Whether you’re using ChatGPT to support your work as an independent professional or you’re interested in fully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into your business, one thing is constant: You need to know how to write a prompt.

This comprehensive guide to ChatGPT prompts will help you take full advantage of ChatGPT’s natural language processing (NLP)—and its ability to interpret text, audio, and video. It even includes over 100 prompt templates to get you started.

These are all text-based prompts, so you can also try using them with other AI models like those that power Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude. Feel free to translate these prompts, too—ChatGPT supports over 50 languages.

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What is a prompt?

A ChatGPT prompt is a sentence—or string of sentences—that gives the AI tool clear instructions about what you want it to do. There’s a catch, though: What you consider to be clear instructions might not be clear to ChatGPT.

ChatGPT is powered by a large language model (LLM) that uses NLP. It’s a computerized program that can interpret and replicate conversational inputs because it’s been trained on internet content written by people. But even though the LLM can produce a response that sounds reasonably human, you can’t give it instructions in the same way you would a human colleague. Instead, you have to use specific words and phrases that give ChatGPT the right context for the results you’re seeking.

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How to write ChatGPT prompts

The best way to learn how to write (or speak!) a good prompt is to practice with your AI chatbot of choice. The tips and strategies below will help.

1. Be specific about format. Your prompt should include instructions on how you’d like to receive each output. Do you want lists? A code block? A table? ChatGPT can produce all of these, and more.

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2. Define your target audience

The more context you can provide in your prompt, the better—and this includes who might read ChatGPT’s responses. For example, if you use ChatGPT to outline a blog post, be sure to put details about your typical reader in the prompt.

(Related: How To Use AI To Become a Better Writer)

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3. Use examples

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are great at replicating tones of voice, formats, and more. By providing examples of what you do and don’t like in your prompt, you can get closer to your ideal output.

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4. Provide references and resources

Want ChatGPT to pull information from specific sources? It can do that! Paste text and URLs—and even upload whole documents—during your conversation with ChatGPT. You can even request that each ChatGPT response include citations so you can see how and where the AI used your references.

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5. Try role-play

You can prompt ChatGPT to take on different personas, such as acting like a doctor or replying in Elvis’s voice. While asking ChatGPT to pretend it’s a scientist won’t make it an actual expert in all things biology, it can help to tailor your result by using specific language and reference points.

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6. Reference earlier ChatGPT responses

You can ask the AI to refer back to previous responses. One of my favorite ways to use this ability is by asking it to compile everything it’s given me over the last X number of responses into one long answer I can copy—it makes exporting answers easy and cohesive.

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7. Create multiple ChatGPT conversations

Because ChatGPT references its prior responses, separating out different topics into multiple chat threads can be helpful. If you need to cross-reference, you can copy a prompt or response from one conversation and paste it into another.

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8. Refine, regenerate, and iterate

As fast as ChatGPT may be, it still requires patience. Expect several rounds of refining prompts and regenerating outputs until you land on the right combination of details and words.

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9. Build a custom GPT

If you have a paid ChatGPT plan, you can build custom GPTs that carry out specific actions. For example, if you regularly need to turn a topic into social media captions, you can train a GPT on your brand’s style and tone of voice—then ask it to carry out this one task over and over again for you.

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10. Try different input methods

You can type your ChatGPT prompt, speak it, and even share your entire screen with ChatGPT using OpenAI’s desktop app. Give different methods a try to find out what feels the most natural to you.

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ChatGPT prompt examples

Remember—all AI tools, paid or not, can sometimes “hallucinate,” or make up information that isn’t factually correct. It’s important to always check what ChatGPT generates for you before using its responses in your work.

It’s also important to note that when you submit information, like code, into ChatGPT’s web interface or app, what you input can be used by OpenAI to further train their large language model (LLM).

Once you’re comfortable with the level of information you’re sharing, though, and are ready to fact-check your responses, it’s time to experiment! Give these original prompts a try and see how they can spark your creativity or speed up some parts of your workday. Simply replace the text in brackets with your own custom details and paste the result into ChatGPT to get started.

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Prompts by skill

If you need ChatGPT to bring specific skills to a project, all you have to do is ask! ChatGPT can act as a content creator, illustrator, SEO expert, and more. Customize the prompts below to get results that can help you with your next project.

