If you’re serious about getting value from AI, there’s one thing you need that almost no one talks about: a context profile. Think of it as content governance for the age of intelligent agents. Without one, you’re guessing. With one, you’re guiding.
Not an engineer? Don’t write code? Don’t worry. This is easier than it sounds and way more powerful than it looks. Stay with me.
What Is JSON?
JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It’s a lightweight, text-based format that lets machines and humans exchange structured data.
What’s a JSON Context Profile?
It’s a short file that tells an AI who you are, who your audience is, and how to sound like you. Think of it as a creative brief, but written for a machine instead of a marketing team.
Why You Need One
Every prompt you write, every conversation you have with a generative AI, starts with context. But unless you provide that context explicitly, you’re leaving quality on the table.
A well-crafted JSON context profile does three things immediately:
- It eliminates ambiguity. No more rewriting because the tone was off or the audience was wrong.
- It saves time. Your outputs will sound like you, right out of the gate.
- It enables automation. You can plug it into workflows, assistants, and tools that generate real business value.
This is the missing piece in most AI strategies. Everyone’s chasing better tools. Very few are building better instructions.
How to Make One
You don’t need to be technical. You just need to be clear. Here’s the structure:
Step 1: Define the Author
"user": {
"name": "Shelly Palmer",
"title": "CEO, The Palmer Group",
"persona": "Technology, media, and marketing expert focused on AI and digital transformation"
}
Step 2: Describe the Blog
"blog": {
"title": "Shelly Palmer Daily Blog",
"frequency": "daily",
"word_count": 300,
"style": {
"tone": "professional concise",
"voice": "fact-driven, news-like",
"avoid": ["filler", "clichés", "speculation"]
}
}
Step 3: Define the Audience
"audience": {
"profile": "Fortune 500 C-suite executives",
"interests": ["AI strategy", "Innovation", "Business outcomes"]
}
Step 4: Add Format and Delivery Rules
"technical_context": {
"preferred_output_format": "Markdown",
"distribution_channels": ["shellypalmer.com", "LinkedIn"]
}
What to Do with It
Copy and paste your profile into your favorite generative AI tool. Use it as the first part of your prompt. Or, better yet, set it as your custom instructions. Most platforms will let you store it in settings. If you’re using more advanced workflows, it can become part of a content engine that runs without you.
Test it. Tweak it. Refine it. Once it’s right, lock it in.
Context Is King!
Generative AI is only as good as its context. If you’re not giving it a structured, repeatable way to understand you, you’re wasting its potential. A JSON context profile fixes that. It’s your voice, your intent, your audience, codified for the machine.
This is where personalization, consistency, and automation begin.
Copy. Paste. Customize. You’re Done.
Here’s a cut and paste JSON context profile template. Now, make it your own. The more clarity you provide, the more value your AI will return. Don’t overthink it, just start. (Pro tip: Ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to help you write yours.) One profile. One prompt. Immediate results.
{
"user": {
"name": "Your Name",
"title": "Your Title",
"persona": "Short description of your expertise and voice"
},
"blog": {
"title": "Blog Name",
"frequency": "daily | weekly | monthly",
"word_count": 300,
"style": {
"tone": "professional concise",
"voice": "direct, fact-driven, news-like",
"humor": "optional – wry, self-deprecating",
"avoid": ["clichés", "filler", "speculative language", "em dashes"]
}
},
"audience": {
"profile": "Fortune 500 C-suite executives",
"industries": ["Marketing", "Media", "Technology"],
"interests": ["AI strategy", "Innovation", "Growth"]
},
"content_preferences": {
"format": ["tight paragraphs", "no buried leads"],
"citations": "MLA",
"visuals": "Minimal unless necessary for clarity"
},
"technical_context": {
"preferred_output_format": "Markdown",
"distribution_channels": ["yourwebsite.com", "LinkedIn", "Newsletter"]
},
"tools": {
"writing_assistant": "GPT-4 or Claude",
"workflow": {
"ideation": "Manual or AI-assisted trend scan",
"drafting": "AI first-pass",
"editing": "Manual",
"publishing_time": "Morning (local time)"
}
}
}
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
