📢 Welcome back to our series on How to Structure AI Prompts!
This series is all about helping you master the art of crafting AI prompts that are clear, impactful, and tailored to your goals. Whether you’re a business leader, a creative professional, or someone simply curious about AI, these episodes are designed to guide you step by step.
In Episode 1, we laid the foundation by introducing the concept of a broad TASK—a straightforward directive that provides the AI with a clear starting point. Then in Episode 2, we elevated the process by adding PURPOSE, ensuring the AI’s response aligns with a specific goal.
Today, in Episode 3, we’re taking the next step: understanding your audience.
Here’s the full agenda of the series:
(You’re here!) Knowing Your Audience
Structuring Reasoning
Adding Humor & Analogies
Setting the Example
Putting It All Together: Feedback Loop
Each episode builds on the last, helping you unlock the full potential of AI prompt engineering! Let’s get started. 🎯
1. Talk to AI - from Fluff to Facts: Winning Over the Data-Driven Executive
After refining the purpose in Episode 2, you confidently send the updated draft to Eli Moore, certain this version will hit the mark.
Five minutes later, your phone buzzes. “It’s definitely more focused,” Eli says after a pause, “but…I still don’t think it’ll resonate with my friend.”
“What’s wrong now?” you ask, leaning back in your chair
“He’s all about numbers, measurable outcomes, and actionable insights,” Eli sighs. “This is still...too fluffy. He needs data. He needs charts. He needs...an executive love letter!”
You can’t help but chuckle. But then it hits you: Eli is absolutely right. To land this, having a clear purpose won’t be enough. You’ll also need to speak the language of the audience. What works for an environmental advocate isn’t going to impress a data-driven executive who probably uses spreadsheets even to plan their vacations. 📊✈️
In Episode 3, we’ll dive into how to tailor prompts to specific audiences. Whether you’re speaking to a policymaker, a business leader, or the general public, understanding your audience is the secret ingredient to crafting AI responses that truly connect. And let’s be honest—if Eli’s friend is as hard to impress as he sounds, we’re going to need the whole kitchen to get this right! 🎯🍳
TL;DR:
In Episode 3 of How to Structure AI Prompts, we’re focusing on tailoring prompts to specific audiences. After refining purpose in Episode 2, it became clear that understanding your audience—what they value, how they think, and what motivates them—is key to crafting responses that truly resonate. Ready to move from fluff to facts? Let’s dive in
2. Updating the Prompt by specifying the Audience
Crafting effective AI prompts isn’t just about assigning a task or defining a purpose—it’s also about understanding who you’re speaking to. Knowing your audience is key to shaping prompts that deliver relevant, impactful responses tailored to their unique needs and expectations.
When your prompt aligns with the values and priorities of your audience, it ensures that the AI generates responses that resonate with them. Neglecting this step can lead to outputs that feel off-target, unconvincing, or fail to connect altogether.
How Audience Impacts AI Responses
Your audience influences not just what is said, but how it’s communicated. Consider these examples:
Tone: A formal tone for policymakers vs. a conversational tone for community discussions;
Terminology: Technical jargon for experts vs. plain language for non-specialists;
Detail Level: High-level summaries for executives vs. granular details for data analysts.
The graphic below illustrates some common audience profiles and the communication styles they would typically expect.
In Episode 2, we explored how a well-defined [TASK] and a [PURPOSE] prompt provides AI with a clear directive, sharpening the AI’s focus to ensure the response aligns with the intended outcome and audience perspective.
See ChatGPT 4o response here
Now, we take it a step further by adding a purpose to the prompt, sharpening the AI’s focus to ensure the response aligns with the intended outcome and audience perspective.
See ChatGPT 4o response here
Why Clean Energy Policies Are Smart Business for the US Economy
Adopting clean energy policies isn’t just about the environment—it’s about building a stronger, more competitive US economy. Let’s cut through the abstract arguments and look at the hard numbers and opportunities:
1. Clean Energy is a $1 Trillion Opportunity
The global clean energy market is booming, with over $1 trillion in annual investments worldwide. By adopting supportive policies, the US can attract more of this capital, become a leading exporter of renewable technologies, and dominate high-demand markets in solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems.
