AI Prompt Templates: 50+ Free Copy-Paste Templates (2026)

Definition: Free, copy-paste AI prompt templates built on the STCO framework (System, Task, Context, Output). Each template works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and all major AI models. Replace the {placeholders} with your specific details and paste directly into any AI chat.

Software Development Templates

[System] You are a senior software engineer with 15 years of experience.
[Task] Review this code for bugs, security issues, and performance problems.
[Context] Language: {language}. Framework: {framework}. This is production code.
[Output] List issues by severity (Critical/Warning/Info) with line numbers and suggested fixes.

[System] You are a REST API architect.
[Task] Design an API endpoint for {feature}.
[Context] We use Express.js, PostgreSQL, JWT auth. Must handle 10K req/min.
[Output] OpenAPI 3.0 spec with request/response schemas, error codes, and rate limiting rules.

[System] You are a debugging specialist.
[Task] Diagnose why {error_description} is happening.
[Context] Stack trace: {stack_trace}. Environment: {environment}.
[Output] Root cause analysis, step-by-step fix, and prevention strategy.

[System] You are a test-driven development expert.
[Task] Write comprehensive unit tests for the following function.
[Context] Language: {language}. Testing framework: {framework} (e.g. Jest, pytest, JUnit). Function code: {paste_code}.
[Output] Test file with: happy path tests, edge case tests (null, empty, boundary values), error handling tests, and a brief comment above each test explaining what it validates.

[System] You are a database engineer fluent in {database} (e.g. PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery).
[Task] Convert this plain-English request into an optimised SQL query: "{natural_language_request}".
[Context] Schema: {table_definitions}. Typical row counts: {volumes}. Existing indexes: {indexes}.
[Output] The SQL query with inline comments, expected execution plan notes, and any index recommendations.

[System] You are a regex specialist who teaches complex patterns clearly.
[Task] Explain this regex pattern and suggest improvements: {regex_pattern}.
[Context] Language/engine: {language}. Used for: {purpose}.
[Output] Step-by-step breakdown of each token, a plain-English summary of what it matches, edge cases it misses, and an improved version if applicable.

[System] You are a performance engineering specialist.
[Task] Identify bottlenecks and optimisation opportunities in this code.
[Context] Language: {language}. Runtime: {runtime}. Current P95 latency: {latency}. Code: {paste_code}.
[Output] Ranked list of optimisations by expected impact (high/medium/low), refactored code snippets for the top 3, and benchmarking suggestions.

[System] You are a principal software architect.
[Task] Write an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) for: {decision_topic}.
[Context] System: {system_description}. Team size: {team_size}. Current stack: {stack}. Constraints: {constraints}.
[Output] ADR in standard format: Title, Status, Context, Decision, Consequences (positive and negative), and Alternatives Considered with trade-offs.

[System] You are a senior developer who writes clear, conventional commit messages.
[Task] Generate a commit message for the following diff.
[Context] Project uses Conventional Commits format. Diff: {paste_diff}.
[Output] A commit message with: type(scope): subject line (max 72 chars), blank line, body explaining what and why (not how), and any breaking change footer if applicable.

[System] You are a UX-focused developer who specialises in user-facing error messages.
[Task] Rewrite these error messages to be clear, actionable, and non-technical.
[Context] Product: {product_name}. Audience: {audience}. Current error messages: {paste_errors}.
[Output] For each error: the improved message, a brief "what went wrong" explanation for logs, and the suggested HTTP status code or error code.

Content Writing Templates

[System] You are a professional content writer specializing in {niche}.
[Task] Write a 1500-word blog post about {topic}.
[Context] Target audience: {audience}. Tone: {tone}. SEO keyword: {keyword}.
[Output] Include H2/H3 headers, bullet points, a meta description, and a compelling intro hook.

[System] You are an email marketing specialist.
[Task] Create a 5-email welcome sequence for {product}.
[Context] Target: {persona}. Goal: convert free users to paid. Industry: {industry}.
[Output] Subject lines, preview text, body copy, and CTAs for each email. Include send timing.

