Reddit user reports better results with Claude after changing prompting approach

A developer on r/ClaudeAI shared their experience building a complex, multi-layered strategy with moving parts that needed to be actually usable, not just sound good on paper. They spent days trying different AI tools and approaches, but kept getting results that were too vague, generic, or basic - responses that understood the words but not the actual problem.

Their initial attempts with Claude also failed, leading to frustration. The breakthrough came when they realized the issue wasn't Claude itself, but how they were communicating with it. They shifted from treating it like a search engine (throwing in questions and expecting answers) to engaging in actual back-and-forth conversations.

The key changes that improved results:

• Pushing back when something felt off
• Providing more context about WHY specific elements were needed
• Being specific about what wasn't working in previous attempts

After more than two weeks of refinement, the developer achieved a strategy where "every detail [was] accounted for. Nothing fluffy. A clear path with actual steps I can walk." They noted that while Claude isn't necessarily smarter than other tools, it "actually engages with your specific situation if you give it the chance to." The developer concluded that most AI tools give you an answer, while Claude helps you find the right one.

The post asks other users about their experiences with dramatically improved results after changing how they prompt AI tools.