2. Renewable Energy Costs Are Falling—and Profitable
The cost of generating solar and wind energy has dropped by over 70% in the past decade. In many cases, renewables are now cheaper than coal or natural gas. Businesses and utilities that switch to renewables can lower operational costs and enjoy consistent energy pricing without exposure to fossil fuel market swings.
3. Energy Security Means Economic Stability
Relying on imported oil and gas makes the US economy vulnerable to price spikes and supply disruptions. Clean energy policies promote domestic energy production, keeping energy spending within US borders and reducing exposure to volatile global markets.
4. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
The clean energy sector is already a job creation engine. In 2022, it employed over 3.2 million Americans, and this number is climbing. Policies that support renewables, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency will expand employment in manufacturing, construction, and high-tech industries—all sectors that drive strong economic growth.
5. Lower Costs for Businesses and Communities
Clean energy policies incentivize investments in energy efficiency, which reduce energy bills for businesses and consumers. For example, retrofitting buildings to be more energy-efficient saves billions annually, freeing up capital for other investments.
6. Global Competitiveness
Other countries, particularly China and the EU, are aggressively investing in clean energy. If the US doesn’t adopt policies to compete, we risk falling behind in the industries of the future. Clean energy leadership ensures the US remains at the forefront of innovation, manufacturing, and exports.
7. Investor and Consumer Demand
Investors are pouring money into companies with strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics, and consumers are favoring brands with sustainability commitments. Adopting clean energy aligns US businesses with these trends, attracting capital and winning customer loyalty.
The Takeaway
Clean energy isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a powerful economic strategy. Policies that support renewable energy drive cost savings, create jobs, attract investment, and ensure America’s long-term competitiveness in a carbon-conscious world. For business leaders, it’s the smart, data-driven choice.
The outcome with the [AUDIENCE] is more effective because it speaks directly to a business-focused audience, prioritizing economic benefits with specific, measurable data. It highlights the $1 trillion global clean energy market, a 70% drop in renewable costs, and the 3.2 million US clean energy jobs, making the case tangible and compelling. Practical examples, such as retrofitting buildings to save billions, show actionable benefits, while the emphasis on global competitiveness frames clean energy as a strategic necessity.
In contrast, the outcome with [TASK] and [GOAL] only is broader and less targeted, blending environmental arguments that risk losing focus. Our audience-driven prompt delivers sharper, data-driven persuasion.
3. What's coming next
Curious about the difference an audience-tailored prompt can make? Test it out for yourself! Take a generic prompt and compare it to one crafted for a specific audience, like Eli’s data-driven friend. Notice how the responses shift—how the focus, tone, and detail level all align more closely with what your intended audience values. It’s like seeing the AI speak their language!
Next Up in Episode 4 - Ho to Talk to AI: The Power of Role Assignment in Prompts. 🎭
Imagine being able to tell your AI not just what to say, but how to approach the task—as a seasoned industry expert, an advisor, or even a storyteller. Role assignment adds an extra layer of expertise and focus to your AI responses, elevating them from good to great.
Stay tuned for the next step in How to Structure AI prompts!
FAQs
What’s the main takeaway from Episode 3 on crafting AI prompts?
The main takeaway is the importance of understanding your audience. Tailoring prompts to align with your audience’s values, priorities, and knowledge level ensures that AI-generated responses resonate more effectively, making them relevant, engaging, and impactful.
What happens if I don’t consider the audience when writing prompts?
Ignoring the audience can lead to misaligned responses—too technical for laypeople or too simplistic for experts. This disconnect reduces the relevance and impact of the AI’s response, potentially failing to inform, persuade, or engage effectively.
How specific should I be when describing my audience?
The more specific, the better. Highlight key attributes like their values, priorities, knowledge level, and decision-making style. For example, describing your audience as “a data-driven business leader who prioritizes profitability” provides clearer guidance to the AI than simply saying “business leader.”
Can a single prompt work for multiple audiences?
Not effectively. Each audience has unique preferences, priorities, and levels of understanding. A one-size-fits-all prompt may result in generic or irrelevant responses, failing to engage or resonate with anyone. For the best results, tailor prompts to address the specific needs and expectations of each audience.