Writing prompts that give usable post drafts

The first draft is nowhere near right. Too long, wrong tone, a made-up detail, a pushy ending. Usually the fault is in the request, not the tool. A short prompt makes the tool guess, and every guess is another chance for the draft to drift away from what you meant to say.

Fix one: say who it's for and why

Anthropic's guide says to explain the context or motivation behind your instructions.¹ For a post, that means a line on the reader and the goal.

Weak: "Write a post about our new menu."

Better: "Write a Facebook post for regular customers telling them the autumn menu starts Monday. The goal is to get them to come and try the soup."

Fix two: hand over the facts yourself

Don't ask the tool to find facts. Paste the ones you have. Dates, times, prices, names, the address. Then say: use only these facts, and leave a gap marked [CHECK] for anything else.

That last instruction matters. A draft can invent a detail, and a marked gap is easy to spot in review. Every detail still needs a person's check, as the review list explains.

Fix three: set the format and limits

Anthropic advises stating the format and limits you want.¹ For posts, that might be:

• The platform, since a LinkedIn post and a short caption differ.
• A length, such as a word limit or "two short paragraphs".
• How many versions you want.
• Whether to include hashtags, emoji or a call to action.
• A closing line, if you have a standard one.

Each platform has its own limits, so look them up on the platform's own help pages.

Fix four: add voice and examples

OpenAI's guide says instructions can set the tone and goals and include sample answers.² Paste two or three of your own past posts. The page on your business voice goes further.

Fix five: say what to leave out

Name the things you don't want. Claims you can't prove. Words you never use. Competitor names. Anything about health, money or legal rights. Discounts you haven't approved.

A line such as "No promises about results, no superlatives, no prices" cuts a lot of editing later.

Keep private details out

Treat a public chat tool as public. Australia's regulator advises organisations to avoid putting personal or sensitive information into such tools.³ That's Australian guidance, but the habit is sound anywhere. Use first names of staff only if they agree, and never paste customer messages.

A prompt you can adapt

Write three versions of a short Instagram caption for local customers. Goal: tell them our Saturday market stall opens at eight in the morning from next week. Use only these facts: [facts]. Voice: friendly, plain, no exclamation marks. Under fifty words each. No claims about quality or price. Put [CHECK] where you're unsure of anything.

Anthropic offers a test for any instruction: could a newcomer follow your prompt without asking anything?¹ If not, put the answers in. Short fix, big gain.

When the draft is still off

Change one thing at a time. Length wrong? Fix the length rule. If the tone is wrong, add an example. Keep the prompt that works and reuse it. Then run the draft through your weekly routine.