Prompting the AI Co-Pilot in RGE Studio

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Overview

AI tools help people accomplish more tasks more efficiently. To use AI tools effectively, you need to write a good prompt. However, writing an effective prompt can be more difficult than it sounds. We’re happy to share our suggestions with you!

The guidance in this article is intended for the AI Co-Pilot in RGE Studio, though it can be applied to other AI tools. The RGE Studio AI Co-Pilot is currently in a closed beta, but you can learn more about it in our help center article. 

Why does the prompt matter?

The output of an AI tool is only as effective as the prompt that it’s given. This is because AI reads an entire webpage in a matter of seconds. It looks for content that matches your prompt and repackages it in the way it thinks you want to receive it. Without guidelines, it can make assumptions about how you want this to happen.

The prompt allows you to explicitly tell the AI tool what you do and do not want it to do. The more specific you are, the better the output will be. If you’re not happy with the output, try improving your prompt.

Prompting the AI Co-Pilot

Prompting the RGE Studio AI Co-Pilot involves two components:

1. Create a written prompt. This is always required.
2. Set up your workspace styles in RGE Studio. This is optional, but recommended.

The AI Co-Pilot does not automatically have access to your workspace styles. You can give it access using the Apply Workspace styles button. This action generates a .txt file containing the styles from your workspace settings. The generated file is automatically applied to your next prompt.

Your written prompt should describe the type of content and layout you want to create. The AI Co-Pilot will use your applied workspace styles during content generation. Alternatively, you can describe the styles you want to use directly in your prompt.

Below, we’ll discuss the written prompt and share an example. 

The Prompt Formula

After years of testing AI tools, we’ve come up with a formula that works in almost every situation. There are three parts of this formula:

1. Context
2. Intended Outcome 
3. Direct question

Let’s dive into what type of information you should include in each part of your prompt.

Context 

Context provides the AI with background information about your prompt. Approach this as if you’re briefing a team member on a project. This element is important because it improves the quality of the output.

The context part of your prompt can include the following:

1. A high-level description of what you are trying to accomplish.
2. Any relevant background information. This may include general information about your brand styles and tone of voice.
3. An explanation of why you are trying to accomplish this.
4. Define who the intended audience is.
5. If applicable, it may also be helpful to tell the AI what you’ve already done or already tried to do.

Depending on your use case, you may not need to include all this information. Even if you need a simple prompt, it should include context for the why and the who.

Intended Output

This section of a prompt is generally straightforward. However, you can also use this to define guidelines about what the output should look like. This element is important because it helps the output meet your unique requirements.

The intended output part of your prompt can include the following:

1. A detailed description of what you’re trying to accomplish. 
2. Define tone and style guidelines that the output should follow.
3. Specify details or elements that the output should or should not include.
4. If applicable, ask for multiple options or outputs to choose from.

The detailed description of your intended output is what’s most important here. It builds off the context you set in the first part of your prompt. All other elements are optional, and can be used according to your use case. In RGE Studio, you can include style guidelines by applying workspace styles to a prompt. 

Direct Question

Regrettably, some AI tools have been known to hallucinate. A direct question at the end of your prompt can help avoid this issue. Consider this the AI’s call to action. This element is important because it keeps the AI tool on-task.

Example

Here's a brief example of what a prompt could look like using this formula with our AI Co-Pilot: 

[context]: "I'm designing an email to inform existing customers about an upcoming promotion. The promotion offers a discount on my clothing brand's summer collection. There is a limited stock and the promotion will only last as long as we have available items. We are making room for our upcoming fall collection."

The prompt starts with a very high-level description of what we’re trying to do. It also includes information about the audience (existing customers) and why we're creating the content (making room for new inventory). Additional context is provided about how long the promotion will be available.

[intended output]: "The email will be sent to a list of existing customers who haven't made a purchase in 6 months. It needs to encourage people to act fast without being too pushy. We'd like to highlight 3 clothing items that we have a high inventory of. The tone should be friendly and conversational."

This section expands on the who to provide clarity on the intended output. It describes what the designer is hoping to accomplish with the email. It defines some content that the designer wants to include. It also provides guidelines about the tone of the copy.

[direct question]: "Can you help me create an email for this promotion?"

The prompt ends on a direct question for the AI to act on.

Another Example

The prompt we use in this article is a basic illustration of our prompt formula, but not every prompt is the same. Some prompts are much longer while some can be even shorter. Some prompts are written descriptions while others are template-based. 

We've attached another prompt example to this article. This prompt uses a template style. You can download it by clicking the link below. Feel free to re-purpose it for your own needs!