AI · prompting · marketing
The only prompt formula you'll ever need (no $300 course required)
Prompt engineering isn't a job anymore — it's just clear communication. Here's the plain-english template I use so AI actually gets what you want.
okay, real talk. Three years ago "prompt engineer" was the dream job — people were pulling six figures (some over $300k!) just to write the perfect sentence for an AI. And then it quietly collapsed. In microsoft's survey of ~31,000 workers, prompt engineering came in second to LAST for roles they actually want to hire for. Why? The models got so good that the "perfect prompt" doesn't exist anymore. They understand you even when you make typos, and they ask follow-up questions when they're confused.
so the real skill — the one that never goes away — isn't engineering. It's just being able to say clearly what you want. That's communication. And nobody should charge you $300 to teach you how to talk. That said, there ARE a few things worth adding to a prompt that you might not think of. So I turned them into one plain-english template. Paste it, fill it in, done.
What’s happening and why this task exists.
What “done well” should look like.
What to include, avoid, preserve, or question.
Ask it to interview you before it assumes.
The plain-english prompt template
Paste this into Claude or ChatGPT I need your help with [what you're trying to do]. Here's everything you need to know: - Who this is for: [the audience / who reads or uses this] - What I actually want out of this: [the result / the win, in one sentence] - The tone / vibe: [e.g. Warm and confident, funny, professional, plain and simple] - What I already have: [any info, context, links, or a rough draft — paste it below] - What to avoid: [anything that would make this wrong — jargon, length, a boring tone, etc.] - Format I want it back in: [e.g. A short list, a caption, an email, 3 options to choose from] Before you write anything, ask me any questions if something is unclear or missing. Then give me your best version. After that, I might ask you to tweak it — that's expected, so keep it easy to edit. Here's my rough info: [paste your messy notes, draft, or details here]
How to use it
Copy the whole thing and paste it straight into Claude or ChatGPT.
Swap out everything in [brackets] with your real details — don't overthink it, messy notes are totally fine.
Notice the line that tells it to ASK questions first. This is the secret — let it interview you instead of guessing.
Answer its follow-up questions in plain english, like you're texting a friend.
When it gives you a version, tell it what to change: 'shorter,' 'warmer,' 'give me 3 options.' Iterate until it's right — that back-and-forth IS the skill.
that's it. No engineering, no formula, no $300 anything — just clear communication with a template to jog your memory. Save this one, use it on your next boring email or caption or plan, and watch how much better AI 'gets' you. If this made something click, come find me — I share this stuff every day. Tell me what you paste it into first. 🎀