An AI website builder can only work with what you tell it. A one-word prompt gets a generic site; a clear two or three sentence description gets a site that sounds and looks like your business. The good news: you don't need any technical knowledge. You just need to describe your business the way you would to a new employee.

The five ingredients of a great prompt

  1. The business. What you are, specifically. "A specialty coffee roastery", not "a café".
  2. The offer. Your main products or services, and anything special about them.
  3. The audience. Who you serve: families, young professionals, luxury car owners, local tradespeople.
  4. The mood. How it should feel: calm and minimal, bold and energetic, warm and family-run, dark and cinematic.
  5. The goal. What visitors should do: book, call, order, request a quote, sign up.

You don't need all five every time, but each one you include removes guesswork.

Weak vs. strong prompts

Weak: "Gym website."

Strong: "A boutique strength-training gym for busy professionals, with small-group classes and personal training. Energetic but premium. Visitors should book a free trial session."

Weak: "Website for my salon."

Strong: "A modern hair and colour salon specialising in balayage and curly hair. Relaxed, stylish and welcoming. Show the team, services with prices and online booking."

The strong versions give the AI a design direction (premium, energetic, stylish), content to write (classes, specialisms, team) and a clear call to action.

Examples by industry

  • Restaurant: "A family-run Lebanese restaurant with mezze, charcoal grills and a sunny terrace. Warm and generous. Show the menu and take table reservations."
  • Clinic: "A family dental clinic offering check-ups, whitening and Invisalign. Calm, clean and reassuring. Patients should book appointments online."
  • Trades: "A licensed electrician serving homes and small businesses, with 24/7 emergency call-outs. Trustworthy and straightforward. The main action is calling us."
  • Consultant: "An independent HR consultant helping small companies with hiring and policies. Professional and approachable. Visitors should book a free 20-minute call."
  • SaaS: "A scheduling app for physiotherapy clinics with reminders and online payments. Clean and credible. Drive free trial sign-ups."

For more inspiration by industry, browse our AI website builder industry guides.

Tips that make a real difference

  • Mention your differentiator. Years of experience, a guarantee, a specialism, same-day service. This is what the AI will build your headline around.
  • Name your style, or a brand you admire. "Clean like an architecture studio" or "dramatic like a car advert" gives a clear visual direction.
  • Say what not to do. "No stock-photo smiles" or "keep it understated" helps too.
  • Write in your customers' language. If your customers speak Spanish, describe your business and ask for the site in Spanish.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Listing every detail at once. Start with the essentials; add details by chat after the first draft.
  • Inventing facts. Don't ask the AI to claim awards or numbers you don't have. Credibility is everything.
  • Forgetting the action. Without a clear goal, a site informs but doesn't convert.

After the first draft: prompts for edits

Once your site exists, short, specific instructions work best:

  • "Make the hero headline shorter and punchier."
  • "Add an FAQ section about parking and accessibility."
  • "Use a darker, more luxurious colour palette."
  • "Add our three packages: Basic $49, Standard $89, Premium $149."

Each edit in OnePrompts keeps your brand fonts, colours and photos consistent and saves a new version.

Try your prompt

The best way to learn is to try. Write your prompt on the home page and get a complete first draft in minutes, free.