(Related: The Top 10 AI Trip Planner Tools)

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Content creation

• Make a compare and contrast table for [my software product] and [competitor’s software product]. Include comparisons for [price, trial period, and number of user seats].
• Create [10] alternate versions of this headline: [The three best candle scents for fall].
• Pull [15] statistics out of this article that would be most interesting to [startup founders in Europe]. ‌[Input article text here].
• Pull all the statistics about [parents] out of this article and organize them into a list. [Input article text].
• Write a script to introduce a speaker named ‌[Julie] at an event called [PlantCon]. The audience will be [professional gardeners] and they should know that this speaker [specializes in integrated pest management].
• I’m editing video footage of an interview. I’m going to give you the transcript—identify at least [four] spots where we could cut and add in B-roll. Mark these spots in the transcript. Give three B-roll footage ideas for each spot based on what’s said in the interview. [Input transcript text].
• Come up with [10] names for a podcast about [floral design], in [interview] style, hosted by [Frank and Sara].
• Create a one-paragraph summary for my [podcast, YouTube channel] that uses the following transcript: [Input transcript].

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Design

• Create a list of color palettes that include and are complementary to [#0000ff]. Give each palette a name inspired by the colors.
• Turn this list of hex codes into RGB and CMYK values. Put the information in a table, with color names in the first column, hex codes in the second column, RGB values in the third column, and CMYK values in the fourth column. Be sure to also include a description of each color in the table, and show a preview of the color as well. [Input values].
• Turn this list of [RGB or CMYK] values into hex codes.
• Create a list of all the tints related to this color: [#0000ff]. Include white as the starting point and black as the ending point on the list.

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Writing

• I’m going to paste some content for you to review. Tell me what tone of voice the content has. Is it friendly, informational, angry, or something else? [Input content].
• [Parents should be aware of this new app for teens] : [Neutral headline]. [This new app is endangering teens across America!] : [Fearful headline]. Using the example information I just provided, write ten blog post titles on the topic of ‌[first-time driver fender benders] using both styles.
• Create [five] headlines, maximum [160] characters each, for an article about [color theory]. The audience for the article is [graphic designers] and we are using an [academic] tone of voice.
• I’m going to paste the content of three articles. Create an in-depth summary of the articles, organized by topic, in paragraph format. Here is the content: ‌[Input article text].
• Create an article outline for a blog post on [ChatGPT prompts]. Include [how to write ChatGPT prompts] in the title and one subheading. Format each subheading as size H2. Include at least five bullet points under each subheading as part of the outline. Make the outline suitable to write a [1,500 word] blog post.
• Turn this blog post into [two] tweets, [one] LinkedIn post, and a [100 word] summary for email: [Input content].
• What are other words for [strange]? Do not use [odd or unusual] in your answer.
• Parse this sentence for me: [The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog].
• Edit this content to make it more concise and reduce filler words: [input content].
• How many words and characters are in this text? [Input full text].
• Create the script for the first scene of a one-act play that will focus on [mental health] and be for [students]. Set the play in [Boise, Idaho] during [the early 2000s].
• I’m writing a short story about [UFOs]. What are some plot twists that could fit into my narrative?
• Improve the rhyming structure in this poem: [Input text].
• Rewrite this paragraph with a [casual] writing style. [Input content].

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Search engine optimization (SEO)

• Give me [25] keyword ideas related to [room sprays].
• What are people interested in [mechanical keyboards] also searching for online?
• Organize these keywords by search intent. [Input keyword list].
• Organize these keywords by funnel stage. [Input keyword list].
• Sort these keywords together into clusters based on related topics. Create a maximum of [five] clusters and distribute all of the keywords between the [five] clusters. [Input keyword list].
• Remove any keywords with misspellings from this list: [Input keyword list].
• List the top [20] frequently asked questions about [gardening]. Tailor your answer to [apartment dwellers].
• How would you change this content to make it better, or more appealing to [parents of young children]? [Input content].
• What is the most common tone of voice used for [informational guides] about [retirement plans] when written for [recent college graduates]?
• What are [10] other ways to describe [a boutique hair salon for men]?
• Write [five] meta descriptions, maximum 150 characters each, for an article titled [How To Write a ChatGPT Prompt].
• Write [five] meta titles, maximum 60 characters each, for an article titled [How To Write a ChatGPT Prompt].
• Pull out any duplicate URLs in this list and tell me what they are: [Input data].
• Pull out any duplicate titles in this list and give me a copy of the list without duplicates: [Input data].
• Create schema markup for a [FAQ] web page.

