Intermediate Prompt Engineering: Using Chain-of-Thought for Better AI Responses

“Why Does This AI Sound Like It's Winging It?”

Ever asked ChatGPT for a media plan, only to get something so generic it could double as a marketing MBA class note? You’re not alone.

Most marketers prompt AI like this:

“Give me a media plan for my product launch.”

And what does the AI give you?

“Use social media, do email campaigns, maybe try influencers.”

Great. So, like... all of marketing?

Here’s the truth: If your AI is giving vague, one-size-fits-all answers—it’s not the model, it’s your prompt. Enter: Chain-of-Thought prompting. This is your new secret weapon for getting smarter, more structured, human-sounding answers.

🧠 So, What is Chain-of-Thought (CoT) Prompting?

Chain-of-Thought prompting is like asking the AI to “show its working.” Instead of expecting a fully-formed answer right away, you guide the AI to think step-by-step, much like a strategist would.

Here’s a simple analogy: If you ask a junior to "make a media plan," they'll likely wing it. But if you say,

"First, define our audience. Then pick channels based on those segments. Then allocate budgets."

Now they’re thinking like a planner.

AI’s the same. CoT prompting encourages it to break down the problem, reason through it, and respond with more logic and clarity. It’s ideal when you want responses that involve:

• Analysis

• Decision-making

• Sequencing

• Comparisons

  
  

So yeah, pretty much 80% of a marketer’s job.

📈 Real-Life Marketing Example: From Meh to Masterstroke

Let’s test it out with ChatGPT.

Scenario: You’re launching a new D2C skincare brand for Gen Z. You need a media plan.

Prompt A (basic):

Give me a media plan for my skincare product launch.

Output:

“Use Instagram and YouTube for awareness. Influencer marketing can help. Consider email campaigns for retention.”

Yawn.

Prompt B (CoT approach):

Act as a media planner for a D2C skincare brand targeting Gen Z in India. Think step-by-step:

1. Identify key audience segments.

2. Recommend suitable digital channels per segment.

3. Allocate budget percentages across these channels.

4. Suggest KPIs to track success.*

   
   

Output:

Step 1: Segment audience into college students, young working professionals, and skincare enthusiasts.

Step 2:

• College students: Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts

• Working professionals: LinkedIn ads, Google Display

• Skincare nerds: Long-form YouTube, Blogs

Step 3:

• Instagram: 40%

• YouTube: 30%

• Google: 20%

• Blogs: 10%

Step 4:

• CTR, CPM for awareness

• Conversion rate for retargeting

• Brand recall surveys via polls

  
  

Now that’s a plan with some teeth!

🔍 When to Use Chain-of-Thought Prompting

Use it whenever you want clarity, logic, and layered thinking from your AI buddy. Here’s your cheat sheet:

🧠 Campaign Planning → Get structured rollout plans, not just “use social media”

👥 Audience Segmentation → Make AI map personas to platforms

🕵️ Competitor Analysis → Ask AI to compare feature-by-feature or by marketing tactics

🧱 Framework Breakdowns (AIDA, STP, etc.) → Get granular analysis by guiding AI to go one stage at a time

📊 Content Strategy → Ask it to define goals → pick formats → match with platforms → suggest cadence

🎭 Bonus Move: CoT + Roleplay = 🔥

Want to take it even further? Use Chain-of-Thought with role-based prompting.

Example:

Act as a performance marketing head at an Indian D2C brand. Think step-by-step to optimise a ₹10L campaign across Meta and Google Ads.

Now your AI isn’t just thinking better—it’s thinking like someone with skin in the game.

💡 Think Better, Prompt Better

AI isn’t magic. But good prompts? They are. If you're stuck with dull, generic AI responses, it's time to step up your prompt game. Chain-of-Thought prompting lets you unlock smarter, more strategic, and more you-sounding outputs.

And if you’re still unsure where to start?

👉 Check out our Prompt Vaults – built specifically for marketing teams in India.

👉 Or book a Prompt Training with AI Sutra — and turn your team into AI whisperers.

💡 Don’t just use AI. Direct it like a pro.

The Future of AI in Marketing

As we look ahead, the role of AI in marketing will only grow. Brands that harness AI effectively will gain a competitive edge. The key? Mastering the art of prompting.

Imagine crafting campaigns that resonate deeply with your audience. Picture your marketing strategies being data-driven and tailored to specific segments. That’s the power of AI when you use it right.

Embracing AI Transformation

At AI Sutra, we believe in the transformative power of AI. Our mission is to help brands revolutionize their sales and marketing efforts. By leveraging cutting-edge AI strategies and tools, we aim for significant growth and efficiency.

So, are you ready to embrace the future? Let’s make AI work for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chain-of-Thought prompting is your ticket to more effective AI interactions. It’s about clarity, structure, and creativity. Don’t settle for generic responses. Instead, challenge your AI to think deeper and deliver better.

Remember, the future of marketing is bright, especially when you have the right tools at your disposal. Let’s get started on this exciting journey together!