Add AI-generated content with inline prompts

Who can use this: Any team member

Available on: Gong Engage

Ideal for: Sales rep, Sales manager

Required permissions: Create and manage personal templates and blocks

Inline prompts let you embed AI-generated sections inside a template, block, or flow email step. Write an instruction between double square brackets [[ ]] and Gong generates context-aware content for that section when the email is composed or previewed, based on account context such as past calls, emails, and web information. Use inline prompts for sections that should be personalized for each contact, such as openers or closing remarks, while keeping the rest of the email as written.

In addition to inline prompts, other types of placeholders you can use in templates, blocks, and flows include field placeholders, manual placeholders, and custom or third-party field placeholders.

Inline prompts work best for use cases like upsell, renewal, and closed-lost flows, where Gong already has rich interaction data to draw from.

Add an inline prompt

Use inline prompts to generate snippets or specific sections of an email, such as a personalized opener or a meeting summary. Do not use inline prompts to generate an entire email body.

To add an inline prompt to a template, block, or flow email step:

1. Open the template, block, or flow email step you want to edit.

2. Click in the content body at the point where you want the AI-generated section to appear.

3. Type your instruction between double square brackets. For example: [[write a personalized opener based on recent calls with this contact]]

4. Save the template, block, or flow step.

Here is an example of an email that uses an inline prompt alongside other text:

Hey {{recipient.first_name}},

Last time we spoke with {{recipient.company_name}}, a few things were top of mind: [[write their main priorities in 2 bullet points]].

Is this still the case? Would love to have a quick conversation to hear what's new with you and tell you what's new with us. Have any time this week?

Thanks,

{{sender.first_name}}

Preview an inline prompt

Preview to confirm what Gong would generate for a specific contact before using the template or block in outreach. To see meaningful output, select a contact with relevant activity, like meetings or emails.

To preview an inline prompt:

1. Open the template, block, or flow step that includes inline prompts.

2. Click Preview.

3. In the preview panel, select a contact.

4. Click Refresh to generate an example output for the inline prompt.

Note:

Avoid using inline prompts in automated email steps. Because you can't review the generated content before sending, unexpected output can reach your contacts. For automated steps, use a template or a saved prompt with instructions you've tested.

Limitations

• Inline prompts do not work directly in the email composer. They can only be used in templates, blocks, and flows.

• Emails with AI-generated content take time to load.

• The data source for inline prompts is account-level context. This includes all calls, emails, related contacts, and deals associated with the account.

• If a prompt fails to generate an email in preview or the composer, it's typically because the selected contact doesn't have enough past context (calls or emails) in Gong.

• Emails with inline prompts that didn't generate don't send and display an error.

• When an email was generated with AI, you receive a visual indication in the email composer along with an option to leave feedback.

Recommendations

• Always review AI-generated text before sending, because AI can generate inaccurate information.

• Be specific in your instructions to get the best possible output. The more context you give, the better the results.

• Combine inline prompts with field placeholders for richer, more personalized content.

• Start small. Test inline prompts with short instructions at first and then refine them over time.

• Inline prompts work well for openers and post-sales lines.

• Depending on the type of outreach you're doing, you can instruct Gong AI in your inline prompt to rely on web information for better results. When you ask a prompt to read web data, be specific about where to find the information. Instruct the AI to name sources and date ranges, and ask it to include a link and the year of the source in the output so you can verify it before sending.

• To generate an email in a language other than English, you must explicitly specify the desired language within the prompt. The prompt doesn't automatically generate a non-English email even if the contact is tied to a non-English account.

Inline prompt examples

The most effective inline prompts are specific about what to generate and what context to draw from. Each example shows the inline prompt, how to use it in an email, and sample output.

Personalized opener

Inline prompt

[[Write one short opening sentence that references a relevant company update or market signal about {{recipient.company_name}}, based on recent web information. Mention the source and year. Keep the tone warm and professional.]]

How to use this inline prompt in an email

Hi {{recipient.first_name}},

[[Write one short opening sentence that references a relevant company update or market signal about {{recipient.company_name}}, based on recent web information. Mention the source and year. Keep the tone warm and professional.]]