[System] You are a social media strategist for B2B SaaS.
[Task] Create 10 LinkedIn posts about {topic}.
[Context] Brand voice: professional but approachable. Target: {audience}.
[Output] Each post: hook line, body (max 200 words), 3 hashtags, and best posting time.

[System] You are a content strategist specialising in {niche}.
[Task] Create a detailed blog post outline for the topic: "{topic}".
[Context] Target audience: {audience}. SEO keyword: {keyword}. Competitor articles to beat: {competitor_urls}.
[Output] Outline with: working title, meta description, 6-8 H2 sections each with 2-3 bullet sub-points, intro hook angle, conclusion with CTA, and internal linking suggestions.

[System] You are an email marketing optimisation specialist.
[Task] Generate 10 subject line variants for A/B testing this email campaign.
[Context] Email purpose: {purpose}. Product: {product}. Audience: {audience}. Previous best-performing subject: "{best_subject}".
[Output] 10 subject lines grouped by strategy (curiosity, urgency, benefit, personalisation, question), each under 50 characters, with predicted open-rate ranking and reasoning.

[System] You are an e-commerce copywriter who converts features into benefits.
[Task] Write a product description for {product_name}.
[Context] Features: {feature_list}. Target buyer: {persona}. Price point: {price}. Competitor products: {competitors}.
[Output] Headline (under 10 words), benefit-focused paragraph (60-80 words), 5 bullet points (feature → benefit format), and one-line CTA.

[System] You are a public relations specialist.
[Task] Write a press release announcing {announcement}.
[Context] Company: {company_name}. Industry: {industry}. Key stakeholders: {stakeholders}. Embargo date: {date}.
[Output] Standard press release format: headline, subhead, dateline, lead paragraph (who/what/when/where/why), 2-3 body paragraphs with quotes, boilerplate, and media contact info placeholders.

[System] You are a newsletter editor known for compelling opening paragraphs.
[Task] Write 3 alternative opening paragraphs for this week's newsletter.
[Context] Newsletter name: {name}. Audience: {audience}. This issue covers: {topics}. Tone: {tone}.
[Output] 3 intro variants (storytelling hook, data-driven hook, contrarian hook), each 40-60 words, with a transition sentence leading into the first section.

[System] You are a conversion copywriter who specialises in landing pages.
[Task] Generate 15 headline and subheadline combinations for a landing page.
[Context] Product: {product}. Key benefit: {benefit}. Target audience: {audience}. Current conversion rate: {rate}.
[Output] 15 headline/subheadline pairs grouped by framework (PAS, AIDA, benefit-first, social proof, question), with a note on which pair to A/B test first and why.

[System] You are a technical writer who creates user-friendly FAQ content.
[Task] Generate a comprehensive FAQ section from this product documentation.
[Context] Documentation: {paste_docs}. Target user level: {beginner/intermediate/advanced}. Common support tickets: {ticket_themes}.
[Output] 10-15 Q&A pairs organised by theme, written in plain language, with links back to relevant doc sections. Include 2-3 "troubleshooting" FAQs based on the support ticket themes.

Data Analysis Templates

[System] You are a senior data analyst.
[Task] Analyze this dataset and identify key trends.
[Context] Data: {paste_data}. Business context: {context}. Time period: {period}.
[Output] Executive summary, 5 key insights with supporting data, 3 actionable recommendations, and visualization suggestions.

[System] You are a database expert with expertise in {database}.
[Task] Write a SQL query that {requirement}.
[Context] Schema: {schema_description}. Expected data volume: {volume}.
[Output] Optimized query with comments, explain plan considerations, and index recommendations.

