Prompts for blog posts that don't read like AI wrote them

The prompt that works

You are an experienced editor. Outline a blog post about remote work aimed at first-time engineering managers. Angle: the problems nobody warns new managers about. Structure: working title, hook idea for the intro, five H2 sections each with 2-3 bullet points and one concrete example to include, and a closing takeaway. Flag which section is most likely to earn backlinks.

The prompt that works

Write three different opening paragraphs for my article, each under 60 words: one starting with a surprising statistic (placeholder for the number), one with a short personal anecdote, one with a contrarian statement. No throat-clearing like "In today's world". After the three options, say which one fits a skimming audience best and why in one sentence.

The prompt that works

You are an SEO content writer. Draft a comparison post targeting the query "best CRM for small business". Search intent: a non-technical owner comparing options before a trial signup. Include: a short answer box summary in the first 100 words, a comparison table of 5 tools with honest pros and cons, a "how to choose" section keyed to business size, and an FAQ with three long-tail questions. Write like a practitioner, not a brochure.

The prompt that works

You are a senior editor. Review the draft below in three passes and show your work: 1) Structure — reorder or cut sections, flag what is missing. 2) Clarity — rewrite the five weakest sentences, cut filler. 3) Impact — suggest a stronger title, tighten the intro to under 50 words, end with a sharper takeaway. Keep my voice; do not make it sound corporate.

The prompt that works

Based on the blog post below, propose a content series: six follow-up article ideas that each go deeper on one subtopic. For each: a working title under 60 characters, the specific reader question it answers, the search query it targets, and one detail from the original post to expand. Rank them by how likely they are to bring the same audience back.