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10 Prompt Templates That Work for Any Task

David Park14 min read

10 Prompt Templates That Work for Any Task

You don't need to craft the perfect prompt from scratch every time. Most work tasks fall into patterns, and patterns can be templated. These 10 prompt templates have been tested across hundreds of use cases. Copy them, customize them, and start getting great results immediately.

Why Templates Work

Templates solve the "blank page" problem. Instead of wondering how to structure your request, you fill in the blanks. They ensure you include the key elements that make prompts effective while saving you the mental energy of constructing them fresh.

Each template below includes:

  • The template itself (copy-paste ready)
  • What it's best for
  • How to customize it
  • An example with filled-in values

Template 1: The Expert Advisor

Get expert-level guidance on any topic.

Prompt
You are a [type of expert] with [years] years of experience 
in [specific domain]. You're known for giving [quality: 
practical, detailed, strategic] advice.

I'm [your role/situation] facing this challenge:
[Describe your situation in 2-3 sentences]

Specific question: [Your actual question]

Please provide your advice, including:
1. Your direct recommendation
2. The reasoning behind it
3. Potential pitfalls to avoid
4. First steps to take

Best for: Strategic decisions, complex problems, getting unstuck

Customization tips:

  • Make the expert highly specific to your domain
  • Include your constraints (budget, timeline, resources)
  • Ask for the format that's most useful to you

Example:

Prompt
You are a SaaS pricing strategist with 15 years of 
experience in B2B software. You're known for giving 
practical, data-informed advice.

I'm a startup founder with a product management tool 
at $49/month with 500 customers. Growth has stalled.

Specific question: Should I raise prices, add a 
premium tier, or focus on volume?

Please provide your advice, including:
1. Your direct recommendation
2. The reasoning behind it
3. Potential pitfalls to avoid
4. First steps to take

Template 2: The Document Drafter

Create professional documents of any type.

Prompt
Create a [document type] for [purpose].

Background:
- Who it's from: [sender/author]
- Who it's for: [recipient/audience]
- Context: [relevant situation]
- Goal: [what this should accomplish]

Requirements:
- Length: [word count or pages]
- Tone: [formal/casual/etc.]
- Must include: [required elements]
- Must avoid: [things to exclude]

Format the document with appropriate sections and 
professional formatting.

Best for: Reports, proposals, policies, communications

Customization tips:

  • Be specific about document type (e.g., "executive summary" vs. "full report")
  • Include any templates or formats your organization uses
  • List must-include items explicitly

Example:

Prompt
Create a project proposal for a website redesign.

Background:
- Who it's from: Marketing department
- Who it's for: Executive leadership team
- Context: Current website is 5 years old, conversion 
  rate dropping, competitors have modernized
- Goal: Get approval and budget for Q2 redesign

Requirements:
- Length: 1-2 pages
- Tone: Professional, confident
- Must include: Problem statement, proposed solution, 
  timeline, budget estimate, expected ROI
- Must avoid: Technical jargon, unsubstantiated claims

Format the document with appropriate sections and 
professional formatting.

Template 3: The Analyzer

Get structured analysis of any information.

Prompt
Analyze the following [type of content] and provide insights.

[Paste your content here]

Analysis parameters:
- Focus on: [specific aspects to analyze]
- For the purpose of: [how you'll use this analysis]
- Audience: [who will see this analysis]

Provide:
1. Key findings (3-5 bullet points)
2. Patterns or themes you notice
3. Potential implications
4. Questions this raises
5. Recommended actions

[Optional: Compare to [benchmark/standard/previous version]]

Best for: Data review, document analysis, feedback synthesis

Customization tips:

  • Specify what aspects matter most
  • Include comparison points when relevant
  • Ask for the level of detail you need

Example:

Prompt
Analyze the following customer survey responses and 
provide insights.

[Survey data]

Analysis parameters:
- Focus on: Pain points and feature requests
- For the purpose of: Prioritizing our Q1 roadmap
- Audience: Product team

Provide:
1. Key findings (3-5 bullet points)
2. Patterns or themes you notice
3. Potential implications
4. Questions this raises
5. Recommended actions

Compare to: Our satisfaction targets of 4.0+ average

Template 4: The Communicator

Draft any type of message or communication.

Prompt
Write a [communication type] about [topic].

Situation:
- From: [sender and their role]
- To: [recipient(s) and relationship]
- Context: [what prompted this/background]
- Desired outcome: [what you want to happen]

Tone considerations:
- This relationship is: [new/established/strained/etc.]
- The topic is: [sensitive/routine/urgent/etc.]
- I want to come across as: [professional/friendly/direct/etc.]

Message requirements:
- Length: [brief/medium/detailed]
- Include: [key points that must be covered]
- Avoid: [things that could backfire]

Best for: Emails, messages, difficult conversations, announcements

Customization tips:

  • Be honest about the relationship dynamics
  • Include the specific outcome you want
  • Note any sensitivities or potential minefields

Example:

Prompt
Write an email about postponing our product launch.

