Prompt like a pro: How to get more from AI (no engineering required)

Can you help me outline a blog post I’m writing about AI prompting?
Pull quotes from this transcript to support each point.
Just write the whole thing for me.

Okay, that last one’s a joke. But the truth is: AI made this blog easier to write — from drafting interview questions to summarizing my SME’s insights.

AI isn’t just a tool — it’s a strategic partner. And to get the most from it, you don’t need to master engineering. You just need to prompt like a pro.

What is prompt writing?

Prompt writing is the skill of crafting clear, effective instructions for AI tools to generate relevant, accurate content.

So how do you know if you’re prompting AI the best possible way? It can be intimidating when you hear terms like “prompt engineering.” But you don’t have to be an engineer to get the most out of AI.

“Calling prompt writing ‘prompt engineering’ makes it sound very scientific… something only a certain group of people can excel at,” says Diane Hammons, director of digital engagement at WG Content. “Prompting is just communication. It’s starting a conversation. It’s being curious. It’s asking for assistance. It’s just talking like you would to a co-worker.”

How to get started with prompt writing

The best place to start prompt writing is with a prompt framework, prompt chaining and meta prompting. Sound just as intimidating as prompt engineering? As a writer who loves working with engineers, but is most definitely not one, I promise it’s not.

Remember when Google was new and we all learned how to get answers on the internet by typing a string of keywords into the search bar? With AI, you can do so much more than search.

“Frameworks help you think about all the details you can pull out in your conversation,” says Diane.

Create a prompt framework

To create a prompt framework, follow these steps:

• Tell AI what role you want it to play to set its point of view. For example, “Imagine you are a content strategist at a healthcare marketing organization.”
• Give AI a goal. Tell it what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, “Write a summary” or “Edit this copy.”
• Give AI some context. Provide key details, audience info, format or the why behind the request.
• Set some guidelines with AI. Provide details on your brand voice, health literacy, reading level, length limits, regulatory needs, etc.
• Give AI examples. Show it what a good result looks like to you.
• Explain the tone to AI. Describe how the voice should feel — plainspoken, confident, warm, etc.
• Tell AI what output to generate. Let AI know what kind of format or response you expect.
• Set limitations for AI. Define what not to include: jargon, clichés, sensitive language, etc.

Get better outputs with prompt chaining

Once you’ve started the conversation with AI, prompt chaining can help you refine, iterate and expand your idea for better results.

Prompt chaining is essentially the back-and-forth conversation you can have with AI, building one question upon another until you get the results you desire.

“Imagine if you had a brainstorm partner that you always synced up with well in the workplace — and they’re beside you all the time to keep bouncing ideas off of,” says Diane.

Use meta-prompting to refine

If you still feel like AI just isn’t “getting it” and you aren’t getting quality results — meta prompting is the answer. Meta prompting is asking AI how to ask it better questions to get better results. You can simply ask, “How can I prompt you better?”

Get strategic with AI

Prompt writing isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about strategic thinking. When you approach AI as a co-strategist, you’re not just delegating tasks; you’re shaping the quality and direction of the outcomes.

This mindset shift is where custom GPTs shine. They allow you to encode your unique approach, preferences and knowledge into tools that collaborate with you — not just generate for you.

Another emerging best practice is the creation of prompt libraries — repositories of your most effective, nuanced and adaptable prompts.

“Good prompts are valuable intellectual property; they capture your organizational knowledge and creativity,” says Diane. “They’re your secrets to efficiency and consistency.”

So, what makes a prompt library-worthy?

• Reusable: The prompt works for tasks you repeat often, saving you the trouble of reinventing the wheel.
• Versatile: Different team members can adapt the prompt for a variety of situations.
• Tuned: You’ve tested, tweaked and improved the prompt based on real use.

Once you’ve collected these, save and share them. A well-built prompt library is a content asset as valuable as a style guide or brand voice document.

Prompt smarter: What to build, check and try next

Use plain language and don’t be afraid to think out loud — long-form thinking often brings better results.

• Assign clear roles and tones to your AI assistant.
• Don’t settle for the first response. Keep prompting, iterate and refine.
• Feed your edits and preferences back; AI gets better the more you interact.
• Build or use a custom GPT when you can.
• Encourage AI to nitpick your strategy and fill in the gaps. Even seasoned strategists can miss something.

It doesn’t take long for an AI assistant, like ChatGPT, to learn your preferences, goals and opinions. Then, it supports you more as a coach and mentor,” Diane says.

“Ask AI to improve your prompts. They’ll become way better. Then put your best prompts together into automations. You’ll be happy having added that skill to your skillset. I think that everyone should build a custom GPT at least once in their career. You’ll understand the technology differently. When you start to do that, you’re like, I can build little tools!” – Andy Crestodina or Orbit Media

What are the risks of bad prompting?

Bad prompting can lead to bad outputs, which is especially risky in healthcare.

Common risks of poor prompting include:

• Inaccurate or misleading content: Bad prompts can lead to incorrect facts, outdated medical info or oversimplified health advice. In healthcare, even small inaccuracies can erode trust or create liability risks.
• Off-brand tone or voice: Without clear direction, AI can default to a generic or inconsistent tone. This weakens brand identity — especially dangerous in healthcare, where trust is critical.
• Bias or exclusion: Unclear prompts may surface biased language. For example, prompts that don’t specify inclusive language may produce content that marginalizes certain groups — a DEI red flag.
• Rework: Vague or overly broad prompts lead to unusable output and wasted time. You end up rewriting the content yourself — defeating the purpose of using AI in the first place.
• Missed opportunities: Bad prompts don’t leverage AI’s real strength — creating targeted, optimized content fast. If your prompts don’t align with goals like SEO, readability or health literacy, you miss out on performance gains.

That’s why human oversight when using AI is critical. Quality and accuracy are non-negotiable. Users must constantly question the results and never take AI answers at face value.

A well-structured prompt leaves less room for error because you’ve set the stage for success. Starting with a prompt framework, or a trusted prompt from your prompt library, saves you time on the front end. And it could also save you many valuable hours fixing errors in your end result.

In healthcare and other high-stakes fields, like life sciences, that’s not just smart; it’s essential.

Prompting as second nature

The takeaway: prompting will become second nature — just as intuitive as a Google search is today. The more you practice, the more you’ll see that good prompting is good marketing. It’s about knowing your audience (the AI), being clear in your communication and iterating until you reach the best outcome.

So don’t overthink it. Start small. Stay curious. Keep the conversation going.

“What will evolve is that we’re not having this conversation anymore,” says Diane.

And when that happens, you’ll know prompting has truly become second nature.

Need help wrapping your arms around AI?

Want your team to use AI like seasoned strategists — not just casual users? Our WGC Catalyst program helps healthcare marketers turn AI into an advantage, starting with better prompts, smarter workflows and real results. Reach out and let’s create a custom AI workshop to help your team level up.

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