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Build a content calendar CSV and move posts off blocked days

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

About this exercise

You are scheduling November content and the office is closed Nov 26 and 27. Write a prompt that outputs one CSV code block with the header date,channel,topic,owner, one row per idea, dates as YYYY-MM-DD, sorted by date. Rule: one post per day, no weekends, and when an idea lands on a taken or closed day, move it to the next free weekday. Keep the idea order as listed when deciding who keeps a date. No text outside the block.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Leaving posts on closed days. The AI copies the wished-for dates. Try: Add: "Nov 26 and 27 are closed; move to the next free weekday."
  • Moving posts to January. The Slack thread tempts the AI to defer a post. Try: Add: "Keep every idea in the calendar; only change dates as the rules say."
  • Wrong date format or order. Without a format the AI writes 'Nov 16' and keeps list order. Try: Add: "Dates as YYYY-MM-DD, sorted by date, header date,channel,topic,owner."
  • Wrong number of code blocks. AI splits or skips the code block. Try: Ask for exactly one code block.
  • Chatty text around the block. AI adds an intro and a recap around the block. Try: Say: "Output only the block, no words outside it."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the exact header
  • Asks for one CSV block
  • States the date rules
  • Names the closed days
  • Says nothing outside the block

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