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Digital marketing

• Create a list of the top [three] alternatives to [Input company name or product] and describe how they compare to it. Include details about [Location, customer base, and price point].
• Create a [four-week] content posting schedule that includes the following types of content: [Blog posts, Instagram posts, and YouTube Shorts]. Make sure there are at least two types of content posted each week, on at least two different days, and do not schedule any content to post on weekends.
• Create a full customer persona, including name, for someone who matches the bullet points below: [Input customer descriptors].
• Create [10] survey questions for a company specializing in [swimming pools] to ask clients. Our goals for the survey are to discover information about [what features homeowners want in a pool]. We will use the results to [adjust our services].
• Create [10] Google Ads for a page on [running shoe stores in Boston].
• Create [12] YouTube video ideas, including titles, for [planning a trip to San Diego].
• Give me [six] name ideas for my new [dog grooming business]. It is [mobile] and meant for [people in a rural area].
• Come up with [10] domain name ideas for a [mobile bicycle repair shop]. The domain names should not already be in use. For context, we serve [experienced bicyclists] and [service road and mountain bikes].
• My business is called [Friendly Ferns]. My audience is [gardeners in the U.S. and Canada]. What should I call my email marketing newsletter or blog? Explain your reasons for each.
• Create an email template I can use to send to my clients and politely ask them for a review on [Yelp]. Context: I am a [hairstylist] and my company is called [Cute Cuts]. My clients are typically [women in their 30s and 40s].
• What type of customers are interested in [mobile car detailing]? I work with customers in [Philadelphia].
• Create a [100-word] summary promoting my [photography course]. It is available on [July 6th] and costs [$300].
• Write a brand guide and editorial standards document we can share with vendors or contractors. Our tone of voice is [casual], we use the [Arial] font, and our brand colors are [sage green and lavender]. Our audience is [first-time moms]. We have [Instagram and Tiktok] accounts and also use [emails] in our marketing. Here is an example of a [social media post] we recently published: [input content]. Our blog posts use [AP Style].

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Social media marketing

• What are the best phrases I can use to describe my [home organizing business] on social media when I want to attract [new homeowners] in [Atlanta]?
• Write a one-paragraph summary of this article in a way that will appeal to business decision-makers on LinkedIn. [input content].
• Turn this [about us] page into an engaging social media thread about our company’s [formation and history]: [Input URL].
• Turn this [blog post] into a YouTube video script, [two] Instagram posts, and [one] LinkedIn post: [Input text].
• Using these example captions from my social media accounts, summarize my typical voice and tone and provide suggestions or techniques to better connect with people who [are interested in lash extensions]: [Input content].
• Create an [Instagram] caption about [car decals] using the same tone of voice as in these examples: [Input content].
• Rewrite this [Instagram] caption in the voice of an influencer, and include more emojis. [Input content].
• Turn this article into a tweet thread that is no more than [10] tweets long. Make sure the first tweet includes the title and a spool of thread emoji. [Input article text].
• Create [three] tweets using a [friendly] tone of voice, each related to this article: [Input URL].
• Create a list of [15] hashtags we can use on social media to help promote our [high-quality soy candle] business.
• Create guidelines for a social media voice we can use to embody our brand online. We are a [glassware business] serving [commercial restaurants], and our target clients are [bartenders]. We use [LinkedIn] and want to be recognized as a [mix of quality and value].
• How can I ask someone to be a brand ambassador for my company? Please write a template I can use as an [Instagram] message. My company [‌sells swimsuits] and I will be messaging people whose profiles have [photos related to surfing].
• Help me develop my personal brand on LinkedIn. I am a [brand consultant] and I’m trying to reach [CMOs]. I need to create a brand guide that includes tone of voice, a LinkedIn headline, and content ideas for weekly posts.
• Create a [three-month] schedule for me to post [twice a week] on LinkedIn. Include both the days I should post as well as the topics I should post about. My business is [an accounting software product] and I am an expert in [financial technology].
• Write an [Instagram] bio for me, using emojis, to explain that I am [a stained-glass artist]. Make the bio appeal to [young creatives] and have a CTA to [schedule a class with me].
• Write five versions of a LinkedIn headline for an expert in [hiring] working with [small business owners]. Make the headline no more than 200 characters.
• Turn this blog post into a script for a ‌[YouTube Short]. The video will be a maximum of [60 seconds]. [Input URL].

