It’s easy to treat AI like a vending machine: Insert prompt. Get result.
Fair enough. That is probably fine for many of the tasks you give it. But if you want quality and nuanced output for a complex task, you want to think more like a coach, rather than a director shouting “action!”
Great outputs come from great thinking, and great thinking is a process — observe, analyze, decide, create. AI can help at every step if you know how to coach it.
Sometimes the best approach is to use multi-step prompts. Keep the LLM focused on one thing at a time.
Boss Directive:
“I want to understand why our retargeting is underperforming. Then fix it.”
Prompt Sequence:
1. Start with analysis.
“You are a senior performance marketer with deep experience in PPC and retargeting. I want you to take a slow, methodical approach. Analyze the performance summary below and identify the top three underperforming segments. For each, provide a thoughtful hypothesis as to why retargeting is falling short. Explain your reasoning step by step, and don’t rush to conclusions.”
2. Move to strategy.
“Based on your hypotheses, brainstorm three specific retargeting strategies. For each, explain how it addresses the problem, what assumptions it relies on, and any potential tradeoffs. Prioritize clarity and depth — I’m not looking for buzzwords, I want insight.”
3. Then create.
“For each strategy, draft three versions of retargeting ads (headline + body copy). The tone should be solution-oriented, confident, and empathetic. After each ad, include a short rationale explaining your creative choices. Focus on message-to-audience fit.”
Prompt your AI like you would coach your smartest intern. They can do it. They just need a little coaching.
Next up: Iteration Beats Perfection
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