Library › Sales AI › Small business owners

Ask a happy customer for one specific referral by text

  • For Small business owners
  • You practice Giving the right context
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

You run a small booking-software business, and Carla, who owns Bloom Salon, loves your product. Text her asking for an intro to Lila, the bakery owner next door she mentioned. Mention her real result (no-shows dropped from 14 to 5 a month) and offer to send a 2-line blurb she can forward. Your referral credit program is paused, so don't offer any reward. At most 4 sentences, plain text.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Offering the old reward. The AI sees the flyer and offers $50 off, but that program is paused. Try: Add: "No reward or credit; the referral program is paused."
  • A vague ask. "Know anyone who'd like this?" is easy to ignore. The AI asks broadly unless you name the person. Try: Say: "Ask for an intro to Lila at Crumb & Co."
  • Making her do the work. The AI asks for a referral without making it easy to give. Try: Add: "Offer to send a 2-line blurb she can forward."
  • Skipping her result. The AI writes generic thanks instead of reminding her what changed. Try: Add: "Mention her no-shows dropping from 14 to 5 a month."
  • Writing an email, not a text. The AI writes paragraphs and a sign-off block. Try: Add: "At most 4 sentences, plain text, like a text message."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the person to intro
  • Mentions her result
  • Rules out a reward
  • Makes it easy
  • Sets the length

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises