39  Claude Prompting Guide

39.1 Introduction

This chapter provides a comprehensive guide on effectively prompting Claude, an AI assistant developed by Anthropic. We’ll explore general tips for crafting clear and specific prompts, as well as task-specific strategies for content creation, document analysis, data visualization, and brainstorming. By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to maximize Claude’s performance and obtain more accurate, relevant, and useful responses.

39.2 General Tips for Effective Prompting

39.2.1 Be Clear and Specific

When communicating with Claude, it’s crucial to clearly state your task or question at the beginning of your message. Providing context and details helps Claude understand your needs better. For complex tasks, consider breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps.

I need help creating a 10-slide presentation for our quarterly sales meeting. The presentation should cover our Q2 sales performance, top-selling products, and sales targets for Q3. Please provide an outline with key points for each slide.

This prompt is effective because it provides specific details about the task, including the number of slides, the purpose of the presentation, and the key topics to be covered.

39.2.2 Use Examples

Providing examples of the kind of output you’re looking for can significantly improve Claude’s responses. If you want a specific format or style, show Claude an example to follow.

I need to write a professional email to a client about a project delay. Here's a similar email I've sent before:

'Dear [Client],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to update you on the progress of [Project Name]. Unfortunately, we've encountered an unexpected issue that will delay our completion date by approximately two weeks. We're working diligently to resolve this and will keep you updated on our progress.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
[Your Name]'

Help me draft a new email following a similar tone and structure, but for our current situation where we're delayed by a month due to supply chain issues.

This prompt is effective because it provides a concrete example of the desired style and tone, giving Claude a clear reference point for the new email.

39.2.3 Encourage Thinking

For complex tasks, asking Claude to “think step-by-step” or “explain your reasoning” can lead to more accurate and detailed responses.

I'm looking to improve my team's productivity. Think through this step-by-step, considering the following factors:
1. Current productivity blockers (e.g., too many meetings, unclear priorities)
2. Potential solutions (e.g., time management techniques, project management tools)
3. Implementation challenges
4. Methods to measure improvement

For each step, please provide a brief explanation of your reasoning. Then summarize your ideas at the end.

This prompt is effective because it asks Claude to think through the problem systematically, providing a guided structure for the response and asking for explanations of the reasoning process. It also prompts Claude to create a summary at the end for easier reading.

39.2.4 Iterative Refinement

If Claude’s first response isn’t quite right, don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications or modifications. You can always say “That’s close, but can you adjust X to be more like Y?”

That's a good start, but please refine it further. Make the following adjustments:
1. Make the tone more casual and friendly
2. Add a specific example of how our product has helped a customer
3. Shorten the second paragraph to focus more on the benefits rather than the features

This prompt is effective because it provides specific feedback and clear instructions for improvements, allowing Claude to make targeted adjustments instead of just relying on Claude’s innate sense of what “better” might be — which is likely different from the user’s definition!

39.2.5 Leverage Claude’s Knowledge

Claude has broad knowledge across many fields. Don’t hesitate to ask for explanations or background information. Be sure to include relevant context and details so that Claude’s response is maximally targeted to be helpful.

I'm developing a marketing strategy for a new eco-friendly cleaning product line. Can you provide an overview of current trends in green marketing? Please include:
1. Key messaging strategies that resonate with environmentally conscious consumers
2. Effective channels for reaching this audience
3. Examples of successful green marketing campaigns from the past year
4. Potential pitfalls to avoid (e.g., greenwashing accusations)

This information will help me shape our marketing approach.

This prompt is effective because it asks for specific, contextually relevant information that leverages Claude’s broad knowledge base. It provides context for how the information will be used, which helps Claude frame its answer in the most relevant way.

39.2.6 Use Role-Playing

Asking Claude to adopt a specific role or perspective when responding can lead to more nuanced and targeted responses.

You are a fabric supplier for my backpack manufacturing company. I'm preparing for a negotiation with this supplier to reduce prices by 10%. As the supplier, please provide:
1. Three potential objections to our request for a price reduction
2. For each objection, suggest a counterargument from my perspective
3. Two alternative proposals the supplier might offer instead of a straight price cut

Then, switch roles and provide advice on how I, as the buyer, can best approach this negotiation to achieve our goal.

