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Set up a pivot that counts customers, not orders

  • For Marketing and content
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

Your marketing lead wants to know how many different customers ordered in each region, and a plain count of rows would count repeat orders. Write exactly 4 labeled lines in plain text, under 80 words: Rows, Values, Setup and Why not Count. Use the exact column names, and your Excel is 2016.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using Count. The AI puts Count of Customer ID in Values and counts orders. Try: Add: "Values is Distinct Count of Customer ID."
  • Missing the checkbox. The AI doesn't say Distinct Count needs the Data Model. Try: Add: "Setup: tick Add this data to the Data Model."
  • Long tutorials. The AI writes click-by-click steps. Try: Add: "Exactly 4 lines: Rows, Values, Setup, Why not Count."
  • 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

  • Gives the four labels
  • Says distinct count
  • Names the checkbox
  • Uses the example
  • Rules out steps

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