AI is supposed to make marketing easier… but why does it feel like it’s doing everything but that? You know it could save you time… if only you knew how to make it work. For many business owners, DIY-ing AI prompts feels like solving a puzzle you didn’t ask for. Inconsistency is often an identity problem, not a skill problem.
At IreneKreations, we help business owners cut through the confusion and build clarity first—so AI becomes a helpful assistant, not a source of stress. Here’s a practical guide on prompting better for your marketing, why most courses won’t teach the nuances you need, and how our approach helps you create with confidence.
The Problem: DIY AI Often Feels Harder Than Helpful
Small business owners in Singapore are embracing AI tools for marketing, content, and social media. Yet, despite access to ChatGPT, MidJourney, and other creative AI platforms, many report:
- AI outputs are inconsistent
- Instructions have to be repeated multiple times
- Results feel generic or “off-brand”
- Tools overwhelm more than they simplify
Why? Most courses focus on what tools to use, not how to think, see, and decide about content, branding, and messaging. This leaves business owners with skills gaps in:
- Strategic content clarity
- Brand-aligned messaging
- AI prompt reasoning and intent
As seen on some articles on ST, many Singapore SMEs struggle with digital content production despite AI adoption.
AI tools are everywhere—but results are still wildly inconsistent.
One person gets cinematic videos, high-converting copy, and on-brand visuals.
Another gets generic output, broken motion, or text that “almost works.”
The difference isn’t the tool.
It’s prompting skill.
At IreneKreations, we see the same problem across creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses:
They use AI—but they don’t direct it.
How to Prompt Better for Marketing: Human-First, Not Tool-First
Prompting isn’t about memorizing wordings, symbols or brackets. It’s about clear communication. Here’s the framework we teach our clients:
(1) Start with Clarity: Define Your Goal
Ask yourself: “What do I want AI to do?”
- Example: “Write a blog post that educates my audience on stress-free event planning.”
- Avoid: “Write something marketing-y” — too vague.
(2) Break It Down Into Action + Context
Use simple instructions:
- Action: explain, compare, summarize
- Context: target audience, purpose, tone
Example:
Explain social media tips for [beginner business owners in Singapore] who feel overwhelmed by [AI].
Use clear, human language, not jargon.
(3) Prioritize What Matters
Business owners often overcomplicate prompts, adding everything at once. Instead, highlight priorities explicitly:
- “Focus on clarity and step-by-step workflow.”
- “Emphasize brand alignment, not trendy tools.”
(4) Specify Format and Style
Formatting reduces rework and confusion.
- “Provide 3 bullet points, each under 50 words.”
- “Write as a friendly advisor, not a marketer.”
- “Include examples relevant to Singapore SMEs.”
(5) Avoid Relying on Symbols
Brackets ( ), [ ], { }—often marketed as “weighting shortcuts”—do not control emphasis in text-based AI like ChatGPT. They only work in some image-generation tools, and even then inconsistently. Focus on words, ordering, and repetition to guide attention.
AI Text vs Image vs Video Prompting (What Changes)
Text AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
- Brackets do not add emphasis
- Symbols do not carry percentages
- Structure, priority, and language matter
✅ What works:
- “Primary goal:”
- “Do not include:”
- “Audience: beginners”
- Clear output formats
❌ What doesn’t:
(important)[[very important]]{!!!}
Image AI (Stable Diffusion–style tools)
- Brackets may apply weighting
(word)can increase emphasis[word]can reduce importance(word:1.3)is explicit weighting
This only works if the tool documents it
Video AI (Runway, Pika, Luma, Sora-style)
This is where most people fail.
Video prompting requires:
- time
- motion
- camera direction
- consistency
If you don’t describe movement, the model guesses.
Why Courses Don’t Solve This
Most online courses, even paid ones, show you:
- Which AI tool to use
- How to input prompts
- Step-by-step “hacky” outputs
But they skip the foundation:
- How to think about brand voice and consistency
- How to plan content that aligns with long-term credibility
- How to use AI as a workflow helper rather than a crutch
Courses teach tool tricks, not thought processes. That’s why DIY attempts often fail.
IreneKreations Approach: What We Do Differently
We guide business owners back to clarity and foundation. AI is just a tool—we teach you to make it work for your brand.
Top 5 Differentiators of IreneKreations
- Brand Essence First, Trends Later
We start with who you are and what your brand stands for. Consistency becomes natural. - Credibility Over Virality
We focus on building trust, authority, and long-term brand value—not chasing visibility metrics. - Tone and Emotional Sensitivity
Every message respects your audience. Brands feel aligned, safe, and human. - Realistic Workflows
AI prompts, content schedules, and social media plans fit your real time, energy, and capacity. - Pre-Trend Insight
As an active social media agency, we spot shifts early and test quietly—keeping you ahead without chasing noise.
Must-Have Skills for AI Marketing Success
- Strategic Clarity – Know what you want to achieve before writing a prompt
- Audience Understanding – Tailor tone, style, and complexity
- Priority Highlighting – Use clear language to guide AI attention
- Iteration Mindset – Refine outputs step-by-step, don’t expect perfection on the first try
- Brand Alignment – Evaluate if AI outputs reflect your brand’s personality, not just your instructions
Bonus: Common Misunderstandings About AI Prompts
- Symbols don’t equal emphasis:
( )or[ ]won’t magically improve text results - Long prompts aren’t always better: clarity beats length
- AI is not intuitive: it can’t infer brand identity unless you define it
Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for strategic thinking.
Business owners also asked online
Q1: How can Singapore SMEs create AI prompts that actually work?
A1: Focus on clarity, context, and priorities. Use simple instructions, define your target audience, and structure your prompt for readability. Symbols like brackets don’t help in text AI.
Q2: What are common mistakes small businesses make with AI marketing?
A2: Overcomplicating prompts, ignoring brand alignment, and copying generic course “hacks” without foundational thinking.
Q3: Can AI replace human brand strategy?
A3: No. AI is best as a workflow and ideation assistant. Strategic brand decisions—voice, tone, positioning—must come from you or a trusted consultant.
Q4: Where can Singapore business owners learn practical AI content skills?
A4: IreneKreations offers coaching and consultation, helping owners plan brand-aligned content workflows and AI prompts that save time.
Q5: What is the difference between () [] {} in AI prompts?
A5: Only some image-generation tools use them to emphasize or de-emphasize. For text-based AI, they are just characters—focus on words and ordering.
Q6: How can I ensure AI outputs stay consistent with my brand?
A6: Provide context, define your brand tone, highlight priorities, and iterate on outputs. Tools alone don’t guarantee consistency.
Q7: How do I save time using AI for social media in Singapore?
A7: Build repeatable frameworks for prompts, templates for posts, and define your content pillars before generating outputs.
Bottom Line
Marketing with AI shouldn’t feel like learning rocket science—but it often does. The difference between chaos and clarity isn’t the tool—it’s the strategy and thought behind it.
At IreneKreations, we guide business owners back to clarity, so AI becomes a helper, not a puzzle. Our coaching focuses on thinking, seeing, and deciding, not just “press this button.”
Marketing should be creative, not a battle with prompts and settings. Let’s make AI work for you.
