The STEP Your Missing To Get More Consistency Out of AI – Dan Sanchez

If you’re already familiar with crafting super prompts for your AI tools but you’re still not seeing top-notch results, you might need to add a bit more structure. Today, I’ll introduce you to the STEP method, a powerful approach I’ve created to maximize the impact of your AI-generated content.

What is the STEP Method?

The STEP method is a straightforward, memorable framework designed to guide your AI prompts clearly and effectively. STEP stands for:

S – Starter Content
T – Template
E – Example
P – Prompt

Why Do You Need the STEP Method?

AI, like a brilliant intern, can produce impressive results—but only with the right guidance. Giving AI vague instructions is like asking someone to create content from scratch without context—it’ll always yield subpar results. But when you clearly define the starting point, format, example, and instructions, AI can produce exceptional outcomes.

Breaking Down the STEP Method

Step 1: Starter Content

Never ask AI to generate great content out of thin air. Start by giving it something solid to work from, such as a transcript, blog article, or detailed notes. For instance, I recently used a podcast transcript discussing sales discipline as my starter content.

Step 2: Template

Next, provide a structured format you want the AI to follow. I typically find templates online or create my own. Templates with clearly marked placeholders (e.g., “[Main Point]” or “[Reason]”) work best, giving AI exact spots to fill in information.

Step 3: Example

Always give AI an example of your ideal outcome—essentially a completed version of your template. This shows AI precisely what success looks like, significantly improving the quality of the output.

Step 4: Prompt

Finally, craft a detailed, clear, and step-by-step instruction set. Rather than giving one broad command, break it into manageable steps, guiding the AI carefully through the process.