“I am a machine, Jim. I do not sleep, I do not take breaks, I am an unstoppable force.” - Dwight Schrute
Everyone except Scranton’s prize-beet farmer knows this was a load of manure.
What do standing desks, Hay Day, and ChatGPT have in common? Dwight would have loved them.
From the chatbot that lives at the top of your Snapchat feed to the software streamlining your content writing, AI is, well, everywhere.
Contrary to popular belief, AI has been around for a long time - since the 1950s, to be exact. Like any respectable bottle of pinot noir, pair of blue jeans, or generative AI model - all good things get better with age.*
Jeff Bezos has been finding ways to integrate AI into his products since 2014 (there’s a reason the dude’s hourly wage is pushing 10 figures). It takes him just under 13 minutes to earn what most people make in their lifetime - let’s kill two bits with one server by refining our AI skills so we can reclaim some of that wealth.
*This statement aggressively excludes blue cheese. Actual Size stands in solidarity against blue cheese.
The quality of the input reflects the quality of the results.
The first step in achieving AI-aficionado status is a *wow factor* prompt. This can be defined as any command you feed your generative AI model.
Prompt engineering is a subtle art form - you want to avoid being too broad, but you also don’t want to be too niche. The key is to be sharp, stern, and specific. If Miranda Priestly taught us anything, it’s that it’s okay (and, admittedly a little chic) to be a jerk. So grab your Prada (dupes) and throw on folklore. After all, the devil’s in the details, but you’ve got a friend in me (AKA Actual Size’s favorite Gen Z intern).
5 Tips for Writing an A1 AI Prompt
- Give Direction. AI is like a well-trained boyfriend. Feedback is important, gentle reminders are encouraged, and direction is very necessary.
- Cast Your Character. Give your chatbot a role and let it lean into it. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - in this case, imitation will increase your click-through rates.
- Clarify the Format. Explicitly describe how you want the information to be delivered. For example, “Write me a headline that doesn’t exceed 40 characters” will give you a better output than “Give me a title.” The first instruction generates a concise and targeted output. Don’t be afraid to be bossy - robots don’t have feelings (we think, we hope).
- Set the Tone. Synonymous with curating the vibe. A 6-year-old’s birthday party probably shouldn’t have rap blaring from the Sonos (unless that’s your thing - we also love Mac Miller), and a business proposal really shouldn’t have verbiage like “fire” or “this ate.” It’s just not a slay.
- Lead by Example. Often overlooked, but one of the most important elements. Circling back to our second-favorite intern, your now-well-trained boyfriend - training is key, and ongoing education matters - just don’t teach them too much.
Here’s what not to do:
Using descriptive language is important, and there’s no shame in hitting up Thesarus.com. Just keep things simple: adjectives are great, but we don’t need to follow Joey Tribbiani’s lead.
Do this instead:
By giving my chatbot relevant context and keywords, I primed it for a response that strikes a chord for my writing, researching, or brainstorming needs. Rolling Stone would be proud.
Incorporate AI into your workflow to drive performance and efficiency.
AI is essentially a get-out-of-jail-free card when it comes to repetitive, time-consuming tasks that are prone to human error. For example, say you’re a marketing manager strategizing blog topics for next month’s content. Your typical workflow likely consists of scrolling through external feeds to find out what’s trending, then sifting through endless amounts of Google Analytics data to track engagement and response rates to previous blog posts.
Pop quiz!
You got it - D. This is a perfect task for your little digital butler. With AI’s ability to execute these functions more quickly than we can, attention can be redirected to areas where the human touch flourishes. This pivot streamlines operations, improves efficiency, and delivers faster results—a win for humans and robots.
Have a conversation with your generative AI. Just don’t fall in love with Her.
(Sorry, Joaquin. To be fair, we also love Scar Jo’s voice).
They say a dog is a man’s best friend, and a digital marketer’s is AI!
Integrating AI into your content creation workflow is the best collab since Emma Chamberlain and Kendall Jenner. It’s basically your creative partner, soundboard, and co-pilot all in one! Use your chatbot to brainstorm ideas, receive feedback on drafts, or check for grammatical errors in your writing.
Think of these generative AI models as the best, most impressive intern you’ve ever had. They can pretty much do anything except make you a coffee (...for now).
Use this checklist to become the responsible AI aficionado you’re destined to be.
✏️ Always fact-check.
🎨 Use it as a tool to get those creative juices flowing.
🔊 Clearly communicate the tone and direction you want your chatbot to take.
🤝 Be able to explain your method to others - share that processing power!
🚀 Never stop refining your approach.
Lastly, and perhaps the most important, don’t copy and paste it directly into your content writing. Like Dwight’s “secret” love affair with Angela, it’s painfully obvious.
Think of AI as an electric scooter. It gets you where you need to go, faster, but can only operate effectively with a human at the helm. With these guidelines in mind, let’s channel our actual intelligence and get to chatting!
Keep up with this blog series for more insights on how to way in all facets of your marketing strategy.
Us proudly watching you implement these skills.
Written by Content and Operations Intern, Gabby Collins.
