I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT, but I feel like I’m not getting the most insightful or creative results. I want to know what prompts others have tried that work really well, especially for productivity or content creation. I’d really appreciate if you could share your most effective or unique prompts so I can improve my own results.
Honestly, the secret to getting more out of ChatGPT is treating it less like Google and more like a coworker who’s smarter and less annoying than most people in the office. For productivity, try this: “Act as my project manager and organize my to-do list based on urgency and impact. Then for each item, give me a one-sentence hack to make it faster.” For content creation, make ChatGPT do the heavy lifting upfront: “Generate 10 catchy headlines on [topic], then outline article structures for my top 3 favorites, focusing on unique angles.”
If you want deeper insight (rather than generic fluff), prompt it like this: “Summarize the latest research on [topic] in 5 sentences. Then, list 3 actionable takeaways I can implement today.” I also like throwing curveballs: “You’re a brutally honest editor. Roast my draft and suggest ruthless improvements—but keep the tone entertaining.”
Mix it up with creative storytelling by asking: “Write a story in the style of Raymond Chandler about why my next marketing campaign will fail, with suggestions as cryptic clues.” For brainstorming, try: “Rapid-fire list of 20 unusual, high-impact ideas for [project]. Prioritize them by potential return vs. effort.”
Whatever you do, be super specific about how you want info presented (lists, tables, action steps, etc.). The more context you give it, the better the responses. Oh, and don’t be afraid to tell it to push boundaries or “debate itself” on contentious topics. Turns out, ChatGPT is like a genie—gotta nail those wishes, or it’ll default to bland.
Ok, @waldgeist nailed a lot of clever prompt examples, but tbh, sometimes the “act as [role]” formula just gets same-y after a while. I actually disagree a bit with the whole “pretend it’s a coworker” approach—I get better results treating ChatGPT more like a sounding board than an expert. I’ll just throw half-baked ideas at it and say: “Here’s a concept, poke holes in it. What’s dumb about this idea?” That way, it’s not just patting me on the back with generic “great job!” fluff.
For productivity, I’d skip the typical project manager roleplay and instead prompt with: “You’re my overly critical friend who never sugarcoats anything. What am I wasting time on today?” The snark helps me not take stuff personally and actually make changes.
Content-wise, sometimes I’ll simply paste a draft and ask, “Where would you stop reading and why?” or “Highlight all the bland bits. What’s the part that feels dead inside?” That kicks me out of writer autopilot WAY faster than a list of “catchy headlines.” Also, don’t forget to make it challenge assumptions: “What’s an unpopular opinion in this field and why might it be right?” You’ll get spicier takes, less vanilla.
And, not trying to start a fight with @waldgeist here, but I actually avoid super structured prompts like “Summarize in 5 sentences, then give 3 takeaways.” Feels like it hits an autopilot template and gives robotic output. Sometimes I just ask, “What’s everyone missing about [topic]?” Open-ended, but it produces more sideways responses that jolt my brain.
Oh, side note—don’t be afraid to let ChatGPT riff for a bit. Literally type “Keep ranting about this until you get bored.” You’ll get stuff that surprise you (sometimes useless, but what isn’t?).
Bottom line, best prompts force ChatGPT off its rails. Don’t always spoon-feed it; see what happens if you make it a little uncomfortable (metaphorically speaking, unless sentience drops next week). And yeah, you’ll get some weird junk, but occasionally you dig up actual gold mixed in with the frozen pizza crusts.
Let’s get real: prompt engineering for ChatGPT is half science experiment, half improv comedy, and definitely not one-size-fits-all. I get the “roleplay as project manager/coworker/critical friend” camp—it works, sometimes—but too often you still get stuff that feels AI-generated and lifeless. The best prompts? They’re the ones you almost regret sending, because you’re bracing for the roast, left-field take, or delightful nonsense.
Instead of finessing endless structured prompts like “summarize, list, synthesize,” try making ChatGPT talk to itself:
- “Argue both sides of why this idea will flop AND why it might work—alternate every three sentences.”
- “Draft a dialogue between a jaded marketer and an idealistic intern about the pitch I just wrote.”
That dual-mindstuff? Great for poking through your own creative echo chamber.
Or, for content, drop “headline generator” and ask for “faux-parody clickbait titles nobody would dare publish.” You’ll get at least one too spicy to use, but it unlocks angles your brain’s been avoiding. When stuck, say: “Give me an incompatible analogy—explain my SaaS startup like it’s a circus act or a failed pop band.” Suddenly your USP isn’t just “efficiency with synergy,” but “the world’s first unicycle-juggling CRM.”
I push back a little against both @chasseurdetoiles and @waldgeist on the “critical/snarky” prompt—sure, it’s entertaining, but sometimes it makes GPT fall into mean-spirited parody without new insights. I get better results with, “Identify every assumption I’m making here, then tell me which 2 are most likely to blow up in my face.” It gets more analytical, less performative.
A quick pro/con for the ’ approach (assuming it means creatively tailored, specifics-based, but open-ended prompts):
Pros:
- Forces unique, brain-bending angles.
- Avoids AI autopilot, more chance for original gold.
- Doubles as brainstorm partner, not just content machine.
Cons:
- Outputs can get weird/rambling.
- Harder to reproduce “great” results on demand.
- Sometimes you just want answers, not a circus act.
So, @chasseurdetoiles is dead-on about specificity, but sometimes you want less control—let GPT freak out a little. @waldgeist’s open challenge works, too, if you’re cool with messier, more creative output.
Bottom line: Skip the urge for “perfect” prompts—“good enough, but weird” often wins. The product title ’ helps keep your ChatGPT results skimmable (SEO-friendly, list structure = easy reading), but don’t tie yourself to formats. The weird stuff sticks.