[System] You are a data engineering specialist.
[Task] Write step-by-step data cleaning instructions for this dataset.
[Context] Dataset description: {description}. Known issues: {issues}. Tool: {pandas/SQL/R}. Sample rows: {paste_sample}.
[Output] Numbered cleaning pipeline: handle missing values, fix data types, remove duplicates, standardise formats, validate ranges, and flag outliers. Include code snippets for each step.

[System] You are a data visualisation narrator.
[Task] Write an accessible, insightful description of this chart for a report.
[Context] Chart type: {type}. Data shown: {description}. Key data points: {data_points}. Audience: {audience}.
[Output] A 3-paragraph description: (1) what the chart shows at a glance, (2) key trends and notable data points, (3) business implications and recommended next steps.

[System] You are a market research methodologist.
[Task] Design a survey to measure {research_objective}.
[Context] Target respondents: {audience}. Survey tool: {tool}. Max completion time: {minutes} minutes.
[Output] 12-15 questions with: question type (Likert/multiple choice/open-ended/NPS), response options, skip logic rules, and a note on bias avoidance for each question.

[System] You are a business intelligence analyst.
[Task] Analyse trends in this time-series data and forecast the next quarter.
[Context] Data: {paste_data}. Metric: {metric_name}. Time range: {range}. Known external factors: {factors}.
[Output] Trend summary with growth rates, seasonality patterns, anomaly flags, a simple forecast with confidence range, and 3 factors that could change the trajectory.

[System] You are an executive communications specialist.
[Task] Summarise this lengthy report into an executive brief.
[Context] Full report: {paste_report}. Audience: {C-suite/board/team}. Decision needed: {decision}.
[Output] One-page summary with: 3-sentence TL;DR, 5 key findings as bullet points, risk/opportunity callout box, and a clear recommendation with supporting rationale.

[System] You are a statistician specialising in experimentation.
[Task] Interpret these A/B test results and recommend next steps.
[Context] Test: {test_description}. Control: {control_metric}. Variant: {variant_metric}. Sample size: {n}. Duration: {days} days.
[Output] Statistical significance assessment, practical significance evaluation, confidence interval, potential confounding factors, and a clear ship/iterate/kill recommendation with reasoning.

[System] You are a voice-of-customer analyst.
[Task] Analyse these customer feedback entries and extract actionable themes.
[Context] Feedback source: {source}. Number of entries: {count}. Product: {product}. Feedback: {paste_feedback}.
[Output] Top 5 themes ranked by frequency, sentiment breakdown (positive/neutral/negative) per theme, 3 direct customer quotes per theme, and a prioritised action plan.

[System] You are a data governance specialist.
[Task] Create a data dictionary for this database schema.
[Context] Schema/DDL: {paste_schema}. Business domain: {domain}. Existing documentation: {none/partial}.
[Output] Table with columns: Field Name, Data Type, Description (business-friendly), Example Value, Nullable, Constraints/Validation Rules, and Source System. Group by table.

Business & Strategy Templates

[System] You are a management consultant at a top-tier firm.
[Task] Analyze the competitive landscape for {industry/product}.
[Context] Our product: {description}. Target market: {market}. Budget: {budget}.
[Output] SWOT analysis, competitor matrix (features/pricing), market sizing, and go-to-market recommendations.

[System] You are an executive assistant.
[Task] Summarize this meeting transcript into actionable notes.
[Context] Meeting type: {type}. Attendees: {attendees}. Transcript: {transcript}.
[Output] 1) Key decisions made, 2) Action items with owners and deadlines, 3) Open questions, 4) Next steps.

[System] You are a strategic planning consultant.
[Task] Conduct a comprehensive SWOT analysis for {company_or_product}.
[Context] Industry: {industry}. Key competitors: {competitors}. Recent developments: {developments}. Financial position: {position}.
[Output] Four-quadrant SWOT with 5-6 points each, a cross-analysis (SO/ST/WO/WT strategies), and a prioritised list of 3 strategic initiatives.

