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Prompting guide 101

A quick-start handbook for effective prompts

Small businesses

As the owner of a business, getting the most out of your working hours is critical when you're juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. Understanding your market, delivering for your customers and staying on top of many competing priorities is critical.

This section introduces you to AI prompts designed to simplify complex choices with AI data analysis, streamline your email inbox and help you stand out with creative marketing tactics. Discover how Gemini for Google Workspace can help you unlock deep insights, foster collaboration and help propel your company to new heights.

Getting started

First, review the general prompt-writing tips in the 'How to write effective prompts' section.

Each prompt below is presented with an accompanying scenario to serve as inspiration for how you can collaborate with Gemini for Workspace. The prompt iteration example illustrates how you can continue to write prompts to build on the initial generated response, and how you can adjust each prompt to accomplish common tasks and refine the generated output.

Prompt iteration example
Use case:
Create pricing comparison

You are the owner of a local spa. You are evaluating offers that you've received from two different cleaning companies. You want to find a company with the right price, flexibility and level of service. You open a new Doc and prompt Gemini in the Docs side panel and tag relevant files by typing @file name in your prompt. You type:

  • Legend
  • Persona
  • Task
  • Context
I’m a business owner
and I’m trying to determine the right cleaning vendor using
@[Company A Proposal] and @[Company B Proposal]. I need someone to come twice a week, and I want them to vacuum, mop, dust, clean the windows, and wipe down all surfaces. If available, include information about the booking and cancellation policy.
Create a comparison table between the two company’s proposals.
I’m a business owner
and I’m trying to determine the right cleaning vendor using
@[Company A Proposal] and @[Company B Proposal]. I need someone to come twice a week, and I want them to vacuum, mop, dust, clean the windows, and wipe down all surfaces. If available, include information about the booking and cancellation policy.
Create a comparison table between the two company’s proposals.
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Gemini in Docs
The business owner prompts Gemini to create a table comparing two vendor proposals. Gemini drafts the table.

Gemini returns a formatted table comparing the two proposals. After you make your decision, you go to your email and prompt Gemini in Gmail using the side panel. You type:

Write an email to Company A thanking them for their time and their proposal. Ask for a few times to meet to schedule cleanings.
Write an email to Company A thanking them for their time and their proposal. Ask for a few times to meet to schedule cleanings.
Copied to clipboard.
Gemini in Gmail
The business owner prompts Gemini to draft an email to the selected vendor. Gemini drafts the email.
Example use cases

Owner
Use case:
Enhance personal productivity

You have many important email messages to catch up on. You open your email and select an important thread. You open Gemini in the Gmail side panel, and it automatically summarises the content. (Gemini in Gmail)

Use case:
Brainstorm and generate marketing content

As the business owner, you are also responsible for marketing your services via your social channels, your email-based newsletter and email marketing. You aren't sure where to start, so you chat with the Gemini app. You type:

I own a [type of business] in [location]. I am working on marketing materials to advertise [event/sale] on [services]. I want to focus on using this sale to bring in repeat customers who haven’t purchased in a while and new customers alike. I want the social posts to feel [inspirational] and [fun]. Suggest some social copy I can use on [social platform] with relevant hashtags, suggested newsletter copy, and two email drafts (one for existing customers and one for new customers).
I own a [type of business] in [location]. I am working on marketing materials to advertise [event/sale] on [services]. I want to focus on using this sale to bring in repeat customers who haven’t purchased in a while and new customers alike. I want the social posts to feel [inspirational] and [fun]. Suggest some social copy I can use on [social platform] with relevant hashtags, suggested newsletter copy, and two email drafts (one for existing customers and one for new customers).
Copied to clipboard.
Gemini app

You like the suggestions Gemini provided, so you select Share & export and then Export to Docs. You want to continue your brainstorm, so you ask Gemini:

What are some other effective [event/sale] tactics I can use to bring in new customers? I don’t always want to offer discounts. Are there other incentives I am overlooking?
What are some other effective [event/sale] tactics I can use to bring in new customers? I don’t always want to offer discounts. Are there other incentives I am overlooking?
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Gemini app

You continue your conversation with Gemini and are able to create a solid list of marketing tactics to try.

Use case:
Develop a competitive analysis

You started a company, and your online business is gaining traction. You have always dreamed of opening a bricks-and-mortar shop, and now might be the perfect time. You want a thought partner to help you better understand the current landscape. You open the Gemini app and you type:

I am an online business owner. I am considering opening a brick-and-mortar store. Conduct an analysis into the competitive landscape focusing on [focus area]. Provide the strengths and weaknesses of [key competitors] in this area, including their specific strategies, tactics, and results. Identify actionable insights and recommendations for how [my company] can improve its approach and gain a competitive advantage.
I am an online business owner. I am considering opening a brick-and-mortar store. Conduct an analysis into the competitive landscape focusing on [focus area]. Provide the strengths and weaknesses of [key competitors] in this area, including their specific strategies, tactics, and results. Identify actionable insights and recommendations for how [my company] can improve its approach and gain a competitive advantage.
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Gemini app

You gathered useful information from your discussion with the Gemini app. You want to go deeper in your brainstorming around two competitors in particular. You type:

Generate a competitive analysis of [company] versus [competitor] within the current market landscape.
Generate a competitive analysis of [company] versus [competitor] within the current market landscape.
Copied to clipboard.
Gemini app

You select Share and export and then Export to Docs.

Use case:
Conduct fundraising and investor relations

You're ready to reach out to potential investors to make your bricks-and-mortar shop a reality. You want help getting started on an email to investors, so in the same Google Doc with your competitive analysis research, you prompt Gemini in Docs. You type:

Draft a personalized email template to potential investors, highlighting [company’s] unique value proposition and recent progress on [initiatives]. Request a time to meet to discuss opportunities to collaborate in the next month.
Draft a personalized email template to potential investors, highlighting [company’s] unique value proposition and recent progress on [initiatives]. Request a time to meet to discuss opportunities to collaborate in the next month.
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Gemini in Docs

The email template gives you a starting place. You tweak the draft and continue to add a few personal touches before sending the email to the potential investors. After a successful meeting with them a month later, you want to draft a thank-you message. You open your Google Doc with the meeting transcript and notes. You prompt Gemini in Docs to help you write an email draft. You type:

Draft an email thanking a potential investor for the call and ask for time to schedule a follow-up meeting to address [questions and concerns].
Draft an email thanking a potential investor for the call and ask for time to schedule a follow-up meeting to address [questions and concerns].
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Gemini in Docs
Use case:
Manage time off policies and tracking

You have a lengthy handbook detailing all of your company's policies and procedures. You want to make the time-off request policy easily digestible for new hires. You open the Google Doc with the handbook. You prompt Gemini in Docs by selecting Help me write. You type:

Generate a step-by-step checklist summarizing the company’s time-off request policy. Ensure it is written in plain language and easy for employees to understand.
Generate a step-by-step checklist summarizing the company’s time-off request policy. Ensure it is written in plain language and easy for employees to understand.
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Gemini in Docs

You need a quick way to track staffing each week because many of your employees are shift-based. You open Gemini in the Sheets side panel. You type:

Create a table that tracks weekly staffing. Create columns for date, name, shift (AM or PM), and notes.
Create a table that tracks weekly staffing. Create columns for date, name, shift (AM or PM), and notes.
Copied to clipboard.
Gemini in Sheets

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