Learning to Prompt Different LLMs

Transcript

1. Learning to Prompt Different Large Language Models She Code Africa 2025 AI Forward Series
2. Mfonobong Umondia • Developer Advocate & Community Manager • Technical Writer • Building the CM Growth Lab • Tech and Productivity Shenanigans on YouTube (DevRel with Mfonobong) • Food Brand in Uyo and Lagos @the_ladybella
3. What Are LLMs? Large Language Models, are like ultra-smart digital assistants. They're trained on massive amounts of text from the internet, books, and articles to help you do everything from writing emails to debugging code. LLMs = Large Language Models → giant text-prediction engines trained on the internet Think: next-word guessers, fine-tuned with reasoning + memory + filters Here are some names you might know: • GPT-4 (ChatGPT): Great at detailed, logical answers • Claude 3: Emotionally aware and safety-conscious • Gemini: Google’s assistant — creative and search-integrated • Mistral: Fast, open-source, best for lightweight tasks • Perplexity: Designed to search the web while responding
4. Let’s do a little prompt 3 books on marketing strategy
5. Why Do They Respond So Differently? ➢ Training Data: Each model was trained on different stuff. ➢ Architecture & Design Goals: Claude is safer. GPT-4 is deeper. Gemini blends creativity with web search. ➢ Built-In Instructions: Think of this like their personality preset. Some are chattier. Some are minimalist. ➢ Memory (context window): How much info they can “hold” in one go varies.
6. Let’s Talk Prompts Structure and clarity are key. Here’s what a strong prompt includes: • Be direct: What exactly do you want? • Add context: Why are you asking? • Assign a role: "Act as a UX designer..." • Specify the output format: “Respond in bullet points” or “Give me JSON.” Refine! Don’t settle for the first answer. Ask: “Make this more friendly,” “Now simplify it,” “Add humor.” Example: “Act as a certified nutritionist. Plan a 7-day high protein meal plan with calorie counts. Format the answer in a table.” The clearer your prompt, the better the result.
7. How to Prompt Each LLM Differently ❖ GPT-4 (ChatGPT): Likes rules and structure. Use markdown, bullet points, and instructions like “respond in X format.” ❖ Claude: Enjoys reflective, human-centered prompts. Add emotional cues or empathy. ❖ Gemini: Creative and spontaneous. It thrives when the prompt is conversational. ❖ Mistral: Best with short, clear commands. Don’t overcomplicate. ❖ Perplexity: Ask like you’re Googling. It’s great for facts + sources.
8. You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? Case Scenario:
9. Let’s tackle this: You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? 1. Let Gemini Know About Your Brand Voice and Audience • Who are you speaking to? (e.g., Gen Z, working professionals, dog lovers) • What tone should the posts have? (e.g., playful, informative, motivational) 2. Platform-Specific Needs • Are you posting on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, or Facebook? • Each platform has different styles, content formats, and best times to post.
10. Let’s tackle this: You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? 1. Let Gemini Know About Your Brand Voice and Audience • Who are you speaking to? (e.g., Gen Z, working professionals, dog lovers) • What tone should the posts have? (e.g., playful, informative, motivational) 2. Platform-Specific Needs • Are you posting on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, or Facebook? • Each platform has different styles, content formats, and best times to post. 3. Goals for the Week • Brand awareness, engagement, sales, product launch, education, etc. • This helps AI shape the type of content (e.g., memes vs. carousels vs. reels)
11. Let’s tackle this: You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? 4. Key Themes or Campaigns • Do you have themes like “Mental Health Week” or “New Product Launch”? • Any important dates, events, or hashtags?
12. Let’s tackle this: You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? 4. Key Themes or Campaigns • Do you have themes like “Mental Health Week” or “New Product Launch”? • Any important dates, events, or hashtags? 5. Content Types You Want • Text post, image idea, video script, carousel, poll, story idea, etc.
13. Let’s tackle this: You are a social media manager for a healthy food brand and want to ask AI to create a one week social media content calendar for you, how would you query AI? 4. Key Themes or Campaigns • Do you have themes like “Mental Health Week” or “New Product Launch”? • Any important dates, events, or hashtags? 5. Content Types You Want • Text post, image idea, video script, carousel, poll, story idea, etc. 6. Posting Frequency • How many posts per day? Or just once per day?
14. Now let’s rewrite that prompt:
15. I am a professional social media manager for a healthy and eco-friendly food brand targeting fitness and healthy eating Gen Z on Instagram and TikTok. In a tabular format, create a 7-day social media content calendar that includes two posts per day. Include a mix of content types: reels, carousels, and image posts. Each post should include the caption, suggested hashtags, type of content, and a short description of the visual. The tone should be bold, playful, and socially conscious. Focus this week on behind the scenes and healthy food ingredients used to prepare food.
16. Tips Why it works Define the role of the AI "You are a social media strategist..." gives it context. Be specific about deliverables Mention you want 7 days, type of posts, etc. Include business or campaign goals Helps align content with outcomes. Describe desired content variety Keeps the calendar engaging and fresh. Clarify tone and voice Makes the copy consistent with your brand. Provide examples (optional) You can add: “Here’s an example of a great caption I love...” Mention what to avoid e.g., “Avoid sounding corporate or overly robotic.” Prompting Tips for Fantastic Results
17. Mistake Why It Hurts Your Output Too vague (“Make me a content calendar”) No direction = generic posts Not specifying platform One size doesn’t fit all Skipping tone of voice May come off-brand No context about business/product Leads to irrelevant content Not reviewing and editing output AI gives drafts, not final posts Provide contradictory instructions It will get confused and repeat the same thing in different ways Common Mistakes to Avoid
18. Takeaway: Pick your model based on your task, not your favorite brand.
19. Pro Tip: When you’re dealing with ethical or restricted topics, Claude might hesitate, unless your prompt explains your intent clearly (e.g., “for educational purposes only”).
20. Now, guess what?
21. No matter how good your prompting is, you can always follow up AI with other prompts like…
22. Can you make this more Gen Z friendly? Add a CTA to each post. Shuffle between “Buy now”, and “Click the link in bio”. Make the Tuesday post more humorous. Add image ideas I could create with Canva. Use slangs like “Howdy” etc.
23. Final Thoughts Key Takeaways ❖ Great prompts = better results, no matter the model ❖ LLMs behave differently; adapt accordingly ❖ Always test prompts across at least 2 models ❖ Keep a prompt library for reuse and iteration Call to Action: Try creating a single task and testing it on 3 LLMs this week.
24. Q&A ❏ What scenario would you like to troubleshoot together? ❏ Who’s using multiple models already, what friction did you see?
25. Thank you!