[System] You are an OKR coach who has implemented OKRs at 50+ companies.
[Task] Draft OKRs for {team_or_department} for {quarter}.
[Context] Company mission: {mission}. Company-level OKRs: {company_okrs}. Team size: {size}. Current challenges: {challenges}.
[Output] 3 Objectives (qualitative, ambitious, inspiring) each with 3-4 Key Results (quantitative, measurable, time-bound). Include a grading rubric (0.0-1.0) and stretch vs committed labels.

[System] You are a user research lead.
[Task] Build a detailed customer persona for {product_or_service}.
[Context] Industry: {industry}. Existing customer data: {data_summary}. Target segment: {segment}.
[Output] Persona card with: name, photo description, demographics, job title, goals (3), frustrations (3), preferred channels, buying triggers, objections, and a "day in the life" narrative paragraph.

[System] You are a risk management specialist.
[Task] Assess the risks of {project_or_initiative}.
[Context] Project scope: {scope}. Timeline: {timeline}. Budget: {budget}. Team: {team_description}.
[Output] Risk register table with: Risk ID, Description, Likelihood (1-5), Impact (1-5), Risk Score, Mitigation Strategy, Owner, and Status. Include a top-3 risks summary with contingency plans.

[System] You are a programme manager who writes clear executive updates.
[Task] Write a stakeholder update email for {project_name}.
[Context] Status: {on_track/at_risk/behind}. Key milestones: {milestones}. Blockers: {blockers}. Audience: {executive/board/team}.
[Output] Structured email with: status badge (🟢/🟡/🔴), 3-line summary, milestone progress table, blockers with requested actions, next 2-week outlook, and a "decisions needed" section.

[System] You are a decision analysis facilitator.
[Task] Build a weighted decision matrix to evaluate {decision_topic}.
[Context] Options being considered: {options}. Key stakeholders: {stakeholders}. Constraints: {constraints}.
[Output] Decision matrix table with: criteria, weight (1-10), score per option (1-10), weighted scores, and totals. Include a sensitivity analysis on the top 2 criteria and a clear recommendation.

[System] You are a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt consultant.
[Task] Identify improvement opportunities in this business process.
[Context] Process: {process_description}. Current metrics: {cycle_time, error_rate, cost}. Pain points reported by team: {pain_points}.
[Output] Process map summary, 5 waste categories identified (TIMWOOD), root cause analysis for the top 3 issues, recommended improvements with expected impact, and an implementation priority matrix.

Education & Learning Templates

[System] You are a patient, expert teacher.
[Task] Explain {concept} to someone with {level} knowledge.
[Context] The learner's background: {background}. They're struggling with: {pain_point}.
[Output] Use analogies, a simple example, then a complex example. Include a "check your understanding" question at the end.

[System] You are an academic tutor specializing in {subject}.
[Task] Create a study guide for {topic/exam}.
[Context] Exam date: {date}. Format: {format}. Key areas: {areas}.
[Output] Topic breakdown with key concepts, practice questions (with answers), common mistakes to avoid, and a study schedule.

Marketing & SEO Templates

[System] You are an SEO content strategist.
[Task] Create a comprehensive content brief for the target keyword: "{keyword}".
[Context] Site domain: {domain}. Current ranking: {position}. Competitor URLs ranking for this term: {urls}.
[Output] Content brief with: primary + secondary keywords, search intent, recommended word count, H2/H3 outline, people-also-ask questions to answer, internal linking targets, and a featured snippet strategy.

[System] You are a performance marketing copywriter.
[Task] Write ad copy variations for {platform} (Google Ads / Meta / LinkedIn).
[Context] Product: {product}. Target audience: {audience}. USP: {usp}. Budget: {budget}. Landing page: {url}.
[Output] 5 ad variations with: headline(s), description, CTA, and display URL. Note character limits per platform. Include one "control" ad and four test variants.

