It’s 2024, and Generative AI writing tools are no longer futuristic fantasies. They’re practical tools with a number of workplace applications that make our lives easier.
Marketers and content professionals perhaps use AI writing tools more than others—their adoption has more than doubled among marketers, according to a McKinsey report.
If you use GenAI tools to ideate, strategize, draft, or edit marketing content, you’ve probably heard a lot about “generative pre-trained transformers,” the ‘GPT’ in ChatGPT. GPTs are advanced language models trained on vast amounts of text data, enabling them to understand and generate human-like text across a wide range of topics and styles.
While the technical intricacies of GPTs are complex, the key to harnessing their power lies in a simpler concept: prompts. Prompts are the instructions you give to AI writing tools, acting as the bridge between your creative intent and the AI’s output.
And the thumb rule for generating great content is simple: The better the prompt, the better the results.
Well-crafted prompts guide AI writing tools to generate relevant and effective content by providing context, specifying desired outcomes, and setting parameters for the AI to work within.
By mastering the art of prompt writing, you can tap into the full potential of AI writing tools, ensuring that the output aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best AI writing prompts tailored for marketers and writers.
Best AI Writing Prompts for Marketers & Writers
Summarize this article for me pleaseUnderstanding AI Writing Prompts
AI writing prompts are user inputs that guide generative artificial intelligence tools in generating specific content. An AI prompt is a set of instructions, directing the AI on what you need—whether you’re crafting content, analyzing data, or simulating a conversation.
Think of AI prompt creation like placing an order at a restaurant: you wouldn’t just say you’re hungry; you’d specify what you want to eat and how you’d like the dish to be. You’ll probably specify the ingredients you’re allergic to and pair the dish with a beverage or a dessert. Similarly, when you interact with an AI, you must give it clear and specific directions.
For instance, you can input the prompt ‘Draft a friendly reminder email for a team meeting next Tuesday at 10 AM.’ The tool then uses your prompt to create a tailored response that meets your requirements.
Types of AI prompts
AI tools can be incredibly versatile, but it’s crucial to understand the different types of prompts to use them effectively. Every kind of prompt serves a specific target audience and purpose, from seeking factual information to inspiring creativity:
1. Informational prompts
Informational prompts are used to seek specific information or factual details. They are similar to querying a search engine, where you ask the model for specific data or explanations.
Example: ‘What are the key features of a successful e-commerce app?’
2. Creative prompts
Creative prompts inspire creativity and generate new ideas. They can be used for writing stories, creating marketing content, or brainstorming innovative concepts.
Example: ‘Write a short story about a futuristic city.’
3. Instructional prompts
Instructional prompts provide step-by-step instructions or processes. They are ideal for explaining how to accomplish a task or use a tool.
Example: ‘Explain how to create a user-friendly mobile app interface.’
4. Clarification prompts
Clarification prompts encourage further explanation or details. They are helpful when you need more information or a deeper understanding of a particular topic.
Example: ‘Can you elaborate on the benefits of using AI in healthcare?’
5. Comparative prompts
Comparative prompts ask the model to compare two or more items or concepts. This type of prompt is great for weighing options and making informed decisions.
Example: ‘Compare the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars and hybrid cars.’
6. Hypothetical prompts
Hypothetical prompts explore potential scenarios or outcomes. They are helpful in imagining future possibilities or analyzing what-if situations.
Example: ‘What would happen if humans could live on Mars?’
7. Analytical prompts
Analytical prompts involve analyzing or interpreting data and situations. They are used to provide insights, draw conclusions, or solve problems based on the given information.
Example: ‘Analyze the impact of remote work on employee productivity.’
8. Opinion-based prompts
Opinion-based prompts seek subjective opinions or perspectives. They are ideal for gathering different viewpoints or personal reflections on various topics.
Example: ‘What are the best practices for maintaining work-life balance?’
Understanding these types of prompts can help you use AI tools efficiently and provide the most accurate, creative, and insightful responses for your specific needs.
Also read: 7 Free AI Prompt Templates for ChatGPT
How AI writing prompts are used in content marketing and SEO
From brainstorming creative ideas to fine-tuning SEO strategies, AI writing tools are reshaping digital marketing.
