Author: Ash

I’ve been struggling with generating article ideas for Medium that truly resonate, and I know you have too.

Do you ever find that your ChatGPT prompts give bland & uninspired titles?

Have you tried a generic, short prompt and ended up with an output that barely scratches the surface?

Let’s talk about a common mistake I’ve seen time and again.

Most people use a very basic prompt like:

“Give me 20 article ideas in dog food.”

This is the kind of prompt everyone usually uses.

It’s vague.

It’s generic.

It doesn’t tap into current trends, personal experiences, or the unique vibe that grabs your reader’s attention.

And honestly? It gives you bad output.

I used to rely on this short prompt too.

I’d sit there, type it in, and then stare at the uninspiring list that ChatGPT gave.

The results were dull, lacking context, and they didn’t capture the essence of what makes Medium articles engaging.

That’s why I’m here to propose a better way.

I developed a detailed prompt that takes your ideas from “meh” to “must-read.”

This prompt is a blueprint for generating creative, clickbaity titles that hit every mark.

I’ll walk you through why my prompt works so well.

I want you to leave here feeling confident that your next prompt can produce article ideas that are relevant, practical, and engaging.

The Common Mistake: A Very Bad Prompt Example

Let’s start with that poor prompt many of us use.

“Give me 20 article ideas in dog food.”

Every sentence in that prompt is vague.

There’s no context.

There’s no instruction on the style or tone.

There’s no direction to target current trends or emotional connection.

It’s like trying to build a house without a blueprint.

Why Is This Prompt So Bad?

• Lack of Direction:
  You aren’t telling ChatGPT what topic of the niche you want to talk about or focus on. 
• No Criteria Provided:
  It doesn’t mention the need for relevance, universality, or practicality. Without these details, the ideas come out generic and uninspired.
• Missed Opportunity for Engagement:
  It doesn’t encourage a storytelling approach or emotional connection. It simply asks for a list, leaving out the magic of engaging writing.

I remember the frustration of scrolling through a list of ideas that felt like they were written by a machine.

No personality.

No unique perspective.

Just bland suggestions that didn’t spark any excitement.

The Better Way

Now, let’s talk about the prompt that works for me.

This is the one that ensures your output is creative, engaging, and optimized for Medium’s audience and algorithms.

Here’s the prompt I use for generating Medium article topic ideas:

Prompt:

Give me 20 Medium article titles in topic [TOPIC].
Titles should be click baity and should satisfy any of the below values:
- Relevance: They address current trends, societal shifts, and emerging technologies.
- Universality: Many topics have broad appeal across different demographics.
- Practical Value: They offer actionable advice or insights that readers can apply.
- Emotional Connection: Personal stories and relatable content resonate deeply with readers.
- Curiosity and Learning: They satisfy the desire to learn and understand new concepts.
- Identify Gaps: Find topics within these niches that are underrepresented.
- Unique Perspective: Offer fresh insights or challenge conventional wisdom.
- Engaging Writing Style: Use storytelling techniques to captivate your audience.
- Optimise for Medium: Understand Medium’s algorithms and audience preferences.
- Community Engagement: Interact with readers and other writers to build a network.

This prompt isn’t just a random list of instructions.

It’s a well-thought-out structure that guides ChatGPT to produce content that’s both creative and targeted.

How This Prompt Transforms Your Content Creation

When I started using this prompt, the difference was like night and day.

I moved from bland, uninspired titles to a list of dynamic, clickable headlines.

Each title now comes with a clear purpose, a target audience, and a promise of valuable content.

Here’s what I love about this approach:

• Clarity:
  The prompt is crystal clear about what it needs. It leaves no room for guesswork.
• Depth:
  By specifying the values, the output goes beyond surface-level ideas. It digs deep into what makes a title truly appealing.
• Focus:
  The detailed instructions make sure that every generated title is aligned with the target audience’s interests and the platform’s style.
• Actionability:
  Each title is a promise of practical, actionable advice or insight. It isn’t just about grabbing attention, it’s about delivering value.

Imagine sitting down with a friend over coffee and brainstorming ideas that spark genuine interest.

That’s the vibe this prompt creates.

Additional Tips for Crafting the Perfect Prompt

Here are some extra tips to keep your prompts sharp and effective:

• Be Specific:
  The more specific your instructions, the better the output.
• Think Like Your Audience:
  Ask yourself what your readers really want to know.
• Incorporate Stories and Examples:
  This creates a personal connection with your audience.
• Use Bullet Points:
  Break down complex instructions into bullet points.
• Keep It Conversational:
  Write like you’re talking to a friend.
• Test and Tweak:
  If the output isn’t perfect, adjust your prompt until it is.

These aren’t just random tips.

They’re the result of real-world experience and countless hours refining my approach to content creation.

I know the struggle of starting with generic, uninspiring prompts all too well.

But once you adopt a detailed, thoughtful prompt like the one I shared today, you’ll see a difference in your output.

