1. Define the Task and Objective:
• Clearly state what you want Manus AI to accomplish.
• Specify the desired outcome or deliverable.
Example:
“Analyze the latest quarterly financial reports of the top five technology companies and provide a comparative summary highlighting key performance metrics.” 
2. Provide Necessary Context:
• Offer background information relevant to the task.
• Mention any specific data sources or references to consider.
Example:
“Focus on Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Use their Q1 2025 financial statements available on their investor relations websites.”
3. Specify the Output Format:
• Indicate how you want the information presented (e.g., report, table, chart).
• Mention any formatting preferences or file types.
Example:
“Present the findings in a comparative table within a PDF document, including visual charts for revenue and net income trends.”
4. Set Constraints and Requirements:
• Define any limitations, deadlines, or specific methodologies to use.
Example:
“Complete the analysis using data from the past two years and submit the report within three business days.”
5. Include Examples or References:
• Provide samples or links to similar work to guide Manus AI.
Example:
“Refer to the financial analysis report format used by Sample Company Report as a guideline.”
6. Clarify Any Assumptions or Preferences:
• Mention any assumptions Manus AI should make or preferences you have. 
Example:
“Assume all financial figures are in USD and round off numbers to the nearest million.”
By following this template, you provide Manus AI with a comprehensive understanding of your requirements, leading to more accurate and tailored responses.
How is this different from any llm prompt?:)
Great question. I get asked this by my students a lot. So, a prompt optimized for Manus AI is a bit different from one meant for a general-purpose LLM like ChatGPT. With ChatGPT, you can get away with being a little more conversational or exploratory since it’s designed to engage with open-ended questions, brainstorm, or have back-and-forth dialogue.
Manus, on the other hand, is built more for task execution. It’s like talking to a smart assistant that’s wired to “do” more than “chat.” So the prompt has to be structured more like a set of precise instructions. The more detailed, contextual, and outcome-focused you are, the better Manus can take action on your behalf.
It’s kind of like the difference between asking a friend for advice and assigning a task to a really capable project manager. For Manus, I always try to include:
• What the task is
• The desired outcome
• Any constraints or formatting preferences
• Context or references
• And sometimes examples, if clarity matters