Advanced AI Prompt Engineering

In my previous articles, I've shared the three AI mindsets, strategies for content creation, media transformation, service business enhancement, and essential AI tools. Today, I want to dive into one of the most critical skills for getting exceptional results from AI: prompt engineering.

The difference between mediocre and exceptional AI outputs often comes down to how you ask the question. Prompt engineering is the art and science of crafting instructions that get you exactly what you want from AI systems.

Think of it this way: AI is like a brilliant but literal-minded assistant. It will do exactly what you askâ€- no more, no less. The more specific, clear, and structured your request, the better the results you'll get.

To help you create more effective prompts, I've developed the CRAFT framework:

Provide relevant background information that helps the AI understand the situation. This includes:
- Your industry or business type
- Your target audience
- Your goals for this particular output
- Any relevant constraints or requirements

Example:I run a boutique financial advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals aged 50-65 who are preparing for retirement. Our brand voice is sophisticated but approachable.

Assign a specific role to the AI that aligns with your desired outcome. This helps frame how the AI should approach the task.

Example: Act as an experienced financial advisor with 20+ years of experience explaining complex concepts to non-experts."

Clearly state what you want the AI to do. Be specific about the format, length, and style of the output.

Example: Write a 500-word email newsletter article explaining the recent changes to tax laws affecting retirement accounts. Include three actionable tips that our clients can implement immediately.

Specify how you want the information structured. This could include headings, bullet points, numbered lists, or specific sections.

Example: "Structure the article with an attention-grabbing headline, an introduction that highlights the urgency of the topic, three main sections with subheadings, and a conclusion with a clear call to action.

Define the emotional tone and writing style you want the AI to use.
Example: "Use a reassuring but authoritative tone. Write in a conversational style that makes complex information accessible without being condescending. Include occasional analogies to help illustrate complex points.

Once you've mastered the CRAFT framework, you can enhance your results further with these advanced techniques:

Example: Before writing the article, analyze the three most important tax law changes. For each change, identify who it affects most, what actions they should take, and what the deadline is for those actions. Then, use this analysis to write the article."

Provide examples of what you want to see in the output to help the AI understand your expectations.

Example: Here are two examples of headlines in our style:
1. 'The Hidden Opportunity in Recent IRA Changes That Most Advisors Miss'
2. 'Three Tax Strategies That Could Save Your Retirement in 2025'
Please write 5 more headlines in this style for our article on tax law changes."

Start with a basic prompt, evaluate the output, and then refine your prompt based on what worked and what didn't.

Example: That's a good start, but the tone is too formal and technical. Please rewrite it using more conversational language and analogies that would resonate with our audience of business owners.

Create a detailed persona for the AI to adopt, complete with background, expertise, and communication style.

Example: You are Sarah, our firm's tax specialist with 25 years of experience and a gift for explaining complex concepts using everyday analogies. You have a warm, reassuring communication style and always focus on practical, actionable advice. As Sarah, write an email to our clients about...

Example: Do not include generic advice like 'consult with your financial advisor.' Instead, provide specific, actionable strategies. Also, avoid political commentary or predictions about future legislation.

Basic Prompt (Before):
Write content about AI for small businesses."

Result:
Generic, surface-level content about AI benefits for small businesses, lacking specific insights or actionable advice.

Enhanced Prompt (After):
I run a marketing agency serving small e-commerce businesses with 5-20 employees and $1-5M in annual revenue. Act as a digital transformation consultant with expertise in AI implementation for small businesses with limited technical resources.

Write a 750-word article titled 'The 5-Step AI Implementation Roadmap for Small E-commerce Businesses' that provides a practical guide for my clients. The article should:

- Address the specific challenges of small e-commerce businesses (limited budget, technical expertise, and time)

- Include real-world examples of AI implementation for inventory management, customer service, and marketing

- Provide a step-by-step implementation plan with specific tools and approximate costs
- Use a confident but accessible tone that acknowledges concerns without being condescending

- End with a clear call to action

Structure the article with an introduction, 5 numbered steps with subheadings, and a conclusion. Avoid generic advice like 'hire an expert' or 'invest in AI.' Instead, focus on specific, actionable strategies that a non-technical business owner could implement with minimal outside help."

Result:
A highly specific, actionable article tailored exactly to the target audience, with relevant examples, specific tool recommendations, and practical implementation steps.

The 10X Prompt Template
A highly specific, actionable article tailored exactly to the target audience, with relevant examples, specific tool recommendations, and practical implementation steps.

Act as [expert role] with expertise in [relevant domain].
[Task description] that [purpose/goal].

The output should:
- [Specific requirement 1]
- [Specific requirement 2]
- [Specific requirement 3]
- [Tone and style guidance]
- [Format guidance]

Structure the output with [structural elements].
Avoid [what not to include].
Additional context: [any other relevant information].

Prompt Libraries: Your Secret Weapon

One of the most powerful strategies I teach my clients is to build a prompt library—a collection of proven prompts that consistently deliver excellent results for common tasks in your business.

Here's how to build your prompt library:

1. Identify Common Tasks: Make a list of the tasks you frequently use AI for, such as writing emails, creating social media posts, or analyzing data.

2. Create Base Prompts: Develop a comprehensive prompt for each task using the CRAFT framework.

3. **Test and Refine**: Use each prompt multiple times and refine it based on the results.

4. **Document Success**: When a prompt works exceptionally well, save it to your library with notes about why it was effective.

5. **Share with Your Team**: Create a centralized prompt library that your entire team can access and contribute to.

Over time, your prompt library will become one of your most valuable business assets—a collection of intellectual property that gives you a significant competitive advantage in how you use AI.

Here's how to start improving your prompt engineering skills today:

1. Audit Your Current Prompts: Review the prompts you're currently using and identify opportunities for improvement using the CRAFT framework.

2. Experiment with Advanced Techniques: Try chain of thought prompting, few-shot learning, or persona-based prompting for a task you frequently perform.

3. Start Your Prompt Library: Create a document or spreadsheet to store your most effective prompts, organized by task type.

4. Practice Iterative Refinement: Instead of accepting the first output from an AI system, provide feedback and ask for revisions based on specific criteria.

5. Share and Learn: Exchange effective prompts with colleagues or in professional communities to accelerate your learning.

In my next article, I'll share strategies for building custom AI systems that can transform your business operations. Until then, I challenge you to rewrite at least three of your commonly used prompts using the CRAFT framework and compare the results.

Roman Bodnarchuk is the founder of 10XAI News and creator of The 10X AI Accelerator program, helping entrepreneurs leverage artificial intelligence to achieve exponential growth in their businesses. Follow him on X @10XAINews and Instagram @10XANews.