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Sales

• Develop a [three-week] training plan to help our team learn how to use our CRM, [Hubspot]. We are using this program to [improve inbound leads]. Our team is skilled with similar CRM software, but has not used this program before. Training sessions can be held [two] times per week. Assume the average attendee has no familiarity with the tool and needs to learn key techniques. Please include suggestions for informational YouTube videos we can play during the training.
• When it is [noon] in [Lagos], what time is it in [Singapore, Melbourne, London, and Austin]?
• Summarize our product and service in one sentence. Provide three options. Here is our current description: [Input content].
• Act as a sales consultant and give me tips on how I can develop advanced strategies to succeed in new markets. Here is my existing strategy: [input sales strategy document]. My leads are [small business owners with an annual revenue of less than $100,000]. Tell me what is good, what needs more work, and what I might not have thought of.
• Create the outline for a sales presentation on [small business security] to [encourage customers to purchase a premium package]. It will be presented to [warm leads with an awareness of our brand but no prior purchases].
• Create a table comparing the features, price, and average customer satisfaction rating for the top five [point of sale systems].
• Write the copy for a [tutorial] about [bookkeeping] for [freelancers]. Include a CTA that encourages readers to sign up for my full [freelance bookkeeping] course.

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Customer service

• Write an email template that I can use when responding to a customer who wants a refund. My refund policy is [returns within 60 days with receipt] and the customer does not meet the criteria for a refund.
• Develop a rubric that we can use to ask our customers for feedback on their experience. Our goals are [input goals list]. We want to make sure our customer experience embodies this. Put the rubric in table format.
• Translate this text into [French]: [I’d be happy to help you with that problem today].
• Here’s a problem our customers have: [a declining number of closed deals on solar panel installations]. Here’s how we have tried to solve it: [by working with local governments to promote solar energy]. What are three other ways we can potentially solve this issue for our customers?

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ChatGPT prompts for E-commerce

• Assess the sentiment of each product review listed below. Assess the sentiment in the entire review. Then, create a table that uses the first [five] words of each review as a reference point and include the sentiment analysis of the entire review. [Input text].
• Pick out the most frequently used words and phrases in this list of Amazon customer reviews: [Input text].
• Analyze this list of top Amazon sellers and prices; organize the results from most to least expensive: [Input data].
• Create a [100-word] product description for [a collapsible outdoor patio set]. It is available in [red, purple, or teal metal] and costs [$31].
• Create [five] Amazon product titles to go with this product description: [Input product description].
• How can I make this product description more appealing to buyers that match my customer persona? [Input product description] [Input customer persona].

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Prompts by profession

You can also ask ChatGPT to create outputs based on your role—or a role you want it to act as while generating a response.

(Related: The Best Transcription Jobs Online and Where To Find Them)

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Freelancers

• Write a professional bio, maximum [150 words], for me to use on my website. I am [a freelance web designer]. Make the content appeal to [hair and nail salon owners].
• Help me develop my personal brand on LinkedIn. I am a [CEO at a FinTech company] and I’m trying to reach [senior directors in the banking industry]. I need to cultivate a tone of voice, write a LinkedIn headline, and get ideas for weekly posts.
• Help me write a job description for [Third Shift Mechanic]. The person should have [four years of experience with bottling machines]. The position pays [$120,000 per year] and starts on [August 1st].
• Turn this bio statement into an engaging Twitter thread about my journey as a freelancer: [Input content].
• Create the outline for a four-lesson course on [gardening with native plants]. Each lesson will be delivered in video format and will run [one hour].

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HR professionals

• Create a new employee onboarding plan for a team member focused on [customer service] with [three] years of experience. It’s important they know [how to use our ticketing system].
• Create two versions of a job post for [a part-time bookkeeper]. The position requires [experience using Quickbooks] and the hire must live in [Atlanta, GA]. Create one version of the post that we can place on job boards, and a shorter version that we can easily share on social media.
• List three job title ideas for a role that will [lead the launch of our new location in London]. This job is similar to [a retail store manager] but we want a title that reflects our company’s voice. We describe our voice as [compassionate yet driven] and other examples of job titles at our company are [input titles].
• Develop a list of interview questions to assess candidates’ skills for a [customer support] job at a [software startup]. The ideal candidate will have experience with [Jira, Zendesk, and Salesforce].
• Create a set of prescreening questions to use on a job application. The job is for a [laboratory manager] and it requires the following: [input requirements].
• Pull the most commonly used words and phrases out of this list of [Glassdoor] reviews. Include the number of times each word or phrase appears in the original text I provide. Don’t include the company name. [Input text].

