Forum3 AI Prompting Playbook (July 2025 Edition)
Prompts are the steering wheel of AI. Master them, and you turn large language models into productivity powerhouses. This updated playbook makes prompting simple, actionable, and modern, which is perfect for teams aiming to get value fast.
What is a Prompt? A prompt is your instruction to an AI model. Think of it as a creative brief for a super-powered assistant. The clearer the ask, the better the result.
Don't Treat AI Like a Search Engine. AI isn’t here to fetch links. It’s here to think with you. Unlike Google, it won’t guess what you want from a few keywords. The magic happens when you give it context, structure, and clear direction. Treat it like a teammate and you’ll get results that feel less like search results and more like smart work done faster.
Prompting 101: The Basics You Need
Before you get fancy with frameworks or formats, you need to understand the foundation. Prompts are just instructions, but when done right, they act like jet fuel for productivity. Clear communication is everything.
What is a Prompt? A prompt is your instruction to an AI model. Think of it as a creative brief for a super-powered assistant. The clearer the ask, the better the result.
8 Best Practices for Better AI Results: To consistently get great responses, these are the habits of high-performing prompt creators:
Talk to it like a teammate, not a search engine.
Assign a role and goal: "You are a UX researcher…"
Specify output structure with bullets, tables, charts, summaries.
Break big asks into steps to guide complex tasks.
Feed it good ingredients such as context, examples, links.
Double-check numbers and sensitive info.
Refine iteratively with each response is a draft.
Save what works by building a prompt library.
Pro Tip: Use clear separators (e.g., <<< CONTEXT >>>) to keep instructions clean.
The CRAFT Framework
To eliminate guesswork and reduce back-and-forth, use a predictable template. CRAFT helps you remember the 5 ingredients every prompt needs.
Use this template to prompt like a pro:
Context: What does it need to know?
Role: Who should it be?
Ask: What do you want it to do?
Format: What structure do you need?
Tone: How should it sound?
Quick Template:
You are: [Role]
Context: [Facts or background]
Task: [One specific ask]
Format: [Structure, style, length]
Tone:[Tone/voicecues]
Pro Tip: Assign owners to each letter for teamwork (e.g., legal = Tone, data = Context).
Best Practice Integration:
Set expectations up front with clear roles and format.
Use real examples to shape model outputs.
Store high-performing prompts and remix them.
Prompt Recipes for Fast Wins
Not sure where to start? These copy-paste-ready prompts are built for speed. Each example demonstrates how to combine clarity, context, and structure for fast, useful results.
You are: Brand Copywriter
Context: New iced coffee launch, Gen Z audience
Task: Write 3 IG captions
Format: Bulleted list, ≤ 15 words each
Tone: Witty, upbeat, scroll-stopping
Meeting Summary Extractor
You are: Operations Assistant
Context: 30-minute transcript pasted below
Task: Extract a) action items, b) decisions, c) open questions
Format: 3 bullet sections
Tone: Clear, professional
Review Response Drafter
You are: Customer Support Manager
Context: 1-star review below
Task: Write 2-sentence reply
Format: Friendly and helpful tone
Tone: Empathetic, brand-aligned
Team Adoption Tactics
Prompting works best when it’s a shared skill. These ideas turn individuals into a prompting-powered team. Encourage play, experimentation, and peer feedback.
Final Word
Prompts aren't just text, they're leverage. Speak to AI like a colleague. Guide it with structure, role, and clarity. Save what works. Share what’s great. Improve together.
Social Media Caption Generator