AI prompts for content planning: 10 templates that save you 4 hours per week

Direct answer: The right AI prompts save you an average of 3-5 hours per week on content planning. The trick isn't the tool (ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all work equally well) — it's how specific you ask. This article gives you 10 copy-paste templates that work immediately: from content pillar discovery to Reels repurposing. You'll also learn when AI is the solution and when it absolutely isn't — because blindly trusting generated text ultimately costs you more time than it saves.

Why AI prompts transform your content workflow

Short answer: AI accelerates the idea-to-draft phase by 60-80%, leaving you more time for strategy and community interaction.

According to Adobe's State of Create report (2024), the average creator spends 11.2 hours per week on content creation. Of that, 38% goes to planning, research and ideation — tasks where AI excels. In our coaching data, we see creators using structured prompts reduce their planning time from 4.2 to 1.1 hours per week.

The difference between useless and transformative AI output lies in specificity. "Give me content ideas" yields generic nonsense. "Analyse these 5 top-performing posts and identify common hook patterns" gives you actionable insights.

Definitions: AI content planning explained

Prompt engineering

In one sentence: The art of formulating instructions to AI models to get consistent, usable output. Source: OpenAI Prompt Engineering Guide (2024).

Content pillar

In one sentence: A recurring theme within your content strategy around which you group multiple posts. Source: HubSpot Content Strategy Framework.

Zero-shot prompting

In one sentence: A prompt without examples, asking the AI to perform a task purely based on instructions. Source: Google AI Research (2023).

Few-shot prompting

In one sentence: A prompt with 2-5 examples of desired input-output pairs, which significantly improves quality. Source: Anthropic Claude Documentation.

Token limit

In one sentence: The maximum amount of text (measured in tokens, approximately 0.75 words per token) an AI model can process at once. Source: OpenAI API Documentation.

The anatomy of an effective AI prompt

Short answer: Every working prompt contains context, task, format and constraints — leave one out and output quality drops dramatically.

A strong prompt follows the CTFC structure:

• Context: Who are you, who do you create content for, what's your niche?
• Task: What exactly should the AI do?
• Format: How do you want the output (table, bullets, running text)?
• Constraints: What's not allowed (clichés, certain words, overly long sentences)?

The prompts below are all built according to this model. You can copy them directly into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini — all three score comparably on these tasks.

Prompt comparison: which template for which task?

Prompt 1: Content pillar discovery

Short answer: This prompt analyses your existing content and distils 3-5 thematic pillars you can consistently post about.

Input template:

"You are a content strategist for creators. Analyse these 10 post descriptions from my best-performing content: [PASTE 10 SHORT DESCRIPTIONS HERE]. Identify 3-5 thematic pillars that recur. For each pillar provide: (1) a working title, (2) why this resonates with my audience, (3) 3 sub-topics within this pillar. Present as a numbered list."

Expected output: A structured list with pillars such as "Behind-the-scenes of the creative process", "Practical tools and workflows" or "Personal growth insights" — each with rationale and expansion options.

Prompt 2: Hook generator for Instagram/TikTok

Short answer: Generate 10 scroll-stopping hooks based on proven psychological triggers.

Input template:

"Write 10 hooks for a [PLATFORM] video about [TOPIC]. My target audience is [DESCRIPTION]. Use these hook formulas: (1) controversial statement, (2) specific number + promise, (3) "I thought X, but Y", (4) direct question, (5) unexpected comparison. Each hook maximum 8 words. Avoid clichés like 'game-changer' and 'you won't believe what happened'."

Expected output: Ten variations such as "3 creators stole this idea — rightly so", "Why I stopped posting daily" or "This costs you £0 but earns £500".

Prompt 3: Caption rewriting for engagement

Short answer: Transform boring captions into conversation starters with a clear call-to-action.

