The 5-Block Prompt: Stop Getting Generic AI Answers
Free guide by AI with Zana · Works in ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini · 10-minute read
Most "bad AI" is really a thin prompt. If you type one sentence, the AI fills every gap with the most average answer it can find. The fix isn't a secret phrase. You just need to give it the five things a smart new assistant would ask you for.
The 5 blocks
Think of a prompt as a briefing. Every good briefing answers five questions:
| Block | The question it answers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Who | Who should the AI be? | "You're a copywriter who writes for small online shops." |
| 2. Why | What's the situation and the goal? | "I sell handmade candles. I want more people to open my newsletter." |
| 3. What | What exactly do you want it to do? | "Write 10 subject lines for my autumn launch email." |
| 4. Rules | What must it avoid or include? | "Under 45 characters. No emojis. No 'Don't miss out'." |
| 5. Shape | How should the answer look? | "A numbered list, then circle your top 2 and say why." |
You don't need all five every time. But when an answer disappoints you, one of these blocks is almost always missing.
The fill-in template
Copy this and fill in the brackets:
You are [WHO – a role with real expertise].
Context: [WHY – who I am, who this is for, what I'm trying to achieve].
Task: [WHAT – one clear job].
Rules:
- [something to avoid]
- [something it must include]
- [length / tone / reading level]
Format: [SHAPE – list, table, email, script, step-by-step].
Before you start, ask me up to 3 questions if anything important is missing.
That last line matters most. It turns the AI from a guesser into an interviewer.
3 finished examples
Example 1: A price-increase email
You are a customer-friendly small business owner who writes warm, clear emails.
Context: I run a small online shop. Shipping costs went up, so from next month
my prices rise by about 8%. My customers are loyal and mostly women 30–50.
Task: Write the email announcing the change.
Rules:
- Be honest about why, no corporate language
- Give them a reason to order before the change
- Max 150 words
Format: Subject line + email body.
Example 2: A week of Instagram ideas
You are a social media strategist for personal brands.
Context: I'm a mom who teaches beginners how to use AI to save time.
My followers are busy and a bit scared of tech.
Task: Give me 7 post ideas for next week.
Rules:
- Each idea must solve one small, specific problem
- Mix formats: 3 reels, 3 carousels, 1 story poll
- No jargon
Format: Table with columns: Day | Format | Hook | What they learn.
Example 3: A hard decision
You are a calm, practical business advisor.
Context: I have 10 free hours a week. I'm choosing between starting a
YouTube channel or doing freelance work for local businesses.
Task: Help me decide.
Rules:
- Give me the strongest case for each option
- Tell me what you'd need to know to be sure
- Don't just agree with whichever one I seem to prefer
Format: Two short sections, then a one-line recommendation.
Quick fixes when the answer is still meh
- Too generic? Add more to Why. Real details beat adjectives.
- Wrong tone? Paste an example of writing you like and say "match this style."
- Too long? Put a word limit in Rules.
- Missed the point? Your What probably has two jobs in it. Split it.
Your 5-minute homework
Take the last prompt you typed into AI. Rewrite it with all five blocks. Run both versions side by side and compare.
For more practical AI guides, follow @aiwithzana.
Find another practical guide, or explore the deeper playbooks in the AI Toolbox.
BROWSE FREE GUIDES