Artificial intelligence is evolving at lightning speed, but one principle remains constant: your results depend on how well you ask the question. A vague prompt produces vague answers, while a clear, structured prompt unlocks depth, accuracy, and creativity.
You don’t need to be technical or memorize complicated rules. Instead, you can use a simple, six-step framework called RICECO a “recipe” for consistently getting better outputs from any AI model, whether it’s ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok.
Let’s break it down step by step.
The RICECO Framework (Your Prompting Recipe)
Think of RICECO as a six-ingredient recipe. You don’t need all six every time, but knowing how to combine them will help you get the best results.
1. R = Role
Assigning a role tells the AI who it is supposed to be. This instantly changes tone, perspective, and depth.
- Without a role: “Give me tips for better sleep.” → Generic advice.
- With a role: “You are a board-certified sleep doctor. Give me tips for better sleep.” → Evidence-based guidance.
- Another role: “You are a sleep-deprived parent writing to other parents. Give me tips for better sleep.” → Conversational, empathetic advice.
👉 By changing the role, you shape the voice and priorities of the response.
2. I = Instruction
This is the core task you want the AI to perform. The key is to be specific.
- Weak: “Write me an engaging YouTube short about prompting tips.”
- Strong: “Write a 60-second YouTube short script about prompting tips using a curiosity gap hook and a scroll-stopping visual anchor.”
The stronger instruction leaves less room for guesswork, resulting in sharper and more useful content.
3. C = Context
Context makes the output relevant and tailored. It answers questions like:
- Who is the audience?
- What is the scenario?
- Why does it matter?
- What tone should it use?
Example:
- Without context: “Write a 500-word blog post about AI video tools.”
- With context: “Write a 500-word blog post about AI video tools for small business owners who want to repurpose podcasts into YouTube shorts. Keep the tone practical and easy to follow.”
Same instruction, but the second one feels personal and useful.
4. E = Examples
Examples act as templates. They show the AI what kind of output you want.
- Writing a newsletter? Share a past edition as a reference.
- Need a social post? Provide one or two strong samples.
- Formatting data? Share a JSON or markdown example.
Even a single example can dramatically improve accuracy and style. This is often called few-shot prompting.
5. C = Constraints
Constraints define boundaries. They cut down fluff and guide the AI’s style.
Examples of constraints:
- Keep under 150 words.
- Avoid buzzwords like “cutting-edge.”
- Use a warm, conversational tone.
- Include one statistic in the first paragraph.
Constraints are especially useful in ongoing workflows—they save time on revisions by keeping outputs consistent.
6. O = Output Format
This step makes results clean and usable. Instead of long text blocks, you can ask for:
- Bullet points
- A comparison table
- A tweet thread
- A three-act script
- JSON or markdown format
For instance, instead of “Compare three AI tools,” you could say: “Present this as a three-column table with tool name, key features, and best use cases.”
A Full RICECO Example
Weak prompt:
“How can I use AI in my real estate business?”
RICECO-enhanced prompt:
- Role: You are a business strategist specializing in AI adoption.
- Instruction: Identify the top AI and automation opportunities for real estate, and create a prioritized action plan.
- Context: My leads come from referrals and listings. Most of my time goes into client follow-ups and paperwork.
- Examples: Potential areas include scheduling, lead management, and document drafting.
- Constraints: Must fit within a $400/month budget, under 3 hours of weekly maintenance, and avoid overly technical setups.
- Output Format: Present as a playbook with quick wins, core systems, and long-term strategies.
👉 The result? A tailored, actionable plan instead of a vague, generic response.
The Condensed ICC Method
For most everyday prompts, you don’t need all six steps. The top three essentials—Instruction, Context, and Constraints (ICC)—will cover 80% of situations.
Example:
- Weak: “Write a Twitter post about ChatGPT tips.”
- Strong (ICC): “Write a five-part Twitter thread sharing lessons I learned from using ChatGPT daily. Audience is indie creators and entrepreneurs. Make it clear, non-technical, casual but insightful. Avoid hype or hashtags.”
The difference is night and day.
The Bonus Step: E-I-O (Evaluate, Iterate, Optimize)
Once you’ve written a strong prompt and received an output, don’t stop there.
- Evaluate → Review critically. Ask the AI to point out assumptions or gaps.
- Iterate → Request variations: more concise, more emotional, funnier, etc.
- Optimize → Refine the prompt itself for clarity and reusability.
This transforms good outputs into excellent ones while building a reliable system you can use again and again.
Final Thoughts
Prompting isn’t about being “technical.” It’s about being clear, intentional, and structured. With the RICECO framework, you can consistently:
- Save time on rewrites.
- Unlock more creative results.
- Get outputs tailored to your real goals.
And when you don’t have time for all six steps, just remember ICC Instruction, Context, Constraints.
Great prompts lead to great results. Think of RICECO as your recipe for AI success easy to follow, endlessly adaptable, and proven to 10x your outcomes.