Use This “Secret” to Get Great Copy from AI on Your First Try
By Rebecca Matter
When it comes to getting great output from AI right from the start…
Most writers think you need to become a prompting genius.
And sure …
Learning how to give AI clear instructions, context, and structure absolutely makes a difference in the quality of output you get.
But just like the 80/20 rule says that 20% of your actions yield 80% of the results…
It’s the same when you use AI.
So what’s the secret?
“Show, don’t tell.”
Yes, the same advice we’ve been teaching copywriters in The AWAI Method when they’re writing to their prospects for nearly three decades now…
Applies to AI too.
So instead of spending 20 minutes crafting the perfect prompt, explaining every nuance you’re looking for…
Just give AI three to five GREAT examples of the kind of output you want.
That’s the secret.
And it works, because AI is an amazing pattern-recognition machine.
It will spot patterns in the tone… style… structure… and more. Almost instantly.
Think about it…
If you were training an intern, which do you think would work better - and get you closer to what you actually want on the first try?
Option A:
“I need you to write an engaging email that balances storytelling with a clear call to action, maintains a conversational yet authoritative tone, and speaks directly to our audience’s pain points while...”
Option B:
“Here are three emails I love. Write something similar to these.”
I’m guessing you picked option B, right?
And that’s because it’s far easier to “get” what someone wants when they just show you.
It’s the whole “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
I could hand you a 1,000-piece puzzle and describe what the image should look like…
Or I could just show you the front of the puzzle box, so you could see what you were trying to create.
It’s much easier to “get” what “good” looks like when you can see it.
And it’s no different with AI.
“But What If I Don’t Have Great Examples Yet?”
Fair question.
If you’re just starting out as a writer, here’s what you do:
Find examples from writers you admire. Copy you wish you’d written.
Show those to AI and say, “Write something similar to this, but about [your topic].”
Then - and this is important - edit it heavily to match your own voice and make it your own.
Over time, you’ll build up your own library of examples that truly reflect your style.
And that becomes your swipe file you can keep using with AI to get consistently great output.
Now, to be clear — learning how to write great prompts is still worth your time.
But this gives you a shortcut when you’re short on time.
And when you pair a great prompt with great examples, that’s when you can get AI to produce copy that’s pretty darn good, and probably won’t need as much editing.