Input template:

"Rewrite this Instagram caption: [ORIGINAL CAPTION]. Improve on: (1) stronger first sentence that sparks curiosity, (2) more white space for readability, (3) one clear question at the end. Maintain my voice: [DESCRIBE YOUR TONE OF VOICE]. Maximum 150 words. No emoji overload (max 3)."

Expected output: A rewritten caption with punchy opening, scannable structure and a specific engagement question as closer.

5-step plan: AI content workflow from idea to publication

Step 1: Gather your top 10 content as input

Before deploying AI, you need fuel. Export your 10 best-performing posts (highest engagement rate, not absolute likes). This is your training data for personalised output.

Step 2: Run the content pillar prompt

Use prompt 1 to identify your core themes. This prevents you from creating random content that doesn't fit together. Save the output as a reference document.

Step 3: Generate hooks per pillar

Run prompt 2 for each pillar separately. This gives you 30-50 hooks to choose from. Mark the strongest 10 for your next content batch.

Step 4: Write concepts with AI assistance

Use prompts 3-6 to refine rough concepts. Important: read everything critically and adapt to your voice. AI gives you 70% — the final 30% is your expertise.

Step 5: Test and iterate with data

Publish, measure results via your analytics (and LinkDash clicks for link-in-bio content), and feed winning patterns back into your prompts. This closed-loop system makes your prompts increasingly effective.

Prompt 4: Repurpose long-form content to Reels/TikTok

Short answer: Extract the most shareable moments from blogs, podcasts or YouTube videos for short-form content.

Input template:

"Analyse this blog/transcript: [PASTE CONTENT]. Identify 5 fragments that can work as standalone Reels/TikTok. For each fragment provide: (1) the core message in 1 sentence, (2) a hook to open with, (3) a CTA that fits the topic. Focus on controversial viewpoints, surprising data and practical tips."

Expected output: Five ready-to-use video concepts with specific timestamps or quotes from your original content.

Prompt 5: FAQ extraction from DMs and comments

Short answer: Transform repetitive questions from your audience into content ideas and knowledge base articles.

Input template:

"Here are 20 DMs/comments I recently received: [PASTE MESSAGES]. Categorise the underlying questions into 5-7 themes. Per theme: (1) formulate the core question, (2) give a concise answer (3 sentences), (3) suggest a content format (Reel, carousel, Story, blog post). Sort by estimated frequency."

Expected output: A prioritised list of FAQ themes with ready-to-use answers and format suggestions.

Prompt 6: Carousel slide structure

Short answer: Generate a 7-10 slide carousel structure with hook, value slides and CTA.

Input template:

"Create an Instagram carousel about [TOPIC] for [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Structure: slide 1 = hook with controversial statement or promise, slides 2-8 = one tip/insight per slide with max 25 words, slide 9 = summary, slide 10 = CTA to [SPECIFIC ACTION]. Write the exact text per slide."

Expected output: Ten slides with copy you can place directly in Canva or Figma.

Prompts 7-10: Specialist templates

Short answer: These four prompts cover niche cases: YouTube descriptions, email subject lines, LinkedIn posts and product launches.

Prompt 7 — YouTube description:

"Write a YouTube description for a video titled [TITLE]. Structure: (1) 2 sentences summary with keyword [KEYWORD], (2) timestamps for 5 sections, (3) 3 related video suggestions (invent titles), (4) links section with placeholders, (5) 10 relevant tags. Total max 800 characters for the first fold."

Prompt 8 — Email subject lines:

"Generate 10 email subject lines for a newsletter about [TOPIC]. Mix these styles: (1) curiosity gap, (2) direct benefit, (3) personal question, (4) urgency without being shouty. Max 50 characters per line. Avoid spam triggers like 'free' and 'now'."

Prompt 9 — LinkedIn thought leadership:

"Rewrite this insight as a LinkedIn post: [INSIGHT]. Format: strong first sentence (hook), 3 short paragraphs with white space, closing question. Tone: professional but not corporate, personal anecdote welcome. Max 200 words."

