The Ultimate Guide to Prompt Writing for Sales Professionals

Introduction

Leveraging AI LLM tools like ChatGPT or askSSL.ai can greatly enhance sales communication. Writing effective prompts is essential for optimizing interactions and achieving desired outcomes. Well-structured prompts improve engagement and streamline efforts, making them a key part of the sales process.

This guide provides insights into prompt writing, focusing on the Social Sales Link model, a framework to help construct effective prompts in different sales scenarios, such as LinkedIn connection requests, emails, and creating engaging content. By the end, you will have practical strategies and templates to refine your sales communication.

The Anatomy of a Prompt Using the CRISPY Model

Effectively using the CRISPY model can enhance the quality of your prompts when using AI tools for sales.

Context (C): This element refers to the background of the prompt. It helps the AI follow a coherent thread throughout the interaction. Determine your goal before crafting your prompt. For example, “I want to reach out to small businesses that need comprehensive IT services.” This information lays the groundwork for tailored responses.
Role (R): This specifies the character or perspective the AI should adopt. Clarifying the expected role ensures the AI conveys its responses appropriately. For instance, “Act as a knowledgeable B2B sales professional familiar with IT services.” This instruction helps the AI generate responses that sound credible and relevant.
Inspiration (I): This is the central idea or theme guiding the prompt. Provide a clear focus, such as, “Use insights from personalized, cost-effective IT solutions that improve business efficiency.” If needed, include specific references to direct the AI on what to elaborate on.
Scope (S): This aspect defines the range of the discussion. It keeps the AI focused on relevant topics. For example, “Focus on IT services like cybersecurity and cloud solutions that are suitable for small businesses.” This clarity helps maintain depth in the conversation.
Prohibitions (P): This sets limitations on the content the AI should avoid. Clearly state topics or phrases that detract from the intended message. For instance, “Refrain from discussing software development services and avoid traditional sales pitches.” This guideline promotes interactions that build trust.
You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

LinkedIn Connection Requests

LinkedIn serves as a powerful platform for connecting with potential clients, networking partners, centers of influence (COIs) and industry experts. Crafting effective connection requests is essential, as a personalized approach can increase acceptance rates and create meaningful relationships.

Key Steps:

1. Research the Prospect: Understand their role and interests, which provides a foundation for personalization.
2. Personalize Your Message: Mention a common interest or mutual connection. Clearly express your reason for connecting.
3. Keep It Brief: Aim for a concise message that respects the prospect’s time.

Examples:

Context (C): I want to craft a professional and approachable LinkedIn connection request message that references a mutual connection, acknowledges the recipient’s contributions in their field, and expresses interest in sharing insights.

Role (R): Position me as a fellow professional genuinely interested in networking and exchanging ideas.

Inspiration (I): Draw from the mutual connection and the recipient’s accomplishments or role in their industry to personalize the message.

Scope (S): Keep the message concise, friendly, and tailored to highlight mutual interests without being overly formal or generic.

Prohibition (P): Avoid coming across as overly transactional or sales-driven. Do not include any overly promotional language. Do not include a subject line.

You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Message Examples:

Hi [Recipient’s Name],

I noticed we share a mutual connection in [Mutual Connection’s Name], who speaks highly of your work in [Recipient’s Field/Industry]. I’ve been following your contributions, especially [mention a specific accomplishment or project of theirs], and I find your insights truly inspiring.

As a fellow professional in [Your Field/Industry], I’d love the opportunity to connect and share thoughts on [common interests or specific topics]. Looking forward to exchanging ideas!

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Engagement Prompts

Overview: Generating content that encourages engagement is essential for building a professional brand on LinkedIn. Engagement prompts inspire conversations and create connections within your network.

Key Steps:

1. Ask Questions: Conclude posts with open-ended questions to invite comments.
2. Create Polls: Use LinkedIn’s poll feature to gather insights and opinions.
3. Share Valuable Content: Link to articles or resources that resonate with your audience.

Examples:

Context (C): I want to initiate a meaningful, professional conversation with a LinkedIn connection about current challenges or trends in [Your Industry], inviting their perspective and fostering engagement.

Role (R): Position me as a peer or industry professional interested in exchanging insights and learning from their expertise.

Inspiration (I): Use thought-provoking questions or references to relevant trends or articles to inspire a response. Emphasize shared professional interests.

