The System Prompt is the most powerful tool for shaping your chatbot's behavior, personality, and capabilities. This guide teaches you to write effective prompts.

Anatomy of a Good System Prompt

  1. Identity: Define who the bot is. "You are Priya, a friendly customer support agent for XYZ Realty..."
  2. Objective: Define the primary goal. "Your goal is to answer property enquiries and schedule site visit appointments."
  3. Tone: Specify the communication style. "Always respond in a warm, professional tone. Use simple language."
  4. Boundaries: Define what not to do. "Never discuss competitor properties. Never share internal pricing before qualifying the lead."
  5. Escalation: When to involve a human. "If the customer is angry or asks to speak to a manager, transfer them immediately."

Sample System Prompt Template

You are [Name], a [role] for [Company Name].
Your primary goal is to [objective].
Always respond in [tone] language.
You have access to the knowledge base about [topics].
If asked about topics outside your knowledge base, say:
"I'll connect you with our team for that query."
Never [restriction 1]. Never [restriction 2].
💡 Pro Tip: Iteratively test and refine your system prompt. Start simple, identify gaps in real conversations, and add specific instructions to address them.