Creating a Mini Prompt Language for Marketers

Have you ever found yourself re-typing the same long-winded instructions into a generative AI tool, over and over? ("Write in a professional but approachable tone. Avoid clichés…") It's a massive time sink, and the results can still be inconsistent. The fix isn't to write better long prompts; it's to create your own mini prompt language. What if there was a better way?

The solution isn't to write better long prompts; it’s to create a mini prompt language. This is a shorthand system that condenses your most common instructions into brief, easy-to-use codes. It turns AI prompting from a slow, repetitive task into a fast, repeatable workflow.

The Problem with Long Prompts

Marketers are trained to be thorough, and that often leads to overly long instructions for AI. A typical prompt setup might look like this:

“Write in a professional but approachable tone. Avoid clichés, keep sentences short and impactful, use clear bullet points where possible, add examples, and frame ideas empathetically.”

This approach works for a single task, but when you’re iterating on multiple campaigns (LinkedIn posts, email sequences, or sales pages), that friction adds up. Prompts get sloppy, results drift off-brand, and quality suffers.

My Solution: A Mini Prompt Language for Marketers

I built a shorthand system for my AI copywriting prompts that reduces those big instructions to small codes. It’s like creating a brand style guide, but for AI.

Code	Meaning	Full Instruction
T1	Tone: professional but approachable	“Write in a professional but approachable tone.”
NC	No clichés	“Avoid clichés, buzzwords, and filler phrases.”
SC	Structured clarity	“Use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity.”
INFJ	Strategic empathy lens	“Frame ideas in a way that is thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic.”
SSP	Short sentences, punchy	“Keep sentences concise and impactful.”
EX	Provide 1–2 examples	“Include one or two practical examples.”

An Example in Action

Let’s look at the difference this system makes.

Without shorthand:

“Write a LinkedIn post about how marketers can use AI for brainstorming. Write in a professional but approachable tone. Avoid clichés, keep sentences short and impactful, and use clear bullet points where possible. Add one or two examples. Frame the post through a strategic, empathetic lens.”

With shorthand:

“Write a LinkedIn post about how marketers can use AI for brainstorming. Apply: T1, NC, SSP, SC, EX, INFJ.”

Both prompts deliver similar results, but the shorthand saves time, keeps things consistent, and is easier to teach others.

Why This Works for Marketing

This system is more than just a clever trick—it’s a powerful tool that helps marketers work faster without sacrificing quality.

• Consistency: Every draft stays aligned with your brand voice. This ensures your social media posts have the same punchy tone as your email subject lines.

• Speed: Shorter prompts mean faster iteration. You can generate multiple versions of an ad or a headline in minutes, freeing you up to focus on strategy and A/B testing.

• Scalability: This is a game-changer for teams. Instead of spending time training new hires on your brand's specific tone, you can simply share the prompt glossary. This makes collaboration and scaling up content creation much easier.

How to Build Your Own Mini Prompt Language

Ready to try it? Here are a few lessons I learned along the way:

1. Start with Your Most Common Instructions: Don't try to create a code for every single thing. Identify the 5-10 instructions you use most frequently and start there.

2. Keep it Simple: Your codes should be intuitive. T1 for tone or SC for structured clarity are easy to remember.

3. Create a Central Glossary: Your mini prompt language is only as good as its documentation. Keep a shared document where your team can access the codes and their full instructions.

4. Practice Consistently: Over time, these codes will become second nature, just like your brand's visual guidelines. The more you use them, the more effective they become.

Closing Thought

Ultimately, seeing prompt engineering as a system-building exercise can fundamentally change how you work. This mini prompt language is proof that a small, practical tool can help you work more efficiently and keep your quality consistent, making AI a true partner in your work.