From the book
60 prompts. Copy, paste, go.
Every prompt from The $20 Assistant, plus bonus prompts you won't find in the chapters. Fill in the blanks and save yourself five hours this week.
10 prompts
Email & Communication
Reply to a customer chasing a quote
Chapter 1I need to reply to a customer who's chasing a quote I promised last week. I run a [your business type]. Write me a short, honest reply that apologises for the delay, gives a specific timeframe, and doesn't grovel. Keep it under 80 words.Supplier email reply (the tricky ones)
Chapter 4I run a small [your business type] business. I've received this email from a supplier I've worked with for [X years]. I need to reply in a way that's professional and direct but doesn't damage the relationship. I want to [state your goal: push back on the price increase / ask for a timeline on the late delivery / request alternatives to the discontinued item]. Keep the reply under 200 words and make it sound like a person, not a template. Here's their email: [paste the full supplier email here]
Handle a customer complaint
Chapter 4I run a small [your business type] business. A customer has sent me this complaint. Write a reply that follows this structure: (1) acknowledge their frustration and show I've actually read what they wrote, (2) explain what happened without making excuses, and (3) offer a specific resolution. Don't grovel. Don't be defensive. Be honest and direct. Keep it under 200 words. My business name is [your business name]. Here's their complaint: [paste the complaint email here]
Sort your inbox in 60 seconds
Chapter 4I run a small [your business type] business. Here are the unread emails in my inbox this morning. Sort them into four categories: 1. Urgent: needs a reply today, something is time-sensitive or a customer/client is waiting 2. Important: needs a reply this week but not today 3. Quick reply: I can respond in one or two sentences 4. Skip: newsletters, notifications, CC'd threads, or anything that doesn't need my attention For each urgent email, suggest what the reply should cover in one sentence. Here are the emails: [paste your emails here]
Follow up on a quote (without sounding desperate)
Chapter 4I run a small [your business type] business. I sent a quote to a potential customer [X days ago]. They said they'd think about it and I haven't heard back. Write a follow-up email that: - References something specific from our conversation (I discussed [mention a specific detail]) - Doesn't sound desperate or pushy - Gives them an easy way to say yes or no (I'd rather get a no than silence) - Is under 100 words Here's the original quote/email I sent them: [paste it here]
Build a 3-email follow-up sequence
Chapter 4Write a 3-email follow-up sequence for quotes I send to potential customers. Space them at 5, 12, and 21 days after the original quote. Each email should be under 100 words, have a different angle, and sound like me (I'm [brief description of your communication style]). The final email should give them a graceful way to end the conversation. My business is [your business type].
Batch-reply to emails you've been avoiding
BonusI run a [business type]. I've been putting off replying to these 5 emails all week. For each one, draft a reply under 60 words. Match the tone to the sender's tone. Here are the emails: [paste them]
Summarise a long email thread
BonusI run a [business type]. Here's a long email thread with a client that's gone back and forth 8 times: [paste thread]. Summarise the key decisions made, any outstanding action items, and draft a short email that closes the loop. Under 100 words.
Write your out-of-office reply
BonusI'm about to go on holiday for a week. Write me an out-of-office reply that's friendly, tells people when I'm back, gives them an alternative contact for urgent issues ([name, email/phone]), and doesn't sound like a template. Under 80 words. British English.Offer an instalment plan
BonusI run a [business type]. A client has asked to pay in instalments instead of in full. Write me a polite email agreeing to a 3-payment plan over 90 days, with clear dates, amounts, and what happens if a payment is missed. Keep it professional but firm.12 prompts
Marketing & Content
Analyse customer reviews for marketing gold
Chapter 5I run a small [your business type] business. Below are 20 customer reviews from my industry (a mix of my business and my competitors). Analyse them and tell me: 1. The three most common complaints or frustrations customers mention 2. The three things customers value most when they're happy 3. The exact words and phrases customers use to describe their problems (not your summary, their actual language) 4. Any gaps where customers seem underserved or where expectations aren't being met Be specific. Quote from the reviews where possible. [paste all reviews here]
Turn insights into marketing angles
Chapter 5Based on this analysis, give me five specific marketing angles I could use. For each one, write a single sentence I could use as a headline or social media hook. Make them sound like a real person, not a marketing department.