This prompt is effective because it uses role-playing to explore multiple perspectives of the negotiation, providing a more comprehensive preparation. Role-playing also encourages Claude to more readily adopt the nuances of specific perspectives, increasing the intelligence and performance of Claude’s response.

39.3 Task-Specific Tips and Examples

39.3.1 Content Creation

When creating content, it’s important to specify your audience and define the tone and style you’re aiming for.

39.3.1.1 Specify Your Audience

Telling Claude who the content is for helps tailor the response to the appropriate level and interests.

I need to write a blog post about cybersecurity best practices for small business owners. The audience is not very tech-savvy, so the content should be:
1. Easy to understand, avoiding technical jargon where possible
2. Practical, with actionable tips they can implement quickly
3. Engaging and slightly humorous to keep their interest

Please provide an outline for a 1000-word blog post that covers the top 5 cybersecurity practices these business owners should adopt.

This prompt is effective because it specifies the audience, desired tone, and key characteristics of the content, giving Claude clear guidelines for creating appropriate and effective output.

39.3.1.2 Define the Tone and Style

Describing the desired tone and mentioning key points from your style guide can help Claude match your brand voice.

Please help me write a product description for our new ergonomic office chair. Use a professional but engaging tone. Our brand voice is friendly, innovative, and health-conscious. The description should:
1. Highlight the chair's key ergonomic features
2. Explain how these features benefit the user's health and productivity
3. Include a brief mention of the sustainable materials used
4. End with a call-to-action encouraging readers to try the chair

Aim for about 200 words.

This prompt is effective because it provides clear guidance on the tone, style, and specific elements to include in the product description.

39.3.2 Document Summary and Q&A

When working with documents, it’s important to be specific about what you want, use document names, and ask for citations.

I've attached a 50-page market research report called 'Tech Industry Trends 2023'. Can you provide a 2-paragraph summary focusing on AI and machine learning trends? Then, please answer these questions:
1. What are the top 3 AI applications in business for this year?
2. How is machine learning impacting job roles in the tech industry?
3. What potential risks or challenges does the report mention regarding AI adoption?

Please cite specific sections or page numbers when answering these questions.

This prompt is effective because it specifies the exact focus of the summary, provides specific questions, and asks for citations, ensuring a more targeted and useful response. It also indicates the ideal summary output structure, such as limiting the response to 2 paragraphs.

39.3.3 Data Analysis and Visualization

When working with data, it’s crucial to specify the desired format for the analysis and results.

I've attached a spreadsheet called 'Sales Data 2023'. Can you analyze this data and present the key findings in the following format:

1. Executive Summary (2-3 sentences)

2. Key Metrics:
   - Total sales for each quarter
   - Top-performing product category
   - Highest growth region

3. Trends:
   - List 3 notable trends, each with a brief explanation

4. Recommendations:
   - Provide 3 data-driven recommendations, each with a brief rationale

After the analysis, suggest three types of data visualizations that would effectively communicate these findings.

This prompt is effective because it provides a clear structure for the analysis, specifies key metrics to focus on, and asks for recommendations and visualization suggestions for further formatting.

39.3.4 Brainstorming

When using Claude for brainstorming, be specific about the topics you want to cover and request responses in specific formats for easier reading.

We need to come up with team-building activities for our remote team of 20 people. Can you help me brainstorm by:
1. Suggesting 10 virtual team-building activities that promote collaboration
2. For each activity, briefly explain how it fosters teamwork
3. Indicate which activities are best for:
   a) Ice-breakers
   b) Improving communication
   c) Problem-solving skills
4. Suggest one low-cost option and one premium option.

This prompt is effective because it provides specific parameters for the brainstorming session, including the number of ideas, type of activities, and additional categorization, resulting in a more structured and useful output.

39.4 Troubleshooting and Maximizing Performance

To get the best results from Claude, consider the following tips:

  1. Allow Claude to acknowledge uncertainty by telling it that it’s okay to admit when it doesn’t know something.
  2. Break down complex tasks into smaller steps and work through them with Claude one message at a time.
  3. Include all contextual information for new requests, as Claude doesn’t retain information from previous conversations.

By following these guidelines and using the techniques outlined in this chapter, you’ll be able to craft more effective prompts and get better results from your interactions with Claude.