Tuning your AI's tone — the starter prompt

The starter prompt is the single most important setting for AI quality. It is the first thing the model reads on every conversation and it shapes voice, scope, and boundaries.

A good starter prompt has four parts

1. Who you are. "You are the support bot for Acme Bikes, a small online-only retailer."
2. What you sell. List the products or services in one paragraph.
3. How you sound. "Friendly, brief, no exclamation points."
4. What to refuse. "If asked about returns past 30 days, say a human will follow up."

Length sweet spot

200–400 words. Too short and the AI invents details. Too long and visitors wait for replies.

Test it

Use the Try it chat in your dashboard. Ask the questions your visitors actually ask. Iterate.