Library › Data AI › Product managers
Reply to a test request with how long it would take
- For Product managers
- You practice Saying who it's for
- Time about 5 minutes
- Level Intermediate
About this exercise
A marketer asked you to A/B test a new headline and you need to reply with what it takes. Write a plain-text email to Hannah Boyd under 100 words with a Subject: line. The first sentence states about how many days the test would take, with the division shown, then ask her exactly 3 questions on lines starting Q1:, Q2: and Q3:, one for each missing decision. Don't promise a result.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Agreeing to start Monday. The AI says 'sounds great, let's start Monday'. Try: Add: "Don't start until she answers the three questions."
- Missing the runtime. The AI doesn't say it takes about 49 days. Try: Add: "First sentence: 39,000 / 800 = about 49 days."
- Vague questions. The AI asks 'what are your goals?' Try: Add: "Q1 the deciding metric, Q2 who is included, Q3 smallest lift worth shipping."
- 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 runtime
- Asks for three Q lines
- Rules out promises
- Asks for the subject
Related exercises
- Announce a delay to three audiences with different limits (Leadership AI · Communications and PR)
- Announce one feature separately to admins and to end users (Customer Support & Success AI · Customer success managers)
- Annualize recurring revenue without the one-time fee (Data AI · Finance and accounting)
- Answer "we'll build it ourselves" with their own numbers (Sales AI · Sales and customer success)
- Answer "what does a CSM do for us?" in plain spoken words (Customer Support & Success AI · Customer success managers)