You’ve heard it before. “ChatGPT writes garbage.” “AI content is generic.” “You can’t trust this stuff for real work.”
These complaints show up in conversations every day. In fact, I see it constantly on both LinkedIn and Facebook.
But here’s the truth: ChatGPT isn’t the problem. Your prompts are.
The model gives you what you ask for.
If you type something vague, you get something vague.
If you want thoughtful, specific, and useful output, you need to know how to guide it.
This isn’t about tricks or secret codes. It’s about understanding how to frame your requests in a way the model can work with.
This post will walk you through why “bad AI content” is really “bad human prompting,” and how you can fix it.
You’ll see real examples of poor prompts side-by-side with better ones.
By the end, you’ll know how to make ChatGPT write content that feels clear, detailed, and ready to use.
Why People Think ChatGPT Writes Bad Content
Most complaints about AI content fall into the same buckets:
- It sounds generic
- It feels repetitive
- It lacks depth
- It doesn’t match my voice
These problems don’t come from the model itself.
They come from poor inputs.
You tell ChatGPT “write me a blog post about marketing,” and it does exactly that.
It gives you the most average, middle-of-the-road post possible. That’s the assignment you gave.
Think of it like asking a graphic designer to “make me a picture.”
They’ll hand you something, but without details, it won’t be what you want. The model works the same way.
The Core Rule: Garbage In, Garbage Out
This rule has been true in computing for decades.
When you feed any computing system vague or poor inputs, the outputs will match.
With ChatGPT, the rule applies even more.
- A broad, flat prompt → broad, flat output
- A clear, guided prompt → clear, guided output
The responsibility shifts to you. You don’t need technical training, but you do need to be precise.
I’m sure you understand the concept now. But let’s look at some real examples of general vs strong prompts to get you started.
Example 1: A Blog Intro Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Write me a blog post about SEO.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“SEO is important for businesses today. It helps websites rank higher in search results. Many companies use SEO to get more traffic.”
That’s not wrong. It’s just boring. It adds nothing new.
Better Prompt:
“You are an experienced SEO strategist writing for small business owners. Write a blog post that explains why technical SEO matters for site performance. Use simple language, give two examples of mistakes small sites make, and end with a short checklist.”
Better Output (snippet):
“Technical SEO isn’t about hacks. It’s about making sure your website works for both people and search engines. Small businesses often miss two key items: broken links and slow load times. Both hurt your rankings and frustrate visitors. Here’s a quick checklist you can use today…”
Notice the difference. Same model. Same topic. Only the prompt changed.
Example 2: A Sales Email Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Write a sales email about my product.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“Dear Customer, we are excited to share our product with you. It is the best in the market and will help you succeed. Contact us today.”
This email could come from any company selling anything. It has no personality.
Better Prompt:
“You are a sales rep writing to mid-sized HVAC companies in Austin. Write a cold email introducing a service that improves local SEO visibility. Keep it under 120 words. Make it conversational, and end with a single clear call to action.”
Better Output (snippet):
“Hi John, I work with HVAC companies in Austin who want more local calls without spending more on ads. Many lose leads because their Google listing doesn’t show up in the map pack. Our service fixes that. Want me to send a quick overview with pricing?”
Now you have an email someone might actually read.
Example 3: A Social Media Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Write me a LinkedIn post about AI.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“AI is changing the world. Businesses should adopt AI to stay competitive. AI will play a big role in the future of work.”
Expected response from readers: Yawn, scroll right past this boring content.
Better Prompt:
“Write a LinkedIn post that starts with a provocative statement about AI in marketing. Explain why generic AI content fails, and give one tip for writing better prompts. Keep it under 200 words.”
Better Output (snippet):
“Most people say AI writes garbage. The truth is they don’t know how to prompt it. If you want better content, stop asking ChatGPT for ‘an article about marketing.’ Give it context, audience, and voice. Try this today: tell it who it’s writing as, who it’s writing for, and what outcome you want. The difference will surprise you.”
Much better. That’s something people might engage with.
Example 4: An Ad Copy Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Write me an ad for a coffee shop.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“Come to our coffee shop. We serve the best coffee in town. Visit us today.”
Forgettable. Absolutely no connection or impact on the target audience.
