ProPrompt AI | AI Custom Instructions Generator

Master the Art of AI Personalization

Whether you're using ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or Gemini, custom instructions are your key to getting consistently useful responses. Here are the best practices we've learned from helping thousands of professionals optimize their AI experience.

Best Practice #1: Be Specific About Context

Generic context produces generic responses. The more specific you are about your professional situation, the better AI can help you.

Weak: "I work in marketing"

Strong: "I'm a B2B SaaS marketing manager focused on demand generation. My target audience is mid-market IT decision-makers. I frequently create email sequences, LinkedIn posts, and case studies."

Best Practice #2: Use Negative Constraints

Telling AI what NOT to do is often more powerful than telling it what to do. Most people skip this entirely.

Examples of effective negative constraints:

"Never use phrases like 'I hope this email finds you well' or 'per our conversation'"

"Don't use emoji in professional communications"

"Avoid corporate jargon like 'synergy,' 'leverage,' and 'circle back'"

"Never start responses with 'Great question!' or similar filler"

Best Practice #3: Define Your Tone

AI can write in many voices, but it needs guidance to match yours.

Consider specifying:

Formality level (scale of 1-5 can help)

Whether you prefer short/punchy or detailed/thorough

Your attitude (confident, humble, authoritative, friendly)

Specific patterns (always include a call-to-action, lead with the main point)

Best Practice #4: Align With Your Goals

What are you optimizing for right now? Your instructions should reflect your current priorities.

Job searcher: "Help me highlight quantifiable achievements and leadership impact. Optimize for ATS-friendly language when writing resumes."

Content creator: "Help me write engaging, shareable content. Suggest hooks and format for maximum readability."

Executive: "Be concise. Lead with the bottom line. Assume I'm short on time."

Best Practice #5: Update Regularly

Your career evolves. Your instructions should too.

Review when:

You change jobs or roles

Your goals shift significantly

You notice consistent issues in AI output

At least once per quarter

Best Practice #6: Test and Iterate

Don't expect perfection immediately. Use AI for real tasks, note what works and what doesn't, then refine.

Process:

1. Start with a solid first draft

2. Use AI for actual work tasks

3. Note patterns in unsatisfying responses

4. Update instructions to address issues

5. Repeat

Best Practice #7: Organize for Clarity

Well-structured instructions are more effective. Use clear sections:

**About me** (professional context)

**Communication style** (tone and approach)

**Formatting preferences** (length, structure)

**Things to avoid** (negative constraints)

**Current priorities** (what I'm optimizing for)

Best Practice #8: Keep It Focused

More isn't always better. Overly long instructions can dilute the most important guidance.

Aim for: 200-400 words of focused, prioritized instructions

Avoid: 1000+ words where key points get buried

Common Pitfalls

❌ Instructions too vague to produce consistent results

❌ No negative constraints (things to avoid)

❌ Never updating as your situation changes

❌ Contradictory guidance that confuses AI

❌ Overly complex rules with many exceptions

Let Us Help

Getting all of this right takes time and expertise. ProPrompt generates optimized instructions that follow all these best practices—based on your actual profile and goals.

Best Practices for AI Custom Instructions