Write prompts like a brief, not a wish
The best results come from the same habits that make you good at briefing a human: context, audience, constraints and an example.
Most disappointing AI output comes from a disappointing request. "Write a blog post about our product" is a wish. A brief is something a capable freelancer could act on without calling you back.
Give context
Say who you are, what the business does and why this piece exists. Two or three sentences is often enough to move the result from generic to relevant.
Name the audience
"Busy restaurant owners who have never used accounting software" produces very different writing from "finance professionals." Be specific about who is reading and what they already know.
Set constraints
Length, tone, format and things to avoid all belong in the brief. If you hate a certain phrase or style, say so directly. Models follow clear instructions far better than hints.
Show an example
Paste a paragraph you like, even from your own past work, and say what you like about it. Examples carry tone and structure more efficiently than any description.
Iterate like an editor
Treat the first result as a draft. Point to what works, name what does not and ask for a revision. Two rounds of specific feedback usually beat ten fresh attempts.
Save the briefs that work. A small library of proven prompts is one of the most valuable assets a team can build, and it costs nothing.