Better Prompt:
“Write a Google Ads headline and two descriptions for a downtown Austin coffee shop that targets busy professionals. Highlight fast service and locally roasted beans.”
Better Output (snippet):
- Headline: “Austin Coffee, Ready in Minutes”
- Description: “Skip the wait. Fresh, locally roasted coffee brewed fast so you can get back to work.”
- Description: “Downtown Austin’s favorite spot for quick, quality coffee. Order ahead online.”
Now the ad feels targeted and usable.
Example 5: A Technical Documentation Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Explain how to reset a router.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“To reset your router, press the reset button. This will help if there are issues with your connection.”
Thanks ChatGPT. Zero value add, but that’s what to expect with such a vanilla prompt effort.
Better Prompt:
“You are a technical writer creating documentation for non-technical users. Explain step-by-step how to reset a home Wi-Fi router, including how to find the button, how long to hold it, and what happens after.”
Better Output (snippet):
“To reset your router, look for a small pinhole button on the back. Use a paperclip to press and hold it for 10 seconds. The lights will blink, and your router will restart. This restores factory settings, so you’ll need to reconnect with the default Wi-Fi name and password printed on the bottom.”
There you go! Much more useful and informative.
Example 6: A Customer Support Prompt
Bad Prompt:
“Write a reply to a customer complaint.”
Bad Output (snippet):
“Dear Customer, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Please contact our support team for further help.”
Ugh, just vacuous.
Better Prompt:
“You are a support agent responding to a customer upset about a late delivery. Write a short email that apologizes, explains the delay in plain language, and offers a 10% discount code for their next order.”
Better Output (snippet):
“Hi Sarah, I’m sorry your order arrived late. A supply delay pushed back shipments last week, and I understand how frustrating that is. I’ve applied a 10% discount code to your account for your next order. Thank you for sticking with us.”
That builds trust instead of eroding it.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Getting better at prompting isn’t just a personal productivity skill.
It shapes outcomes across your business.
- SEO: Strong prompts produce clearer, more detailed content that improves AI content visibility and attracts backlinks
- Advertising: Targeted prompts create sharper ad copy, which drives higher click-through rates
- Customer Service: Guided prompts generate empathetic, useful replies that improve customer satisfaction
- Content Marketing: Detailed prompts lead to posts that stand out instead of blending in
- Team Efficiency: Teams waste less time editing weak AI output when the inputs are strong
Your prompting skills will directly impact real outcomes, specifically: visibility, engagement, leads, and customer loyalty.
A Simple Framework for Better Prompts
You don’t need to memorize long prompt templates.
Just think through four things before you type:
- Role: Who is ChatGPT acting as? (expert, teacher, marketer)
- Audience: Who are you writing for? (executives, students, small businesses)
- Format: What should the output look like? (blog post, checklist, email, script)
- Constraints: What boundaries exist? (length, tone, style, examples)
If you add these four pieces to every prompt, you’ll see a huge jump in output quality in short order.
Quick Reference Checklist
Use this checklist for your next session with ChatGPT:
- Did I tell the model who to act as?
- Did I define the audience?
- Did I ask for a specific format?
- Did I set clear constraints?
- Did I ask for examples where helpful?
This checklist takes 10 seconds to apply. It can double or triple the quality of your output.
Expanding Beyond ChatGPT
Although this post focuses on ChatGPT, the same principle applies to other AI platforms.
Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity all respond to how you prompt them. AND, those outputs affect generative engine optimization just as much as search.
If you treat these platforms like search boxes, they’ll sound like a generic search result.
But if you treat them like a collaborator, they’ll give you work you can use.
So don’t dismiss AI as “bad.” The issue isn’t the model. The issue is how you talk to it.
Closing Thoughts
Stop blaming ChatGPT for bad writing. Start looking at your prompts. You’ll be surprised how much control you have over the outcome.
Every time you type, you set the stage.
Want generic content? Use a generic prompt.
Want output that feels sharp and usable? Give clear guidance.
The power is in your hands.
If you’re ready to stop wasting time on weak AI output and want results that move your business forward, contact us today. We’ll show you how to train and prompt in a way that delivers real impact.
Tommy Landry
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