Give context, purpose, and a little taste
Three things lift a prompt from vague to great. Context: what is this and who's it for. Purpose: what should it accomplish. Taste: a hint of the feel you want. "A booking page for a small yoga studio, calm and minimal, soft greens, one clear Book Now button" tells the AI everything it needs.
You don't need to write a lot. You need to write the parts that matter and leave the rest open.
Show examples when you can
If you've seen something you like, describe it or name it. "Like a clean Apple product page" or "similar to a Notion doc" gives the AI a strong anchor. Concrete references beat adjectives.
Constrain when it matters
If something is non-negotiable, say so plainly: "must work on mobile," "no sign-up required," "keep it to a single file." Constraints aren't limits on creativity; they're guardrails that keep the result usable.
Ask for options when you're unsure
Not sure what you want? Ask for choices. "Give me three different visual directions for this hero section" turns the AI into a brainstorming partner and helps you discover your own taste by reacting.