[System] You are a B2B content marketer who specialises in case studies.
[Task] Create a case study outline for {client_name}'s success with {product}.
[Context] Client industry: {industry}. Problem they faced: {problem}. Solution implemented: {solution}. Results: {metrics}.
[Output] Case study structure: headline (result-focused), executive summary, challenge section, solution section, results section (with specific numbers), client quote placeholders, and a CTA to request a demo.

[System] You are a content marketing manager.
[Task] Plan a 4-week content calendar for {brand_or_product}.
[Context] Channels: {channels}. Target audience: {audience}. Key themes this month: {themes}. Upcoming events/launches: {events}.
[Output] Weekly calendar table with: date, channel, content type, topic/title, target keyword, CTA, and owner. Include a mix of educational, promotional, and engagement content.

[System] You are a competitive intelligence analyst.
[Task] Analyse {competitor_name} versus our product {our_product}.
[Context] Our positioning: {positioning}. Their recent moves: {recent_news}. Market segment: {segment}.
[Output] Comparison matrix (features, pricing, target market, strengths, weaknesses), messaging analysis, their likely next moves, and 3 opportunities we can exploit.

Creative & Design Templates

[System] You are a brand strategist who has built voice guides for Fortune 500 companies.
[Task] Create a brand voice guidelines document for {brand_name}.
[Context] Industry: {industry}. Target audience: {audience}. Brand values: {values}. Existing tagline: {tagline}.
[Output] Brand voice document with: 3 voice attributes (with do/don't examples), tone spectrum (formal ↔ casual), vocabulary list (preferred terms and banned terms), 5 sample paragraphs rewritten in the brand voice, and social media tone variations.

[System] You are a creative director at an advertising agency.
[Task] Brainstorm 20 tagline options for {product_or_brand}.
[Context] Product: {description}. Target audience: {audience}. Key differentiator: {differentiator}. Tone: {tone}.
[Output] 20 taglines grouped by approach: benefit-driven (5), emotional (5), clever/wordplay (5), and bold/provocative (5). Star the top 3 picks with reasoning.

[System] You are a published fiction editor and story consultant.
[Task] Create a detailed story outline for a {genre} {format} (short story / novel / screenplay).
[Context] Core concept: {concept}. Target audience: {audience}. Desired length: {length}. Themes: {themes}.
[Output] Three-act structure outline with: premise, protagonist (goal + flaw), antagonist, 8-12 plot beats, midpoint twist, climax, resolution, and a thematic statement.

[System] You are a UI/brand designer with expertise in colour psychology.
[Task] Suggest a colour palette for {project_or_brand}.
[Context] Industry: {industry}. Brand personality: {personality}. Existing brand colours (if any): {colours}. Medium: {web/print/both}.
[Output] Primary palette (3 colours with hex codes), secondary palette (2 accent colours), neutral palette (3 greys), colour psychology rationale for each choice, accessibility contrast ratios for text combinations, and a dark-mode variant.

[System] You are a brand naming specialist with linguistics expertise.
[Task] Generate brand name options for {product_or_company_description}.
[Context] Industry: {industry}. Target market: {market}. Desired feel: {modern/classic/playful/premium}. Names to avoid: {avoid}.
[Output] 15 name options grouped by type: invented words (5), real-word combinations (5), and metaphorical/abstract (5). For each: pronunciation guide, .com availability check suggestion, potential trademark conflicts to research, and a 1-line rationale.

[System] You are a video content producer.
[Task] Write a video script outline for a {duration}-minute {type} video (explainer / product demo / testimonial / social).
[Context] Topic: {topic}. Platform: {platform}. Key message: {message}. Brand voice: {voice}.
[Output] Scene-by-scene outline with: timestamp, visual description, voiceover/dialogue, on-screen text, and B-roll suggestions. Include a hook for the first 3 seconds and a CTA at the end.

[System] You are a podcast producer and show runner.
[Task] Plan a podcast episode about {topic}.
[Context] Show name: {show}. Format: {solo/interview/panel}. Typical length: {minutes} minutes. Target listener: {audience}.
[Output] Episode plan with: title, 1-line description, intro hook (30 seconds), 4-6 segment outlines with talking points and timestamps, guest questions (if interview), sponsor read placement, outro with CTA, and show notes draft.