Scope (S): Keep the focus on challenges, trends, or topics directly related to [Your Industry], ensuring relevance and value to the recipient.

Prohibition (P): Avoid sales language, overly generic phrasing, or tangents unrelated to the industry focus. Do not include a subject line.

You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Message Examples:

Hi [Recipient’s Name],

I’ve been following your posts on LinkedIn and really appreciate your insights into [specific topic or trend the connection has shared recently]. It has sparked my curiosity about some of the challenges we’re currently facing in [Your Industry].

As we work through [mention a specific trend or challenge in the industry, such as digital transformation, sustainability, or regulatory changes], I’d love to hear your perspective on how these factors are shaping our field. Have you encountered any notable challenges or innovative solutions worth sharing?

I recently came across an article on [relevant article or trend] that provided some interesting viewpoints, and it made me think about how we can leverage our experiences to adapt and thrive.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your LinkedIn Profile]
[Your Job Title / Position in Industry]

Emails

Overview: Sales emails must capture attention quickly while communicating value clearly. A well-structured email greatly influences open and response rates.

Key Steps:

1. Craft a Strong Subject Line: Use compelling language that encourages opening the email.
2. Personalize the Body: Start with a compliment or acknowledgment of their work. Clearly state the purpose early on.
3. Include a Call to Action: Make your desired next steps clear.

Examples:

Context (C): Craft a professional and personalized email to a recipient, referencing their work on a specific project or article, and propose a brief call to discuss an idea or proposal that could benefit them.

Role (R): Position me as a knowledgeable professional offering a thoughtful proposal tailored to the recipient’s interests or needs.

Inspiration (I): Highlight their work or achievements as the foundation for initiating the conversation and demonstrating relevance.

Scope (S): Keep the email concise, engaging, and specific to their expertise or industry. Ensure the tone is respectful and avoids sounding pushy.

Prohibition (P): Avoid generic phrases, overly formal language, or a hard-sell approach. Do not make the proposal seem purely self-serving.

You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Email Examples:

Subject: Inspired by Your Recent Work on [Project]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I recently had the opportunity to read your work on [specific project or article], and I must say it resonated deeply with me. Your insights on [specific aspect or finding] not only shed light on the topic but also sparked some ideas I believe could add value to your ongoing efforts.

I would love to propose a brief call to share my thoughts on [specific idea or proposal]. I believe it could align well with your goals and further enhance your impact in [specific industry/field].

I appreciate how busy your schedule must be, so I’ll be sure to keep the conversation concise. If you’re open to it, please let me know a time that works for you within the next week or two.

Thank you for considering this idea, and I look forward to the possibility of connecting!

Warm regards,
[Your Name]

Pre-Call Planning Summaries

Overview: Preparing for sales calls effectively can significantly influence the outcome by ensuring focus and enhancing productivity.

Key Steps:

1. Research the Prospect: Review their LinkedIn profile and recent activity for helpful insights.
2. Define Objectives: Clearly outline what you want to achieve during the call.
3. Prepare Questions: Formulate open-ended questions that guide the conversation.

Examples: “Pre-Call Summary for [Prospect Name]”

1. Background: [Brief background info]
2. Objectives for the Call: [Define clear objectives]
3. Questions to Ask:[Question 1, Question 2]

Exercise:

Context (C): I need to create a detailed pre-call summary for an upcoming sales call. This summary should include key insights about the prospect, their industry, and their specific challenges, aligning my objectives with their needs.

Role (R): Position me as a well-prepared sales professional focused on understanding the prospect’s situation and delivering tailored solutions.

Inspiration (I): Use the prospect’s public information (e.g., LinkedIn profile, company website, recent news, or industry trends) to craft an actionable summary that demonstrates research and alignment with their goals.

Scope (S): The summary should include:

  * Background information about the prospect and their company.
  * Identified challenges or opportunities based on research.
  * Key objectives for the call.
  * Relevant solutions or topics to discuss.
  * Specific questions to ask during the call.

Prohibition (P): Avoid assumptions about their needs or challenges without evidence. Do not include generic or overly broad goals that don’t align with the prospect’s situation.

You (Y):Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Examples Pre-Call Summary Template:

1. Background Information:

  * Prospect Name: [Name]
  * Company: [Company Name]
  * Role: [Position/Title]
  * Relevant Details: [e.g., recent achievements, initiatives, or company news].

2. Identified Challenges/Opportunities:

  * Challenge 1: [Specific challenge based on research].
  * Opportunity 1: [Potential area where your solution can add value].