Here’s how AI tools can elevate your content creation process and craft an effective SEO strategy:
1. Generating content ideas
Publishing consistent, high-quality content is crucial for any SEO strategy. But, coming up with fresh ideas can be challenging. AI writing prompts can help you brainstorm endless content topics, ensuring your content remains engaging and relevant to your audience.
Example prompt:
‘Write a blog post about sustainable living, targeting the main keyword ‘eco-friendly lifestyle.’ Please provide a list of unique and creative angles to approach this topic while fulfilling the core search intent for the reader.’
2. Crafting intelligent outlines
AI can assist in creating detailed outlines that incorporate essential elements while allowing room for your unique perspective. This balance ensures your content stands out from competitors and aligns with SEO best practices.
Example prompt:
‘Based on the title “The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet” and the main target keyword “plant-based nutrition,” generate a comprehensive outline for a 1500-word blog post. Include common aspects of the topic and suggestions for enhancing it with unique insights.’
3. Creating compelling titles and meta descriptions
Titles and meta descriptions are vital for attracting readers to your content. AI writing prompts can generate various options, making it easier to find the perfect combination that captures attention and improves click-through rates.
Example prompt:
‘I want to target the keyword “digital detox.” Please provide a list of compelling blog post title ideas that include this keyword and accurately reflect the topic.’
4. Developing engaging introductions
AI can draft concise and impactful hooks using proven copywriting frameworks, such as the problem-agitation-solution (PAS) model.
Example prompt:
‘Based on the title “How to Reduce Screen Time for Better Sleep,” provide a snappy and compelling opening hook for a LinkedIn post using the problem-agitate-solution framework.’
5. Writing long-form text
Another challenge is producing long-form content. To get quality output from an AI tool, include all necessary information, such as related keywords, background information, and specific data within your prompt. Setting prompts for tone of voice, intended audience, and keywords ensures that AI generates relevant content.
Example prompt:
Blog topic: ‘Expert Tips on How to Create Exceptional Content with Ahrefs’
Tone of voice: ‘Professional’
Intended audience: ‘SEO professionals, marketers, website owners’
6. Transforming keyword lists into topic clusters
To improve SEO, it’s essential to build topic clusters around related keywords. AI can organize your keywords into meaningful clusters, helping you plan and structure your content effectively.
Example prompt:
‘I’m planning the structure for a new website focused on personal finance. I’ve downloaded a file of keywords related to “budgeting.” Please organize these keywords into topic clusters and present them in a table format.’
7. Enhancing topical authority
Achieving topical authority involves consistently publishing high-quality content on a specific subject. AI can evaluate your existing content and suggest improvements to strengthen your authority in your niche.
Example prompt:
‘I want to analyze my website’s topical authority on digital marketing. The attached file contains a copy of the full site map. Evaluate how each blog post aligns with the core topics of SEO and content marketing. Flag any posts that might dilute the topical focus.’
8. Personalizing your writing style
By training AI on your previous work, you can ensure that the generated content closely matches your personal voice and tone.
Example prompt:
‘I’m writing an article about “remote work productivity.” I’ve written some sections, but I need help with the remaining parts. Please describe the style, voice, tone, and structure and generate a new section in the same style.’
Summarize this article for me pleaseExamples of AI Writing Prompts
Whether you want to increase your social media presence or fine-tune your email marketing efforts, these sample AI writing prompts can help you get the desired results:
1. Brainstorming and ideation
One of the most exciting applications of AI writing tools is their ability to help you brainstorm and generate ideas. For example, you can use some of the following prompts:
- Creative ideas: ‘Generate innovative concepts for a sustainable urban living project, incorporating eco-friendly technologies and community engagement’
- Product innovation: ‘Brainstorm novel features for a next-generation smart home device that enhances convenience and energy efficiency’
- Marketing campaign ideas: ‘Generate creative marketing campaign ideas for a new line of eco-friendly fashion accessories targeting a young, environmentally conscious audience’
2. Localized content adaptations
Tailor prompts for adapting content to resonate with specific regional markets or audience demographics. For example, you can request AI to generate localized variations of content discussing mobile banking trends tailored to cultural preferences or geographical considerations.