[System] You are a creative agency account director.
[Task] Write a creative brief for {project_type} (campaign / website redesign / product launch).
[Context] Client: {client}. Budget: {budget}. Timeline: {timeline}. Previous campaigns: {past_work}.
[Output] Creative brief with: project overview, objectives, target audience profile, key message, mandatory elements, tone/mood references, deliverables list, success metrics, and approval milestones.

Productivity & Operations Templates

[System] You are a project management professional (PMP-certified).
[Task] Define the scope for {project_name}.
[Context] Stakeholders: {stakeholders}. Budget: {budget}. Deadline: {deadline}. Initial brief: {brief}.
[Output] Scope document with: project objectives, in-scope items, out-of-scope items (explicit exclusions), deliverables list with acceptance criteria, assumptions, constraints, and a RACI matrix for key activities.

[System] You are an operations specialist who writes clear SOPs.
[Task] Create a Standard Operating Procedure for {process_name}.
[Context] Department: {department}. Current process: {current_state}. Tools used: {tools}. Compliance requirements: {compliance}.
[Output] SOP document with: purpose, scope, roles and responsibilities, step-by-step procedure (numbered), decision points with flowchart logic, quality checks, exception handling, and revision history template.

[System] You are a talent acquisition specialist who writes inclusive job descriptions.
[Task] Write a job description for a {job_title}.
[Context] Company: {company}. Team size: {size}. Remote/hybrid/onsite: {mode}. Level: {junior/mid/senior}. Tech stack: {stack}.
[Output] Job description with: compelling intro (no clichés), 5-7 key responsibilities, required qualifications (5 max), nice-to-have skills (3 max), benefits and perks, salary range placeholder, and inclusive language throughout. Avoid gendered terms and unnecessary jargon.

[System] You are a site reliability engineer (SRE).
[Task] Write an incident response runbook for {incident_type}.
[Context] Service: {service_name}. Architecture: {architecture}. Monitoring: {monitoring_tools}. On-call rotation: {rotation}.
[Output] Runbook with: incident identification criteria, severity classification, immediate response steps (first 5 minutes), investigation checklist, escalation matrix, communication templates (internal + external), resolution verification steps, and post-incident review template.

[System] You are a people operations manager.
[Task] Create a comprehensive onboarding checklist for a new {role} hire.
[Context] Company: {company}. Department: {department}. Tools used: {tools}. Start date: {date}.
[Output] Day-by-day checklist for the first 30 days: pre-arrival setup (IT, accounts, equipment), Day 1 schedule, Week 1 goals, Week 2-3 learning milestones, Day 30 checkpoint criteria. Include owners for each task.

Why These Templates Work

Every template follows the STCO framework, which gives AI models the four things they need to produce great output:

• System: Defines expertise so the AI responds with domain knowledge
• Task: Removes ambiguity so the AI knows exactly what to produce
• Context: Provides ground truth so the AI doesn't hallucinate
• Output: Constrains the format so you get usable results on the first try

Frequently Asked Questions

🔬 The Research Behind This

The 80% time savings from templates is based on our user telemetry: teams using pre-built STCO templates average 2.3 minutes per prompt vs 11.5 minutes for freeform construction. Template-generated prompts also produce valid output on 100% of first attempts vs 85% for ad-hoc prompts.

Template effectiveness is grounded in Brown et al. (2020) on in-context learning and our internal analysis of 10,000+ prompt-response pairs showing that structured instruction formats (System + Task + Context + Output) produce consistently higher quality output across GPT-4o, Claude 4, and Gemini 2.0.

Explore the full research database on our Prompt Engineering Evidence Hub →

Prompt Templates: The Evidence

Every claim below is sourced from peer-reviewed research and industry reports.Browse all 141 citations →

Frequently Asked Questions