Write an SEO blog post that actually ranks
Chapter 5Write a 1,200-word blog post targeting the keyword "[your keyword]". The post should: - Answer the question in the first two paragraphs - Include practical advice a homeowner or customer can actually use - Mention my business naturally once or twice (my business is [name], a [type] in [location]) - Use a conversational, helpful tone, not salesy, not corporate, like a knowledgeable friend explaining something over coffee - Include subheadings that match related questions people search for, and end with a clear next step (call us, book online, read our guide to X) Here's context about what my customers care about: [paste your top 3 customer insights from the research workflow]
Turn one blog post into social posts and an email
Chapter 5Take this blog post and create:
1. Three social media posts for [platform]. Each should highlight a different point from the article, be under 150 words, and include a question or hook in the first line. Write in a casual, direct tone.
2. A short email (under 200 words) I can send to my customer list linking to this post. Make the subject line curious, not clickbaity.Create your voice profile (do this once, use it forever)
Chapter 5Analyse these writing samples and describe my voice in terms of: tone, vocabulary level, sentence length, use of humour, level of formality, and any patterns you notice. Create a "voice profile" I can paste into future prompts so that anything you write for me matches this style.
[paste your writing samples]Write a social media post in your voice
Chapter 5[Paste your voice profile at the top] Using the voice described above, write a social media post for [Instagram/LinkedIn/Facebook] about [topic from your customer research]. The post should: - Start with a line that makes someone stop scrolling - Share a genuine insight, opinion, or observation, not generic advice - Be under 150 words - Sound like I typed it, not like it was generated - End with a question or invitation to comment Don't use emoji. Don't use hashtags in the text (I'll add them separately). Don't use phrases like "here's the thing" or "let me tell you."
Batch a week of social content in one go
Chapter 5Using my voice profile, write five social media posts for the coming week. Topics: 1. [Topic from customer research] 2. [A behind-the-scenes moment from your business] 3. [A question your customers frequently ask] 4. [An opinion about something in your industry] 5. [Something you learned recently] Each post should have a different energy. Not all of them should be tips. Mix in stories, opinions, and questions.
Generate 10 ad variations to test
Chapter 5I run a [business type] in [location]. I'm creating [Google/Facebook/Instagram] ads targeting [describe your ideal customer]. My main selling points are: [list three to five based on your customer research]. My budget is [amount] per month. Write 10 ad variations. Each should: - Have a different headline approach (question, statistic, direct benefit, fear of missing out, social proof) - Be within [platform's] character limits - Include a clear call to action - Sound natural, not hypey For each ad, tell me in one sentence why this angle might work.
Analyse ad results and write better ones
Chapter 5Here are the results from my five ad variations this week. [Paste the performance data: impressions, clicks, click-through rate, conversions if you have them.] Which ads performed best and why? Based on these results, write five new variations that build on what worked.Rewrite your product descriptions
BonusHere's the product description for my best-selling item: [paste description]. Rewrite it to be more persuasive and SEO-friendly. Highlight the benefits, not just the features. Keep it under 150 words. Write it for someone who's comparison-shopping and needs a reason to pick mine.Spy on your competitor's website
BonusI run a [business type] in [location]. Look at this competitor's website: [paste their homepage text]. What are they doing well? What are they missing? Write me 3 social media posts that position my business against their weaknesses, without mentioning them by name.
Turn FAQs into social posts
BonusI run a [business type]. Here are the 10 most common questions customers ask me before buying: [list them]. Turn each one into a social media post that answers the question in under 100 words and ends with a soft call to action. Use a friendly, direct tone.
6 prompts
Finance & Invoicing
Write an invoice chasing sequence
Chapter 6I run a small [your business type] business. Write me a sequence of five invoice chasing emails, sent at these intervals: 3 days before the due date, on the due date, 7 days overdue, 14 days overdue, and 30 days overdue. Each email should be professional, direct, and progressively more firm. The first should be a gentle reminder. The last should be a formal final notice. Use British English. Keep each email under 100 words. Don't use corporate jargon or sound threatening. These go to clients I want to keep.Phone script for chasing an overdue invoice
Chapter 6I need to call a client about an invoice that's over 30 days overdue. The invoice is for £[amount] for [type of work]. I want to be firm but not aggressive. I want to keep the client if possible. Write me a short phone script that: opens warmly, states the issue directly, asks if there's a problem I should know about, and gives a clear deadline for payment. Keep it under 100 words. British English.