3. Educational blog posts
Generate prompts for informative blog topics that educate your audience. For example, request AI-generated content or social media posts on the impact of AI in enhancing customer service within the banking sector, providing actionable insights and industry analysis.
Prompt: ‘Write an informative blog post titled “The Role of AI in Transforming Customer Service in Banking.” Include case studies and expert insights on AI adoption trends.’
4. Interactive quizzes and polls
Create engaging prompts for interactive quizzes or polls that drive audience engagement. For example, you can use AI to develop quiz questions about personal finance management tips or polls about customer preferences in digital banking services.
5. Email newsletter content
Develop prompts for email newsletters that capture attention and encourage interaction. Request subject lines, preheaders, and content that promote financial literacy tips or announce upcoming webinars on investment strategies.
Prompt: ‘Generate a newsletter announcing upcoming webinars on ‘advanced investment strategies.’ Include engaging subject lines, preheaders, and webinar details.’
6. Social media campaigns
Craft prompts for social media posts that enhance brand visibility and engagement. For instance, prompt AI to create Instagram captions featuring customer success stories or LinkedIn posts discussing fintech innovations and their impact on financial services.
7. Video script ideas
Use AI to outline video scripts for explainer videos or product demonstrations. Generate a script that effectively communicates the features and benefits of a budgeting app for managing personal finances.
Prompt: ‘Outline a script for an explainer video demonstrating how our AI-powered chatbot improves customer service in financial institutions.’
8. White paper or ebook outlines
Generate prompts to write or outline comprehensive white papers or ebooks on industry-specific topics. For example, AI can be requested to create outlines that delve into emerging trends in digital banking technologies or research findings on consumer behavior in financial services.
Prompt: ‘Generate an outline for a white paper on “the future of digital payments.” Include sections on blockchain technology, mobile wallets, and regulatory impacts.’
9. SEO-optimized content
Create prompts for developing SEO-friendly content that enhances search engine visibility. For example, request AI-generated article titles and outlines for blog posts focused on practical financial planning tips or investment strategies optimized for relevant keywords.
Prompt: ‘Generate SEO-friendly article titles and outlines for the “top 10 personal finance apps for 2024.” Focus on usability, features, and user reviews.’
10. Customer testimonials and case studies
Use AI to draft authentic customer testimonials and case studies. Prompt the AI to create content that showcases real-life success stories, illustrating how your product solves specific challenges.
Prompt: ‘Create customer testimonials showcasing how our fintech solutions helped businesses increase operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.’
11. Proofreading and content refinement
AI proofreading tools simplify content review by swiftly checking grammar, punctuation, and style. Some of them go beyond basic spellcheckers to enhance readability and align tone with your brand voice.
Prompt: ‘Review the following text for grammar, punctuation, and style errors. Ensure that the tone is consistent and appropriate for a professional business blog. Highlight any complex sentences and suggest simpler alternatives to improve readability. Also, check for clarity and coherence throughout the text.’
Summarize this article for me pleaseExploring Examples of Successful AI-Generated Content
Let’s explore some notable examples of successful AI-generated content, highlighting how different organizations have used AI to achieve remarkable results:
1. Bankrate’s financial advice content
Bankrate, a leading financial advice website, has used AI to generate informative articles. By leveraging AI to produce initial drafts, which are then reviewed and refined by human editors, Bankrate ensures the accuracy and relevance of its content.
This blend of AI efficiency and human expertise has resulted in hundreds of thousands of monthly visits from organic searches. The credibility and authority of the Bankrate domain, coupled with thorough editorial oversight, have been pivotal in maintaining high rankings and trustworthiness.
2. TV 2 Fyn’s Click-Through Rate (CTR) improvement
A Danish news outlet, TV 2 Fyn, experimented with AI-generated headlines to boost article engagement. Using ChatGPT, they created multiple headline variations and conducted A/B tests to compare their performance against human-generated headlines.
