10 Tips to Instruct or Guide AI like a Pro

Wondering how to get your product content just right? Here are 10 tips to master instructing our AI!

1. Be Specific About the Format

Clearly state the structure you want:

• ✅ “Write a product title under 70 characters.”

• ✅ “List 3 bullet points highlighting key benefits.”

• ✅ “Write a short paragraph product description (2–3 sentences).”

🔍 Why it matters: Without clear format cues, AI may default to long or unstructured outputs.

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2. Give Clear Context About the Product

Include:

• Product name

• Category/type

• Key features

• Materials, sizes, or specifications

• Target audience or use case

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3. Define the Tone and Voice

Mention your brand’s tone or writing style preferences:

• Friendly, playful, luxury, minimalist, bold, etc.

• First-person vs. third-person

• Sentence length or reading level (e.g., “5th-grade level” or “short, punchy sentences”)

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4. Set Output Constraints and Goals

Include limitations or success criteria:

• “Max 150 characters.”

• “Use at least 2 SEO keywords.”

• “Only mention the product name once.”

• “Focus on emotional benefits, not just features.”

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5. Include SEO Keywords (If Relevant)

Provide keywords in your CSV import, and ask for integration:

“Include [Keywords] from the original source data.”

Or be more guided:

“Use the exact keyword "eco-friendly nursery" verbatim in the first sentence.”

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6. Use Examples to Show Style

Give a reference if your brand follows a specific structure or voice:

“Follow this example: ‘A buttery-soft bamboo baby blanket perfect for cozy naps. Lightweight, breathable, and gentle on sensitive skin.’”

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7. Avoid Vague or Open-Ended Prompts

Vague: “Write two paragraphs highlighting the product's features and how they benefit a buyer.”

Better: “In the first paragraph, write up to 200 characters introducing the product and its key benefit. In the second paragraph, summarize what differentiates this product from the competition, highlighting 3-5 key features from the original data. In the last sentence, end with a concise call-to-action encouraging a purchase.”

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8. Consider "If..then" Statements

We know that sometimes, content needs differ for products of different categories, or with different specs or functionalities. Make sure the AI understands this too!

Here's some examples:

"Only mention Attribute Y if Attribute X is [Z]."

"If the product type is a t-shirt, highlight whether it is unisex."

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9. Tell the AI What to Avoid (But Use Positive Language When Possible)

Clarify brand don’ts, but try to tell the AI what to do rather than what not to do:

“Avoid using unvalidated phrases like ‘best on the market’ or any unverified claims not supported by the original data.”

“Only use one exclamation point per description.”

"Avoid superfluous, overused or "filler" words that do not add value for the buyer. Focus only on the facts from the original data."

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10. Use Prompt Templates (When Possible)

Offer reusable formats for consistency. This can work well for product titles that follow specific naming conventions. 

Using a CSV catalog? To see best results, make sure any information in brackets matches the exact name of the default field it was mapped to (OR the name of your CSV's column header, if it was mapped as an additional custom column).

 

Here's an example with a combination of Describely's default fields ("Vendor" & "Type") & custom attributes ("Product Name" & "Primary Keyword"):

“Follow this format exactly: [Vendor] [Product Name] [Type] [Primary Keyword]