Upgrade Your AI Prompts with the CRIT Framework

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that AI responses sound generic, vague, or miss the mark, you’re not alone.

The issue usually isn’t the AI, it’s the prompt.

Last week, I shared the CRIT Prompting Framework on stage at the Business Systems and AI Summit.

It landed strongly because it gives people a simple and reliable way to get better results from AI, fast.

Many attendees messaged me later saying, “This has completely changed how I brief AI.”

That’s because CRIT doesn’t just improve your prompting, it improves your thinking.

If you’re using AI for marketing, content, or strategic thinking, this framework will help you get sharper, more relevant, and more actionable responses in minutes.

Let’s break it down.

Why Most People Get Average AI Responses

Most prompts are too vague, for example:

“Write me a social post about SEO.”

AI answers that with a generic response, because there’s no clarity, no direction, and no context.

A strong prompt gives the AI what it needs to perform at a high level. That’s where CRIT comes in.

The CRIT Prompting Framework

CRIT gives your prompt the structure and clarity needed for high quality outputs.

C – Context Explain the background so AI understands the situation.

R – Role Assign a role so AI responds with the right perspective and expertise.

I – Interview Ask the AI to interview you first, one question at a time, to gather what it needs.

T – Task Be clear on what you want the AI to do.

When you follow these four steps, AI moves from guessing to performing.

CRIT in Action: Before and After

Weak Prompt:

“Write a promotional email for my new service.”

CRIT Prompt:

Context: I run a digital marketing agency in Australia and we’re launching a new training program for marketing managers

Role: Act as a marketing copywriter with experience writing high converting emails

Interview: Ask me up to 5 questions to gather what you need before you write

Task: Write a promotional email once you have the answers

See how the second version sets the AI up to succeed?

CRIT Prompts You Can Copy and Paste

Here are practical prompts ready for you to use. They work across most AI tools, including ChatGPT.

Example 1: Email Campaign Drafting

Context: We’re running a campaign to promote our upcoming webinar on [topic] to [audience]

Role: Act as a senior email copywriter who specialises in engagement and conversion.

Interview: Ask me 5 questions to tailor the messaging and angle

Task: Write a 3 email sequence to promote the webinar

Example 2: Social Content for a Product Launch

Context: We’re launching a new product and want to build anticipation on social media

Role: Act as a social media strategist for B2B brands

Interview: Ask me 3 questions to clarify the audience, tone, and platform

Task: Create 5 social posts that build awareness and curiosity

Example 3: SEO Blog Outline

Context: I want to write a blog about [topic] targeting [keyword]

Role: Act as an SEO content strategist

Interview: Ask me 5 questions so you can create the best outline

Task: Produce a detailed SEO optimised outline for the blog

Example 4: Team Communication Draft

Context: I need to share an update with my team about an upcoming change

Role: Act as a leadership communication coach

Interview: Ask me 4 questions to understand the change, emotions involved, and tone

Task: Write a clear and supportive message I can share with the team

When to Use CRIT Prompting Framework

Use CRIT when you need:

• Clear thinking, not just quick content
• Quality over “fast but average” outputs
• Support developing ideas, strategy, or communication

If you want better AI outputs, start with better inputs. CRIT helps you think clearly, brief clearly, and get results you can use straight away.

Try one of the CRIT prompts above today. You’ll see the difference in the very first response.

If you find this useful, share it with your team. It’s a simple framework that has an immediate impact.

Credit to Geoff Woods, author of The AI Driven Leader, for the CRIT framework.