: “Write a blog post in the tone of Run The Prompts (conversational, dumb, informative, and a little sarcastic). Here’s an excerpt for reference: <<insert writing example>>” ChatGPT loves a good template. Hand it one, and watch the fire blossom.
Tip #7: Specify Your Output Format
Whether you want a list, a table, or a Shakespearean sonnet, always specify the format. Example: “Provide a comparison of iPhone models in a table format with columns for price, features, and release year.” Now you’ve got yourself an organized cheat sheet in mere seconds.
Here are some output formats I enjoy using: table, bullet point list, Excel file, blog format, checklist, etc.
Tip #8: Tell ChatGPT What You Don’t Want
ChatGPT tries to please, but sometimes it over-delivers and includes things you don’t give a sh\t about. To avoid unnecessary fluff, use the technique of specifying what to leave out. Example: “Write a product description for a gaming laptop, but skip the overly promotional tone. Focus on specs and features.” It’s like telling someone not to bring wine coolers to the party. Nobody likes wine coolers, but ChatGPT doesn’t know that. Tell it.
Tip #9: The 80/20 Rule: Run Your Prompts Multiple Times
Not every response from ChatGPT is a winner. Sometimes you need to rerun the same prompt a few times to get that golden 20% that you’re looking for. Experiment. Iterate. Refine. That’s the secret ChatGPT prompting tip to unlocking the best outputs.
Tip #10: Experimentation Is Key
ChatGPT prompts are like recipes—you probably won’t nail them on the first try and you just might burn down your house. Play around with it. Tweak the wording. Add more details or strip it down. The magic happens when you stop being afraid to fail. It’s not rocket science, but if you don’t stay curious, then your results will be subpar.
Tip #11: Use Tools Like Prompt Wizard GPT
Feeling stuck? Use free tools like Prompt Wizard GPT to create a nice prompt for you. Just type what you want to do, and the bot will create a polished prompt for you. And no, we did not create it.
Tip #12: Steal (Ethically) from Run The Prompts
Run The Prompts has a treasure of ready-to-use prompts for a ton of occasions, both at work and in your boring personal life. Need inspiration? Head over to the ChatGPT prompts collection. Copy, paste, tweak, and dominate. Also, tell your friends, dysfunctional family, and coworkers so they can run the prompts too.
Wrapping It Up
Prompting ChatGPT is both an art and a science. The good news? You don’t need to overthink it. Keep your instructions clear, your context-rich, and your expectations realistic. Treat ChatGPT like a super-smart intern who needs explicit instructions—not a mind reader. Follow these ChatGPT prompting tips, and you’ll get better outputs, less frustration, and maybe even a laugh or two along the way.
Now go ahead and run the prompts like a pro. Just don’t call it “prompt engineering.” We had an agreement.
What did you think of these ChatGPT prompting tips and techniques? Let us know in the comments section below. Until next time, remember to run the prompts and prompt the planet!
If you like ChatGPT, you'll love Venice. Venice is private and uncensored! Try Venice today for free or get 20% off Venice Pro for a limited time with promo code "RUN20".
