Library › Research & AI Search › Small business owners
Pick credible local sources for setting cake prices
- For Small business owners
- You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
You're setting wedding cake prices for your bakery in the Tri-County area and only trust sources that are local to Tri-County, from 2025 or later, and show actual prices. From the 7 results, write exactly 4 numbered lines: lines 1-3 each name one source that passes all three tests with a reason under 12 words, and line 4 starts with Skip: and names the most misleading result and why. Plain text, under 100 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not giving your tests. The AI ranks the national guild report highly because it's official, even though it isn't local. Try: Add: "Only local to Tri-County, 2025 or later, with actual prices."
- Skipping the warning. The AI lists good sources but doesn't flag the made-up-looking listicle. Try: Add: "Line 4: Skip: the most misleading result and why."
- Long or formatted output. AI reviews all 7 results in bold. Try: Add: "Exactly 4 numbered lines, plain text, reasons under 12 words."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives the three tests
- Asks for exactly 3 picks
- Asks what to skip
- Caps the reasons
- Asks for plain text
Related exercises
- Alert sales to a competitor's price change, facts only (Research & AI Search · Product managers)
- Answer a buyer's HOA questions from the bylaws (Research & AI Search · Real estate agents)
- Answer a coworker's travel policy question in one Slack reply (Research & AI Search · Office and admin)
- Answer a family's visiting questions from the current policy (Research & AI Search · Nurses and healthcare workers)
- Answer winter break housing questions from the current policy (Research & AI Search · College students)