The phrase “Explain Like I’m Five” #ELI5 started as a social media trend and became a popular way to simplify complex topics. For marketers, understanding AI and how to optimize prompts is essential to leveraging AI-driven tools effectively. In this guide, we break down AI prompts and prompt engineering in the simplest terms.
What is an AI Prompt?
Imagine you have a magic genie that can do almost anything—but only if you ask correctly. If you say, “Make me a turkey sandwich,” you might get an actual sandwich, or the genie could misunderstand and turn you into one!
This is similar to how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini work. The clearer your request, the better the result. A prompt is the instruction you give to AI, and how you phrase it impacts the outcome.
Why AI Prompts Matter for Marketers
For brand marketers, AI tools can generate content, analyze data, and enhance customer engagement—but only with the right guidance. Strong prompts lead to better campaign ideas, audience insights, and creative assets.
Example of a Basic vs. Optimized Prompt:
Basic: “Give me content ideas.”
Optimized: “Generate five blog post ideas on AI’s impact on influencer marketing, including key trends and case studies.”
How to Write Effective AI Prompts
1. Be Clear & Specific
Instead of “Make something,” say “Create a social media post about our new product launch, using a playful tone.”
2. Provide Context
AI performs better when it understands your goals. Try: “Act as a brand strategist and generate three campaign ideas for a luxury skincare brand targeting Gen Z.”
3. Use Examples
If you want AI to follow a particular style, reference an example: “Write a LinkedIn post in the style of Nike’s inspirational brand voice.”
4. Specify Format
Want a list, paragraph, or social media caption? Tell AI upfront. “Provide three email subject line variations for a summer sale campaign.”
AI Prompts for Marketing Success
Here are some AI prompt examples tailored for brand marketers:
Content Creation: “Write a 200-word LinkedIn post about the future of AI in influencer marketing.”
Ad Copywriting: “Create a compelling Facebook ad for a fitness app that helps users stay motivated.”
Audience Insights: “Summarize key trends in Gen Z consumer behavior based on the latest data.”
Campaign Brainstorming: “Generate five creative campaign ideas for an eco-friendly clothing brand.”
Final Takeaway: Get Better at AI Prompting
The more you refine your AI prompts, the better results you’ll get. Whether crafting ad copy, social content, or marketing insights, strong prompts unlock AI’s full potential for brand growth.
Ready to supercharge your marketing with AI? Start experimenting with prompts and watch your creative output soar!
💡 TIP
Telling the AI what you want it to be before you tell it what you want it to do can help a lot. For example: “You are an expert (blog content writer / kindergarten educator / data analyst).”
