Mastering the Art of Prompting: How to Talk to Your AI Tools Like a Pro

If you're building web or mobile apps using platforms like WeWeb, Bubble, or Hostinger Horizons, you're probably working hand-in-hand with AI, whether to generate UI copy, set up workflows, or even scaffold your pages.

But many no-code devs hit a wall when the AI doesn't deliver what they intended. The problem? Nine out of ten times, it's not the AI. It's the prompt.

Why Prompting Feels Harder Than It Should Be

Talking to an AI isn't the same as talking to a human developer. You might instinctively write, “Make me a landing page like Shopify’s home but for pet gear,” and expect something magical. Instead, you get a generic UI with stock photos of cats and no nav bar.

AI understands clear instructions, structure, and constraints. It doesn't do well with vibes, half-baked ideas, or long-winded rants (yet). If you don't give it direction, it'll get creative, and not always in the way you want.

Tips to Get Better Results from AI Tools

1. Start Prompting Like You Wireframe

Just like you'd break a UI into reusable components, break your prompts down into digestible requests.

Example:
- Step 1: "Create a 3-section layout for a homepage."
- Step 2: "Add a hero section with a call-to-action button."
- Step 3: "Include a product grid with price and rating placeholders."

This incremental method helps you fix things before they snowball into AI-generated soup.

2. Be Specific, Not Shy

Instead of “Add a pricing section,” try:

“Create a 3-tier pricing table with plan names: Basic, Pro, Business. Include price per month, 3 bullet points of features, and a ‘Get Started’ button under each.”

Like any good dev, AI needs clarity to deliver correctly.

3. Use Prompt Templates

Build your own quick prompts for recurring tasks. Some examples:
- “Build a mobile sign-up form with email + password fields and social login.”
- “Make a responsive nav bar with logo on the left and 3 links on the right.”

There’s no shame in having a Notion doc full of prompt cheat codes.

4. Toggle Between Platforms Strategically

Some builders like WeWeb offer great visual scaffolding but struggle with more complex backend logic in their AI agents. Instead of forcing your prompt through the platform, consider using Pipedream or Make.com for backend automations, and simply connect it all.

Tip: Handle the logic-heavy thinking in a ChatGPT session first and migrate it into your platform once refined.

5. Don't Let Bad Results Discourage You

AI often gives you a 70-80% pass on the first try. Your job is to lead it the rest of the way. Iteration is part of the workflow, just faster now than ever.

Even pro AI users mess up prompts. One useful hack: ask ChatGPT to help you phrase your prompt better.

Bonus: Prompt Debug Checklist

Before you blame the AI, ask yourself:
- Did I specify component size and layout?
- Did I include relevant data types or mock content?
- Did I define actions (e.g., “button should route to sign-up page”)?
- Is this one prompt doing the work of five?

When your prompt is clear, your AI results will be too.

Final Thoughts

No-code and AI tools are game-changers, but only if you learn how to talk to them properly. Prompting is a skill all on its own. Treat it like coding syntax. The better you get, the more productive (and fun) your builds become.

You don’t need to become a prompt engineer. But a little discipline in how you communicate can mean the difference between "meh" and "nailed it."

Got prompt tips or a go-to strategy? Hit us up @AppstuckHQ on Twitter/X and share your hacks.