Why Business Prompts Are Different
Most prompt engineering guides focus on getting AI to perform generic tasks—write a poem, summarize an article, debug some code. That's fine if you're experimenting. But it falls apart the moment you try to use AI for actual business work.
Why? Because business tasks come loaded with context that generic prompts ignore:
- Organizational constraints — Budget limits, approval chains, brand guidelines
- Stakeholder dynamics — Different audiences need different messaging
- Industry nuance — Healthcare compliance differs wildly from fintech regulations
- Political realities — What you can say vs. what you should say
The prompt "Write a marketing email" means something completely different at a 50-person startup versus a Fortune 500 enterprise. This guide teaches you to build that context into your prompts.
The Anatomy of a Business Prompt
Every effective business prompt has five components. Most generic prompts include one or two. That's why they produce generic outputs.
1. Role Definition
Tell the AI who it's pretending to be. Not just "you are a marketing expert" but the specific type of expert.
2. Task Specification
What exactly needs to happen. Be precise about deliverables.
3. Context Constraints
The real-world limitations that shape the output.
4. Output Format
Exactly what the deliverable should look like.
5. Success Criteria
How you'll evaluate whether the output is good enough.
The Business Prompt Framework
Use this template as your starting point:
ROLE: [Specific expert persona with relevant experience]
TASK: [Clear, specific deliverable with measurable outcomes]
CONTEXT:
- Industry: [Your industry and any relevant regulations]
- Audience: [Who will consume this output]
- Constraints: [Budget, timeline, approval requirements, brand voice]
- Background: [Relevant history or previous decisions]
OUTPUT FORMAT:
- Structure: [Sections, length, format type]
- Tone: [Voice and style requirements]
- Inclusions: [Required elements]
- Exclusions: [What to avoid]
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
- [How you'll evaluate the output]
- [Specific metrics or standards to meet]
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Being Too Vague
"Write me a good email" gives AI nothing to work with.
Mistake 2: Assuming Context
The AI doesn't know your company, your boss, or your constraints unless you tell it.
Mistake 3: One-Shot Thinking
The best outputs come from iteration, not single prompts.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Format
If you need bullet points, say so. If you need 500 words, specify it.
Your First Exercise
Take a task you need to do this week and rebuild the prompt using the Business Prompt Framework. Compare the output to what you would have gotten with your original prompt.
Test Your Knowledge
Take a quick quiz to reinforce what you've learned in this lesson. Earn points and badges as you progress!
Take the Quiz