1.3 Advanced Prompting Techniques¶

STANDARD PROMPT:
"If a store offers 25% off a $80 item, what's the final price?"

AI Response: "$60"

CHAIN OF THOUGHT PROMPT:
"If a store offers 25% off a $80 item, what's the final price? Let's think step by step."

AI Response:
"Let me work through this step by step:

1. Original price: $80
2. Discount percentage: 25%
3. Discount amount: $80 × 0.25 = $20
4. Final price: $80 - $20 = $60

The final price is $60."

STANDARD PROMPT:
"Should I hire a virtual assistant for my small business?"

CHAIN OF THOUGHT PROMPT:
"I run a small consulting business and work 60 hours a week. Should I hire a virtual assistant? Walk through the decision-making process step by step."

AI Response:
"Let me help you think through this decision systematically:

1. **Current situation analysis:**
   - 60 hours/week suggests you're overworked
   - As a consultant, your time is likely valuable
   - Burnout risk is high at this workload

2. **Tasks to potentially delegate:**
   - Administrative work (scheduling, email management)
   - Research and data entry
   - Social media management
   - Client follow-ups

3. **Cost-benefit analysis:**
   - VA cost: ~$15-25/hour for quality help
   - Your hourly rate as consultant: likely $75-200+
   - Even 10 hours/week delegation could free up high-value time

4. **Decision framework:**
   - If VA can handle 10+ hours of lower-value tasks weekly
   - And you can use freed time for billable client work
   - The ROI likely justifies the investment

**Recommendation:** Yes, start with a part-time VA (10-15 hours/week) focused on administrative tasks."

"Analyze whether our company should switch to remote work. Use this framework:
1. Current state assessment
2. Benefits analysis
3. Challenges and risks
4. Implementation requirements
5. Financial impact
6. Final recommendation with reasoning"

"Compare iPhone vs Android for a small business owner. Think through:
- Security considerations
- Business app availability
- Integration with business tools
- Cost of ownership
- Support and maintenance
Then provide a recommendation based on this analysis."

Here are some examples of [task]:

Example 1:
[Input] → [Desired Output]

Example 2:
[Input] → [Desired Output]

Example 3:
[Input] → [Desired Output]

Now do the same for:
[Your actual input]

Write compelling product descriptions following these examples:

Example 1:
Product: Wireless Headphones
Description: "Escape into pure sound with these premium wireless headphones. Advanced noise cancellation blocks distractions while 30-hour battery life keeps you connected all day. Perfect for commuters, students, and music lovers."

Example 2:
Product: Coffee Mug
Description: "Transform your morning routine with this handcrafted ceramic mug. Double-walled design keeps coffee hot for hours while the ergonomic handle provides comfortable grip. A small luxury that makes every sip special."

Example 3:
Product: Running Shoes
Description: "Unleash your potential with lightweight running shoes designed for performance. Responsive cushioning absorbs impact while breathable mesh keeps feet cool. Whether you're training for a marathon or jogging around the block."

Now write a description for:
Product: Bluetooth Speaker

Transform these emails to be more professional:

Example 1:
Original: "hey can u send me that report asap?"
Professional: "Hi [Name], could you please send me the quarterly report when you have a moment? Thank you for your assistance."

Example 2:
Original: "this doesn't make sense, fix it"
Professional: "I've reviewed the document and have some questions about sections 2-3. Could we schedule a brief call to clarify the requirements?"

Example 3:
Original: "where r u with the project?"
Professional: "Hi [Name], I wanted to check on the project status and see if you need any support to meet our deadline."

Now transform:
Original: "meeting was boring, waste of time"

You are a certified financial planner with 15 years of experience helping middle-class families plan for retirement.

A 35-year-old teacher earning $50,000 annually asks: "I have $10,000 saved and want to start investing for retirement. What should I do?"

Provide practical, actionable advice appropriate for her situation and risk tolerance.

You are a marketing director for B2B SaaS companies with expertise in lead generation and customer acquisition.

Our project management software startup has 500 users and $50K monthly revenue. We want to double our growth rate in 6 months.

Recommend 3 specific marketing strategies with implementation steps and expected outcomes.

You are a patient computer science teacher explaining complex concepts to non-technical business owners.

Explain what "cloud computing" means and why a small business owner should care, using analogies and avoiding jargon.

You are playing two roles in a strategic business discussion:

Role 1: Optimistic startup founder focused on growth opportunities
Role 2: Conservative CFO concerned about financial risks

Discuss the pros and cons of expanding to a new market, with each role presenting their perspective. Then synthesize both viewpoints into balanced recommendations.

SYSTEM: You are a professional writing coach focused on clarity and engagement. For every piece of writing shared:

1. Identify the main message and audience
2. Highlight what works well (be specific)
3. Suggest 2-3 concrete improvements
4. Provide one rewritten example
5. Always maintain an encouraging, constructive tone

Keep feedback concise but actionable.

SYSTEM: You are a senior business analyst specializing in small business operations. Your approach:

- Ask clarifying questions before providing advice
- Consider practical constraints (time, budget, resources)
- Provide data-driven recommendations when possible
- Include implementation timelines
- Always consider the human element in business decisions

Communicate in clear, jargon-free language.

I want to write a blog post about "productivity tips for remote workers."

First, help me create a comprehensive outline:
1. Research key productivity challenges for remote workers
2. Identify 5-7 practical solutions
3. Organize into a logical flow
4. Suggest engaging subheadings

Target audience: professionals new to remote work
Length: 1,500 words

Using the outline you created, write a compelling introduction for the blog post. The introduction should:
- Hook readers with a relatable scenario
- Clearly state the value they'll get
- Preview the main points
- Be approximately 150-200 words

Now write the main body sections based on our outline. For each productivity tip:
- Start with a clear subheading
- Explain the concept briefly
- Provide a specific, actionable example
- Include a "quick implementation" tip

Create a strong conclusion that:
- Summarizes the key takeaways
- Motivates readers to take action
- Includes a specific next step
- Ends with an engaging question for comments

Analyze the market opportunity for a meal delivery service targeting busy professionals in mid-size cities (100K-500K population).

Focus on:
- Market size and growth trends
- Key competitors and their weaknesses
- Underserved customer segments
- Regulatory considerations

Based on the market analysis, design a business model for our meal delivery service.

Include:
- Revenue streams
- Key partnerships needed
- Cost structure
- Value proposition for each customer segment identified

Using our business model, create a 6-month go-to-market strategy.

Outline:
- Launch sequence and milestones
- Marketing channels and budget allocation
- Operational requirements
- Success metrics and KPIs

You are an experienced project manager who excels at breaking down complex initiatives.

Here are examples of how you structure project plans:

Example 1: Website Redesign
- Phase 1: Research & Discovery (2 weeks)
- Phase 2: Design & Prototyping (3 weeks)
- Phase 3: Development & Testing (4 weeks)
- Phase 4: Launch & Optimization (1 week)

Example 2: Product Launch
- Phase 1: Pre-launch Planning (3 weeks)
- Phase 2: Marketing Campaign (4 weeks)
- Phase 3: Launch Execution (1 week)
- Phase 4: Post-launch Analysis (2 weeks)

Now, think step by step and create a similar phase-based plan for launching a company podcast. Consider timeline, resources needed, and key deliverables for each phase.