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Hey there,
Welcome back to AI, Eh? and a warm welcome to anyone joining us for the first time this week. Glad you're here.
Last week we introduced four free AI tools worth trying right now, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Canva AI. If you missed it or want to share it with someone who could use a starting point, you can read it here: Issue 1: 4 AI tools worth trying this week.
This week we're tackling the single most important skill you can develop when working with AI. How to write a prompt that actually gets you what you want.
Why prompting matters
Think of AI like a brilliant assistant who just started working with you today. They're incredibly capable, they're eager to help, and they will do exactly what you ask. The problem is they don't know you yet. They don't know your business, your tone, your customers, or what you actually need.
The way you communicate with that assistant determines everything. Give them a vague request and you'll get a vague result. Give them clear, specific, detailed instructions and you'll get something genuinely useful. That's all prompting is. It's just learning how to communicate clearly with a very capable tool.
The 4 principles of a great prompt
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1. Give context
AI has no idea who you are or what you do unless you tell it. This is the single biggest mistake most people make when they start out. They type a quick question and wonder why the answer feels generic. The answer is generic because the question was generic.
Context means telling AI who you are, what you do, who you're talking to, and what you're trying to achieve. The more relevant detail you provide upfront, the more tailored and useful the response will be. Think of it as briefing a colleague before asking for their help.
Without context:
| "Write me a social media post about my business." |
With context:
| "I own a small bakery called Prairie Loaf in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. We specialize in sourdough bread and homemade pastries. Write a friendly Instagram post announcing that our Saturday morning cinnamon buns are back for the season." |
Try this template:
| "I am [WHO YOU ARE] and I [WHAT YOU DO] in [YOUR CITY], [YOUR PROVINCE]. I need help with [WHAT YOU NEED]." |
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2. Be specific
Vague questions get vague answers. This is true whether you're asking a colleague, a search engine, or an AI. The more specific your request, the more targeted and useful the response will be.
Specific means telling AI exactly what you want, how long it should be, what format to use, what to include or leave out, and who it's for. You don't have to specify every single detail every time, but the more you can narrow down what you need, the less back and forth you'll have to do.
Too vague:
| "Help me write an email." |
Specific:
| "Write a short email to my landlord asking for permission to install a small shed in the backyard of my rental property in Edmonton, Alberta. Keep it polite and professional. No more than 150 words." |
Try this template:
| "Write a [FORMAT] about [TOPIC] for [WHO IT IS FOR]. Keep it [LENGTH] and make sure to include [WHAT TO INCLUDE]." |
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3. Set the tone
AI will match whatever tone you ask for. If you don't specify, it tends to default to something fairly formal and polished which may not sound like you at all. That's why so much AI-generated content sounds the same. Nobody told it to sound different.
Whether you want something warm and conversational, professional and concise, lighthearted and fun, or empathetic and careful, just say so. You can even tell it to write in your voice by giving it a sample of how you normally communicate. This is one of the most underused tricks in AI and it makes an enormous difference to the final result.
No tone specified:
| "Write a message to my customers about our holiday hours." |
Tone specified:
| "Write a warm and friendly message to my customers letting them know my hair salon in Halifax, Nova Scotia will be closed December 24th to January 2nd for the holidays. The tone should feel personal and appreciative, like a note from a neighbour, not a corporate announcement." |
Try this template:
| "Write this in a [WARM / PROFESSIONAL / CASUAL / FRIENDLY / EMPATHETIC] tone. It should sound like [HOW YOU WANT IT TO FEEL], not like a [WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IT TO SOUND LIKE]." |
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4. Iterate
Your first prompt is rarely your best one and that is completely normal. The real power of AI comes from the conversation, not just the first response. Think of it less like a search engine where you type something and accept whatever comes back, and more like working with a collaborator who you can redirect, refine, and push until you get what you actually need.
If the first response isn't quite right, don't start over. Just tell AI what to change. Too long? Say so. Wrong tone? Tell it. Missing something important? Add it. Each follow up message gets you closer to exactly what you need, and over time you'll get better and better at knowing what to ask for upfront.
Starting over every time:
| "That's not quite right." [starts a new prompt from scratch] |
Iterating:
| "That's a good start. Can you make it shorter, about half the length, and add a sentence at the end inviting them to call us directly if they have any questions?" |
Handy follow up phrases to keep in your back pocket:
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"Make it shorter." | "Make it more casual." | "Add more detail about [TOPIC]." | "Remove the part about [TOPIC]." | "Can you give me three different versions?" | "Make it sound more like me."
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Putting it all together
Here is a prompt that uses all four principles at once. Feel free to copy this, fill in the blanks, and paste it into any free AI tool from Issue 1.
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"I am [YOUR NAME OR ROLE] and I [WHAT YOU DO OR WHO YOU ARE] in [YOUR CITY], [YOUR PROVINCE], Canada. I need help writing [WHAT YOU NEED]. It is for [WHO WILL READ OR USE IT]. Please keep the tone [HOW YOU WANT IT TO SOUND] and keep it to [LENGTH OR FORMAT]. Make sure to include [ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU NEED IN THERE]."
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Remember, your first response might not be perfect. That is okay. Just follow up and tell it what to change. The more you use it the more natural it becomes.
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AI assisted, Human led.
Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer.
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Coming up next week
Now that you know how to write a great prompt, next week we put it to work. Issue 3 is all about the 5 everyday tasks you can hand off to AI starting today. No tech background needed, just a few good prompts and a few minutes of your time. Stay tuned.
As always, I read every reply personally. What did you think of this issue? Did you try any of the prompts? I would love to hear what you are working on.
If you found this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend, family member, or colleague who could benefit. The more Canadians who feel confident using AI the better, and you never know who in your circle has been quietly wondering where to start.
Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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