AI Prompting – It’s PRIME

Adelle Sanderson
Nov 11, 2025
4 min read

AI is brilliant. It can save hours, spark new ideas and simplify even the most tedious admin tasks. But like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it.

If you’ve ever typed a question into ChatGPT and thought “that’s not what I meant at all”, you’re not alone. The secret to getting great answers lies in the prompt, the way you ask.

That’s where PRIME comes in.

PRIME is a simple but powerful framework for writing clear, structured prompts that give you useful results the first time round. It helps you tell AI exactly what you want, how you want it and why.

So, what does PRIME mean?

P — Persona

Start by telling the model who it should be. Think of this as putting it in role, the same way you’d brief a new team member or consultant.

Example: Act as a construction compliance auditor.

By defining the persona, you anchor the AI’s tone, knowledge level and approach to the task at hand. It stops it sounding generic and starts making it sound like an expert.

R — (Relevant) Context

Next, give it the background and any constraints.

Example: You’re reviewing documentation for a client applying for CHAS accreditation.

This is where you tell AI what’s happening behind the scenes, the who, what and why. Context helps the model tailor its response to your exact situation rather than producing something vague or off topic.

I — Instructions

Now for the heart of it, what do you actually want it to do?

Example: Review the document and list any missing compliance sections.

Be clear and specific. Ask for bullet points, summaries, checklists or comparisons. The clearer the task, the better the output.

M — Modifiers

This part defines the style and presentation.

Example: Use bullet points, keep it concise, and reference UK regulations.

Modifiers cover tone, audience and format. Whether you need something formal for a proposal, conversational for a blog, or short and snappy for social media, this is where you spell it out.

E — Evaluate

Finally, review the result. You can even ask AI to check its own work.

Example: Review your answer for accuracy and adjust if needed.

AI improves when you guide it. Treat the output like a first draft. You wouldn’t publish a document or send an email without proofreading, and AI works the same way.

Think of it like briefing a new employee.

You wouldn’t hand someone a task and say “just do it”.You’d explain who they are in that role, what the job involves, what information they have, how you want it presented and what a good result looks like.

AI responds best when you do the same.

Real world PRIME examples

Marketing:Act as a social media manager. Write a short, friendly caption for our new roofing service using emojis and hashtags.

Risk Assessment:Act as a Health & Safety Advisor. Create a site excavation risk assessment with hazards, controls, and risk ratings.

HR:Act as an HR advisor. Draft a professional but firm email to an employee about repeated lateness.

In each of these, you’ve set the persona, context, instructions, modifiers and a clear way to check the result.

Why we love PRIME

At Dellsche, we’re all about making things practical. PRIME fits that perfectly. It’s not about jargon or long winded training, it’s about structure, clarity and getting things right first time.

We were first introduced to the PRIME method by Emma Ellse at the Business Lincolnshire event “Using ChatGPT Like a Pro” at Mosaic Digital Hub in Lincoln.

Emma’s workshop was a brilliant reminder that AI isn’t here to replace us, it’s here to enhance the way we work. Her delivery was simple, straight talking and instantly useful.

Emma is the Founder of the AI Business Growth Academy, an ABM Principal Trainer (ILM5 & ILM7) and a respected AI Business Growth Mentor and Facilitator. She helps SMEs and business leaders integrate AI into daily operations in a way that’s human, ethical and effective.

Putting PRIME into practice

Whether you’re using AI to write marketing content, draft a risk assessment or tidy up your admin processes, PRIME keeps your prompts clear and professional.

If you’re just starting out, try this checklist next time you open ChatGPT:

🔴Have I told the model who it should be?

🔴Have I explained the background or goal?

🔴Have I given clear, specific instructions?

🔴Have I said how I want it presented?

🔴Have I reviewed the answer before using it?

That’s it. Simple, structured and surprisingly powerful.

Final thought

AI is changing the way we work, but clarity will always be the winning skill.When you PRIME your prompt, you get better results, faster responses and far less frustration.

So next time you log in to ChatGPT, remember:

Don’t just prompt. PRIME.

Creative. Practical. Compliant. Three pillars. One partner.

Learn more about AI for small business

If you’d like to explore more about how AI is shaping the business landscape, here are some trusted sources worth a look:

ChatGPT – the tool most people start with, and still one of the most flexible for business tasks.
UK Government AI Guidance – official advice on responsible and transparent AI use.
IBM Artificial Intelligence Hub – insights and updates from one of the global leaders in AI technology.
FSB Small Business Advice on AI – practical support and news for UK-based SMEs adopting digital tools.

You can also keep an eye on our upcoming post, “Practical AI for SMEs: Five Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder”, where we’ll explore easy, real-world ways to use AI in marketing, compliance and admin.

Want to integrate AI into your business the right way? Get in touch with Dellsche for simple, structured support.

Get in touch

📧 Email: info@dellsche.com

🌐 Website: www.dellsche.com

📍 Based in Lincolnshire, supporting clients nationwide