RTF Framework for Prompt Engineering: Simple, Effective AI Prompts

The RTF framework is a streamlined, role-based prompt engineering structure designed for straightforward requests with clear output expectations. Perfect for content creation, data analysis, and tasks needing a specific expert perspective.

What is the RTF Framework?

RTF is a simple yet powerful prompt engineering framework that focuses on three essential elements: Role, Task, and Format. It's designed for situations where you need the AI to adopt a specific expert perspective and deliver results in a particular format.

Why Use RTF?

The RTF framework is best for content creation, data analysis, and straightforward requests where you need:

• Expert perspective: AI adopts a specific role (analyst, writer, consultant)
• Clear deliverables: Defined output format prevents ambiguity
• Simplicity: Minimal overhead compared to comprehensive frameworks
• Speed: Quick to construct, easy to iterate

Unlike comprehensive frameworks like COSTAR, RTF strips away audience and tone considerations, making it ideal for internal work, data analysis, and situations where a specific expert viewpoint matters more than audience targeting.

The Three RTF Components Explained

R - Role: Define the Expert

Role specifies what expert perspective the AI should adopt.

Why it matters: Different roles bring different knowledge, priorities, and approaches. A financial analyst views data differently than a marketing strategist.

Examples:

• "Act as a senior data analyst with 10 years of experience in e-commerce"
• "You are a technical writer specializing in API documentation"
• "Take the role of a content strategist focused on SEO optimization"

Best practices:

• Be specific about expertise level (junior, senior, expert)
• Include relevant domain knowledge
• Mention years of experience when relevant
• Specify industry or specialization

T - Task: Specify the Work

Task clearly defines what you want the AI to accomplish.

Why it matters: Vague tasks produce vague results. Specific tasks with measurable outcomes ensure focused, actionable outputs.

Examples:

• ❌ Poor: "Analyze this data"
• ✅ Good: "Analyze this sales data to identify the top 3 underperforming product categories and explain why they're struggling"

Best practices:

• Use action verbs (analyze, create, summarize, evaluate)
• Include specific deliverables
• Mention constraints (word count, time frame, scope)
• Define success criteria when possible

F - Format: Define the Output

Format specifies the structure and presentation of the desired output.

Why it matters: The right content in the wrong format is useless. Format specifications ensure the AI delivers exactly what you need.

Examples:

• "Provide a bullet-point list with 5-7 items"
• "Create a markdown table with columns for Product, Revenue, and Growth %"
• "Write a 500-word executive summary with 3 key findings and 2 recommendations"

Best practices:

• Specify length (word count, number of items)
• Define structure (sections, headings, lists)
• Mention formatting (markdown, HTML, plain text)
• Include examples when helpful

RTF in Action: Before & After

Before (Vague Prompt)

Tell me about this sales data

Result: Generic observations without actionable insights.

After (RTF-Structured Prompt)

**Role:** You are a senior e-commerce data analyst with expertise in identifying growth opportunities.

**Task:** Analyze the attached Q4 sales data to identify:
1. Top 3 best-performing product categories (by revenue growth)
2. Top 3 underperforming categories (by decline or stagnation)
3. One actionable recommendation for each underperforming category

**Format:** Provide your analysis as:
- Executive summary (2-3 sentences)
- Markdown table with columns: Category, Q4 Revenue, YoY Growth %, Status
- Detailed findings (100 words per category)
- Recommendations section with specific next steps

Result: Focused, actionable analysis with clear insights and recommendations.

