Let me say this loud and clear: If your AI bot is confused, it’s probably your fault.
And I don’t say that to be harsh — I say it to help you fix it.

In a recent Zoom session with our Head of Partnerships, Mario Aldayuz, we brought together HighLevel power users from Progreda, GHL Engine, The Syndicate, and more to unpack one topic that’s critical to your success with AI inside HighLevel:

🧠 Prompt engineering.

Now, I know that phrase sounds like something out of an AI developer’s resume, but don’t worry — this isn’t rocket science. 

Writing better prompts is more like writing better emails than it is coding. And the good news is: you can totally get better at it.

Here’s what we broke down during the session.

Why Most AI Prompts Fail

The reason most AI chatbots give sketchy, confusing, or flat-out wrong answers isn’t the AI itself. It’s the instructions we give it.

As Mario put it: “Confusion is the root of all evil in AI prompting.”

Your bot isn’t guessing. It’s taking every word you give it literally. So if your prompt is vague, rushed, or too short? Expect random answers that make no sense — or worse, make you look unprofessional.

4 Keys to Writing AI Prompts That Actually Work

Let’s break it down with some simple tips that can completely change how your AI behaves:

1. Be Ridiculously Clear

🗣️ Treat your bot like a super-literal assistant. Don’t say “handle it” — say exactly what you want:

• ✅ “Answer questions using the FAQ doc only.”
  
• ✅ “If unsure, respond with: ‘Let me connect you with our team.’”
  

🔑 Bold Idea: Clear prompts = predictable bots.

2. Don’t Worry About Word Count

📝 Long prompt? That’s okay — as long as it’s clear.
Trying to be short and clever usually just confuses the AI.

Think of it like a recipe: the bot needs all the ingredients and the exact instructions, or your automation’s about to go off the rails.

3. Test Your Prompt Like a Mad Scientist

🧪 Want to know if your prompt’s any good? Try it out in ChatGPT first.
Change the wording. Try edge cases. Iterate. Repeat.

AI doesn’t get better on accident — you have to fine-tune it.

4. Build in Escalation Rules

🚨 What happens when things go sideways? Don’t leave it to chance.

Add logic like:

• “If user is upset, transfer to human agent.”
  
• “If question includes pricing, send link to live pricing page.”

Your prompt should prepare your AI for curveballs — not just the easy stuff.

🔥 Bold Idea: Anticipate the worst questions, and train for them.

Final Thoughts: You’re Training a Robot, Not Writing a Tweet

Good prompts aren’t clever. They’re structured, boring, clear, and intentional.
And when you do it right, it feels like your AI is a trained team member — not a clueless intern.

So if your current bot is more of a liability than an asset, it’s time to revisit how you’re communicating with it.

And hey, if all this still feels overwhelming, we’ve got your back…

Want a Smarter Bot Without the Headache?

At HL Pro Tools, we specialize in helping HighLevel agencies build automations and AI workflows that actually work — from white-labeled chatbot support to prompt consulting and more.

👉 Head to hlprotools.com and let’s turn your bot into the best hire you never had to train twice.

Let’s make your AI unstoppable.