Prompt Engineering for Each Model

Each AI model on Magicdoor has its own personality and strengths. While you can use the same prompt across different models, tailoring your approach to each model's unique characteristics will get you significantly better results.

Here's how to prompt each model for maximum effectiveness.

Claude 4 Sonnet (Default)

Claude excels at reasoning, analysis, and following complex instructions. It's particularly good at understanding nuance and context.

Best prompting strategies:

• Be conversational and detailed in your requests
• Use structured prompts with clear sections for complex tasks
• Ask for step-by-step reasoning when needed
• Claude responds well to "Think through this carefully" type instructions

Example:

I need to analyze this marketing campaign data. Can you:
1. Identify the key performance trends
2. Suggest 3 specific improvements
3. Explain your reasoning for each suggestion

[paste data]

Avoid: Very short, vague prompts. Claude works better with context.

GPT-5 and GPT-5 Mini

GPT models are excellent generalists that handle a wide variety of tasks well. GPT-5 Mini is perfect for simple tasks where you want to save costs.

Best prompting strategies:

• Direct, clear instructions work best
• Use examples to show the desired format
• For GPT-5 Mini, keep requests simple and focused
• Both models handle creative tasks exceptionally well

Example:

Write a professional email to decline a meeting request. Include:
- Polite tone
- Brief explanation
- Alternative suggestion
- Keep it under 100 words

Avoid: Overly complex multi-step instructions for Mini. Save those for regular GPT-5.

Gemini 2.5 Pro and Flash

Google's models excel at planning, tool use, and handling large amounts of information. Flash is optimized for speed and efficiency.

Best prompting strategies:

• Great for data analysis and structured outputs
• Excellent at following specific formatting requirements
• Use Pro for complex reasoning, Flash for quick tasks
• Both handle JSON and structured data very well

Example:

Analyze this sales data and create a JSON report with:
{
  "summary": "brief overview",
  "top_performers": ["list of top 3"],
  "recommendations": ["actionable insights"]
}

[data]

Avoid: Purely creative or emotional content - these models are more analytical.

Grok 4

Grok has a unique personality and is particularly good at current events and web-aware tasks. It's also quite capable at creative work.

Best prompting strategies:

• Leverage its real-time knowledge for current events
• Use informal, direct language
• Great for tasks requiring up-to-date information
• Handles humor and creative content well

Example:

What are the latest developments in AI this week? Give me a quick rundown of the most important news and what it means for developers.

Avoid: Overly formal academic language. Grok responds better to casual, direct communication.

Perplexity Models

Perplexity is specifically designed for research and fact-checking. It automatically searches the web and provides sources.

Best prompting strategies:

• Ask specific, factual questions
• Request current information and statistics
• Use for research that needs citations
• Deep Research is perfect for comprehensive topic exploration

Example:

What are the current market trends in electric vehicle adoption? I need recent statistics and expert opinions with sources.

Avoid: Creative writing or opinion-based tasks. Stick to factual, research-oriented requests.

DeepSeek R1

This reasoning model excels at logical problem-solving and mathematical tasks. It's cost-effective for analytical work.

Best prompting strategies:

• Present logical problems clearly
• Ask for step-by-step solutions
• Great for math, coding logic, and analytical tasks
• Works well with structured problem statements

Example:

I have a scheduling conflict problem:
- 5 meetings need to be scheduled
- 3 conference rooms available
- Each meeting has different duration and participant requirements

Can you work through the optimal scheduling logic?

Avoid: Creative or subjective tasks. Focus on logical, analytical requests.

Claude Opus 4.1

Opus is Anthropic's premium model for the most challenging tasks. Use it when you need the absolute best reasoning and analysis.

Best prompting strategies:

• Save it for your most complex, important tasks
• Provide rich context and background information
• Ask for detailed analysis and reasoning
• Perfect for high-stakes writing and decision-making

Example:

I'm preparing a strategic business proposal for a $2M investment. Can you review my draft and provide detailed feedback on:
- Argument strength and logic
- Potential investor concerns
- Recommendations for improvement

[proposal draft]

Avoid: Simple tasks that other models can handle. Reserve Opus for when you truly need premium reasoning.

General Tips for All Models

Context is king: Always provide relevant background information. The more context you give, the better results you'll get.

Be specific: Instead of "make this better," explain exactly what kind of improvement you want.

Use examples: Show the model what good output looks like, especially for formatting or style requests.

Iterate: Don't hesitate to refine your prompt if the first result isn't quite right. You can switch models mid-conversation too.

Leverage model switching: Start with Perplexity for research, then switch to Claude or GPT for analysis, then use a reasoning model for decision-making.

Cost-Effective Prompting

Start with efficient models: Use GPT-5 Mini or Gemini Flash for initial drafts, then switch to premium models for refinement.

Be concise: Longer prompts cost more. Be clear but avoid unnecessary verbosity.

Use smart routing: Let Magicdoor automatically switch to Perplexity for web searches instead of asking other models to search.

Remember, the best prompt is one that clearly communicates your intent while playing to each model's strengths. Don't be afraid to experiment - with Magicdoor's usage-based pricing, testing different approaches won't break the bank.