150+ Best ChatGPT Prompts I Recommend for Productivity, Writing, and More

Getting great results from ChatGPT isn't magic. It's about asking the right questions. The quality of your prompt directly controls the quality of the output, making the difference between generic fluff and a genuinely useful response. A well-crafted prompt can improve your creativity, boost your productivity, and give you far more accurate information. Below are some of the prompts I personally rely on. Feel free to use and adapt them for your own work.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Productivity

ChatGPT can act as a powerful assistant to help you manage your day and streamline your work. Instead of just asking it simple questions, you can use it to organize complex information, automate repetitive tasks, and make better decisions.

Here's a list of prompts I find useful for getting more done:

Summarize this meeting transcript and list the key decisions and action items: [paste in a raw transcript]
Act as a project manager. Create a project plan for [project name]. Include key phases, milestones for each phase, and a timeline for a 3-month project.
Read this email thread and draft a polite but firm response that addresses [specific issue] and proposes [solution].
I have a list of 50 tasks. Categorize them into these four categories: Urgent & Important, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, Not Important & Not Urgent.
Create a daily schedule for me. I am a [your role]. My priorities are [priority 1], [priority 2], and [priority 3]. I have meetings at [time] and [time]. Block out time for deep work and breaks.
I need to make a decision about [decision]. Act as a consultant and list the pros and cons of each option: [Option A] and [Option B].
Generate a professional agenda for a one-hour meeting about [topic]. Include time slots, topics, and the person responsible for each topic.
Draft a follow-up email to a client I met at [event]. Remind them we discussed [topic] and suggest a 15-minute call next week to talk more.
I'm feeling overwhelmed. Here is my to-do list: [paste list]. Help me break down the top 3 most difficult tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
Analyze my weekly schedule: [paste schedule]. Identify any time-wasting activities and suggest more productive alternatives.
Create a template for my weekly progress report. It should include sections for achievements, challenges, and goals for next week.
I need to learn about [topic/skill]. Create a 7-day learning plan, with specific topics and resources to review each day.
Generate 5 different ways to politely say "no" to a request that I don't have time for.
Help me organize my thoughts for a presentation on [topic]. Create a mind map structure I can follow.
Draft a short, professional out-of-office email auto-reply stating I will be gone from [start date] to [end date] and will respond upon my return.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Learning and Research

You can use ChatGPT as a personal tutor or research assistant to help you understand difficult subjects. It’s great for breaking down complex ideas into simple terms or organizing information for study.

Here's a breakdown of prompts to help with learning:

Explain [complex topic] like I'm a high school student. Use an analogy to help me understand it.
Summarize the key arguments in this article/research paper: [paste text].
Create a study guide for a test on [subject]. Include key concepts, important definitions, and potential short-answer questions.
I'm reading a book about [topic]. Generate 10 quiz questions based on the first three chapters to test my comprehension.
What are the main philosophical differences between [philosopher A] and [philosopher B]? Present the information in a comparison table.
Act as a historian. Describe the events leading up to [historical event] from the perspective of an ordinary citizen living at that time.
I want to learn about [topic]. What are the 5 most important sub-topics I should focus on first?
Translate this sentence into [language] and then explain the grammatical structure: [paste sentence].
Create a timeline of the most important inventions of the 20th century.
I'm struggling to understand the concept of [concept]. Provide three different real-world examples to illustrate how it works.
List the most influential scientific papers related to [field of study].
Act as a debate coach. Give me the strongest arguments for and against [controversial topic].
Generate a list of recommended books, documentaries, and podcasts for someone who wants to learn more about [topic].
Compare and contrast the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich Hayek.
I am studying for a vocabulary test. Give me 10 new words related to [subject], along with their definitions and a sentence using each word.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Writing

Whether you're facing writer's block or need to polish your text, ChatGPT can be an excellent writing partner. It can help you brainstorm, structure your content, and refine your tone.

