Most ChatGPT prompts fail the same way: “write me an Instagram post about productivity” produces the same beige mush for everyone who types it. The fix isn’t a magic word — it’s structure.
The formula behind every good prompt
Role + context + task + constraints + output format. Tell the model who it is, who you are, what you want, what to avoid, and exactly how to format the answer. Compare:
❌ “Write a hook about email marketing.”
✅ “You are a direct-response copywriter. My audience: freelance designers who hate selling. Write 10 first lines for a post about email marketing. Mix bold claims, questions and mini-stories. Under 12 words each. No clichés like ‘game-changer’.”
Ideation prompts
- “You are a content strategist for [NICHE]. List 20 questions my audience is too embarrassed to ask publicly.”
- “Give me 15 ‘before vs after’ content ideas for [TOPIC] that show a transformation.”
- “Here’s a post that performed well: [PASTE]. Extract its formula, then apply it to 10 new topics in my niche.”
- “List 12 contrarian takes on common advice in [NICHE], each with the nuance that makes it defensible.”
- “What are 10 mistakes beginners make with [TOPIC]? Rank by how expensive the mistake is.”
Hook and headline prompts
- “Write 15 opening lines for a post about [TOPIC]: bold claim, stat, confession, question, mini-story — 3 of each.”
- “Rewrite this hook 10 ways, each targeting a different emotion: [HOOK]”
- “Give me 10 ‘number + outcome + timeframe’ headlines for [TOPIC].”
Script and long-form prompts
- “Write a 45-second Reels script on [TOPIC]: hook (3s), problem (7s), 3 tips (25s), CTA (5s). Include visual directions.”
- “Outline a 1,500-word SEO article for the keyword [KEYWORD]: H2/H3 structure, FAQ section, natural places for internal links.”
- “Turn this outline into a draft in my voice. Voice sample: [PASTE 2 PARAGRAPHS YOU WROTE].”
- “Write a meta description under 155 characters for this post: [PASTE INTRO]. Include [KEYWORD] naturally.”
Repurposing prompts
- “Turn this blog post into a 5-tweet thread. Tweet 1 must create curiosity without clickbait: [PASTE]”
- “Extract 5 quotable one-liners from this transcript for social graphics: [PASTE]”
- “Rewrite this LinkedIn post for Instagram: shorter sentences, line breaks, end with a question + 8 niche hashtags: [PASTE]”
Make them yours
The brackets are the point — the specifics you add are what make output sound like you. Two habits: keep a swipe file of prompts that worked, and always ask for “5 more variations” before settling. If you want the full library instead of a starter set, the 1,000+ Prompt Pack is organized by exactly these categories, and pairs well with our YouTube Script System for long-form.
