Writing effective prompts isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about asking the right questions, in the right way.
Get Better Answers from AI: How to Ask the Right Way
To get the most helpful answers from AI, ask clear and specific questions with enough detail. The more focused your question, the better the response you’ll receive. It also helps to know a little about your topic-this way, you can ask exactly what you need and get truly useful results!
Leverage AI for business analysis, marketing strategies, and growth planning. By using clear language, structured steps, and specific goals, we unlock AI’s potential to work smarter and faster for your business.
Business Prompt:
I am the business owner and decision-maker of Sutherland Accounting. Our business provides bookkeeping and accounting services and is currently operating at approximately 75% capacity with our current team and tools. We aim to increase operating capacity to 90% or more within 60 days.
We primarily acquire new clients through referrals. Our social media efforts—managed by me—include posting about once a week on Facebook and LinkedIn. We have not gained any new clients from social media in the past 90 days. Our website is https://sutherland-accounting.com/.
Please assume the role of a business analyst and marketing consultant and carry out the following:
Review our website and current business situation in the context of our industry.
- Provide an objective evaluation of our website, including a comparison to competitor websites, focusing on clarity, professionalism, SEO, and client conversion potential.
- Recommend strategies to improve our social media efforts to generate new client leads, with a focus on actionable steps.
- Based on these recommendations, draft an implementation plan in the form of a checklist tailored for a business like ours. This plan should:Include suggested budget allocations for marketing efforts
- Outline specific tasks and timelines
- Provide references or links to trusted resources to support implementation
- Please ensure all recommendations are practical for a small professional services firm and geared toward increasing client acquisition within the next 60 days.
Do you understand these instructions?
AI Answer:
1. Business & Website Overview
Business Snapshot:
- Name: Sutherland Accounting
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
- Services: Bookkeeping, accounting, tax preparation, financial planning, new business formation
- Team Size: 2–10 employees
- Client Acquisition: Primarily through referrals
- Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn, with weekly posts managed by the owner
- Current Capacity: Operating at 75%
Goal: Increase to over 90% capacity within 60 days
Website Evaluation:
Don’t just take AI’s answer unchecked. You can asked AI for reference links. Prompt: AI, what are good industry resources for design, UX, content writing, seo and content marketing?. List 2 each!
- Design & User Experience: The website has a clean layout but lacks modern design elements that engage visitors.
- Content Clarity: Service offerings are listed but could benefit from more detailed descriptions and client-centric language.
- SEO Optimization: Limited keyword usage and meta descriptions may hinder search engine visibility.
- Call-to-Action (CTA): The site lacks prominent CTAs to guide visitors toward contacting the firm or scheduling consultations.
Competitor Comparison: Compared to local competitors like Williams Accounting Services and Weinberg & Company, Sutherland Accounting’s website appears less informative and less optimized for conversions.
2. Social Media Strategy Recommendations
Current Challenges:
- Infrequent posting (once per week)
- Lack of engagement and lead generation
- Content may not be tailored to the target audience
Recommendations:
- Increase Posting Frequency: Aim for 3–4 posts per week to maintain visibility.
- Content Diversification: Share a mix of content, including:
- Educational posts about accounting and tax tips
- Client testimonials and success stories
- Behind-the-scenes looks at the firm
- Industry news and updates
- Educational posts about accounting and tax tips
- Engagement Strategies: Encourage interactions through polls, Q&A sessions, and by responding promptly to comments and messages.
- Targeted Advertising: Utilize Facebook and LinkedIn ads to reach potential clients in specific demographics and industries.
- Analytics Monitoring: Regularly review social media analytics to understand what content performs best and adjust strategies accordingly.
3. Implementation Plan & Budget Allocation
Don’t just take AI’s answer unchecked. Again, don’t just take AI’s word! Doubling down on some answers while expanding the interaction with AI is the smart way to go.
Possible PromptI am planning to make improvements to my business website to attract more people and convert those into clients. Can you provide a list of questions to ask a company I may interview for a) website improvement, b) social media advertising c) content creation including media creation. List 3 each and also provide me with some suggestions of how to locate some of these providers while keeping “best practices” and “experiences” in mind!
Timeline:
- Weeks 1–2: Website enhancements and social media strategy development
- Weeks 3–4: Launch updated website and begin increased social media activity
- Weeks 5–6: Initiate targeted advertising campaigns
- Weeks 7–8: Evaluate performance metrics and adjust strategies as needed
Budget Allocation:
- Website Improvements: $1,500–$2,500
- Social Media Advertising: $500–$1,000 per month
- Content Creation Tools: $100–$300
- Professional Photography (for website and social media): $500–$1,000
Checklist:
- Revamp website design and content
- Develop a content calendar for social media
- Set up and monitor advertising campaigns
- Engage with followers and respond to inquiries promptly
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, social media engagement, and lead conversions
