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Configure Instructions

⏱ 15 minutes intermediate
📜CoreOpal

Why this matters

Section titled “Why this matters”

Instructions shape every response Opal produces. Without them, Opal generates output using only its general knowledge. With well-configured instructions, Opal adapts to your brand voice, follows your compliance rules, and formats output the way your team expects. Getting instructions right means less time editing Opal’s output and more time doing high-value work.

Access the instructions interface

Section titled “Access the instructions interface”
  1. Log into Optimizely at home.optimizely.com
  2. Select your organization
  3. Click Opal from the product switcher
  4. Click Instructions in the navigation

You see two tabs: Instance (organization-wide) and Personal.

Create an organization-wide instruction

Section titled “Create an organization-wide instruction”

Organization-wide instructions enforce standards across every user. Only Opal Administrators can create them.

  1. Select the Instance tab
  2. Click Add Instruction
  3. Enter a Name — use a brief, descriptive identifier (for example, “Brand Voice Guidelines” or “Compliance Language Rules”)
  4. Toggle Active to on if you want Opal to use this instruction immediately. Leave it off while you are still drafting.
  5. Enter the Core Instruction. Write this as guidance you would give a team member:
    • State the objective or goal
    • Describe the execution steps or process
    • Specify response format guidelines
    • Set constraints or safety measures
  6. (Optional) Click Add Product under “Where to use” to limit this instruction to specific products and instances. If you skip this step, the instruction applies to all connected products.
    • Select an Optimizely product from the dropdown
    • Select the instance
    • Click + to add more products or Delete to remove entries
  7. Enter When to use conditions that describe when Opal should activate this instruction
  8. Click Save

Create a personal instruction

Section titled “Create a personal instruction”

Personal instructions customize Opal’s behavior for your individual use. They do not affect other users.

  1. Select the Personal tab
  2. Click Add Instruction
  3. Enter a Name for the instruction
  4. Toggle Active on or off
  5. Enter the Core Instruction — define your preferences for tone, format, detail level, or language
  6. (Optional) Click Add Product to limit where this instruction applies
  7. Enter When to use conditions
  8. Click Save

Edit an instruction

Section titled “Edit an instruction”
  1. Navigate to Instructions in the Opal app
  2. Click the instruction name, or select More (…) > Edit
  3. Modify any field: Name, Core Instruction, Active status, Where to use, or When to use
  4. Click Save

Best practices when editing

Section titled “Best practices when editing”
  • Preserve purpose — Do not remove core structure unless you replace it with something equivalent
  • Use explicit, actionable language — “Always include a CTA at the end of marketing copy” is better than “Include relevant elements”
  • Maintain platform-specific logic — If the instruction targets a specific product, keep that context intact
  • Avoid directional UI references like “Click here” — instructions should describe behavior, not navigation

Delete an instruction

Section titled “Delete an instruction”

From the Instructions page:

  1. Select the instruction
  2. Click More (…) > Delete
  3. Confirm the deletion

From the Edit page:

  1. Open the instruction for editing
  2. Click More (…) > Delete Instruction
  3. Confirm the deletion

Deleting is permanent. If you want to temporarily disable an instruction, toggle Active off instead.

Explore prebuilt instructions

Section titled “Explore prebuilt instructions”

Optimizely provides nine prebuilt instructions you can enable and customize:

Prebuilt instructionWhat it does
Campaign BriefGuides Opal to create structured campaign briefs with objectives, audience, and deliverables
Industry MarketerApplies industry-specific marketing knowledge to responses
Keyword ResearchDirects Opal to perform keyword-focused analysis and recommendations
Marketing Planning MeetingStructures responses around meeting agendas and action items
Marketing ResearcherGuides Opal to provide research-grade analysis and sourced insights
Personalization AdvisorAdds personalization strategy expertise to responses
Task BriefCreates structured task assignments with clear deliverables
Tone of VoiceEnforces consistent brand tone across all generated content
Video TranscriptionOptimizes Opal for transcription and video content summarization

All prebuilt instructions are off by default. Enable any instruction, then edit its Core Instruction content to match your organization’s specific requirements.