Prompt Tip of the Day: Stop Wasting Time With Weak Prompts

Author: Trent Creal

Estimated Read Time: 6 min

Most people blame AI when they don’t get the answers they want. Truth is, the problem usually isn’t the AI—it’s the prompt. Think of it this way: if you ask a vague question, you’ll get a vague answer. But when you give the AI a detailed, crystal-clear briefing, it becomes less of a search bar and more of a personal strategist.

Let’s break this down with an example.

Weak Prompt:

“Italy travel tips.”

That kind of input will give you surface-level advice: visit Rome, see the Colosseum, maybe check out Venice. It’s not wrong, but it’s the same list you’d find in a free brochure at the airport.

Strong Prompt:

“Traveling to Northern vs Southern Italy in July with a toddler. Need family-friendly experiences, easy public transit options, and local spots where kids are welcome.”

Now the response changes completely. Instead of copy-pasted tourist bullet points, you get useful, personalized recommendations. Suddenly the AI is weighing the difference between beach towns in the south and alpine hikes in the north. It’s telling you which train routes are stroller-friendly, which piazzas have space for kids to play, and even where to grab a meal without blowing your budget.

That’s the power of better prompts.

The 4-Part Prompt Framework

To consistently get high-quality answers, use this simple framework:

1. Subject – What you’re asking about.

2. Context – The situation or background the AI should factor in.

3. Intent – What you actually want from the answer.

4. Constraints – Any limits or requirements.

Real-World Applications

Here’s how this framework plays out in everyday situations:

• Business Research

  Weak: “Best CRM software.”

  Strong: “Best CRM software for a small e-commerce company with under 10 employees, budget under $150/month, must integrate with Shopify and email marketing.”

• Career Advice

  Weak: “How do I improve my resume?”

  Strong: “Revise my resume for a senior supply chain director role at a biotech company. Highlight leadership, global logistics, and regulatory compliance. Keep it under two pages.”

• Everyday Life

  Weak: “Best restaurants.”

  Strong: “Authentic local restaurants in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood, vegetarian options, within walking distance of public transit, average price under €30 per person.”

Notice the difference? One gives you a generic list. The other gives you actionable, targeted insights you can use right away.

Why This Works

AI isn’t magic—it’s a tool. And like any tool, it’s only as sharp as the instructions you give it. A hammer won’t build a house by itself. But if you hand it to a skilled carpenter with a blueprint, that hammer can build something incredible.

Your prompts are the blueprint. Without them, the AI is guessing at what you mean. With them, it’s executing with precision.

Think of AI as Your Assistant

Imagine hiring a new assistant. If you tell them, “Book me a trip,” you’ll get something generic, maybe even useless. But if you say:

“I need a business trip to New York in mid-October, staying near the convention center, with a budget under $300 per night. I prefer direct flights and I need a rental car for one day.”

That assistant is now set up for success. The same goes for AI. The clearer the brief, the better the output.

Final Takeaway

Stop treating prompts like casual Google searches. Treat them like detailed instructions. Use Subject + Context + Intent + Constraints and you’ll find the AI stops spitting out Wikipedia summaries and starts delivering insights that actually move the needle.

Think of it as shifting from “search results” to personal strategy sessions.

Your AI is capable of brilliance—but only if you tell it exactly what you need.

👉 Challenge for Today: Rewrite one of your go-to prompts using the 4-part framework. Test the results. I guarantee you’ll see the difference immediately.