8 Prompt Patterns

Most people write prompts like they're sending a WhatsApp message. "Tell me about SEO." The AI gives a generic essay. They're disappointed. The problem isn't the AI. It's the prompt.

1. Role + Context + Task

"You are a senior product manager at a B2B SaaS company. We're launching a new feature next month. Write a launch email to existing customers."

2. Few-shot examples

Show the AI the format you want by giving examples first, then the real input.

3. Chain of Thought

"Before answering, think through each step carefully."

4. Persona restriction

"Answer only from the perspective of a first-time founder with no technical background. Do not use jargon."

5. Output format specification

"Output as a JSON object with keys: title, description, tags (array), estimated_read_time."

6. Critique and improve

"Here's the draft: [text]. Now critique it. What's weak or unclear? Then rewrite it."

7. Decompose first

"Before writing the code, list the steps you'll take and confirm the approach."

8. Constraint injection

"Explain this in under 100 words, to someone who has never used a computer."

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These patterns compound. Role + few-shot + output format in one prompt gives very predictable results.