I'd love to learn more about how your team is approaching this area and share a few strategies we've seen work well in similar situations.

Best,

{{sender.first_name}}

Sample output

Hi Alex,

I saw that Brightwave recently opened a new regional HQ in Chicago (TechCrunch, 2025), an exciting milestone.

I'd love to learn more about how your team is approaching this area and share a few strategies we've seen work well in similar situations.

Best,

Taylor

Recent conversation context

Inline prompt

[[Based on the last conversation between {{recipient.first_name}} and {{sender.first_name}}, summarize the key points discussed and the agreed next steps. Keep it concise and natural.]]

How to use this inline prompt in an email

Hi {{recipient.first_name}},

Thanks again for our recent conversation.

[[Based on the last conversation between {{recipient.first_name}} and {{sender.first_name}}, summarize the key points discussed and the agreed next steps. Keep it concise and natural.]]

Best,

{{sender.first_name}}

Sample output

Hi Jamie,

Thanks again for our recent conversation.

Great to align on your team's Q4 expansion plans and next steps around evaluating potential solutions with your operations team.

Best,

Chris

Competitive or market signal

Inline prompt

[[Add a short sentence mentioning a recent competitive or market move relevant to {{recipient.company_name}}, including the source and year. Make it sound natural within the paragraph.]]

How to use this inline prompt in an email

Hi {{recipient.first_name}},

[[Add a short sentence mentioning a recent competitive or market move relevant to {{recipient.company_name}}, including the source and year. Make it sound natural within the paragraph.]]

Shifts like this often open up new priorities or create urgency to adapt, and I'd love to hear how your team is approaching it.

Best,

{{sender.first_name}}

Sample output

Hi Lucy,

I saw that one of your competitors, NovaNorp, just launched an AI-driven analytics suite in the EU (Reuters, 2024), which could reshape parts of the market.

Shifts like this often open up new priorities or create urgency to adapt, and I'd love to hear how your team is approaching it.

Best,

Riley

Warm lead or follow-up

Inline prompt

[[Add something you noticed on {{recipient.first_name}}'s LinkedIn profile that makes the outreach more personal, like a recent role change, certification, or initiative. Include the source and year.]]

How to use this inline prompt in an email

Hi {{recipient.first_name}},

Noticed you just viewed a product demo on our site. What sparked your interest?

If you're not too familiar yet, we work with leading teams to help them drive revenue growth and improve retention through data-driven insights.

As a {{recipient.title}}, any interest in learning more?

All the best,

{{sender.first_name}}

PS - [[Add something you noticed on {{recipient.first_name}}'s LinkedIn profile that makes the outreach more personal, like a recent role change, certification, or initiative. Include the source and year.]]

Sample output

Hi Syed,

Noticed you just viewed a product demo on our site. What sparked your interest?

If you're not too familiar yet, we work with leading teams to help them drive revenue growth and improve retention through data-driven insights.

As a VP of Sales, any interest in learning more?

All the best,

Gal

PS - I saw your recent post about scaling your sales team globally (LinkedIn, 2024). Exciting growth ahead.

Role or initiative signal

Inline prompt

[[Search for {{recipient.first_name}} on LinkedIn and add a short sentence about something relevant they've shared or achieved recently, like a product launch, initiative, or area of focus. Include source and year. Keep it conversational.]]

How to use this inline prompt in an email

Hi {{recipient.first_name}},

[[Search for {{recipient.first_name}} on LinkedIn and add a short sentence about something relevant they've shared or achieved recently, like a product launch, initiative, or area of focus. Include source and year. Keep it conversational.]]

Would love to share a few ideas that have worked well for other teams in a similar stage.

Best,

{{sender.first_name}}

Sample output

Hi Mia,

I saw your recent post about launching your partner enablement program (LinkedIn, 2024), a great milestone.

Would love to share a few ideas that have worked well for other teams in a similar stage.

Best,

Leo

Learn how to automate personalization with inline prompts in Gong Academy.

Frequently asked questions