Prepare for tax season in 20 minutes
Chapter 6I'm a small business owner preparing for my annual tax return. Here's my profit and loss statement for the year. Please summarise the following: 1. Total income, total expenses, and net profit 2. My three largest expense categories and whether any of them seem unusually high compared to the others 3. Any transactions that look like they might be miscategorised (for example, a very large one-off expense in a category that's usually small) 4. A plain-English summary I can send to my accountant explaining the shape of the year Don't give me tax advice. I have an accountant for that. Just organise the data so we can have a productive conversation.
Categorise your bank statement
BonusHere's my bank statement for last month: [paste or upload]. Categorise each transaction as: business expense, personal, income, or unclear. For each "unclear" one, suggest the most likely category and flag it for me to confirm.Calculate your AI ROI
Chapter 3I run a small [your business type] business with [number] employees. I currently spend approximately [X] hours per week on these tasks: [list your main repetitive tasks]. My time (or my average employee's time) is worth approximately $[X] per hour. I'm considering spending $[X] per month on AI tools. Calculate my potential first-year ROI, including a realistic estimate for training time. Show me the monthly breakdown and tell me when I'd break even. Be conservative with the time savings estimates.
Compare AI tools for your budget
BonusI'm comparing these three AI tools for my [business type]: [Tool A, price], [Tool B, price], [Tool C, price]. I mainly need AI for [list 3 tasks]. Compare them on: quality for my use case, ease of use, and total annual cost. Tell me which one to start with and why.
13 prompts
Documents & Paperwork
Turn your brain-dump into a proper SOP
Chapter 7I run a small [your business type] business with [number] employees. I need to turn the following notes into a professional standard operating procedure (SOP). The SOP should have: a clear title, a purpose statement (one sentence explaining why this process matters), numbered steps that someone new to the job could follow without asking questions, a section for exceptions or special cases, and a "last updated" field. Keep the language clear and direct. Don't use corporate jargon. Write it so that someone with no prior experience of our business could follow it. Here are my notes: [paste your brain-dump here]
Write a health and safety policy
Chapter 7I run a small [business type] in the UK with [number] employees. Write me a basic health and safety policy that covers my legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and HSE guidance. Include sections for: management responsibilities, risk assessment process, fire safety, first aid, and accident reporting. Keep it under 1,500 words. Plain English, not legalese.
Write a professional proposal from rough notes
Chapter 7I run a [your business type] business. I need to write a professional proposal for a client. Here's what I know about the job: Client: [name and company] What they want: [paste your rough notes] Approximate timeline: [if known] Budget range: [if discussed] Here's a previous proposal I sent for similar work, so you can match my style and level of detail: [paste a previous proposal] Write a professional proposal that includes: an executive summary (2-3 sentences), scope of work with specific deliverables, timeline with milestones, pricing broken down by phase or deliverable, payment terms, and what's not included (exclusions). Make it sound confident but not salesy. Use a straightforward, professional tone.
Rewrite your website homepage
Chapter 7I run a small [business type] business called [name] in [location]. I need to rewrite my website homepage. Here's the current copy: [paste current homepage text] Here's what my customers say about us: [paste 3-5 reviews] My ideal customer is [describe them]. The main problem I solve is [describe it]. Rewrite the homepage with: a headline that makes it immediately clear what we do and who we do it for, a sub-headline that adds one supporting detail, 3 short sections covering our main services (2-3 sentences each), a section that uses language from the customer reviews (but rewritten, not copied verbatim), and a clear call to action. Keep the total under 400 words. Write in a tone that's professional, warm, and confident. British English.
