How to Master Generative AI Prompt Optimization for Better Results – Boot Camp Digital

Prompt optimization is the secret to getting great results from AI tools. The better your prompt, the better the output. But most people don’t realize just how much the way you ask impacts what you get back.

Warning
A lot of what you’ve probably learned about prompt engineering and prompt optimization is wrong. You’ll learn how to use a flexible prompting framework to get better results faster.

What You’ll Learn

What is Prompt Optimization?

Prompt optimization is about asking better questions to get better answers from AI. A “prompt” is what you type in to tell the AI what you want. But if you ask in a vague or generic way, the output probably won’t be very useful.

Prompt Optimization Definition
Prompt optimization is when you apply different techniques to craft better prompts for AI. It isn’t just prompt engineering. It includes a variety of approaches that can be used to improve prompting outcomes.

Optimizing your prompt means giving the AI more clarity, structure, and context so it can do a better job. It’s about thinking clearly and being specific.

I’ve noticed that a lot of users focus on the AI tool (ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini, Claude, etc.) but don’t focus enough on their prompts. Becoming a better prompter is key to your success.

Why Prompt Optimization Matters

Your results with AI are only as good as your prompt. That’s the truth. When I first tried ChatGPT to help me write an email campaign, I typed something like, “Write 3 emails to promote a new product.” What I got back was fine. It wasn’t better than what I could write myself.

Then I tried again. This time, I added details: who the audience was, what tone I wanted, and the goal of the emails. I even included some example phrases and links to product pages. The results? Night and day. The emails were stronger, more relevant, and actually usable.

Think of AI like a new employee….
Imagine you have a new employee. They are an expert at social media. Day one you ask them to “write social media posts”. They’ll write you posts, but they won’t be strategic, specific, on-brand or effective. Instead, you’d train them. On your brand voice, branding, marketing strategy, goals, target audience and more. You have to do the same for AI.

The point is: a little effort up front can save you tons of time later. When you optimize your prompts, you spend less time rewriting and more time using the great ideas AI can give you.

5 Techniques for Better Prompts

I recently ran an AI workshop for a marketing team. The users were very focused on prompt engineering but didn’t use other techniques to optimize their output. Having a broader range of techniques will improve your outputs.

1. Reformulate – If the result isn’t quite right, change how you ask. Sometimes, just rewording the prompt helps.
2. Iterate – Don’t expect perfection on the first try. Tweak the prompt, try new variations, and build on what works.
3. Break It Down – Instead of asking for everything at once, break your request into smaller steps.
4. Ask for More – You can ask the AI to give you different angles, options, or styles.
5. Engineer the Request – Include specific instructions like role, format, tone, or examples.

What’s the difference between prompt optimization and prompt engineering?
Prompt optimization is like tuning a conversation, clarifying, adjusting, refining. The refinement can happen before or after the initial prompt. Prompt engineering is more like building a blueprint by setting up your request intentionally with all the right parts in place.

Building a Better Prompt: The Two Essential Elements

Every effective prompt has two key parts:

1. The Task – What do you want the AI to do?
   The task should be as detailed as possible. Share information like the use case, final result, objective, format, length, audience, and more.
   I try to think as clearly as possible about what an ideal response looks like and include that in my task definition.
2. The Context – What background or details will help the AI do it well?
   The context should include relevant information about the request. Consider adding information about business strategy, product details, target audience, tone of voice, and more.
   I try to imagine what a new employee would need to complete the task effectively. I also think about irrelevant context that could create confusion.

Use these two elements in your prompts to make them more effective.

15 Prompt Specifiers That Improve Output

Prompt specifiers are the specific pieces of information that you include in a prompt. Think of them as a flexible framework. Choose the ones that are relevant for the task.

Task Specifiers

• Say what to do (“Write a blog post”)
• Clarify the goal (“to increase email opt-ins”)
• Give a format (“in a list format”)
• Set a length (“about 500 words”)
• Share an example (“like this one”)
• Ask it to think step-by-step
• Frame it as a problem and a solution
• Use role play (“act like a strategist”)

Context Specifiers

• Assign a role (“you’re a copywriter”)
• Ask for expert advice
• Name the target audience
• Share background info
• Provide key data
• Use the 5Ws + H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)
• Choose a tone or style

Example prompt: “Act like a seasoned Facebook ad copywriter. Write 3 short ads to increase app downloads from young moms. Use a friendly tone and include urgency.”

Pro Tips for Prompt Optimization

• Be Specific – Vague prompts lead to vague answers.
• Start Simple – Begin basic, then add complexity as needed.
• Tweak and Improve – If it’s not working, change the input.
• Use Examples – Show what you want; it helps AI learn faster.
• Keep Practicing – The more you experiment, the better your results.

Get Started Now

Prompt optimization isn’t about being technical; it’s about being clear. Think like a strategist. Give the AI what it needs to succeed. The more you practice, the easier it gets.

Start now by revising a prompt
Look at something you recently prompted. Go back and break the prompt into task and context. Add the right specifiers and level of detail for each. Watch your results improve 😉

Want to dive deeper into using AI effectively? Check out our AI Tools Training and Courses on generative AI to go from basic to brilliant.