Writing Effective AI Help Text for Better Content and Metadata Generation

AI help text is a critical component in generating consistent, high-quality content within the Ingeniux CMS. Unlike user-facing tooltips, AI help text provides literal, field-specific instructions that guide the AI in producing content that meets defined standards for tone, format, and purpose.

In this article, we'll explore the role of AI help text, outline best practices for writing effective instructions, and provide examples across common content and metadata fields. We'll also cover formatting rules, word usage restrictions, and testing strategies to ensure reliable output. By leveraging AI help text strategically, organizations can streamline content creation, enforce brand consistency, and minimize manual editing in AI-assisted workflows.

What is AI Help Text? 

AI help text is a short, directive guideline attached to a content or metadata field. It tells the AI how to generate content that fits the intended purpose, style, and format of the field. Unlike general tooltips for human users, AI help text should be machine-friendly and literal, prioritizing clarity over nuance or context clues. 

Characteristics of Good AI Help Text 

• Clear and Specific: Define exactly what is expected: length, format, tone, exclusions. 
• Action-Oriented: Use verbs that tell the AI what to do (“Write,” “Use,” “Avoid”). 
• Consistent: Align help text across similar fields to reinforce formatting standards. 
• Field-Aware: Match the instruction to the type of content the field holds. 
• Free of Ambiguity: Avoid vague terms like “good” or “catchy” unless you also define what that means. 

Common Use Cases and Examples 

Below are examples of effective AI help text for both content fields and metadata fields, organized by field type. 

Standard Page Content Fields 

Title 
Help Text: “Write a concise, keyword-rich title (no more than 60 characters). Do not include punctuation at the end.” 

Abstract / Summary 
Help Text: “Summarize the page in 1–2 sentences (max 150 characters).” 

Body Copy 
Help Text: “Write informative, well-structured content for a general audience. Use short paragraphs and include 2–3 subheadings.” 

Key Takeaways (List) 
Help Text: “Write 3–5 bullet points summarizing the main ideas. Begin each point with an action verb.” 

FAQ Answer 
Help Text: “Provide a clear and direct answer in 1–2 sentences. Avoid hedging language like ‘might’ or ‘could.’” 

Metadata Fields 

Meta Title 
Help Text: “Generate a compelling title under 60 characters that includes primary keywords. Always include [Name of Company].” 

Meta Description 
Help Text: “Write a persuasive summary between 120–160 characters. Include target keywords and a value statement. Do not use quotation marks.” 

Open Graph Title 
Help Text: “Use the same title as the meta title unless otherwise instructed. Truncate at 55 characters if necessary.” 

Internal Search Keywords 
Help Text: “Provide 5–7 comma-separated keywords relevant to this page. Avoid duplicates and overly broad terms.” 

Formatting and Special Rules 

Sometimes, fields require specific formatting, tone restrictions, or exclusions. Use help text to enforce these. 

Bulleted Lists  
Help Text: “Return results as a bulleted list. Each point should be under 20 words.” 

Tables 
Help Text: “Provide a two-column table with ‘Feature’ and ‘Benefit’ headers. Include 3–5 rows.” 

Word Restrictions 
Help Text: “Avoid using the word ‘cheap.’ Use ‘affordable’ or ‘cost-effective’ instead.” 

Date Format 
Help Text: “Write all dates in the format ‘Month DD, YYYY’ (e.g., January 1, 2025).” 

Tips for Writing Your Own AI Help Text 

1. Keep it short writing 1–2 lines of help text is often enough. 
2. Avoid contradictions with field names or existing content patterns. 
3. Test the results by running a few sample generations using the help text to ensure it’s having the desired effect. 

Final Thoughts 

Effective AI help text is a key tool in producing consistent, high-quality content across your site. Whether you're generating a meta description, formatting a product feature table, or ensuring a blog title avoids passive voice, help text allows you to control the AI’s output without manual rewriting. 

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into content workflows, setting up thoughtful, field-level help text will save time, reduce editing effort, and preserve your brand standards, one prompt at a time. 

For more detailed instructions on how to use the new AI interface in Ingeniux CMS, check out this tutorial series.