The results were impressive, with AI-generated headlines achieving a 59% increase in CTR. This success underscores the potential of AI to craft compelling and clickable headlines, driving higher engagement rates for online content.
3. Bloomberg’s earnings call summaries
Bloomberg leverages AI to enhance content creation and research workflows. They introduced AI-Powered Earnings Call Summaries and an improved Document Search on their mobile apps, including Bloomberg Professional apps on iOS and Android.
The AI-Powered Earnings Call Summaries allow analysts to quickly extract key insights from complex financial information. Combined with the Document Search function, which uses natural language processing to search millions of trusted documents, these tools significantly reduce the time needed to find critical information, enhancing the overall research workflow.
4. Grammarly’s AI-powered writing assistant
Grammarly has become an essential tool for millions of users worldwide, offering real-time writing assistance to improve grammar, spelling, and clarity. By integrating AI algorithms, Grammarly helps users produce polished and professional content across various platforms, from emails and documents to social media posts. This tool not only enhances individual writing skills but also ensures that the content is error-free and easy to read.
Summarize this article for me pleaseTips for Writing Effective AI Prompts
Creating effective prompts for AI writing involves several strategic approaches to ensure clarity, specificity, and relevance in the generated content. When creating prompts for ChatGPT, several steps ensure the responses you receive are useful and relevant.
Let’s explore these steps in detail:
1. Assign a role
To begin with, harness the ‘Act as if…’ technique and assign ChatGPT a role. This helps the AI model understand the perspective it should adopt. For example, you can say, ‘You will take the role of a [role],’ specifying whether you want ChatGPT to act as a social media expert, compassionate speaker, personal development coach, or something else.
2. Give a clear, descriptive, and accurate task
Next, be specific about what you want ChatGPT to do. For example, rather than saying, ‘Write me a blog post,’ you can say, ‘Write a six-paragraph first-person blog post designed for an audience of cat lovers, including a funny story, ending with a question, mentioning my ginger cat Orlando, and referencing [brand name] of cat food.’ If necessary, break down large tasks into smaller ones, such as first asking for headline options, then summaries, and finally, the main content.
3. Provide context
Include everything in your prompt that might help ChatGPT perform better. Give details about what you need and include information about your preferred writing style, the text’s purpose, and any background information to set the scene.
4. Provide examples
Examples help the AI emulate the desired style and meet your expectations. If you’re asking for tweets, share tweets that performed well previously. For an SOP, include one that fits the desired style. Examples can come from multiple sources and don’t need to be your own.
5. Create rules
Specify your rules clearly, such as requesting output in a two-column table, in sentence case, or explaining simply enough for a 5-year-old. The more specific your rules, the more creatively ChatGPT can work within them.
6. Create constraints
Separate what you want the AI to do from what you don’t want it to do. List constraints to avoid undesired outcomes. These can be as specific as ‘Don’t use two words when one will suffice’ or ‘Don’t use idioms.’ Constraints help the AI stay within the desired parameters.
7. Evaluate and iterate
Be prepared to refine your prompts. Patience and iteration are key. Evaluate each set of results, make changes, and see if the output improves. Save your prompts to refine them over time until you find the perfect recipe.
8. Incorporate keywords and key phrases
Use terms that directly relate to your topic or industry. For example, in a prompt about digital marketing, include specific terms like ‘SEO,’ ‘content strategy,’ or ‘social media engagement’ to ensure the AI understands the context and delivers targeted insights.
9. Combining multiple prompts
Combining multiple prompts can enhance the depth and scope of AI-generated content. Start with a broad prompt to establish context, then follow up with a more detailed prompt and specific instructions to refine the output. For example, you can use the prompt, ‘Explain the basics of blockchain technology. Provide examples of its applications in finance and healthcare.’
10. Use ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’ with AI prompts
Incorporate clear guidelines in your prompts to steer AI responses in the most desired tone and direction. For instance, ‘Describe the benefits of renewable energy sources. DO highlight environmental benefits. DON’T mention specific brands.’
Using AI tools to enhance the content creation process
While remembering these tips to create good prompts helps, you will need a powerful AI tool to create content perfectly tailored to your needs.
