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Write five customer interview questions that don't lead the witness

  • For Marketing and content
  • You practice Saying who it's for
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're interviewing a customer for a case study and need open questions that don't suggest an answer. Write a prompt for exactly 5 numbered questions, each under 20 words, each starting with What, How or Tell me, none of them a yes/no question, and none containing the words great, love or easy. One question must ask about a time the product let them down. Plain text, questions only.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Writing leading questions. The AI asks 'Don't you love how easy it is?' because it's friendly. Try: Say: "Open questions; no suggestion of the answer; avoid the words great, love, easy."
  • Forgetting the honest moment. AI interviews stay positive. Try: Add: "One question asks about a time the product let them down."
  • Yes/no questions. The AI slips in 'Did you...' questions. Try: Say: "Each starts with What, How or Tell me."
  • Wrong number of items. AI adds extra items or drops the numbering. Try: Say the exact count and show the format, like "1. Label: detail".
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and often runs past a word limit. Try: Cap each part (for example "each line under 15 words") so the total lands well under the limit.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets count and numbering
  • Requires open starts
  • Bans leading words
  • Asks for a let-down question
  • Caps question length

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