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Write an anomaly note on a signup spike for a VP

  • For Operations and supply chain
  • You practice Saying who it's for
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Yesterday's signups spiked and the VP of Marketing, Dana Whitfield, wants to know if it is real. Write a short plain-text message to her under 100 words. First sentence: how many signups versus a normal day. Then show the math splitting real-looking signups from bot-pattern ones and what the campaign explains. End with one line starting 'Next:' saying you will re-run the count Wednesday morning. Don't repeat unconfirmed rumors.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Burying the headline. The AI opens with a greeting and context before the 1,150 vs 300. Try: Add: "First sentence: 1,150 signups vs about 300 normal."
  • Skipping the split math. The AI says 'mostly bots' without showing 1,150 - 640 = 510 and the campaign share. Try: Add: "Show 1,150 - 640 = 510, then 510 - 300 - 150 = 60 unexplained."
  • Repeating the rumor. The AI includes the scraping idea as a possible cause and omits the next step. Try: Add: "Leave out the competitor rumor. End with Next: re-run Wednesday morning."
  • Leaving the format to chance. The AI picks its own length and layout unless told the exact shape. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold or headings."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the reader
  • Asks for the headline first
  • Asks to show the math
  • Rules out the rumor
  • Fixes the last line

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