Library › Writing AI › Small business owners
Answer a wholesale inquiry with clear terms
Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
A cafe owner asked about buying your coffee wholesale. Reply with a one-line greeting, then exactly 3 numbered lines labeled Price, Minimum and Delivery using the current terms, then one closing question asking when they'd like a free tasting. Under 90 words, plain text. Write a prompt that gets that reply.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not setting the shape. The AI writes a long sales email that buries the terms in paragraphs. Try: Show it: "Exactly 3 numbered lines: 1. Price: ... 2. Minimum: ... 3. Delivery: ..."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "Each line under 16 words."
- Using last year's price. The notes mention the old $12 rate. The AI may quote it. Try: Say it: "Price: $11/lb at 20+ lbs a week."
- No next step. The AI ends with "Let me know if you have questions!" instead of booking a tasting. Try: Add: "End by asking when they'd like a free tasting."
- Forgetting where it gets pasted. AI adds bold and headings by default, which show up as ** and # clutter in their inbox. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."
What a strong prompt includes
- Sets the number of lines
- Gives the labels
- Uses the current price
- Ends with the tasting
- Asks for plain text
Related exercises
- Accept a job offer and confirm the exact terms (Writing AI · Job seekers)
- Announce a hybrid work policy change with clear actions (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a promotion with the right date and no pay details (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a referral bonus with the steps to claim it (Marketing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a team change and answer the first question (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)