Rewrite your "About" page
Chapter 2Here's the "About" section from my website: [paste it]. Rewrite it to sound confident but not arrogant. Focus on what the client gets, not what I do. Make it sound like a person wrote it, not a committee. Keep it under 200 words.Write a job description people actually want to read
Chapter 7I run a [business type] with [number] employees in [location]. I need a job description for a [role title]. Here's how I'd describe the role to a friend: [paste your informal description] Write a job description that includes: a 2-3 sentence opening that makes someone want to read on, what they'll actually do day-to-day (be specific), what skills or experience matter (separate "essential" from "nice to have"), what they'll get (salary range, benefits, working hours, anything that makes the role appealing), and how to apply. Don't use corporate jargon. Don't use phrases like "dynamic team player" or "passionate about customer service." Write it in a tone that's friendly and direct, like a real person is talking. British English.
Review a contract before your solicitor does
Chapter 7I'm a small business owner, not a lawyer. I've received the following contract. Please review it and: (1) summarise what this contract actually says in plain English, (2) flag any clauses that are unusual, one-sided, or potentially problematic for the party signing it, (3) identify anything that's missing that you'd normally expect in this type of agreement, and (4) list specific questions I should ask my solicitor about before signing. Do not provide legal advice. Just help me understand what I'm looking at. Here's the contract:
[paste the contract text]Write a monthly report from raw data
Chapter 7Here is our raw data for [month]. Write a [monthly report / board update / investor summary] that covers: performance against targets, notable wins, areas of concern, and recommendations for next month. The audience is [who will read this]. Keep it to [length]. Tone should be professional but not stiff.
Rewrite a trades quote to look professional
Chapter 2Here's a quote I recently sent to a customer: [paste your last quote]. Rewrite this quote to be clearer, more professional, and include a brief explanation of what each line item covers. Keep the prices the same. Add a polite note about payment terms at the bottom.Reply to a client brief (freelancers)
Chapter 2Here's the last project brief a client sent me: [paste it]. Based on this, draft a reply confirming what I'll deliver, the timeline, and any questions I should ask before starting. Make it professional but warm.Extract scope from a messy email thread
BonusI run a [business type]. Here's a messy email thread where a client and I agreed on project scope: [paste thread]. Extract the agreed scope, deliverables, timeline, and price into a clean project brief I can share with my team. Flag anything that seems ambiguous or unconfirmed.
Write an expenses policy for your team
BonusI run a [business type] in the UK. Write me a simple expenses policy for my team of [number]. Cover: what's claimable, spending limits, receipt requirements, how to submit, and approval process. Keep it under 500 words. Plain English.
Write a case study from rough notes
BonusI need to write a case study about a recent project. Here are my rough notes: [paste notes]. Write a 400-word case study with these sections: the client's problem, what we did, the result (with numbers if possible), and a one-line client quote I can ask them to approve. Professional but human tone.3 prompts
Automation
Score and route incoming leads (for Zapier)
Chapter 8You are my sales triage assistant. Read the email below and return only:
1. Hot, Warm, or Cold
2. One sentence saying why
3. The best next action from: "Book call", "Ask one question", "Send pricing", "Politely decline", "File"
Rules: Hot means they have a clear need and a timeline, or they're replying to a quote. Warm means real interest but missing key info. Cold means vague, spammy, or not a fit. If you're not at least 80% sure, label it Warm and say what info is missing.
Email: {{email_body}}Write a post-call follow-up
BonusI just had a sales call with a potential client. Here are my rough notes: [paste notes]. Create a follow-up action list: what I promised to send them, any deadlines mentioned, and draft a follow-up email summarising what we discussed and the next steps. Under 150 words.Build a lead nurture sequence
BonusI use [CRM name]. A new lead just came in with this information: [paste details]. Draft a 3-step nurture sequence: email 1 (sent immediately, acknowledging their enquiry), email 2 (sent 3 days later, sharing a relevant case study or tip), email 3 (sent 7 days later, soft ask for a call). Each under 80 words.
3 prompts
Quality & Safety
Make AI check its own work
Chapter 9Review the text above. List every factual claim, statistic, price, date, or specific assertion. For each one, rate your confidence that it's accurate on a scale of 1-5, where 1 means "I may have made this up" and 5 means "this is well-established." Flag anything below a 4.
