A Simple 3-Part Prompt That Works

Most people don’t get great results from AI because they don’t give it enough to work with. A prompt like “write me a blog post” is too vague. The output ends up sounding generic—and understandably so.

Here’s a clearer way to think about it:

Every time you write a prompt, include these three parts.

Role + Task + Format

1. Act as a (ROLE)

Give the AI a role to play. This helps frame the response and sets the tone.

Examples:

Marketer, CFO, Copywriter, Author, Coach

More specific is better: “email copywriter for SaaS startups” works better than just “writer.”

2. Create a (TASK)

Be clear about what you want. Most prompts fall short here.

Examples:

Write a blog post, create an email sequence, summarize a meeting, draft a script

Tip: Use action verbs to make it direct.

3. Show as a (FORMAT)

Let the AI know how you want the information delivered.

Examples: List, table, bullet points, markdown, spreadsheet

Think about what would be easiest to scan or use right away.

A Few Quietly Useful Examples

For content: Act as a health copywriter. Write an email sequence for a meditation app launch. Show it as markdown with subject lines.

For business planning: Act as a CFO. Create a budget summary comparing us to industry benchmarks. Show it as a table.

For creative work: Act as a novelist. Draft a chapter outline for a mystery set in 1920s Chicago. Show it as bullet points.

Why This Works

It gives just enough context to guide the AI in the right direction. Clear prompts save time and lead to more useful output—without the need to keep reworking the result.

Worth trying if you haven’t already.