Prompt Like a Pro: How Jan Gardiner Uses genAI to Build Better Messaging—With a Strategist’s Eye
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Prompt Like a Pro: How Jan Gardiner Uses genAI to Build Better Messaging—With a Strategist’s Eye
AI-generated content is flooding the market—but in product marketing, using it well takes more than clever syntax. It takes strategic supervision. That’s why Aventi Group consultant Jan Gardiner doesn’t treat genAI as a shortcut or substitute—she treats it as a smart assistant that accelerates her work without ever replacing her judgment.
Jan specializes in messaging and positioning for complex B2B tech and SaaS brands. In fast-paced launch environments, she often uses genAI to generate starting points, pressure-test positioning, and organize early-stage frameworks. But in every case, it’s her strategy and editing that shapes the final outcome.
This post kicks off our new blog series, where we highlight real-world AI prompts used by Aventi consultants—each one grounded in actual client work and reviewed by a human expert every step of the way.
1. Persona-Based Messaging, Without the Blank Page
When creating tailored messaging across multiple personas or verticals, it’s easy to get bogged down in repetition or fall into generic phrasing. Jan uses genAI to generate first-draft value props—then sharpens them through strategic refinement.
Prompt Example:
“I’m a product marketer for a SaaS company that offers [brief product description]. My target persona is a [job title] in the [industry] space. Generate 3 value propositions for this persona, each including: 1) a core challenge, 2) how our product solves it, and 3) the outcome they care about.”
Jan’s expertise comes in when she evaluates what works and what doesn’t. She’ll often layer in real customer quotes, tweak tone for a specific audience, and validate claims with client data before moving forward. AI gets her started—she takes it across the finish line.
2. Turning Product Specs Into Strategic Messaging
When clients bring technical documentation or lists of features, it’s not always clear how to translate those into a compelling story. Jan prompts AI to build rough frameworks, which she then reshapes into messaging that’s aligned with the buyer journey.
Prompt Example:
“Here is a product overview: [insert technical details]. Generate a messaging framework including: 1) one-sentence positioning, 2) three value pillars, 3) proof points, and 4) a comparison to typical alternatives.”
The AI’s job is to pull out patterns, but it’s Jan’s role to sense-check for business relevance, brand voice, and competitive clarity. For example, if a “value pillar” is really just a feature in disguise, she’ll reframe it or drop it altogether.
3. Testing Messaging for Differentiation
Clients often ask: How do we stand out from competitors? Rather than start with a blank slide, Jan prompts AI to identify overlaps and generate differentiated phrasing she can build on.
Prompt Example:
“Here’s our draft positioning: [insert statement]. Compare this to [Competitor X’s] messaging and suggest 3 stronger alternatives. Focus on buyer value and avoid generic phrases.”
Jan never copies what AI outputs—but the variations often reveal what’s not working or what might be too similar to the rest of the market. She uses this exercise to spark stronger phrasing that supports clearer market positioning.
Again: the prompt is a lens, not a replacement for judgment.
4. Structuring Decks and Strategic Narratives
When Jan needs to structure messaging decks or enablement content on tight timelines, genAI helps her build an outline fast—leaving more time for refining story flow and stakeholder alignment.
Prompt Example:
“Create a 10-slide outline for a positioning deck introducing our new [product]. Include: persona overview, pain points, key value pillars, differentiators, and sample use cases.”
What follows is rarely presentation-ready—but it gives Jan a structured start. She’ll rewrite headers, layer in examples, trim unnecessary slides, and make sure each element aligns with the strategic narrative the client is trying to tell.
Why It Works: Strategy In, Strategy Out
Jan is clear about the limits of genAI: “If you don’t give it a strong brief, you won’t get strong output. And even when you do, it’s just a draft. The real value comes when you apply human insight.”
She uses genAI to think faster, not shallower. It helps her surface possibilities—but only works well when supervised by someone who understands positioning, buyers, brand voice, and the real-world stakes of B2B go-to-market.
Ready to elevate your messaging with genAI—without losing the human touch? Let’s talk. Whether you need help accelerating persona-based content, building a positioning framework, or refining messaging that actually differentiates, Aventi’s consultants bring the strategy and the tools to get you there faster.
