Give context first
Tell the tool who you are, who the result is for and why you need it. "Write a product description" is vague; "Write a 100-word product description for a handmade soap shop, for customers who care about natural ingredients" gives the tool something to work with.
Describe the output you want
Say how long the answer should be, what format to use (list, table, email, script) and what tone fits (friendly, formal, short and direct). If the result will be pasted somewhere, mention the limits, such as a character limit for a social post.
Show an example
If you have a past email, caption or outline you like, paste it and ask the tool to follow the same style. One good example often works better than a long description.
Provide the facts yourself
Give the tool the facts it should use: prices, dates, names, features. Ask it to use only the information you provided and to mark anything it is unsure about. This reduces invented details.
Ask for options, then refine
Ask for three versions instead of one, pick the closest and ask for specific changes: "Make the second one shorter and remove the question at the end." Iterating in small steps is usually faster than writing a perfect prompt on the first try.
Review before you use it
Read the result as if someone else wrote it. Check facts, names and numbers, and make sure it sounds like you. AI is a fast first-draft assistant; the final decision is yours.
A reusable template
Context: I am [who you are] and this is for [audience].
Task: Please [what you need].
Facts to use: [list the facts].
Format: [length, structure, tone].
Rules: Use only the facts above. Mark anything you are unsure about.