Prompt Chaining & Multi-Step Workflows
Connect multiple prompts into powerful pipelines.
Prompt Chaining & Multi-Step Workflows
Single prompts are great. But chaining prompts together? That's where the real power is.
What Is Prompt Chaining?
Prompt chaining means using the output of one prompt as the input for the next. Each step builds on the previous one.
Example: Blog Post Pipeline
Step 1 — Research
"List the top 10 trends in remote work for 2025 based on your training data. For each trend, provide a one-sentence summary and why it matters."
Step 2 — Outline (uses Step 1 output)
"Based on these trends, create a blog post outline targeting HR managers. Include an intro hook, 5 main sections (choose the most compelling trends), and a conclusion with action items."
Step 3 — Draft (uses Step 2 output)
"Write the full blog post from this outline. Target 1,500 words. Tone: authoritative but accessible. Include a statistic or data point in each section."
Step 4 — Edit (uses Step 3 output)
"Review this draft as a strict editor. Cut 20% of the word count while keeping all key points. Remove any fluff, clichés, or weak transitions."
Step 5 — SEO (uses Step 4 output)
"Optimize this post for SEO. Add: a meta description (under 155 characters), 5 suggested keywords, alt text suggestions for 3 images, and internal linking opportunities."
Why Chain Instead of One Big Prompt?
- 1.Better quality: Each step gets focused attention
- 2.Easier debugging: If Step 3 output is bad, you only redo Step 3
- 3.Flexibility: You can branch or modify any step
- 4.Token efficiency: Each step uses a fresh context window
- 5.Human-in-the-loop: You can review and adjust between steps
Chaining Patterns
| Pattern | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Linear | Step 1 → 2 → 3 | Blog post pipeline |
| Fan-out | One input → multiple parallel outputs | Generate 5 variations |
| Fan-in | Multiple inputs → one synthesis | Combine research from multiple prompts |
| Loop | Output feeds back as input | Iterative improvement until quality threshold met |
Building Your First Chain
- 1.Identify the end goal
- 2.Break it into 3-5 distinct sub-tasks
- 3.Write a prompt for each sub-task
- 4.Test each step independently
- 5.Connect them by passing outputs as inputs
- 6.Iterate on the weakest link
Exercises
0/3Build a 3-step prompt chain for creating a professional LinkedIn post: Step 1: Generate the core idea and key points. Step 2: Draft the post. Step 3: Optimize for engagement. Execute all three steps.
Hint: Each step should explicitly reference the output of the previous step.
What is the main advantage of prompt chaining over one massive prompt?
Design a 4-step prompt chain for a task relevant to your work. Write out each prompt (with placeholders for the previous step's output). What chaining pattern does it use?
Hint: Think about multi-step tasks: creating a presentation, analyzing a competitor, planning an event, etc.