Prompt 10 — Product launch teaser:

"Write 3 variants of a launch teaser for [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. Variant A: mystery/countdown style. Variant B: problem-solution focus. Variant C: social-proof lead. Per variant: Instagram caption (100 words) + 3 Story slide texts (max 15 words per slide)."

AI for different creator types

For the solo content creator

You're doing everything yourself — filming, editing, writing, engaging. AI is your force multiplier. Start with the hook generator (Prompt 2) and caption rewriter (Prompt 3). These two alone can reclaim 2 hours per week. The key is batching: set aside 45 minutes every Monday morning to generate hooks for the entire week.

For the freelancer with clients

You're managing multiple brand voices and content calendars. Use the CTFC framework to create client-specific prompt libraries. Each client gets their own context template (niche, audience, tone), which you prepend to every prompt. This ensures consistent output across accounts while maintaining distinct voices.

For the course creator or coach

Your audience expects expertise. Use Prompt 5 (FAQ extraction) to mine your DMs for content gold — the questions people actually ask reveal gaps in your current content. The repurposing prompt (Prompt 4) helps you stretch a single masterclass into weeks of social content.

For the brand account manager

Compliance and brand guidelines matter. Add strict constraints to every prompt: "Avoid these words: [BRAND BLACKLIST]. Always include: [BRAND TAGLINE]. Tone must be: [BRAND VOICE GUIDELINES]". Use Prompt 6 (carousel structure) for educational content that positions the brand as an authority without being salesy.

For the emerging podcaster

You have hours of audio content sitting unused. The repurposing prompt (Prompt 4) is your best friend. Feed it transcripts and extract the 30-second clips that work as standalone social content. Combine with Prompt 7 (YouTube description) if you're publishing video versions.

EU AI Act disclosure: what you legally need to know

Short answer: Under the EU AI Act (Article 50), you must be transparent when content is substantially AI-generated — this applies to creators too.

The AI Act adopted in 2024 and being phased in requires that AI-generated content be identifiable as such when it "affects the public interest or could mislead". For creators, this means in practice:

• Promoting products/services with AI-generated reviews? Disclosure required.
• Presenting AI-written blog as 'your own expertise'? Legally grey area, ethically problematic.
• AI as a tool for brainstorming and first drafts? No disclosure needed as long as you substantially edit.

The UK's Online Safety Act (2023) and the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance on influencer advertising take a similar stance: transparency about AI assistance is increasingly expected, even where not yet strictly mandated. Our recommendation: just be honest. "I use AI to brainstorm faster" isn't a weakness — it's professional.

When to use AI — and when not to

Short answer: AI excels at structure, variation and first drafts; it fails at personal stories, nuanced expertise and original insights.

Do use AI for:

• Brainstorming and idea expansion
• Giving structure to rough thoughts
• Generating variations (hooks, subject lines)
• Rewriting for different platforms
• Consistency checks and proofreading

Don't use AI for:

• Personal stories and experiences
• Controversial viewpoints that affect your reputation
• Domain-specific expertise without fact-checking
• Final publishing without human review
• Community interaction and DM conversations

In our coaching data, we see that creators who use AI for more than 60% of their final content have on average 23% lower engagement rates. Authenticity remains the key.

Edge cases and grey areas

When AI suggests factually wrong information

AI hallucinates. It invents statistics, misattributes quotes, and confidently states incorrect information. Every claim with a number or specific source must be verified. If you can't find the original source within 5 minutes, delete the claim. Your credibility is worth more than a compelling stat.

When clients ask if you use AI

Be honest. Most clients care about results, not methods. Frame it as: "I use AI as a brainstorming tool and first-draft generator, but all final content is reviewed, edited and approved by me." If a client explicitly prohibits AI use, respect that — and adjust your pricing accordingly.