Situation:
- From: Product Director
- To: Executive team and stakeholders
- Context: Critical bug discovered in testing, needs 
  2 more weeks to fix properly
- Desired outcome: Approval to delay without panic, 
  maintain confidence in the team

Tone considerations:
- This relationship is: Established, high-stakes
- The topic is: Sensitive (nobody wants delay news)
- I want to come across as: Confident, responsible, 
  solution-focused

Message requirements:
- Length: Brief (under 200 words)
- Include: The delay, the reason (high-level), the new 
  timeline, why this is the right call
- Avoid: Blame, excessive apologizing, technical details

Template 5: The Brainstormer

Generate creative ideas on demand.

Prompt
Generate [number] ideas for [topic/challenge].

Context:
- Goal: [what these ideas should accomplish]
- Constraints: [limitations to work within]
- Target audience: [who these ideas serve]
- What we've tried: [previous attempts, if any]

Idea requirements:
- Range from: [safe/conventional] to [bold/innovative]
- Must be: [practical/inspiring/actionable/etc.]
- Consider: [specific factors to incorporate]

For each idea, provide:
1. The idea (one sentence)
2. Why it might work
3. First step to explore it

Best for: Content ideas, solutions, creative approaches, options

Customization tips:

  • Request a range of ideas (safe to bold)
  • Include what's been tried to avoid repeats
  • Specify the level of detail needed per idea

Example:

Prompt
Generate 10 ideas for increasing employee engagement.

Context:
- Goal: Improve engagement scores by 15% in 6 months
- Constraints: $10K annual budget, remote-first team 
  of 50, no travel
- Target audience: Software engineers, average age 28-35
- What we've tried: Virtual happy hours (low attendance), 
  more Slack channels (not used)

Idea requirements:
- Range from: Quick wins to bigger initiatives
- Must be: Practical for a remote team
- Consider: Introverts, different time zones, work-life 
  balance concerns

For each idea, provide:
1. The idea (one sentence)
2. Why it might work
3. First step to explore it

Template 6: The Process Builder

Create step-by-step processes for any task.

Prompt
Create a [type of process/procedure] for [task/goal].

Context:
- Who will use this: [role/experience level]
- When it's used: [trigger/frequency]
- Current state: [how it's done now, if at all]
- Tools available: [software, resources]

Process requirements:
- Number of steps: [maximum or approximate]
- Level of detail: [high-level overview / detailed / 
  extremely detailed with sub-steps]
- Include: [checklists, templates, tips, examples]
- Format: [numbered steps, flowchart description, etc.]

Also include:
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Signs the process is working
- When to deviate from the process

Best for: SOPs, workflows, checklists, training materials

Customization tips:

  • Match detail level to user experience
  • Include decision points where relevant
  • Note where processes typically break down

Example:

Prompt
Create an onboarding process for new customers.

Context:
- Who will use this: Customer Success team (CSMs)
- When it's used: When a new customer signs contract
- Current state: Ad hoc, each CSM does it differently
- Tools available: Salesforce, Loom, Google Docs, 
  Calendly

Process requirements:
- Number of steps: 8-12 main steps
- Level of detail: Detailed with sub-steps and timing
- Include: Email templates, checklists, success 
  metrics for each phase
- Format: Numbered steps with substeps

Also include:
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Signs the process is working
- When to deviate from the process

Template 7: The Reviewer

Get constructive feedback on any work.

Prompt
Review the following [type of work] and provide feedback.

[Paste your work here]

Review criteria:
- Evaluate for: [specific qualities to assess]
- Assume audience of: [who will see the final version]
- Compare to: [standard, best practices, example]

Provide:
1. Overall assessment (one paragraph)
2. Top 3 strengths
3. Top 3 areas for improvement (with specific suggestions)
4. Any red flags or concerns
5. Quick wins that would improve it immediately

Be [direct/gentle/thorough]—I want honest feedback 
to improve, not validation.

Best for: Writing review, design feedback, presentation critique

Customization tips:

  • Specify what qualities matter most
  • Include your audience so feedback is calibrated
  • Ask for the candor level you actually want

Example:

Prompt
Review the following sales email and provide feedback.

[Email draft]

Review criteria:
- Evaluate for: Persuasiveness, clarity, call to action
- Assume audience of: IT managers who receive 20+ 
  sales emails daily
- Compare to: Best practices for cold outreach

Provide:
1. Overall assessment (one paragraph)
2. Top 3 strengths
3. Top 3 areas for improvement (with specific suggestions)
4. Any red flags or concerns
5. Quick wins that would improve it immediately

Be direct—I want honest feedback to improve, not validation.

Template 8: The Comparer

Make decisions between options.

Prompt
Compare [Option A] vs [Option B] for [decision/purpose].

