Prompt Engineering: C.R.E.A.T.E Framework
What is Prompt Engineering?
Prompt Engineering is simply the art of crafting effective prompts to get the most out of AI. When you communicate with AI tools, the quality of your output depends heavily on how well you structure your input. Think of it like giving clear instructions to a skilled assistant - the more specific and well-organized your request, the better the results.
Master prompt engineering with the CREATE framework - a structured approach to crafting effective AI prompts.
What is C.R.E.A.T.E?
CREATE is an acronym that guides you through building comprehensive, effective prompts:
| Letter | Component | Question |
|---|---|---|
| C | Character | Who should the AI be? |
| R | Request | What do you want done? |
| E | Examples | Can you show samples? |
| A | Adjustments | What constraints apply? |
| T | Type | What format is needed? |
| E | Extras | Any additional context? |
Component Deep Dive
C - Character
Define the persona or expertise the AI should embody.
Weak: "Help me write an email."
Strong: "Act as a senior sales executive with 15 years of B2B experience in enterprise software."
R - Request
State your specific ask clearly and completely.
Weak: "Write something about our product."
Strong: "Write a 3-paragraph introduction email to a CFO highlighting our ROI calculator's ability to demonstrate 40% cost savings."
E - Examples
Provide samples of desired output or reference material.
Example of tone I want:
"We noticed you're scaling your finance team -
congratulations on the growth. Many leaders in
similar positions have found that..."
A - Adjustments
Specify constraints, limitations, or requirements.
- Word count limits
- Forbidden words or phrases
- Compliance requirements
- Brand voice guidelines
Example: "Avoid jargon. Keep sentences under 20 words. Don't use exclamation points."
T - Type
Define the output format explicitly.
- Bullet points vs. paragraphs
- JSON vs. plain text
- Email vs. social post
- Formal vs. casual
Example: "Format as a numbered list with a bold header for each item."
E - Extras
Add any additional context that might be helpful.
- Background information
- Audience details
- Previous conversation context
- Industry-specific knowledge
Putting It All Together
Here's a complete CREATE prompt:
CHARACTER: You are an expert marketing copywriter specializing
in B2B SaaS products with a focus on conversion optimization.
REQUEST: Write an email subject line and opening paragraph for
a cold outreach campaign targeting VP of Operations at
manufacturing companies.
EXAMPLES: Previous successful subject lines include:
- "Quick question about [Company]'s production efficiency"
- "[Name], saw your expansion news"
ADJUSTMENTS:
- Subject line must be under 50 characters
- No spam trigger words (free, guaranteed, act now)
- Personalization token required: {{company_name}}
TYPE: Provide 3 variations, each with:
- Subject line
- Opening paragraph (2-3 sentences)
- Brief rationale
EXTRAS: Our product reduces production downtime by 30%.
Target audience typically has 200-500 employees and is
in growth mode.
Quick Reference Card
Use this checklist for every prompt you write:
- Character defined with specific expertise
- Request is specific and actionable
- Examples show desired style/format
- Adjustments list constraints clearly
- Type specifies output format
- Extras provide relevant context