The rise of generative AI is transforming how we work. Whether you're drafting content, summarizing a document, or brainstorming ideas, all it takes is a simple instruction to a professional AI assistant like ChatGPT, Mistral, Claude—or a secure AI for business such as Artemia.ai. This instruction is known as a prompt. But to get accurate, relevant results, knowing how to craft a good prompt is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a clear and actionable framework to communicate effectively with any generative AI software for business.

What is a prompt?

A prompt is a natural-language instruction you give to a generative AI, telling it what you want it to do: write content, analyze a document, summarize a report, suggest an idea, etc. These AI tools are designed to understand human language, making them accessible even to non-technical users.

👉 Example prompt:
"Summarize this document by identifying key points for an SME manager."

When used effectively, a well-structured prompt becomes a real productivity booster—especially for SMEs and small businesses looking to incorporate AI software for business into their daily workflows.

The COSTAR method: structure your prompts for maximum impact

To ensure your AI for SMEs delivers the best possible output, it’s crucial to structure your prompt clearly. That’s where the COSTAR method comes in. This simple yet powerful acronym helps you remember the six essential components of a high-quality prompt:

C – Context
O – Objective
S – Style
T – Tone
A – Audience
R – Result

Let’s look at a practical example: you’re a marketing manager for a children’s clothing brand, preparing a Facebook ad campaign.

🔶 C – Context
"We’re launching a new spring collection for babies and toddlers (ages 0–5), featuring soft, organic cotton clothes made in France."

🟢 O – Objective
"Create a Facebook ad that grabs attention, drives engagement, and encourages clicks to our website."

🔵 S – Style
"Dynamic opening, short sentences, strong visuals."

🟣 T – Tone
"Gentle, reassuring, warm—aligned with modern parenting values."

🟡 A – Audience
"Young mothers aged 25–35, urban-based, eco-conscious, focused on their baby’s comfort."

🔴 R – Result
"Write ad copy no longer than 3–4 lines with a clear call to action."

Final prompt example:
"We’re launching a new collection of baby and toddler clothes (ages 0–5), made from organic cotton and produced in France. I need catchy Facebook ad copy to promote this collection. The style should be concise and impactful, with a warm, reassuring tone that resonates with eco-conscious young mothers. The goal is to drive engagement and clicks to our site. Please write a 3–4 line ad with a clear call to action."

Be mindful of sensitive data in your prompts

When working with generative AI tools, it's critical to protect sensitive information. Everything you type into a prompt may be stored or analyzed depending on the provider’s data policy—which can pose serious risks for confidentiality, especially in a business context.

🚫 Avoid including in prompts, particularly in the context of AI document analysis:
Personal or client data (e.g., names, emails, addresses)
Confidential business information
Internal procedures, patents, or proprietary know-how

This is essential for ensuring GDPR compliance, particularly for European companies looking to adopt a confidential AI tool in their business processes.

Choose a secure, local AI tool with Artemia.ai

To address privacy and compliance concerns, it's vital to use an on-premise AI solution—one that keeps data local, under your control, and out of third-party clouds. That’s exactly what Artemia.ai delivers: a confidential, GDPR-compliant AI for business, designed for modern enterprises.

Why Artemia.ai stands out:

  • No reliance on US-based cloud servers
  • Local data hosting with full sovereignty
  • GDPR-compliant AI software for businesses
  • Easy integration into your IT environment
  • All the benefits of typical AI cloud tools—without the cloud
  • Unique features for customization and team collaboration

With Artemia.ai, you're choosing a local AI solution that empowers your business without compromising on data security.

In summary: good prompts make AI truly valuable

Using the COSTAR method, you can now structure your prompts clearly and effectively, leading to actionable results from your AI software for business. You’re also better equipped to manage data privacy concerns and choose secure, GDPR-compliant AI tools like Artemia.ai.

Whether you're a small business, an SME, or an enterprise, integrating an on-premise AI assistant for business is the smart path to productivity—with no compromises on security or sovereignty.

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