Do your AI results feel average while others seem next-level? Once you understand prompt structure, everything changes. Here are five prompt frameworks you can steal today to turn “meh” into “nailed it.”
Written by Zaneta Styblova
You know that feeling when you type something into ChatGPT or Claude, and the response is just... meh?
Meanwhile, someone else seems to get magical results from the same AI. But how are they doing that?
It’s not magic. It’s structure. After countless hours working with AI tools, I’ve discovered something liberating: you don’t need to be a “prompt engineering expert” to get great results. You just need five reliable structures that work in almost any situation.
Let me show you the only five prompt structures you’ll ever need for content creation and analysis with real examples you can steal and adapt today.
This is your bread and butter. The TCF structure is like giving someone directions—you tell them what to do, why they’re doing it, and what the end result should look like.
The formula:
Task: Write a welcome email for new subscribers to my pottery newsletter.
Context: My audience is beginners who just signed up for my free guide “5 Clay Mistakes Everyone Makes.” They’re curious but intimidated. My brand voice is warm, encouraging, and a bit quirky.
Format: Keep it under 200 words, include a personal story in the first paragraph, and end with one actionable tip they can use today.
You’ve got about 30 words to convince readers your post is worth their time. Here’s how to write openings that do the heavy lifting for your content.
Task: Analyze the engagement patterns in this Instagram data.
Context: I’m a food blogger who posts recipes. I’ve been experimenting with Reels vs. carousel posts for the past three months. My goal is to figure out what drives saves and shares, not just likes.
Format: Give me three key insights in bullet points, then suggest two specific content experiments I should try next month.
Why it works: The TCF structure eliminates ambiguity. The AI isn’t guessing what you want because you’ve told it exactly what success looks like. This structure alone will improve 80% of your prompts.
Sometimes the best way to explain what you want is to show examples. This structure is perfect when you have a specific style, tone, or format in mind.
The formula:
I need social media captions for my candle business. Here are two I love:
Example 1: “3am thoughts deserve a 3-wick candle. This is not a drill. This is self-care. 🕯️”
Example 2: “Unpopular opinion: You can’t have too many candles. You can only have too few shelves.”
What I love: They’re short, a bit sassy, relatable, and each ends with either an emoji or a punchy statement.
Now write 5 more captions in this same style for my new lavender mint candle collection.
I need subject lines for my email course about productivity. Here are two that performed well:
Example 1: “Why your to-do list is lying to you” (32% open rate)
Example 2: “I wasted 4 hours yesterday. Here’s what I learned.” (29% open rate)
What works: They create curiosity without being clickbait, use “you” or “I” to feel personal, and hint at a story or insight.
Write 10 subject lines in this style for an email about time-blocking techniques.
Why it works: Examples are universal translators. Instead of describing what you want in abstract terms, you’re showing the AI exactly what good looks like. This is especially powerful for tone and style.
Learn how to unlock smarter, faster, and more authentic content by blending AI’s strengths with human expertise.
When you need the AI to think through something complex, this structure is your best friend. You’re essentially asking it to “show its work” like a math teacher.
The formula:
I’m writing a short story about a bakery that exists in two time periods simultaneously. Help me develop this concept by thinking through:
1. What would make this concept feel fresh rather than gimmicky?
2. What are three different ways the “two time periods” could work mechanically in the story?
3. For each option, what emotional or thematic purpose does it serve?
4. Which approach would create the most compelling narrative tension?
Show your thinking for each step, then suggest your top choice.
I’m trying to decide between two content strategies for my YouTube channel about minimalism:
Strategy A: One long-form video per week (15-20 minutes)
Strategy B: Three shorter videos per week (5-7 minutes each)
Walk me through the pros and cons of each approach. Think through:
1. Algorithm implications for each format
2. Audience retention patterns
3. How each affects my production schedule (I work full-time)
4. Long-term channel growth potential
Then give me your recommendation with reasoning.
Why it works: Complex decisions call for clear reasoning. By asking the AI to reason step by step, you get deeper insights instead of surface-level answers. Plus, you can follow (and question) its logic.
This structure is about putting the AI in someone else’s shoes while giving it specific boundaries to work within. It’s perfect for getting expert-level perspectives or navigating tricky requirements.
The formula:
You’re a travel writer for National Geographic who specializes in off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Write a 300-word piece about visiting Ljubljana, Slovenia that:
- Avoids typical tourist clichés (“hidden gem,” “best kept secret”)
- Focuses on one specific neighborhood or experience
- Includes sensory details that make readers feel like they’re there
- Ends with one practical tip for visitors
Target audience: Experienced travelers who’ve already seen the major European capitals.
You’re a brand strategist reviewing my small business’s Instagram account.
Look at my last 10 posts and give me feedback from the perspective of:
- Visual cohesion and brand recognition
- Call-to-action effectiveness
- Audience engagement patterns
Constraints:
- I can’t hire a photographer (phone photos only)
- I post 3x per week maximum
- My budget for tools is $50/month
Give me three changes I can implement this week that will have the biggest impact.
Why it works: Personas tap into the patterns and knowledge the AI has learned from expert content in its training. Constraints force practical, actionable advice instead of pie-in-the-sky suggestions you can’t actually use.
Instead of chasing perfection in one shot, you build your prompt in layers—starting rough and refining with each round.
The formula:
Round 1: “I need a tagline for my sustainable fashion brand aimed at Gen Z. Give me 10 options that emphasize style over sacrifice.”
[Review options]
Round 2: “I like #1 and #6 because they’re confident without being preachy. Give me 5 more variations that combine the boldness of #1 with the playfulness of #6.”
[Review again]
Round 3: “Perfect. Now take the top option and show me how it would work in three different contexts: website header, Instagram bio, and email signature.”
Round 1: “Create an outline for a blog post titled ‘5 Mistakes People Make When Starting a Podcast.’ My audience is entrepreneurs who are podcast-curious but overwhelmed.”
[Review outline]
Round 2: “Great structure. For point #4, expand that into three specific, beginner-friendly tips. Also, the intro feels too formal—make it more conversational and relatable.”
[Review revision]
Round 3: “Much better. Now write the full intro paragraph and the section on marketing. Keep everything else as an outline for now.”
Why it works: Iteration mirrors how humans actually work. You don’t write a perfect draft immediately—why expect the AI to? This approach gives you control and lets you steer toward exactly what you need.
You don’t need to memorize formulas or follow rigid templates. These five structures are frameworks, not scripts.
And here’s the real secret: you can combine these structures. Use TCF to set up a persona prompt. Add few-shot examples to a chain-of-thought request. Mix and match based on what you’re trying to accomplish.
All five structures share one critical ingredient: specificity.
Vague prompt: “Write something about productivity.”
Specific prompt: “Write a 400-word LinkedIn post about the Pomodoro Technique for freelance designers who struggle with client interruptions. Use a personal anecdote in the opening.”
The AI can work with both, but only the second one has a chance of giving you something you can actually use.
These structures are just tools to help you be specific in different ways. Master them, and you’ll never stare at a blank prompt box wondering what to type again.
Now go make something great.
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