The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when A happy customer has agreed to speak with a prospect, and you want to thank them, respect their time and tell them what the prospect wants to know.
- {{reference_contact}}
- {{reference_company}}
- {{prospect_info}}
- {{prospect_questions}}
- {{customer_story}}
- {{logistics}}
- {{confidential}}
- {{previous_requests}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
Write a short brief for {{reference_contact}} at {{reference_company}}, who has agreed to take a reference call with a prospect, so that they know who they are speaking to, what the prospect is likely to ask and how long it will take. Also write the thank-you note for afterward. About the prospect (type of company, role of the person calling, what they are evaluating): {{prospect_info}} What the prospect most wants to hear about: {{prospect_questions}} What our customer uses us for and the results they have told us about: """ {{customer_story}} """ Call logistics (date, length, how it is set up): {{logistics}} Topics the customer should not be asked to discuss, such as confidential projects: {{confidential}} How often we have asked this customer for references before: {{previous_requests}} Produce, in this order: 1. The brief, under 200 words: thanks, who they will speak with, the call logistics, three to five topics the prospect will probably raise, and a clear line that they should answer honestly, including about anything that did not go well. 2. A thank-you note to send after the call, under 80 words. 3. A one-line note to myself on how often this customer has been asked, and whether to give them a rest before the next request. The brief should be respectful of their time and easy to read on a phone. For example, a topic line could read: "How long setup took and who on your side was involved." This shows the form only. Do not script answers for the customer, ask them to say anything specific or tell them which results to mention, because a reference that sounds coached is worth less to the prospect and unfair to the customer. Do not share details about the prospect beyond what is above. If the logistics or the caller's role is missing, put a placeholder in brackets rather than inventing it.
Variables
- {{reference_contact}}
- The customer contact taking the call.
- {{reference_company}}
- The customer's company.
- {{prospect_info}}
- What you can share about the prospect: type of company, the caller's role, what they are evaluating.
- {{prospect_questions}}
- What the prospect wants to know, for example "how long implementation took and how support responds".
- {{customer_story}}
- What the customer uses you for and the results they have shared with you.
- {{logistics}}
- Date, time zone, length and how the call is set up.
- {{confidential}}
- Anything off limits for the call, or "none".
- {{previous_requests}}
- How many reference calls they have done for you recently, for example "two this year".
Why it works
- What to avoid. No scripted answers and no results to mention, because a coached reference is worth less to the prospect and unfair to your customer.
- Who it's for. The brief tells the customer who they are speaking to and what will come up, so a favor to you takes as little of their time as possible.
- Length. Under 200 words and readable on a phone, since most customers read it just before the call.