ChecklistReferencebeginner8 min read

AI Prompt Checklist

Never miss a critical element in your prompts again

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The difference between a mediocre AI response and an exceptional one often comes down to what you include in your prompt. This checklist ensures you never miss the elements that make prompts effective.

Use this as a reference before submitting any important prompt. Check off each item to ensure your prompt is complete.

Before
Write a marketing email.
After
Write a marketing email for our B2B SaaS product targeting CTOs at mid-size companies.

CONTEXT:
- Product: Project management tool with AI features
- Audience pain point: Team coordination across time zones
- Previous emails had 12% open rate

TASK:
Write a 150-word email announcing our new async collaboration feature.

CONSTRAINTS:
- Professional but approachable tone
- Include one clear CTA
- Subject line under 50 characters

FORMAT:
- Subject line
- Preview text
- Email body
- CTA button text

Context Checklist

Context helps the AI understand your situation. The more relevant context you provide, the more tailored the response.

Define who will read or use the output. Be specific about their role, expertise level, and needs.

CTOs at mid-size tech companies (100-500 employees)

Explain the topic, product, or project clearly. Include relevant background.

Our new AI-powered scheduling feature that syncs across time zones

Explain the goal or purpose. What outcome are you trying to achieve?

We want to increase trial signups by 20% this quarter

Share relevant past work, data, or constraints from previous attempts.

Our last three emails had 8%, 12%, and 15% open rates

Pro Tip

When in doubt, include more context rather than less. AI can ignore irrelevant details but cannot invent missing information.

Task Definition Checklist

A clear task definition tells the AI exactly what to produce. Vague tasks lead to vague outputs.

Start with a specific verb: Write, Analyze, Create, List, Compare, Summarize, etc.

Write (not 'help with' or 'think about')

Define exactly what you want to receive. An email? A list? An analysis? A script?

A 5-email welcome sequence with subject lines

Set boundaries on what to include and exclude.

Focus only on the onboarding flow, not the full user journey

How will you know if the output is good? What makes it successful?

The email should have a compelling hook and single clear CTA

Constraints Checklist

Constraints prevent the AI from going off-track. They define the boundaries of acceptable output.

Specify word count, character count, or page limits.

Keep the response under 300 words

Define the style: formal, casual, technical, friendly, authoritative, etc.

Professional but approachable, like a helpful colleague

Explicitly state what should NOT be included.

Avoid jargon, clichés like 'game-changing', and pushy sales language

List required elements that cannot be omitted.

Must include: company name, product benefit, clear CTA

Warning

Without constraints, AI tends toward generic, verbose responses. Be specific about what you do not want.

Format Checklist

Format instructions ensure the output is immediately usable without reformatting.

Specify headers, sections, or organization method.

Use H2 headers for each section, bullet points for lists

Show what the output should look like with a sample.

Format each item as: [Feature Name]: [One-line benefit]

Specify markdown, code blocks, tables, or other formatting needs.

Use a markdown table with columns: Feature, Benefit, Use Case
  • Lists: Numbered for sequences, bullets for non-ordered items
  • Tables: Best for comparisons and structured data
  • Headers: Use H2 for main sections, H3 for subsections
  • Code blocks: Use triple backticks with language specification
  • Callouts: Use blockquotes for important notes

Quality Checks

Before submitting your prompt, run through these final quality checks.

Could someone else understand this prompt without additional context?

Are all terms clearly defined? Could 'good' or 'professional' mean different things?

Can you objectively evaluate if the output meets your requirements?

Does your prompt have context, task, constraints, and format?

Success

A complete prompt typically takes 2-3 minutes to write. That investment saves multiple rounds of revision.

Next Steps

Now that you know what makes a complete prompt, put it into practice. AskSmarter.ai guides you through each element with smart questions.

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Our prompt builder walks you through each checklist item automatically. Answer questions, get a polished prompt ready for any AI.

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