Why Your AI Prompts Aren’t Working — And the Simple Fix
- Lambs Home Edit
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
This a little different than our usual Home Edit, but I've had so many conversations about AI lately I thought this might be helpful. After reading this, if you would like more information check out these links:
You open ChatGPT (or Claude, or whatever AI tool everyone keeps talking about). You type something in. And what you get back is… fine? Kind of? But also totally generic, a little robotic, and not quite what you were looking for.
So you try again. You tweak the wording. You add more detail. Still not great. At this point you’re spending more time fighting the AI than you would’ve spent just doing the thing yourself.
Sound familiar? I hear this from women constantly. And I want you to know: it’s not you. It’s your prompt.
The good news? There’s a simple fix — and once you know it, you’ll never go back to typing vague one-liners into AI and hoping for the best.
First, let’s talk about why your prompts aren’t working
Most people use AI like a search engine. They type a short question or a vague request and expect a brilliant answer. But AI doesn’t work like Google. It works more like a really talented assistant who needs a proper briefing.
Think about it this way. If you hired a new assistant and said “write me an email,” they’d stare at you blankly. Who’s it for? What’s it about? What tone? How long? They’d need more to go on.
AI is the same. The more context, direction, and specificity you give it, the better the output. The problem is most of us were never taught how to do that.
The difference between a bad prompt and a great one
Let me show you what I mean with a real example.
Bad prompt:
“Write me a caption for my product.”
What you get:
Something bland, generic, and forgettable. Could be for anyone. Probably sounds nothing like you.
Great prompt:
“You’re a witty, relatable brand voice for busy millennial women. Write an Instagram caption for the launch of my online time management course. My audience is overwhelmed working moms who love a bit of humor. Give me 3 caption options, each under 80 words, with emojis.”
What you get:
Three options that actually sound like your brand, speak directly to your audience, and might even make you laugh a little.
Same AI tool. Completely different result. The only difference? The prompt.
The simple fix: the VIBE Formula
I created a four-part prompt framework called the VIBE Formula that makes this easy to remember and even easier to use. Here’s how it works:
V — Voice & Role
Tell AI who it’s being. Is it a warm life coach? A no-nonsense copywriter? Your best friend who happens to have a law degree? Setting a role immediately improves the tone and relevance of everything it writes.
Example: “You are a warm, encouraging business coach who specialises in helping busy women...”
I — Instruction (the actual ask)
Be specific about what you want. Not just “write an email” but “write a 3-paragraph follow-up email that’s warm but gets to the point.” The more specific your instruction, the more useful the output.
Example: “Write a 200-word Instagram caption / Summarise this article in 5 bullet points / Create a 7-day meal plan...”
B — Background & Context
Give AI the details it needs to get it right. Who’s your audience? What’s the situation? What tone are you going for? What do you want people to feel when they read it? Context is the secret ingredient most people skip.
Example: “My audience is women 35–45 who are juggling careers and kids. The tone should be real and relatable, not corporate...”
E — End Format
Tell AI how to structure its answer. Should it give you bullet points or flowing paragraphs? One option or three to choose from? Short and punchy or detailed and thorough? Without this, AI will just guess — and it often guesses wrong.
Example: “Give me 3 options under 80 words each / Format as a numbered list / Write it as one short paragraph...”
Put it all together
Here’s what a full VIBE prompt looks like in the wild:
“You are a witty, relatable brand voice for busy millennial women (V). Write an Instagram caption (I) for the launch of my online time management course. My audience is overwhelmed working moms who love a bit of humour (B). Give me 3 options, each under 80 words, with emojis (E).”
See the difference? You’re not just asking for a caption anymore. You’re giving AI a proper brief. And that changes everything.
3 quick tips to make your prompts even better
• Be embarrassingly specific. The more detail you give, the better. Don’t worry about over-explaining. There’s no such thing as too much context in a prompt.
• Tell it what you DON’T want. You can add “Don’t use corporate jargon” or “Avoid sounding salesy” and AI will actually listen. This is a game-changer for getting output that sounds like you.
• Iterate, don’t start over. If the first result isn’t perfect, don’t scrap it and start from scratch. Just reply with “Make it shorter and more casual” or “Add a personal story in the opening.” AI remembers the conversation.
Want to skip the trial and error?
If you’re tired of getting mediocre results from AI and you’re ready to actually make it work for your life and business, I’ve created two resources specifically for busy women like you.
A 5-module fillable PDF workbook that walks you through finding your time leaks, mastering the VIBE Formula, and building a personal AI system that actually sticks. No tech background needed. No jargon. Just results.
100 done-for-you prompts across 5 categories — writing & content, business & money, home & life admin, health & wellness, and mindset & growth. Copy, paste, tweak the brackets, and go.
Grab them individually or as a bundle at a special price —Click on the links above
You deserve to feel like AI is working for you — not the other way around. Once you learn this simple framework, I promise it starts to feel less like a chore and more like having an extra pair of hands.
Now go give it a try. I’d love to hear how it goes. 🌸
With love,
Lambs Home Edit
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