For instance, ClickUp’s AI-powered assistant, ClickUp Brain, is designed to simplify and enhance your content-creation workflow.
Here are the specific features that can help:
- AI Writer for Work
- Writing assistant: Provides real-time suggestions on grammar, style, vocabulary, and overall coherence to improve your writing quality
- Built-in spell check: Automatically checks for spelling errors in your documents and tasks, ensuring your content is error-free
- AI quick replies: Generates quick, contextually appropriate replies to messages, helping you maintain the perfect tone
- Create tables: Allows you to create tables with rich data and insights, helpful in organizing information
- Create templates: Instantly generates templates for tasks, documents, and projects tailored to your specific needs
- Create transcripts: Converts voice into text and uses AI to answer questions from your meetings and clips
- AI Knowledge Manager
- Instant answers: Provides instant, accurate answers based on context from any work within and connected to ClickUp
- Workspace Q&A: Allows you to create and find content relevant to your workspace, saving time on manual searches
You can also use ClickUp Docs to store all your documents in one place, making it easy to organize and access your content. To structure your documents effectively, you can create nested pages, use templates, and add rich formatting.
Here are some of the other features that ClickUp Docs offers:
- Docs Hub: The Docs Hub provides a centralized location to manage all your documents. You can search, sort, and filter your Docs, making it easy to find the information you need
- Version control: ClickUp Docs supports version histories, allowing you to track changes and revert to previous versions if needed
- Real-time collaboration: Edit documents in real time with your team. You can tag others with comments, assign action items, and convert text into trackable tasks to keep everyone on the same page
- Shareable links: Create links to your Docs, allowing you to share content with individuals outside your workspace. You can control the level of access they have, from view-only to full editing rights
- Integration with Tasks: Link your Docs to tasks, projects, and workflows within ClickUp. This integration ensures that your content is always connected to relevant work, making it easier to execute ideas
What’s more? Use ClickUp’s ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Template to craft engaging and captivating content effortlessly.
With this template, you can:
- Generate ideas: Quickly come up with fresh ideas for articles, blogs, and various content types
- Create compelling stories: Develop unique and engaging stories that capture your readers’ attention
- Brainstorm new topics: Explore new topics and innovative approaches to enhance your writing
Here are the key features of this template:
- Prompts: Gain access to 200 general writing prompts within a nested ClickUp Doc
- Custom Views: Organize and manage your stories using various ClickUp Views like Board or Calendar, making it easy to access and track your writings
- Project management: Enhance your writing projects with features like time tracking, reminders, relationships, and time estimates
Also read: How to Use AI for Documentation
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Future Application and Potential of AI Writing Prompts
Writing AI prompts are on the cusp of a transformative evolution, as evidenced by ChatGPT’s record-breaking user growth. The adoption of generative AI by companies has recently jumped from 54% to 72%. This technology is not only widespread but also highly embraced, with significant engagement from Millennials and Gen Z.
Beyond their current capabilities, they promise to become sophisticated tools for content creation. We can anticipate advancements in:
- Hyper-personalized prompts: AI will tailor prompts based on individual user preferences, writing styles, and target audiences
- Multilingual and cultural adaptation: Prompts will seamlessly navigate linguistic and cultural nuances, enabling global content creation
- Creative exploration: AI will generate innovative and unconventional prompts, pushing creative boundaries
- Data-driven insights: AI will offer data-backed prompt suggestions by analyzing vast datasets and optimizing content performance
- Industry-specific prompts: Tailored prompts for fields such as law, medicine, and finance will enhance accuracy and efficiency
This evolution will allow content creators to produce higher quality, more relevant content at an accelerated pace.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Role of AI in Transforming Content Creation
AI is rapidly changing the landscape of content creation. By automating initial stages, suggesting ideas, and enhancing writing quality, AI allows creators to focus on higher-level strategy and creativity.
Tools like ClickUp Brain, with their AI-driven features, show how you can integrate these advancements to simplify workflows and boost productivity. As AI evolves, we can anticipate a future where human ingenuity and artificial intelligence collaborate seamlessly to produce exceptional content at scale.
Sign up to ClickUp today to get from ideation to publication faster!
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