Josh Smith

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 1
I 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 4
I 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 4
I 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 4
I 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 4
I 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 4
Write 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I'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

Bonus
I 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 5
I 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 5
Based 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 5
Write 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 5
Take 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 5
Analyse 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 5
Using 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 5
I 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 5
Here 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

Bonus
Here'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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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 6
I 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 6
I 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 6
I'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

Bonus
Here'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 3
I 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

Bonus
I'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 7
I 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 7
I 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 7
I 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 7
I 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 2
Here'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 7
I 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 7
I'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 7
Here 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 2
Here'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 2
Here'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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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 8
You 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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 9
Review 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I'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 10
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
Create 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.

7 prompts

Strategy & Evaluation

Evaluate any new AI tool (the sceptical ops manager)

Chapter 12
You 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
I 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

Bonus
Here'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

Bonus
I 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.

Want the full system?

These prompts work better with context

The book explains when to use each prompt, how to chain them together, and the habits that make AI actually useful. Not just the prompts — the thinking behind them.

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