{ "site": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com", "generatedAt": "2026-10-25T13:45:46.257Z", "count": 240, "setups": [ { "title": "Capture estimate leads and draft quote follow-ups", "slug": "capture-leads-and-follow-up-quotes", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/capture-leads-and-follow-up-quotes/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Log every estimate or quote request into a tracking sheet, then draft follow-ups when a lead has waited too long for a quote, without auto-sending mail.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Gmail", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Gmail & Google Sheets: free tier on Workspace basics; Grok Bot: paid X plan usage pool; Zapier/Make/n8n: free tiers with limits, paid for volume.", "steps": [ "Label or filter inbound estimate traffic (form sender, subject contains “estimate” or “quote”).", "On each new message, run an extract step and append a row; set status to “New.”", "Test with real past emails before live traffic.", "Schedule a daily sweep for leads still unquoted after ~24 hours (not a one-off chat).", "Draft a short follow-up per lead; propose callback times if you connect calendar.", "You send every message. Agent stays draft-only until you approve.", "Copy a free lead tracker template into Google Sheets or Excel instead of building from scratch. Set up columns for name, company, lead source, stage, follow-up date, and deal value.", "Log every lead at the moment of contact and always set a next follow-up date. Once a week, sort by follow-up date and clear anything overdue. That one review keeps the sheet from turning into a dead list." ], "prompt": "Read this estimate request email. Return JSON with keys:\nname, phone, email, address, job_type, timing, notes.\nUse \"\" for anything not stated. Do not guess. Email:\n{{email_body}}\n\n---\n\nWatch my [inbox or CRM] for leads who asked for a quote and haven't received one in 24 hours. Draft a friendly follow-up for each and propose callback times from my calendar at [availability]. Show me the drafts and times first, and send or book only after I approve.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30–60 minutes per day on active lead volume", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (follow-up timing tied to revenue in anecdotes only).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: combines manual copying from email (~15–30 min/day) plus follow-up drafting; sources cite high ROI for 24h follow-up but give no timed study.", "commonSnags": [ "Scheduled overnight sweeps may not run reliably. Confirm the job fired before trusting follow-ups.", "OAuth / login flows for Gmail need you in the loop; agents rarely pass 2FA alone.", "Structured form emails parse better than messy forwarded threads.", "Leads entered days later go stale. Log every lead at the moment of contact and always set a follow-up date, or the sheet becomes a graveyard." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/XFreeze/status/2083786357390868891", "author": "@XFreeze", "note": "Email triggers and structured extract (same pattern as lead logging)." }, { "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1vzg2wd/any_one_tried_grok_bot_is_it_garbage_or_just_me", "author": "reddit", "note": "Sheet updates from email for client tracking." }, { "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/GrokBot/comments/1wy0v7z/reasons_to_buy", "author": "reddit", "note": "24h unquoted follow-up pattern; scheduled-job reliability warning." }, { "url": "https://www.hubspot.com/business-templates/lead-tracker", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "Supports free lead-tracker template columns, the log-at-contact plus follow-up-date habit, the weekly pipeline review, and when a spreadsheet stops being enough." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Extract vendor invoices and bundle the month for accounting", "slug": "vendor-invoices-and-accounting", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/vendor-invoices-and-accounting/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "When invoice email arrives, extract vendor, amount, due date, and invoice number into a tracker; at month-end, bundle PDFs plus an index for your accountant after you approve.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Gmail", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Gmail & Sheets: free tier; Grok Bot Invoice Hunter template: Grok paid plan; Drive storage may need paid tier for large PDF archives.", "steps": [ "Filter senders/subjects that indicate invoices; trigger on each new message.", "Summarize the email; extract vendor, date, amount, invoice number to columns.", "Flag urgent items by due date; never pay without approval.", "On your chosen month-end day, collect PDFs, refresh the index, zip or link the bundle.", "Draft the accountant email and pause until you sign off." ], "prompt": "Watch my inbox at [email address]. For each new email, write a two-line summary, flag it as urgent or not using these rules: [rules]. If it's an invoice, extract the vendor, amount, due date and invoice number into [spreadsheet or tool]. Do not send any reply or pay anything until I approve it.\n\n---\n\nOn the [day] of each month, collect vendor invoice PDFs from [folder or inbox] and extract vendor, date, amount, and invoice number into an index spreadsheet. Bundle the month's invoices and the index into one package. Before sending anything to [accountant's email], pause and show me the bundle and the draft email for approval.