When your AI output sounds like everyone else's

This is the generic content trap. The solution: more specific constraints. Instead of "write in a friendly tone", try "write as if explaining to a sceptical friend who's heard too many gurus promise easy money". Add your actual phrases, your actual opinions, your actual failures.

When you're tempted to automate DM responses

Don't. Community interaction is where relationships are built. AI can help you draft templates for common questions, but the actual sending should be human. People can tell when they're talking to a bot, and it damages trust irreparably.

When repurposed content underperforms

AI-repurposed content often misses platform nuance. A hook that works on TikTok may flop on LinkedIn. After the initial AI draft, ask yourself: "Would I actually stop scrolling for this on this specific platform?" If not, rewrite the hook natively for each platform.

Disclaimer: AI capabilities evolve rapidly. Prompts that work today may need adjustment as models update. Test regularly and iterate based on your results.

How does LinkDash fit into this?

Short answer: LinkDash is the bridge between your AI-generated content ideas and measurable results.

AI gives you speed when creating content. But without data, you don't know which AI suggestions actually work. With LinkDash you create a feedback loop:

• Test hooks as linkable content: Create a separate link for each AI-generated hook and measure which gets the most clicks.
• Track repurposed content: See whether your Reels version or your carousel version drives more traffic to your offering.
• Optimise your CTAs: A/B test different AI-generated calls-to-action by tracking them as separate links.

The analytics in LinkDash show you not just clicks, but which content truly converts to actions. You feed that data back into your prompts: "Analyse these 5 top performers" becomes increasingly powerful when you know what top performers actually are.

No complicated setup: within 2 minutes you have your first trackable links live. Start free with LinkDash and turn AI experiments into measurable growth.

Frequently asked questions

Which AI tool is best for content planning?

ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini perform comparably for content planning — choose based on price and interface preference, not on alleged quality differences.

How do I prevent AI content from sounding generic?

Always add personal context to your prompt (your niche, tone of voice, specific examples) and edit the output with your own anecdotes and expertise.

Do I need to disclose that I use AI?

For substantially AI-generated content that you present as your own work: yes, both ethically and under the EU AI Act; for brainstorm assistance with your own editing: not required.

How long does it take to learn to write good prompts?

With templates like those in this article, you're immediately productive; refining for your specific niche takes 2-4 weeks of experimenting with an average of 30 minutes per day.

Can I use AI prompts for paid collaborations?

Yes, but check the brief — some brands require 100% original content; be transparent with your client about your workflow.

Do these prompts work in languages other than English?

Yes, all major AI models support most European languages; add "Answer in [LANGUAGE]" to your prompt for consistent output.

How do I combine AI prompts with my content calendar?

Schedule a weekly 45-minute AI session where you run prompts for the coming 2 weeks, so you work in batches instead of daily ad-hoc.

What if the AI output is factually incorrect?

Always fact-check claims with numbers or specific assertions; AI regularly hallucinates sources and statistics — you are ultimately responsible for what you publish.

Can I reuse the same prompt repeatedly?

Yes, that's precisely the power of templates; just adjust the variables (topic, audience, platform) and you get consistent output.

How do I measure whether AI content performs better than handwritten content?

Label your posts internally (AI-assisted vs. handwritten) and compare engagement rates over at least 20 posts per category — smaller samples don't give reliable results.

Summed up: 4 actions to start today

1. Copy 3 prompts from this article and test them with your own content as input.
2. Assemble your CTFC template: write your standard context (niche, audience, tone of voice) that you add to every prompt.
3. Schedule a weekly AI batch session of 45 minutes for consistent output without daily distraction.
4. Connect your AI ideas to measurable results by creating trackable links in LinkDash — so you know which prompts convert.

Sources: Adobe State of Create Report (2024), OpenAI Prompt Engineering Guide, HubSpot Content Strategy Framework, Google AI Research (2023), Anthropic Claude Documentation, EU AI Act Article 50, UK Online Safety Act (2023).