🧠 How to Build a Good Prompt for AI

Creating a good prompt is like learning to converse with a new intelligence. The way you communicate defines the type and quality of the response you'll receive. A well-constructed prompt turns an AI into a powerful tool; a poorly made one produces generic or confusing answers.

Below, see how to craft prompts that actually work — whether to write texts, generate images, program, or automate tasks.

🎯 1. Start with a clear objective

Before typing anything, ask yourself:

"What exactly do I want the AI to do?"

An effective prompt always has a defined intent — explain, compare, generate, correct, summarize, translate, create code, etc.

Example:

• ❌ "Talk about marketing." (vague)
• ✅ "Write a 200-word summary about the main digital marketing strategies for small businesses."

🧩 2. Give context

The AI doesn't "know" what you want until you explain it. Context is what guides the response.
Include scenario details, audience, and expected format.

Example:

"I'm a high school teacher and I want a simple explanation, no more than two paragraphs, about the Theory of Relativity for teenagers."

🗣️ 3. Use direct, structured instructions

AIs interpret better when instructions are clear and segmented.
Use verbs in the imperative and numbered lists or bullet points when you need multiple steps.

Example:

Create a list with 5 Instagram post ideas for a coffee shop.
For each idea, include:

1. Post title
2. Suggested caption
3. Recommended image type

✍️ 4. Specify tone and style

Do you want a response that is formal, creative, technical, funny? Say so.
Tone defines the "way" of the response.

Example:

• "Explain in a light and playful tone, as if talking to a friend."
• "Summarize this text in legal and objective language."

🧠 5. Use examples or templates

If you want a specific format, show an example.
The AI learns from the pattern you provide.

Example:

Write a product description in the same style as this example:

'Basic t-shirt made with organic cotton, ideal for everyday wear. Lightweight, breathable, and with a modern cut.'

🔁 6. Refine and test variations

The first prompt is rarely ideal.
Small changes in wording can produce very different results.
Use the AI iteratively: test, adjust, and ask for improvements.

Example of refinement:

1. "Explain the concept of blockchain."
2. "Explain blockchain to a 10-year-old."
3. "Explain blockchain to a 10-year-old using an analogy with a shared notebook."

🤝 7. Ask for help creating the perfect prompt

You don't need to know how to write the ideal prompt from the start.
You can simply ask the AI:

"Help me create a prompt to generate [type of desired result]."

It can guide you with questions, suggest formats, and even assemble the final version of the prompt.
Then you use that refined prompt in another AI — or even the same one — to generate the final content.

This is especially useful when you're dealing with different tools (for example, a text AI and another for image or code).

🧰 8. Combine roles and constraints

Ask the AI to assume a role (e.g., teacher, designer, lawyer) and set limits (e.g., time, length, language).

Example:

Act as a UX consultant and analyze this website based on usability and clarity of navigation.
Limit the response to 3 paragraphs.

💬 9. Write the prompt in Markdown

Prompts written in Markdown (MD) — with headings, lists and simple formatting — are better interpreted by most AIs.
This helps the model understand the structure of what you want and increases clarity.

Example:

# Task
Write a formal thank-you letter to a client.

## Details
- Client name: João Silva
- Company: Alfa Tech
- Tone: professional and cordial

This format organizes the thinking and improves the accuracy of the response.

⚙️ 10. Avoid ambiguities

Vague words like "good", "big", "interesting" or "cool" leave the AI without direction.
Prefer measurable, comparative, or exemplified terms.

Example:

• ❌ "Create a nice text."
• ✅ "Create a poetic text of 4 lines inspired by the sunrise."

💡 11. Adopt the cycle "Prompt → Result → Adjust"

Treat the process as a creative dialogue:

1. Generate the first result.
2. Evaluate what was missing.
3. Reinforce or correct what the AI didn't understand.

The more you interact, the more the model learns your style and intentions.

🚀 Conclusion

A good prompt is clear, specific, contextual and iterative.
You can even use an AI to help create the ideal prompt before generating the final content.
And remember: using Markdown is a simple and powerful way to make your requests more organized and understandable.

The quality of the response always reflects the quality of the question — so the better your prompt, the smarter the AI will be.