Beginner’s Guide to Writing AI Prompts That Don’t Produce Generic Output

If you’re new to using AI for your marketing, you’ve probably had an experience something along these lines:

1. You type in a quick request.

2. The AI gives you something fast.

3. And then you read it and think…

4. 'Why does this sound like it was written by a corporate robot on a tight deadline?'

You should at least rest easy knowing that the problem isn’t you. It’s the prompt.

Most beginners assume AI writes creatively by default. However, AI only puts out content on the same level as what you put in. It follows instructions, so when the instructions are vague, the output becomes vague, too.

This beginner-friendly AI prompt guide shows you exactly how to write better writing prompts so you get content that sounds clear and confident, and most importantly like it was produced by your brand, rather than something copy-pasted from the internet.

Why AI gives you generic content in the first place

Those who don’t have a lot of experience with generative AI often think the model 'knows' how to write well. But AI can’t read your mind. At least not yet.

Here’s what typically goes wrong with beginner AI prompts:

• They’re too short ('Write a blog about marketing.')

• They give no tone or voice direction

• They give zero context

• They forget the audience

• They leave out the purpose of the content

• They don’t define what to avoid

When the AI doesn’t know the tone, structure, goal or audience, it defaults to the safest possible option.

And unfortunately, safe = bland and generic. Just like the majority of content being churned out by AI these days.

The best way to climb out of the pit of AI slop is to improve your prompts. They don’t need to be long or complicated. They just need to be more specific and intentional.

The FAST method for writing better beginner AI prompts

Here’s the simplest framework you can use, which is FAST. Literally.

F — Format

What are you asking AI to create? A blog? Email? Script? Social post? Headline? This one is obvious, but not everyone thinks to say it. A blog post is structured very differently to a thought piece, for example.

A — Audience

Who is this for? A stressed SME owner? A first-time buyer? A curious reader? You need to make sure it’s written with the reader in mind, otherwise how will you encourage them to engage?

S — Style

How should it sound? Friendly? Confident? Calm? Playful? No jargon? Plain English?

T — Task

What’s the actual goal? To educate? Persuade? Sell? Explain? Entertain?

This structure stops AI from guessing. It gives your content a purpose, which is exactly how you get better results from even the simplest beginner AI prompts.

Examples: bad prompts vs good prompts

Here’s what beginners typically write:

Bad prompt:

'Write a blog about customer service.'

And here’s how it should look using FAST:

Good prompt:

'Write a 600-word blog post for small business owners about how to improve customer service.

Keep the tone friendly and practical.

Use short paragraphs, simple language and real-world examples.

Avoid clichés and formal language.'

It’s easy to see the difference between the two. The first one tells you nothing, while the second one gives direction. And it’s not a lot of direction, either, but enough to steer content a little closer to what you might be looking for, because direction creates personality.

How to make your prompts more specific (without being complicated)

If you want AI to produce content with personality, you need to feed it personality.

Here are five things to add to your prompts:

1. Your brand tone

Tell it the vibe you want to go for.

Examples:

• Supportive and confident

• Straightforward and warm

• Helpful and friendly

2. What to avoid

This one is underrated but powerful:

• No corporate jargon

• No generic AI phrases

• No filler intros ('In today’s digital world…')

• No over-explaining

3. Your audience’s mindset

Tell the AI what the reader is dealing with:

• Busy SME owner

• Someone confused about a topic

• Someone making a decision

• Someone researching a purchase

4. Real examples

If you have good content already, paste it in and say, 'Match this tone and rhythm.'

5. Structure

Headers? Bullets? Short paragraphs? Your instructions matter.

The four-part structure every great prompt includes

Here’s your beginner-friendly checklist for writing prompts that generate AI copy that isn’t basic and generic.

1. Context

• What’s the situation?

• What does the reader need?

• What’s the angle?

2. Instructions

• How should the AI write?

• Tone? Style? Length? Structure?

3. Inputs

• Do you have notes, ideas or examples? Include them.

4. Output format

• Should the result be an article, script, outline, email, caption, etc?

This structure gives the AI everything it needs to avoid generic output. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly a great start if you don’t have the time or knowledge to create something more comprehensive. To use the very best prompts and create high-quality content every time, take a look at my AI copy consultant services for more information.

Beginner mistakes to avoid (and simple fixes)

If you’re just getting started, here are the most common issues  and how to solve them fast.

Mistake 1: Asking for too much at once

'Write 10 blog posts and give me 20 captions and rewrite my website.'

Fix: Do one clear task per prompt.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to give voice direction

AI will always default to 'safe' unless you tell it otherwise.

Fix: Describe your tone in 3-5 adjectives.

Mistake 3: Using vague verbs

'Write,' 'create,' 'explain,' or 'describe' are too open.

Fix: Use specific commands:

• 'Write in a friendly, confident tone'

• 'Give five practical examples'

• 'Summarise this in plain English'

Mistake 4: Not telling AI who the reader is

This is a big one. If the AI doesn’t know the reader, everything becomes generic.

Fix: Always state the audience.

Mistake 5: Not editing the output

AI is a first-draft tool, not a final-draft machine.

Fix: Add one human insight, then regenerate or refine.

A simple beginner prompt you can reuse today

Copy, paste and use this immediately:

'Write a [content type] for [audience] about [topic].

Tone: [tone adjectives].

Style: short sentences, clear structure, plain English.

Avoid: jargon, generic AI phrases, clichés.

Purpose: [what you want the content to achieve].

Make it sound confident, helpful and human.'

Even though it’s short, this template reduces generic output massively.

How to get more personality from your AI results

If your content still sounds flat, try these improvements:

1. Ask it to rewrite in your preferred tone

'Rewrite this in a more confident, friendly tone.'

2. Ask it to remove generic phrases

'Remove any generic or overused AI wording.'

3. Add one of your own sentences as an example

‘Here’s the sort of style I want you to stick to.’

4. Give it a point of view

‘You’re a passionate supporter of [opinion].’

Why good prompts save SMEs time, money and stress

Clear prompts unlock three big benefits for small businesses:

1. Faster content creation

No more rewriting everything. You get usable drafts on the first go.

2. Stronger brand consistency

Your tone stays recognisable across platforms.

3. Less dependence on freelancers

If budgets are tight, good prompts help you produce professional content in-house.

For SMEs, this gives you a competitive advantage as you’ll always publish unique content that helps you stand out.

Good prompts turn AI into a creative partner, not a copy machine

AI becomes bland when your instructions are bland. When you give it clear direction, tone, purpose and examples, it produces content that feels far more human. Far more like you.

Excited to use AI to boost your output, but not sure where to start? Contact me today and I can work with you to produce guidelines and prompts that will turn you into a low effort, low cost, content producing machine.