Context:
- Decision maker: [who/role]
- Key priorities: [what matters most, ranked]
- Constraints: [budget, timeline, resources]
- Current situation: [relevant background]

For each option, analyze:
- Pros and cons
- Fit with priorities
- Risks and mitigation
- Cost (money, time, opportunity)
- Long-term implications

Then provide:
1. Side-by-side comparison table
2. Your recommendation
3. Under what circumstances you'd recommend the other option
4. What additional information would change the analysis

Best for: Vendor selection, strategy decisions, build vs. buy, hiring

Customization tips:

  • Rank your priorities explicitly
  • Include constraints that matter
  • Ask when the opposite choice would be right

Example:

Prompt
Compare building in-house vs using a SaaS tool for 
our analytics needs.

Context:
- Decision maker: CTO at 50-person startup
- Key priorities: 1) Speed to implement, 2) Customization, 
  3) Long-term cost
- Constraints: $50K annual budget, 2 developers could 
  work on this, need something in 6 weeks
- Current situation: Using spreadsheets, growing 
  frustration, data-driven culture is a priority

For each option, analyze:
- Pros and cons
- Fit with priorities
- Risks and mitigation
- Cost (money, time, opportunity)
- Long-term implications

Then provide:
1. Side-by-side comparison table
2. Your recommendation
3. Under what circumstances you'd recommend the other option
4. What additional information would change the analysis

Template 9: The Simplifier

Make complex topics understandable.

Prompt
Explain [complex topic] to [audience].

Audience profile:
- Knowledge level: [beginner/intermediate/expert in 
  what areas]
- They care about: [what's relevant to them]
- They struggle with: [common confusion points]
- Time available: [how much detail they want]

Explanation requirements:
- Use analogies from: [familiar domain]
- Avoid or define: [jargon/terms]
- Focus on: [most important concepts]
- End with: [key takeaway, next step, or question]

Format: [paragraph, bullets, structured sections, etc.]

Best for: Teaching, documentation, presentations, selling technical products

Customization tips:

  • Be specific about what the audience already knows
  • Suggest domains for analogies they'll understand
  • Specify the key message they should walk away with

Example:

Prompt
Explain how machine learning works to small business owners.

Audience profile:
- Knowledge level: Comfortable with computers, no 
  technical background, understand basic statistics
- They care about: How it applies to their business, 
  whether it's worth investing in
- They struggle with: How it differs from traditional 
  software, why it needs data
- Time available: 5 minutes of attention

Explanation requirements:
- Use analogies from: Running a small business, 
  common office work
- Avoid or define: Technical terms like algorithms, 
  neural networks, training data
- Focus on: What it does, how it learns, realistic 
  applications for small business
- End with: Three questions to ask before adopting ML

Format: 4-5 short paragraphs with clear headers

Template 10: The Transformer

Convert content from one format to another.

Prompt
Transform the following [original format] into [new format].

Original content:
[Paste content]

Transformation requirements:
- Preserve: [what must stay the same: key messages, 
  data, tone]
- Change: [what should be different: length, structure, 
  style]
- Add: [new elements needed for the new format]
- Remove: [what doesn't work for the new format]

New format specifications:
- Length: [target length]
- Structure: [how it should be organized]
- Style: [how it should read]
- Must include: [required elements for this format]

If the original has issues, [flag them / fix them / 
preserve them].

Best for: Repurposing content, format changes, summarizing, expanding

Customization tips:

  • Be explicit about what to preserve vs. change
  • Specify the conventions of the target format
  • Note whether to fix issues or just transform

Example:

Prompt
Transform the following meeting transcript into an 
action-item summary email.

Original content:
[Meeting transcript]

Transformation requirements:
- Preserve: All decisions made, action items, deadlines
- Change: Remove tangents, small talk, repeated points
- Add: Owner for each action item, priority level
- Remove: Discussion that didn't lead to decisions

New format specifications:
- Length: Under 300 words
- Structure: Brief context, decisions list, action 
  items table, next steps
- Style: Professional, scannable
- Must include: Date of meeting, attendees, next 
  meeting date if mentioned

If the original has unclear action items, flag them 
with [UNCLEAR - verify].

How to Use These Templates

  1. Pick the template that matches your task type
  2. Fill in the brackets with your specifics
  3. Remove what's not relevant (templates are comprehensive by design)
  4. Add any extra context specific to your situation
  5. Iterate if the first result isn't quite right

Key Takeaways

  • Templates save time and ensure you include key elements
  • Customize for your context—these are starting points
  • Remove irrelevant sections rather than leaving blanks
  • Combine templates for complex multi-part requests
  • Build your own templates from prompts that work well

Conclusion

These 10 templates cover the vast majority of professional AI tasks. Instead of crafting prompts from scratch, you now have battle-tested structures ready to customize.

Start by bookmarking this page. Next time you need AI help, find the matching template, fill in the brackets, and see how much faster you get great results.

Over time, you'll develop your own variations tuned to your specific work. That's the goal—these templates are the foundation, not the ceiling.

Stop writing prompts from scratch. Start from templates that work.

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