Here are some of my go-to prompts for writing tasks:

I'm writing a blog post about [topic]. Generate 10 catchy headline ideas.
Create a detailed outline for an article titled "[Article Title]". Include an introduction, at least 5 main points with sub-points, and a conclusion.
Rewrite this paragraph to have a more [formal/casual/confident] tone: [paste paragraph].
Act as an editor. Proofread the following text for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors: [paste text].
I'm stuck. Here's what I've written so far: [paste text]. Give me three different ideas for how to continue the story/article.
Generate a compelling introduction for a blog post about the importance of [topic].
Find a better word for "[word]" in this sentence: [paste sentence]. Give me 5 alternatives.
I need an analogy to explain [complex idea]. Can you create one for me?
Write a product description for a [product] that focuses on the benefits, not just the features. The target audience is [audience description].
Create a short, engaging story about a character who learns the importance of [theme].
Condense this 500-word article into a 100-word summary: [paste article].
I'm writing an email to my boss. Is this text clear and professional? [paste email draft]. Suggest improvements.
Generate a list of 20 power words I can use in a sales page for a [type of product].
Take these bullet points and turn them into a well-written paragraph: [paste bullet points].
Write a strong call to action for a blog post that encourages readers to subscribe to a newsletter.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Coding

For developers, ChatGPT can be a huge help in speeding up the coding process. You can use it to write functions, debug errors, explain code, and even translate between languages.

Here are some useful prompts for coding:

Explain what this code does in simple terms: [paste code snippet].
Write a Python function that takes a list of URLs and checks each one for a 200 status code.
I'm getting this error message: [paste error message]. Here is my code: [paste code]. What is the likely cause of the error and how can I fix it?
Convert this JavaScript code to Python: [paste JavaScript code].
Generate a regular expression (regex) that validates an email address.
Write documentation for this function. Explain what it does, its parameters, and what it returns: [paste function].
Act as a code reviewer. Review this code for potential bugs, performance issues, and adherence to best practices: [paste code].
Give me an example of how to use the [specific library or framework] to accomplish [specific task].
Write a set of unit tests for this function to cover the main use cases and edge cases: [paste function].
I need to connect to a MySQL database in Node.js. Provide the boilerplate code for making a connection and running a simple query.
Generate a sample Dockerfile for a simple web application built with [framework].
What are some common security vulnerabilities I should be aware of when writing SQL queries?
Refactor this code to make it more readable and efficient: [paste code].
Write a shell script that finds all files larger than 100MB in a directory and moves them to an 'archive' folder.
Create a simple HTML and CSS template for a personal portfolio website.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for SEO

ChatGPT is a powerful tool for search engine optimization, from keyword research to content strategy. It can help you identify content gaps, optimize on-page elements, and structure your content for search engines.

Here are some prompts that are very effective for SEO tasks:

Act as an SEO specialist. Generate a list of 15 long-tail keywords related to the main topic "[main keyword]". Group them into semantic clusters.
Create a content brief for a blog post targeting the keyword "[target keyword]". Include a target word count, H2/H3 headings, and LSI keywords to include.
Write five different meta descriptions (under 155 characters) for a page with the title "[Page Title]" and the target keyword "[keyword]".
Generate a list of 10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about "[topic]". This is great for creating FAQ schema.
I have a main topic "[pillar topic]". Suggest 5-7 sub-topics (spokes) that could form a topic cluster around it.
Analyze this page title for SEO: "[Page Title]". Suggest 3 better alternatives.
Give me a list of entities and topics I should mention in an article about "[subject]" to demonstrate topical authority.
Create an internal linking strategy for my new blog post "[New Post Title]". Here are some of my existing articles: [list of article titles and URLs]. Suggest where I should place links.
Write an SEO-friendly URL slug for an article titled "[Article Title]".
Act as a technical SEO. Create a robots.txt file that blocks the /admin/ directory but allows all other crawlers.
I'm doing competitor analysis. Here is a competitor's article: [paste competitor URL or text]. What topics did they cover that I should also include in my article?
Generate schema markup (in JSON-LD format) for a "HowTo" article about [topic].
What is the search intent (informational, commercial, navigational, transactional) for the keyword "[keyword]"?
Create a disavow file format for these spammy domains: [list of domains].
Suggest 10 link-building ideas for a website in the [your niche] niche.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Business and Work

Beyond individual productivity, ChatGPT can help with broader business functions like marketing, sales, and strategy. It can generate copy, help you prepare for meetings, and even draft business plans.

Here are some prompts to use for business and work:

Write three variations of a Facebook ad copy for a [product/service]. The target audience is [audience description].
Draft a cold email to a potential client in the [industry] industry, introducing my company's [service] and asking for a brief meeting.
Act as a business strategist. Outline the key sections of a business plan for a new [type of business].
I have a job interview for a [job title] position. Generate a list of 10 common interview questions for this role and help me practice my answers.
Write a script for a 30-second video promoting my new [product].
Create a survey with 5 questions to gather customer feedback on our [product/service].
Draft a professional response to a negative customer review that is apologetic but also solution-oriented.
Generate 5 content ideas for a LinkedIn profile to position myself as an expert in [your field].
I need to write a performance review for an employee who excels at [positive trait] but needs to improve on [area for improvement]. Help me phrase the feedback constructively.
Create a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for a company in the [industry] industry.
Draft a press release announcing our company's new product launch: [product name].
What are some key performance indicators (KPIs) I should track for a social media marketing campaign?
Help me brainstorm a unique selling proposition (USP) for my [business type].
Write a follow-up sales email for a lead who has not responded to my first email.
Generate a company values statement that emphasizes [value 1], [value 2], and [value 3].

