Struggling to get the right output from AI? The secret lies in how you ask.
Artificial intelligence tools have become increasingly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses. From content creation and image generation to data analysis and customer engagement, AI can now support a wide range of business functions. But there’s one common problem — the output only works well when the input is clear.
That’s where prompt engineering comes in. While it might sound technical, writing effective AI prompts is simply about communicating your instructions clearly and with purpose. The way you phrase your prompt can significantly influence the quality, relevance and tone of what the AI produces.
In this article, we’ll break down how to write better prompts, why it matters, and how small businesses can take full advantage of AI tools by improving the way they interact with them.
Whether you're using ChatGPT to generate marketing copy or tools like Midjourney for visual assets, the quality of your prompt determines the usefulness of the output. Vague prompts often result in generic, inaccurate or off-brand content, while well-crafted prompts help unlock the real value of AI for SMEs.
Getting the prompt right means:
Always start with clarity. Instead of asking AI to “write something about automation,” say:
“Write a 150-word blog introduction in British English about how workflow automation helps SMEs save time and reduce manual admin.”
The more specific your request, the better the output.
Keywords to naturally include in prompts: workflow automation, small business productivity, business automation tools, AI for SMEs.
AI performs better when it knows the full picture. Provide relevant details such as:
This helps the AI understand not just what to write, but how to write it — especially when you are using AI for business purposes like blog posts, social content or automated emails.
If you have a sample or previous article you liked, include it or describe it. You can prompt the AI with something like:
“Use the tone and format of this example: [insert short text or describe the style].”
This is particularly useful for keeping outputs aligned with your brand when you're automating content across different platforms.
Rather than asking for everything in one go, guide the AI step by step. For example:
This approach gives you more control over the final result and helps avoid confusion in longer pieces of content.
AI tools are excellent for speed and inspiration, but they can still make mistakes, use American spelling, or introduce off-brand phrasing. Always review, edit and refine the content before using it. Good prompting techniques help reduce these issues, but human oversight remains essential.
The more you work with AI, the better you’ll get at prompting. Over time, you’ll build a set of go-to prompts tailored to your tone, audience and goals. This consistency helps AI tools deliver more reliable results and improves the efficiency of your overall business automation workflow.
Learning how to prompt properly transforms how you use AI. It helps your business get faster, better and more reliable results — whether you're writing social media posts, building marketing content or streamlining internal processes.
At DataBrain Solutions, we specialise in helping businesses make the most of automation and AI. From smart content generation to connected workflows, we help you use AI tools more effectively across your operations.
If you're ready to get started, why not join our free 5-day AI email course? You'll learn how to use AI efficiently, write better prompts, and begin building smarter systems for your business.
