When to use this prompt
When crafting SEO content — Ideal for marketers, SEO specialists, or content leads writing meta descriptions that need to rank and attract clicks.
During SERP optimization — Use it when auditing pages to improve CTR or refine underperforming meta tags.
For A/B testing copy — Great when you need multiple tone variations (e.g., data-driven vs. empathetic) to test performance.
When briefing content teams or freelancers — Helps standardize quality and intent alignment across descriptions for different articles.
The prompt
Act as a senior SEO copywriter tasked with writing compelling meta descriptions. Your goal is to maximize click-through rate while staying ≤ 155 characters. Use the primary keyword [PRIMARY_KEYWORD] naturally and match the search intent [INTENT: how-to | what-is | best]. Incorporate the article’s differentiator [DIFFERENTIATOR] without fluff or filler. Produce [N] variations that cover distinct tones: actionable, authoritative, empathetic, data-driven, and urgency-led. After each description, output the character count and a short rationale explaining the persuasion angle. Self-check: if the description could fit any generic article, rewrite it to be specific to the query and audience. End with a recommendation for the option most likely to perform best.
Variables to replace:
Real-life example of how to use this prompt
To start, let's assume I'm a content lead at Ahrefs. The prompt in the context of Ahrefs would look like:
As you can see, I added the main keyword "keyword research tools" and specified the intent as well.
Example output from ChatGPT for this prompt
And here's the output:
1. Actionable
Find the best keyword research tools with Ahrefs’ precise metrics, deep SERP insights, and data you can act on to outrank competitors.
(154 characters)
Rationale: Promises actionability (“data you can act on”) and outcome (“outrank competitors”), directly appealing to users seeking performance-based results.
2. Authoritative
Explore the best keyword research tools from Ahrefs—trusted by experts for accurate data, in-depth SERP analysis, and unbeatable keyword metrics.
(152 characters)
Rationale: Establishes authority via social proof (“trusted by experts”) and reinforces Ahrefs’ superiority in data accuracy and analysis depth.
3. Empathetic
Struggling to find keyword research tools you can trust? Ahrefs delivers accurate data, clear metrics, and insights that simplify smarter SEO.
(152 characters)
Rationale: Acknowledges user frustration (“Struggling to find…”), then resolves it with Ahrefs’ reliability and clarity, building emotional resonance.
4. Data-Driven
Ahrefs leads keyword research tools with real search volume data, precise keyword metrics, and unrivaled SERP analysis to fuel smarter decisions.
(154 characters)
Rationale: Centers on credibility and specificity—“real search volume data” and “unrivaled SERP analysis”—to attract analytical, ROI-focused users.
5. Urgency-Led
Don’t guess your next move—use Ahrefs’ keyword research tools for instant access to accurate data, detailed SERP insights, and competitive keywords.
(153 characters)
Rationale: Uses urgency (“Don’t guess,” “instant access”) to create momentum for conversion, appealing to decision-ready searchers.
Or to be more specific:
Pro tips
Be ultra-specific with variables — Clearly define [PRIMARY_KEYWORD], [INTENT], and [DIFFERENTIATOR] so ChatGPT can write descriptions tailored to your niche.
Add brand voice cues — You can extend the prompt with “Maintain a [brand tone: professional, playful, bold, etc.]” for consistent messaging.
Use the rationale output smartly — Review the short rationale after each description to pick the tone that best matches your audience or funnel stage.
Iterate and refine — If a version feels too generic, re-run with tighter differentiators or a narrower audience persona to sharpen specificity.
Related prompts
ChatGPT Prompts For Generating OG Titles And Descriptions
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ChatGPT Prompts For Keyword-rich Slugs
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ChatGPT Prompts For Clarifying Search Intent
This prompt lets ChatGPT act like a senior content writer and create an SEO-focused search intent.