Fun ChatGPT Prompts

Sometimes you just want to see the creative and entertaining side of AI. These prompts are great for experimentation, creative writing, or just having a little fun.

Here are some fun prompts to try:

Write a short song about [topic] in the style of [musical artist].
I have [ingredient 1], [ingredient 2], and [ingredient 3] in my fridge. Create a unique recipe for me.
Plan a 5-day trip itinerary to [city]. Include a mix of tourist attractions and local hidden gems.
Write a short story about a detective who is also a talking dog.
Act as a text-based adventure game. You are the dungeon master. Start by describing the scene in a dark forest.
Explain the plot of the movie [movie title] badly.
Write a poem about procrastination.
If animals could talk, what would a squirrel complain about most?
Generate a list of 5 ridiculous startup ideas that would never work.
Imagine you are an alien visiting Earth for the first time. Describe a common object, like a toaster, from your perspective.
Write a movie scene where two historical figures, like Albert Einstein and Cleopatra, meet in a modern-day coffee shop.
Give me a motivational speech in the voice of a drill sergeant.
Create a new superhero with a completely useless superpower.
Rewrite the first paragraph of a famous novel in the style of a different author.
Tell me a dad joke about computers.

ChatGPT Prompt Limitations

ChatGPT is a powerful tool, but it's not perfect. Understanding its limitations is key to using it effectively and responsibly. It’s not a search engine, and it can be confidently wrong about facts, dates, and figures. It can also have biases based on the data it was trained on. Finally, it may "hallucinate" and invent sources or information that seem plausible but are completely false. Always fact-check important information.

Related: Claude vs. ChatGPT

How to Customize ChatGPT Prompts for Better Results

The best prompts are ones you customize for your specific needs. Simply giving more direction and context can massively improve the quality of the answers you receive.

Here are a few tips to get better results from your prompts:

Provide context: Don't just ask a question. Tell ChatGPT who you are, who the target audience is, and what your ultimate goal is. For example, "I am a small business owner writing a blog post for other entrepreneurs."
Assign a persona: Start your prompt by telling it who to be. "Act as an expert SEO," "You are a professional copywriter," or "You are a helpful tutor." This sets the tone and expertise level for the response.
Specify the format: If you want the output in a specific format, just ask for it. You can ask for a table, bullet points, a numbered list, a specific number of paragraphs, or even code blocks.
Use examples: This is a powerful technique. Give it an example of what you want. For instance: "Rewrite this sentence in a more active voice. Example: 'The ball was hit by John' should become 'John hit the ball'. Now, rewrite this: [your sentence]."
Iterate and refine: The first response is rarely the final one. Treat it as a conversation. Ask it to "expand on point 3," "make it shorter," "try again with a more formal tone," or "replace the jargon with simpler terms."

Mistakes to Avoid When Prompting ChatGPT

Just as there are good prompting techniques, there are also common mistakes that lead to poor or unhelpful results. Avoiding these pitfalls will save you time and frustration.

Here are some mistakes to watch out for:

Being too vague: A prompt like "write about cars" is too broad. A better prompt is "write a 500-word blog post comparing the fuel efficiency of the 2024 Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla for a budget-conscious buyer."
Asking leading or biased questions: If you phrase a question in a way that suggests a desired answer, ChatGPT will often give you that answer. Try to ask neutral questions to get more objective information.
Trusting everything it says: This is the biggest mistake. Always assume the information could be wrong, especially with facts, statistics, or current events. Use it as a starting point, not a final source.
Using one giant prompt for a complex task: If you have a multi-step task, break it down. Ask it to do the first step, review the output, and then give it the next prompt. This gives you more control and usually produces a better final result.

Summary

The secret to getting the most out of ChatGPT lies in the art of the prompt. A clear, specific, and context-rich prompt is the difference between a generic answer and a tailored solution. By focusing on providing context, assigning roles, and specifying formats, you can turn ChatGPT from a simple chatbot into a powerful assistant for almost any task.

Remember to experiment with different approaches and refine your prompts based on the results. Be sure to check out my full review of prompts earlier in this post for more details and a further breakdown.