Prompt Library vs. Notion Doc vs. Browser Bookmarks: Where Should Your Prompts Live?
The prompt that got away
You had written a great prompt last month and got the exact output you wanted. Now you need to use it but can’t find it anywhere. Was it in a chat 3 weeks ago? Did you save it as a note on your phone or an email to yourself? After 10 minutes of scrolling, you give up and write a new (but not as good) prompt.
One of the most common little frustrations when working with AI tools is finding your prompts. Although great assets, prompts can take time to perfect. However, where should you store them? Most people will store them in one of the options below.
Let’s be honest and compare the options. As I create a prompt tool, I’m biased, however I’ll try my best to be fair. The correct option for you really depends on how you work.
Browser bookmarks
Bookmarking is the easiest and nicest option. Just hit a key and it saves. If your prompts are stored within shared chats or public pages, bookmarking makes sense. There’s no set up and no new learning. This can be enough for those with only a few prompts.
However, they’re not specific to your prompt. If a chat gets deleted or a page is changed, the prompt will be lost. Also, it’s very difficult to search for the right prompt. If the prompt has a generic name such as ‘Untitled chat’ it’s useless. Having 30 prompts in a folder can be a bit of a maze.
They’re not specific so you can’t type within your niche/topic. You’d have to open the page, copy the prompt, paste and manually type in the blanks. If you’re only using them occasionally this is okay. But if you’re using them everyday, this can add up.
A document in Notion or a notes app
Upgrading to a document. You can paste your prompts in a document. Add headings and maybe some tags. It gives you flexibility and is either free or cheap. You can organise how you want and share with a colleague. You can edit your prompts as you perfect them. Many creators will use this option for ages.
The benefit is you have control over how it’s organised. You can add notes such as what works, doesn’t work and what settings you’ve used. If you use the tool for planning, you can link your prompts to your content calendar/project pages.
The downside is there is more to do. Every time you use a prompt you have to copy, switch tabs, paste and manually type in the blanks. If there’s a bracket for your niche you have to manually change it. As your document grows, it can become quite messy. If you’re not disciplined you’ll run into the same issue as before.
As it’s not specific, it won’t know what your most used prompts are. Unless you move them to the top they won’t be. Over time your best prompts will get lost behind ones you’ve tried but never use again. You’ll have to keep tidying up the page every few weeks.
A dedicated prompt library
A dedicated prompt library will do exactly what you want. The best will allow you to tag, favourite and group your prompts. It will also allow you to easily copy a prompt with one click. They usually manage blanks well too. You can type in your topic/ niche and see it populates across your prompts.
The benefit is you’re saving time. Less time spent copying and pasting. If you’re using prompts everyday, you’ll save minutes over the course of a week. Your brain will also stay tidy.
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The downside is another tool to use. You’ll have to get your prompts in and keep them updated. If you’re only using AI occasionally this may not be worth it. As you’re using it frequently it will earn its place. However, if you’re only using it once a month it can feel like overkill.
How to choose
A quick way to figure out which is best for you is to count how many times you use prompts in a typical week. If you’re using them a few times a week, bookmarking or having one note will be enough. If you’re using them daily and have 20+ prompts, a document will start to make sense. If you’re using lots of prompts daily with blanks to fill in and want to use a few together at once, a library will start to earn its place.
Some people love creating their own systems. They enjoy fiddling and having a flexible document can be a joy. However some people just want to open something and click. Both are totally fine. The best option for you is the one you’ll stick with when you’re tired and busy.
Be honest with yourself, if you don’t keep your system tidy it will become a junk box. Whatever option you choose, set yourself a reminder to tidy up every month. Delete any duplicates, rename any generic names and star your actual prompts. Only 10 minutes a month will keep any of the 3 options tidy.
If you decide a library is for you, Arcanio is the prompt station I created for content creators. Please note that the prompt packs aren’t included in the app. They are sold separately and have been designed to be added into the app. You can take a look at the app here:
Whatever you pick, name things well
The most useful thing to do here is to create excellent prompts. Using a prompt like ‘Ideas 2’ will be useless after a month. By contrast, if you have a prompt like 'Ten video ideas for beginners, friendly tone' you know exactly what it does. Write your prompts with the person you’ll be next month in mind (they will have forgotten everything!).
Write a brief note about when to use the prompt. For example, 'Best when I have a topic but no angle.'. This will help you turn your list into a toolset. You’ll also find it easier to pass your system onto a colleague or helper in the future.
Create a separate section for your ‘test’ prompts. All your new prompts should go in here. If they prove useful after a few uses then promote them. This means your quality prompts won’t get lost within your half-baked test prompts. You’ll also know that your copied prompts will be accurate.
Moving between systems later
Your requirements will change over time so don’t stress too much over choosing the perfect option. Many people start with bookmarks then progress to using a document. Eventually they might move into using a library. Your prompts are just text so they’ll be easy to move. The key thing is that the prompts are being stored intentionally.
Whenever you do move your prompts take the opportunity to declutter. Don’t copy all of your prompts across, only copy the top 20 prompts you actually use. It’ll be much easier to fall in love with a smaller set and will be easier to maintain. You’ll probably not miss out on many prompts!
If you’re writing about money or business related topics then your prompts may contain terms that your audience isn’t familiar with. Sometimes you might not even remember what they mean!
This is why I love suggesting the Dollar Dictionary. This is a free app available on our website which helps you learn business and investment related terms in simple language. It works well with your prompts as you can look up any terms you aren’t sure about before adding them to your prompts or posts. It is completely free to try out here:.
The short version
Bookmarks are quick and easy to setup but not great for organisation. Documents are very flexible and inexpensive but require some work from you. Libraries are quicker to use if using a lot every day but only make sense if you do use prompts a lot. Choose whichever option suits you best right now. You’ll probably change in the future.
Most importantly, don’t let your best prompts get lost in old chats. You’ve put effort into creating them and by storing them somewhere they will save you effort in the future. Even a simple organised list will help. There’s no cost to getting started today.