3. Objectives for the Call:

  * Establish rapport by discussing [specific shared interest/industry topic].
  * Explore their goals or challenges in [specific area].
  * Present a tailored solution for [identified need].

4. Solutions to Discuss:

  * Highlight [specific product/service feature] to address [their challenge].

5. Questions to Ask:

  * “Can you share more about your current approach to [specific challenge]?”
  * “What are your top priorities for [timeframe]?”
  * “How do you measure success in [specific area]?”

Customized Discovery Questions

Overview: Discovery questions help uncover specific needs and pain points of prospects, leading to valuable discussions that can drive sales.

Key Steps:

1. Tailor Questions: Align your inquiries with their industry and challenges.
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage detailed responses on their needs and pain points.
3. Listen Actively: Take notes during conversations to follow up on their responses.

Examples:

Context (C): I need to craft five discovery questions for a specific group of prospects to understand their challenges and align them with my solutions. The questions should be thoughtful, relevant to their industry or role, and encourage open dialogue.

Role (R): Position me as a knowledgeable and empathetic professional focused on uncovering their needs and providing tailored solutions.

Inspiration (I): Use insights about the prospect’s industry, common pain points, and my product/service’s unique value to frame the questions. Ensure they feel personal and relevant.

Scope (S):The questions should address key challenges, goals, current strategies, and areas where improvement is needed. Keep them open-ended to facilitate discussion.

Prohibition (P): Avoid leading questions that suggest an answer or overly generic questions that lack relevance to their situation. Do not make the conversation feel like an interrogation.

You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Example Exercise Output (Five Tailored Questions):

1. Challenges:
“What are the biggest challenges you’re currently facing in [specific area relevant to their industry or role]?”

2. Goals:
“What key objectives are you aiming to achieve in the next [timeframe, e.g., 6 months]?”

3. Current Strategies:
“What approaches or solutions have you tried so far to address these challenges?”

4. Barriers:
“Are there any specific obstacles preventing you from reaching your goals or implementing a solution?”

5. Success Metrics:
“How do you define success in [specific area]? What would an ideal outcome look like for you?”

This CRISPY-modeled approach ensures the discovery questions are insightful, relevant, and geared toward understanding the prospect’s needs. Let me know if you’d like help to tailor these for a specific group!

Video Scripts and Prospecting Campaigns

Overview: Writing engaging video scripts is key to enhancing outreach efforts. Video content can significantly improve engagement rates in prospecting strategies.

Key Steps:

1. Define Your Message: Determine what key takeaway you want viewers to gain after watching.
2. Create a Compelling Hook: Start with a question or statement that captures attention.
3. Conclude with a Call to Action: Clearly state your desired next steps for the audience.

Examples:

Context (C): I need to create a concise and engaging video script to promote [Your Offer] while aligning with my sales objectives. The script should include a hook, a clear main message, and a strong call to action.

Role (R):Position me as a professional and approachable expert offering a solution to my audience’s challenges or goals.

Inspiration (I): Use key pain points, benefits of the offer, or recent trends to craft a compelling message. Ensure the tone resonates with the target audience.

Scope (S):The script should be under 60 seconds, clear, and focused on one core message. It should drive viewers to take a specific action, like visiting a website or scheduling a call.

Prohibition (P):Avoid jargon, overly aggressive sales language, or generic statements that don’t connect with the audience’s needs.

You (Y): Ask me all the questions you need to complete this task, one at a time.

Example Video Script:

Hook:
“Did you know 70% of [your audience’s industry] struggles with [specific challenge]? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.”

Main Message:
“At [Your Company], we specialize in helping [specific audience] solve [challenge] with [specific solution]. Our [key benefit] approach ensures you achieve [desired outcome]. Whether it’s [example 1] or [example 2], we have you covered.”

Call to Action:
“If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you [specific benefit], visit [Your Website] or book a quick call with us today!”

Mastering prompt writing is essential for revenue-driven professionals aiming to excel in sales. The tools and techniques in this guide can help you create effective prompts that resonate with your audience. Whether you are improving connection requests, driving engagement, or crafting sales emails, each component plays an important role in successful outreach.

For additional support in elevating your sales strategies, consider scheduling a demo of askSSL.ai at Social Sales Link. Discover how AI can transform your sales processes, providing valuable tools for increased productivity and success in your efforts.