When to Use RTF Framework

RTF is best for straightforward requests where role-based expertise and clear formatting matter:

✅ Ideal Use Cases

1. Content Creation

   • Blog post outlines
   • Article summaries
   • Social media content
   • Email drafts
   • Product descriptions

2. Data Analysis

   • Sales reports
   • Performance reviews
   • Trend analysis
   • Competitive research
   • Survey analysis

3. Professional Tasks

   • Meeting summaries
   • Project briefs
   • Research reports
   • Documentation
   • Process descriptions

4. Quick Requests

   • Brainstorming sessions
   • Idea generation
   • List creation
   • Comparison tables
   • FAQ generation

❌ When NOT to Use RTF

• Complex multi-step procedures — Use RISEN instead
• Audience-specific content — Use COSTAR instead
• Code generation — Use Code Assistant framework
• When examples are critical — Use CARE framework
• Minimal quick tasks — Use TAG framework

RTF vs. Other Frameworks

Framework	Complexity	Best For	Setup Time
RTF	Low	Content creation, data analysis	⚡ Fast
COSTAR	High	Marketing, communications	🐢 Slow
RISEN	High	Complex procedures, tutorials	🐢 Slow
CARE	Medium	Business requests, problem-solving	⚡ Fast
TAG	Low	Quick tasks, simple queries	⚡⚡ Fastest

Real-World RTF Examples

Example 1: Content Creation

**Role:** You are an experienced tech blogger who writes for non-technical audiences.

**Task:** Create a blog post outline about "How AI is Transforming Small Business Operations" that covers practical applications, avoids hype, and includes real-world examples.

**Format:** Provide:
- Catchy headline (under 60 characters)
- Introduction hook (2-3 sentences)
- 5 main sections with descriptive headings
- 3-4 bullet points per section outlining key points
- Conclusion with call-to-action

Example 2: Data Analysis

**Role:** You are a marketing analyst specializing in email campaign performance.

**Task:** Analyze the attached email campaign data from last quarter to identify which subject line types (question, urgency, personalization) performed best in terms of open rates and click-through rates.

**Format:** Deliver:
- Summary paragraph (3-4 sentences)
- Comparison table: Subject Line Type | Avg Open Rate | Avg CTR | Sample Count
- Top 3 insights (50 words each)
- 2 specific recommendations for next quarter

Example 3: Professional Writing

**Role:** You are a technical writer with expertise in creating clear, concise API documentation.

**Task:** Write documentation for our new authentication endpoint that explains the request format, required headers, response codes, and common errors.

**Format:** Structure as:
- Endpoint overview (2-3 sentences)
- Request format (with code example)
- Required headers table
- Response codes section (200, 401, 403, 500)
- Common errors and solutions (3-5 examples)
- Security best practices (bullet list)

Using RTF in PromptBoost

PromptBoost includes RTF as a built-in framework template:

1. Select RTF from the Frameworks menu
2. Define the role — Choose the expert perspective
3. Specify the task — Describe what needs to be done
4. Set the format — Define the output structure
5. Generate and copy to any AI model

PromptBoost automatically structures your RTF components into an optimized prompt.

RTF Best Practices

Do's ✅

• Be specific about role expertise — "Senior SEO specialist" vs "SEO person"
• Use action verbs in tasks — Analyze, create, summarize, evaluate
• Define measurable outcomes — "Top 3 insights" vs "some insights"
• Specify exact format — Word count, structure, sections
• Include examples when format is complex

Don'ts ❌

• Don't use vague roles — "Expert" is too generic
• Don't skip format — It's critical for usable outputs
• Don't combine multiple tasks — Keep it focused
• Don't assume the AI knows your preferred format
• Don't overcomplicate — RTF is meant to be simple

RTF for Different AI Models

RTF works excellently across all major AI models:

• ChatGPT: Excels at role-playing and format adherence
• Claude: Strong analytical capabilities, great for data tasks
• Gemini: Excellent for research and content creation
• Other models: Universal framework that works anywhere

Conclusion

The RTF framework is your go-to choice for straightforward requests needing expert perspective and clear formatting. It's simple, fast, and effective for content creation, data analysis, and professional tasks.

Key Takeaways:

• Use RTF for content creation and data analysis
• Perfect when you need a specific expert perspective
• Faster than COSTAR, more structured than TAG
• Built into PromptBoost for instant use

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