Content generation is a popular use case for AI, especially for those of us without extensive technical knowledge. However, many users may not be utilizing AI to its full potential when brainstorming blog post ideas. In this post, I'll share a more effective approach to using AI for content ideation.

The Traditional Approach vs. The Meta-Prompt Method

Traditionally, users might ask an AI chatbot like this:

Hi, ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini, (please) generate a list of blog post ideas on home improvement

What you actually want to do is get the AI platform in question to produce the prompt for you, so that:

1. you can do even less work (I swear, it's efficiency, not laziness)

2. your prompt can be more effective

This meta-prompt approach can save you time and often leads to more tailored, creative results.

Below is the prompt that I used for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude -

i have a blog that focuses on regular people with no real technological experience doing regular things with AI. I'm a bit uninspired and i want to generate a list of blog posts to craft along that theme. can you put together a prompt that would be effective in getting an ai to create that list?

Below are the prompts provided by each LLM chatbot.

Claude

This one can also be viewed as an artifact - definitely not Claude's prettiest artifact, but a shareable one nonetheless.

ChatGPT

Gemini

Here's a sample of the results:

• "AI-Powered Meal Planning: From Fridge to Table" Description: Explore how AI meal planners can help busy families reduce food waste and create balanced meals using ingredients they already have.

• "Mastering Your Inbox: AI Email Assistants for the Technophobe" Description: Introduce easy-to-use AI email tools that can help sort, prioritize, and even draft responses, saving time for those overwhelmed by their inboxes.

• "DIY Home Security: Setting Up AI-Enhanced Cameras Without the Geek Squad" Description: Guide readers through the process of installing and configuring user-friendly AI security cameras to protect their homes without breaking the bank.

Key Takeaways

1. Meta-prompting: Ask the AI to create a prompt for you, then use that prompt to generate ideas.

2. Specificity: Provide context about your blog and target audience in your initial request.

3. Structure: Ask for specific elements like titles and brief descriptions to get more useful results.

4. Diversity: Encourage the AI to cover various aspects of your topic for a well-rounded list of ideas.

By using this meta-prompt method, you're more likely to get a diverse, tailored list of blog post ideas that align with your blog's theme and audience.