Most people get stuck in one gear with ChatGPT. Either firing off vague prompts that return generic fluff, or over-engineering every single request with lengthy briefs.
Both approaches have their place. The trick is knowing when to use which.
Here's the Two-Speed Prompting Model:
Speed 1: Fast & loose (for exploration)
Use when: brainstorming, quick research, ideation, early-stage thinking
Examples:
"Give me 15 subject line ideas for a webinar about email automation"
"What are 5 objections prospects have about marketing consultants?"
"Brainstorm content angles for a SaaS company targeting HR managers"
Speed 2: Structured brief (for precision)
Use when: strategy work, final deliverables, complex outputs
Example brief:
You are my campaign strategist. Create a 4-week email sequence for new subscribers.
Context:
- Product: [your offering]
- Audience: [target customer]
- Goal: [specific outcome]
For each email:
1. Subject line
2. Key message
3. Call-to-action
4. Send timing
Make it feel personal, not salesy.
Decision rule:
If speed > precision = go fast
If precision > speed = brief it
Try this workflow:
Start fast to generate ideas, then switch to structured briefs to develop the best ones into final deliverables.
Happy prompting!
P.S. If you haven’t grabbed the first edition of the Quarterly Playbook yet, now’s the time. It’s packed with deep dives on how AI is reshaping marketing. Get it here →
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