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Hey, Josh here. Knowing what to prompt and how to do it can be hard sometimes… Here is our prompting cheatsheet

Ultimate Prompting Reference Guide

Use this guide as a quick reference whenever you craft prompts for AI. Each section below explains why it matters, when to use it, and how to apply it effectively.

1. TONE

What It Means:
Specify the voice and mood of your response.

Why It Matters:
Tone shapes how your message is received. A persuasive tone sounds different from an informative or casual tone.

How to Apply:

• Examples:

  • “Write in a formal and professional tone suitable for a corporate report.”

  • “Make it witty, conversational, and fun like a Morning Brew newsletter.”

Pro Tip:
If you want AI to mimic a specific style, mention the tone AND the reference (e.g., “Write in a dramatic, suspenseful tone like a Netflix crime documentary”).

2. FORMAT

What It Means:
Tell the AI how to structure the output.

Why It Matters:
Clear formats prevent clutter and make information easier to digest.

How to Apply:

• Formats you can request:

  • Essay

  • Bullet points

  • Outline

  • Table

  • Script

• Example:
  “Provide a comparison in a table format with pros and cons.”

Pro Tip:
If the content needs to be skimmable (e.g., for social media), specify short paragraphs or listicles.

3. ACT AS

What It Means:
Assign the AI a role or persona.

Why It Matters:
Roles help shape perspective and expertise in responses.

Examples:

• “Act as a career coach advising a recent graduate.”

• “Act as a seasoned YouTube scriptwriter for faceless documentaries.”

Pro Tip:
Combine roles with tone for extra precision:
“Act as a luxury brand consultant and write in a persuasive, elegant tone.”

4. OBJECTIVE

What It Means:
State the main goal of the response.

Why It Matters:
The AI needs to know the purpose to deliver relevant content.

Examples:

• Inform

• Persuade

• Explain

• Entertain

• Sell

Pro Tip:
Add specifics:
“Persuade small business owners to adopt AI automation tools by explaining time and cost savings.”

5. CONTEXT

What It Means:
Provide any background details the AI should know.

Why It Matters:
Context ensures accuracy and relevance.

Examples:

• “This guide is for small businesses with little technical expertise.”

• “The article targets investors interested in AI stocks.”

Pro Tip:
Include any important historical details, data, or prior user input.

6. SCOPE

What It Means:
Define the boundaries of the topic.

Why It Matters:
Without a clear scope, AI might go too broad or too deep.

Examples:

• “Focus on the top 3 trends in AI for 2025.”

• “Explain benefits of automation for small businesses, NOT large corporations.”

Pro Tip:
Limit scope by time, geography, industry, or complexity.

7. KEYWORDS

What It Means:
List important words or phrases to include.

Why It Matters:
Keywords help with SEO, brand consistency, and topic relevance.

Example:
“Include keywords: AI productivity tools, automation consulting, small business.”

8. LIMITATIONS

What It Means:
Set boundaries like length, style, or resource use.

Why It Matters:
Keeps the output manageable and aligned with platform rules.

Examples:

• “Limit to 500 words.”

• “Keep all examples under 100 characters for Twitter.”

9. EXAMPLES

What It Means:
Show the AI what you like.

Why It Matters:
Examples act as templates for style and tone.

Example:
“Write like Morning Brew or The Hustle—witty, engaging, and full of personality.”

Pro Tip:
Provide good AND bad examples for clarity.

10. DEADLINE

What It Means:
Mention any time-sensitive needs.

Example:
“Prepare a press release draft for tomorrow’s product launch.”

Pro Tip:
Even though AI works instantly, deadlines help you prioritize tone and urgency in the text.

11. AUDIENCE

What It Means:
Define who the content is for.

Why It Matters:
Audience changes tone, complexity, and vocabulary.

Examples:

• Beginners vs. Experts

• Kids vs. Professionals

• Casual readers vs. Academics

Pro Tip:
Use demographics and psychographics:
“Target millennials who care about eco-friendly fashion.”

12. ANALOGIES

What It Means:
Request metaphors or real-world comparisons.

Why It Matters:
Analogies make complex ideas simple and relatable.

Example:
“Explain blockchain using a library book system analogy.”

13. QUOTES

What It Means:
Include quotes from experts or famous figures.

Why It Matters:
Adds credibility and authority.

Example:
“Include a quote from Elon Musk about AI automation.”

14. STATISTICS

What It Means:
Ask for data-driven insights.

Why It Matters:
Numbers make arguments stronger and more believable.

Example:
“Include 2024 stats on AI market growth and adoption rates.”

15. CALL TO ACTION (CTA)

What It Means:
Tell readers what to do next.

Why It Matters:
Clear CTAs convert interest into action.

Examples:

• “Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly AI tips.”

• “Download the free guide now.”

16. QUESTIONS

What It Means:
Ask AI to clarify before generating.

Why It Matters:
Avoids misunderstandings and ensures better output.

Example:
“Ask me 3 clarifying questions before writing the blog post.”

✅ How to Combine These for Powerful Prompts

Instead of writing:
"Write an article about AI."

Do this:
"Act as a tech journalist. Write a 700-word article in a conversational, witty tone like Morning Brew. Objective: Explain the top 3 AI trends for 2025 to small business owners. Include real-world analogies, two expert quotes, and one surprising statistic. End with a strong call to action to subscribe to our newsletter."