Every time I use this detailed prompt, I’m reminded that quality content starts with quality instructions.

The difference between a bland idea and an engaging headline is all in the details.

Getting AI to write content that sounds natural, engaging, and ranks well isn’t always easy. 

You might think a simple, short prompt will do the job, but that usually leads to generic and lifeless content.

There’s a better way. 

A well-written prompt tells the AI exactly what you need, ensuring that every detail is covered.

Without it, you’re left with generic, one-size-fits-all content that fails to impress.

A detailed prompt helps maintain consistency in tone and quality.

It ensures that the content is unique, engaging, and SEO optimised.

This clarity prevents the AI from wandering off track and delivering generic responses.

When you know exactly what you want, the output hits the mark every time.

I’ll explain exactly how to do this step by step.

A Bad Example of a ChatGPT Prompt

Let’s start by looking at a very basic example that many people use.

Imagine someone simply typing

“Write an article about Dog day care with SEO.”

This prompt is too short and lacks depth.

It doesn’t specify the tone, word count, or structure.

The result is often a generic piece with no personality or detailed guidance.

It’s like asking a chef to make dinner without mentioning the dish, the ingredients, or the style of cuisine.

Most people rely on a simple prompt because it’s quick and easy.

They assume that a simple instruction will work.

But this approach doesn’t include the finer details that can make the content stand out.

A short prompt leaves too much to interpretation.

The AI may produce content that’s off-topic or too generic.

It won’t have the structured headings or conversational style that modern SEO demands.

In short, you’re likely to end up with content that doesn’t meet your expectations.

A Better Way to do the same

Let’s look at a far better approach, the optimized prompt.

I Want You To Act As A Content Writer Very Proficient SEO Writer. 
Do it step by step. 
First Create the Outline of the Article and the Second Should be the Article. 
Bold the Heading of the Article using Markdown language. 
Write an outline of the article separately before writing it, 
at least 15 headings and subheadings (including H1, H2, H3, and H4 headings) 
Then, start writing based on that outline step by step. 
Write a 2000+ words 100% Unique, SEO-optimized, Human-Written article 
in English with at least 15 headings and 
subheadings (including H1, H2, H3, and H4 headings) 
that covers the topic provided in the Prompt. 
Write The article In Your Own Words Rather Than Copying And 
Pasting From Other Sources. 
Consider perplexity and burstiness when creating content, 
ensuring high levels of both without losing specificity or context. 
Use fully detailed paragraphs that engage the reader. 
Write In A Conversational Style As Written By 
A Human (Use An Informal Tone, Utilize Personal Pronouns, 
Keep It Simple, Engage The Reader, Use The Active Voice, 
Keep It Brief, Use Rhetorical Questions, and 
Incorporate Analogies And Metaphors). 
End with a conclusion paragraph and 5 unique FAQs After The Conclusion. 
this is important to Bold the Title and all headings of the article, 
and use appropriate headings for H tags. Do not echo my prompt. 
Do not remind me what I asked you for. Do not apologize. 
Do not self-reference. Get to the point precisely and accurately. 
Do not explain what and why. 
Now Write An Article On This Topic “[ENTER ARTICLE TOPIC HERE]”

This is not about adding extra bits but providing clear, step-by-step instructions.

With this prompt, you set up everything from the outline to the final FAQs.

It tells the AI exactly what to do, leaving no room for guesswork.

This prompt breaks down the process into clear steps: creating an outline, writing a comprehensive article, and optimizing for SEO.

It includes a conversational tone, internal linking opportunities, and specific keyword placements.

By detailing every aspect of the content, the AI produces output that’s not only unique but also highly engaging.

Differences from the Bad Example

Unlike the generic “Write an article about Dog daycare with SEO” prompt, our approach is thorough.

It directs the AI on structure, tone, and content length.

Every detail, from headings to bullet points, is outlined.

This ensures that the final article is organized, reader-friendly, and fully optimized for search engines.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Optimised Prompt

Step 1 — Creating a Detailed Outline
The first step is to write a detailed outline.

It’s important because it breaks down the content into sections and subtopics.

A well-structured outline makes sure that the final article flows logically.

Step 2 — Writing a Comprehensive Article
Once your outline is ready, you move on to writing the article itself.

This step involves expanding each section with detailed, conversational paragraphs.

Each sentence is crafted to be clear and engaging, keeping the reader hooked.

It’s all about being human — real, relatable, and easy to digest.

Step 3 — SEO Optimisation Techniques
This is where the technical side of things comes into play.

Include your target keyword early on, ideally in the first line and again in the final sentence.

Use relevant keywords throughout the article.

Clear headings, internal links, and bullet points all contribute to better SEO performance.

A well-written, optimized prompt makes sure that your article feels human-written, unique, and SEO-friendly.

Using these techniques, you’ll consistently produce high-quality content that resonates with your audience.

Remember, clear instructions lead to the best output.

So, next time you sit down to create content, use this approach and watch your results get better.