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Administrative assistants

• Write an email template that I can use when responding to media request emails on behalf of my boss. My boss provides interviews related to [topic] and will appear over [Zoom] or in-person in [New York City].
• Write a professional LinkedIn summary for my company. Our company is called [Beautiful Blooms] and we are located in [Orlando, FL]. Our focus is [floral design for events] and we work with [wedding venues and conference centers]. Our website is [input URL].
• Take this list of employee names and contact details and format it into a table: [Input information].
• Create three email signatures I can use, one for each of my clients. My role is [administrative assistant] and my client companies are: ‌[Input client names].

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Teachers

• Brainstorm a list of [six] activities suitable for students aged [10], focused on [dinosaurs], with a total supplies budget of [$100].
• Create a list of [four] creative writing prompts for [high school] students. Use a mix of fiction and creative nonfiction prompts.
• Outline a lesson plan to teach [middle school] students about [black holes]. There will be a total of [two] lessons, and each lesson is [30 minutes] long.
• Create a list of suggested books for [high school] students to read in order to learn about [France’s] history. Include a short summary of each book along with the author, title, and date of publication.
• Create a list of prompts to give to [high school] art students who are learning about [impressionism]. The prompts should give suggestions for drawing and painting different scenes in [two] well-known artists’ styles.
• Create a vocabulary quiz for [fourth grade] students. There should be [20] questions on the quiz.
• Create a lesson to teach [high school] students the basics of [computer science]. Do not go beyond [binary] in the first lesson.
• Can you identify the source of this text: [Input text]?
• Check each of the following sentences for errors, and create a table that lists the sentence in the first column and the identified errors in the second column: [Input text].
• Create an email template that can be sent to students to let them know that they need to [submit a report topic] by [Monday] in order to [get extra credit].
• Create a note to parents about [the science fair]. Include the following: [All students must submit their completed projects for review no later than April 2nd]. Include a translation of the note in [Khmer].
• Create a list of imagination-based games to play with students in preschool. The games should be able to be played outdoors on a jungle gym or inside when it is raining. Include at least [five] indoor game ideas and [five] outdoor game ideas.
• Write [five] scripts for the [West High School] morning announcements, one for each day of the week. Each script should include a spot to talk about the weather, the school’s lunch for the day, and any upcoming holidays. Make the first five scripts cover [May 1-4]. Our lunch schedule for those days is [pizza, hamburgers, tacos, Greek salads, and pasta]. I will add in the weather forecast myself when I give the announcement, so use a placeholder there.
• Create [two] sets of [five] spirit day themes (Monday through Friday) for high school students. Spirit days can include theme dressing, costumes, and contests. Our school mascot is the [Wasp] and our colors are [black and gold].
• What are the top [10] facts every student should know about [European history] by the time they reach [sixth grade]?

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Web designers

• Create the CSS for a blog web page, using [Arial] font, [16] point, background color [#FFFFFF], header color [#660066].
• Add ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to this code for better accessibility: [Input code].
• Create code to make an element [move sideways] on a page using [JavaScript].
• Create a web form in HTML that includes fields for [first name, last name, company website, email, and phone number].
• I’m trying to use [JavaScript] to [create a password strength indicator] but I’m getting an error message. What might be wrong with my code? ‌[Input code].

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Web developers

• Debug this code: [Input code]
• I have data for review. Every [item] in the data must be [an integer between 0 and 100] and must conform to [the standard format for numeric ranges]. Generate JSON schema to validate. [Input data].
• Optimize this code to improve database performance: [Input code].
• Create a [RESTful] API template that can be used to connect my app with third-party services.
• Turn this code into [Python]: [Input code].
• Explain how [abstraction] works and looks in ‌[C#].
• What’s the correct syntax for ‌[loops] in [Python]?
• Write a program to [implement a calculator] in [Python].
• Act like a [C#] interpreter and provide only the output of the following code: [Input code].

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Data scientists

• Provide a ‌[Python] script to handle missing values in my dataset using ‌[pandas].
• Give me a basic example of building a ‌[logistic regression model] using ‌[scikit-learn].
• Generate a ‌[Python] script to clean a dataset by ‌[removing missing values, filling in missing values with the mean, and normalizing numerical columns].
• Create a ‌[Python] script using ‌[matplotlib] to plot a [histogram] of the ‌[age] column in this DataFrame: ‌[Input data].
• Write a ‌[Python] script to preprocess text data by [tokenizing] and ‌[vectorizing] using ‌[TF-IDF].
• Generate a ‌[summary] of my analysis findings, including ‌[visualizations] and ‌[recommendations]: ‌[Input analysis].

This article originally appeared on Upwork.com Resource Center (Upwork is a company that helps businesses find talent and people find work) and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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