Check an AI draft before you send it
BonusI used AI to draft this email to a client: [paste draft]. Check it for: any promises or commitments I might not mean to make, anything that could be misread, and any claims that need verifying before I send it. Flag issues, suggest fixes.Proof an AI blog post before publishing
BonusI'm about to publish this AI-generated blog post: [paste text]. Check it for: factual claims that need sources, statements that could be misleading, anything that sounds too generic, and any accidental plagiarism-style phrasing. Be blunt.3 prompts
Team & Training
Plan a 15-minute team training session
Chapter 10I run a [type of business] with [number] employees. Create a 15-minute team training session on using AI for [specific task, e.g. "drafting customer emails" or "summarising meeting notes"]. Include a 30-second intro I can read aloud, one example prompt we can all try together on a real task, two common mistakes to watch for, a quick verification step using the "read it, verify one claim, check the promises" method, and a 5-minute homework task for the week.
Introduce AI to your team without the drama
BonusI need to explain to my team why we're introducing AI tools without making them feel threatened. Write me a 2-minute script I can read at our next team meeting. Tone: honest, reassuring, practical. Mention that AI handles the boring bits so they can focus on the work that needs a human brain. British English.
Create an AI cheat sheet for your team
BonusCreate a one-page "AI Quick Start" cheat sheet for my team. Include: which tools we use ([list tools]), what they can and can't paste into AI tools, the 30-second verification habit, and 3 example prompts for common tasks in our [business type]. Keep it simple enough to stick on a wall.
3 prompts
Legal & Policy
Write your AI usage policy
Chapter 11I run a [type of business] with [number] employees. We currently use [list your AI tools, e.g. ChatGPT Business, Claude Team]. Our data falls into three categories: public (marketing content, blog posts), internal (financial reports, meeting notes), and confidential (client details, contracts, pricing). Write a one-page AI usage policy for my staff covering: which tools are approved, what data can and cannot go into AI tools, the requirement for human review before anything leaves the business, what to do if someone makes a mistake, and when to disclose AI use to clients. Use plain English, no legal jargon, and keep it under 800 words.
Add an AI clause to your NDA
BonusI need to add an AI clause to the NDA I use with clients. Draft a short clause (under 100 words) that commits my business to not inputting the client's confidential information into public AI tools, and to using only business-tier AI tools with appropriate data processing agreements. Plain English, not legalese.
Write a privacy notice for AI use on your website
BonusI run a [business type] in the UK. Write me a short privacy notice addition (under 200 words) I can add to my website explaining that we use AI tools in our business operations, what data is and isn't shared with AI providers, and that a human always reviews AI-generated output before it reaches customers. GDPR-compliant. Plain English.7 prompts
Strategy & Evaluation
Evaluate any new AI tool (the sceptical ops manager)
Chapter 12You are my sceptical ops manager. I run a [type of business] with [number] employees. I'm considering this tool: [paste tool name + link + their sales copy]. Ask me up to 8 questions to work out whether I should actually try it. Then score it 0 to 10 against five criteria: time saved per week, setup effort, ongoing cost, data risk, and "will this become a habit or a novelty." End with a 30-minute test plan I can run this week to find out if it's worth keeping.
Find out what AI can do for your specific business
BonusI run a small [your business type]. Here's a task I do every week that takes me about [X] hours: [describe the task]. Tell me honestly: can AI help with this? If yes, show me exactly how. If no, tell me why not.
Audit your AI subscriptions
BonusI run a [business type]. Here are the 5 AI tools I currently pay for: [list tools and monthly costs]. For each one, tell me: is this still worth it, is there a cheaper alternative that does the same thing, and should I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel? Be honest and specific.
Find your next AI use case
BonusI run a [business type]. I've been using AI for [X months]. Here's what I'm currently using it for: [list tasks]. What am I missing? Suggest 3 specific new use cases I haven't tried yet, based on what works for businesses like mine. For each one, give me the exact prompt to try this week.
Work out your AI budget
BonusI run a [business type] with [number] employees. My monthly overhead is £[X]. What's the maximum I should be spending on AI tools before the cost outweighs the benefit? Give me a sensible budget with specific tool recommendations.
Reply to a 5-star review
BonusHere's a 5-star review a customer left me: [paste review]. Write a short, genuine reply that thanks them specifically for what they mentioned. Don't sound corporate. Under 50 words.Write a callback script from a voicemail
BonusI run a [business type]. Here's a voicemail transcript from a potential customer: [paste transcript]. Draft a callback script that addresses their specific questions, sounds friendly, and ends with a clear next step. Under 100 words.
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