The formula

Bad answers come from vague prompts. Every prompt below follows the same shape:

Role: who the AI should be ("You are a senior copywriter")
Context: your situation, audience and facts
Goal: the exact result you want
Format: length, bullets, table, tone
Ending: one of the 3 endings below

The 3 endings that change everything

"Ask me questions first." The AI asks what it is missing before it writes.
"Give me 3 options." You pick the best instead of rewriting 5 times.
"Critique your own answer, then improve it." A free second draft.

Business (1–10)

01
You are a business consultant. My business: [what you sell, to whom, price]. List the 5 fastest ways to get my next 10 customers this month, ranked by cost. Ask me questions first.
02
Act as my CFO. Here are my monthly numbers: [revenue, costs]. Show where money leaks and 3 cuts that won't hurt sales. Use a table.
03
Write a 1-page business plan for [idea] in [city]. Sections: problem, customer, offer, price, first 90 days. Keep it plain English.
04
You are a pricing expert. I sell [product] at [price]. Competitors charge [prices]. Suggest 3 pricing options (good, better, best) with what each includes. Give me 3 options.
05
Turn these messy notes into a clear SOP that a new hire can follow: [paste notes]. Numbered steps, one action per step.
06
Write a polite but firm message to a client who is [late paying / asking for free extras]. Keep the relationship. 3 versions: soft, neutral, firm.
07
Find the weak spots in this offer: [paste offer]. Critique it like a skeptical buyer, then rewrite it stronger.
08
Create a weekly KPI dashboard for a [type of business]: the 6 numbers I should track, why, and a healthy target for each.
09
I have [budget] and [hours per week]. Give me 3 side-business ideas that use [my skill], with first steps for each.
10
Summarise this contract in plain English and list anything risky I should ask a lawyer about: [paste]. (Not legal advice.)

Marketing and social (11–20)

11
You are a viral short-video writer. Topic: [topic]. Write 10 hooks under 12 words each. Mix: a number, a mistake, a secret, a result first.
12
Write a 30-second reel script about [topic] for [audience]. Hook in the first 2 seconds, 3 quick points, end with "Comment [KEYWORD]".
13
Turn this long post into 5 carousel slides: one idea per slide, max 20 words each: [paste].
14
Write an Instagram caption for [post]. First line must stop the scroll. Add 1 question for comments and 5 relevant hashtags.
15
Act as my content strategist. My niche: [niche]. Plan 30 days of posts: day, format (reel/carousel/story), hook, keyword CTA. Use a table.
16
Write 3 cold DMs to [type of business] offering [service]. Under 60 words, no hype, one clear question at the end.
17
Here are my 5 best-performing posts: [paste]. Find the pattern and give me 10 new post ideas that follow it.
18
Write a landing page for [product]: headline, subheadline, 3 benefits, 3 FAQs, call to action. Ask me questions first.
19
Rewrite this ad so it speaks to [audience]'s real pain: [paste]. Give me 3 options.
20
Create a lead magnet idea for [audience] that I can make in 1 hour, plus the DM message that delivers it.

Writing (21–30)

21
Edit this to sound like a real person, not an AI. Remove filler, buzzwords and long sentences: [paste].
22
Make this email shorter and clearer without losing anything important: [paste].
23
Explain [topic] to a 12-year-old, then to a business owner, then to an expert.
24
Write a story-style post about [experience]: problem, turning point, lesson. Under 200 words.
25
Give me 10 title options for [article/video]. Then pick the best 2 and explain why.
26
Turn these bullet points into a friendly newsletter: [paste]. Add a subject line and a P.S.
27
Rewrite this in 3 tones: professional, friendly, bold: [paste].
28
Check this text for unclear sentences, repeated words and weak verbs. Show fixes in a table: [paste].
29
Write a bio for [name/role] in 3 lengths: 1 line, 50 words, 150 words.
30
Draft a speech/toast for [event] that is 1 minute long, warm and a little funny. Ask me questions first.

Learning (31–40)

31
Teach me [skill] in 7 days. One 20-minute lesson per day with a small task. Start with day 1.
32
Quiz me on [topic] with 10 questions, one at a time. Tell me what I got wrong and why.
33
Summarise this article in 5 bullets and 1 action I can take today: [paste/link].
34
Explain the 20% of [subject] that gives 80% of the results.
35
Compare [option A] and [option B] for someone who [situation]. Table: cost, effort, risk, best for.
36
I keep failing at [goal]. Ask me 5 questions to find the real blocker, then give me a plan.
37
Turn this lesson into flashcards (question / answer): [paste].
38
What are the most common beginner mistakes in [skill]? How do I avoid each one?
39
Create a reading list for [topic]: 3 beginner, 3 intermediate, 3 advanced, with one line on each.
40
Role-play as [interviewer / client / customer] so I can practise [situation]. Give feedback at the end.

Productivity and life (41–50)

41
Here is everything on my plate: [list]. Sort it into do today, schedule, delegate, delete.
42
Plan my week around these fixed events: [list]. Include deep-work blocks and breaks.
43
Turn this meeting transcript into decisions, action items (owner + date) and open questions: [paste].
44
Write a checklist for [recurring task] so I never forget a step.
45
Help me decide: [decision]. List pros, cons, risks and what I would regret most. Then ask me 3 questions.
46
Build a simple monthly budget for [income] in [city]. Categories and amounts, with savings first.
47
Create a 4-week workout plan for [goal], [days per week], [equipment]. Beginner-friendly.
48
Plan [number] days in [city] for [interests] on a [budget]. Morning, afternoon, evening.
49
Give me 10 dinner ideas using [ingredients I have], under 30 minutes each.
50
Act as my accountability coach. My goal: [goal]. Ask me for a daily check-in and push back when I make excuses.

Next step

Save this file. Pick 3 prompts you'll use this week, and add the endings to everything else you ask AI. Follow @aishortcut.hq for one new AI shortcut every day.

50 prompts that fix bad AI answers