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1–2 hours per month plus ~5–10 minutes per invoice", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (fewer late fees / accountant rework implied, not priced).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manual PDF entry time plus month-end collation; Invoice Hunter template describes workflow but cites no measured hours.", "commonSnags": [ "Scanned PDF invoices may need OCR. Test one ugly attachment before automating pays.", "Agents should not pay vendors without you. Keep approval on every payment step.", "Month-end bundle jobs can time out on large folders; split by week if needed." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://grokbot.dev/marketplace/invoice-hunter/", "note": "Scheduled extract, bundle, approval before accountant." }, { "url": "https://x.com/XFreeze/status/2083786357390868891", "author": "@XFreeze", "note": "Per-email invoice field extraction." }, { "url": "https://x.com/Introspeculator/status/2109910884000874958", "author": "@Introspeculator", "date": "2026-10-13", "note": "AP routed to bot inbox; owner approves payments." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Morning inbox briefing and multi-inbox triage", "slug": "inbox-morning-triage", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/inbox-morning-triage/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Start the day with a short “what needs you” note, and periodically sort multiple inboxes into reply vs FYI vs junk, with drafts for your approval, not auto-send.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Muse" ], "toolCost": "Gmail/Outlook: included with business email; Grok Bot: paid plan usage; Muse: free tier with scan limits, paid for heavy mail.", "steps": [ "Pick a morning delivery time (sources often use ~6:45–7:00 a.m.).", "Connect read access; keep send/delete off until trusted.", "Define spam/noise rules (newsletters, cold pitches, invite spam).", "Daily job: summarize critical items and unfinished to-dos from the last 24 hours.", "Separate pass (or combined): categorize threads, draft replies for “needs reply,” list recurring charges if you want subscription cleanup.", "Approve every draft and deletion." ], "prompt": "Every morning at [time], review my email, LinkedIn messages and calendar invites. Block or flag obvious spam and cold pitches using these rules: [rules]. Send me a short briefing of only the critical items needing my attention today, and ask me before deleting anything or replying on my behalf.\n\n---\n\nGo through my inboxes at [email accounts] and sort messages into needs reply, FYI and junk, then draft replies for the ones that need me. Show me the drafts and do not send, cancel or delete anything until I approve each one.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 30–90 minutes on heavy mail days", "moneySavedEstimate": "Estimate only: one missed-revenue anecdote (~$140) cited in sources, not a typical outcome.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: @buddy7 describes a daily briefing without timings; @farzyness anecdote of a missed $140 email in 24 hours, not a controlled study.", "commonSnags": [ "Connector timeouts can leave scheduled briefings half-finished. Check the run log.", "Usage caps on Grok/Muse can stop mid-scan; watch allowance on busy weeks.", "Never auto-send or auto-delete until you have reviewed drafts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/buddy7/status/2107824169849139380", "author": "@buddy7", "note": "Morning critical-items briefing." }, { "url": "https://sharbel.com/articles/grok-bot-review", "note": "Scheduled bots; connector timeouts and incomplete jobs." }, { "url": "https://x.com/farzyness/status/2105363771715637644", "author": "@farzyness", "note": "Multi-inbox triage; anecdotal missed-revenue email." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Summarize customer calls and flag local leads", "slug": "summarize-service-calls-for-small-business", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-service-calls-for-small-business/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Post per-call summaries and to-dos to Slack or email, and optionally list local forum posts from people asking for your trade. You still write outreach.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid plan; Slack/email: free tiers; phone/audio access depends on your carrier or VoIP stack (often paid).", "steps": [ "Wire call audio or transcripts into the workflow.", "Post structured summaries: caller, issue, promised next step.", "Optional daily scan of local communities; output links only.", "Human sends every reply; review before CRM updates.", "Confirm call-recording rules for your state before recording." ], "prompt": "For my [type of service] business, summarize each customer phone call [from this source] and post the summary and to-dos in [Slack channel]. Also check [Reddit communities for my area] each day for people looking for my service, and list them with links in [Notion]. Show me any reply or calendar appointment you plan to create before you make it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Several hours per week on notes and dispatch handoffs", "moneySavedEstimate": "Estimate only: author claims replacing a phone subscription fee (amount not verified by us).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: @LoganARobison reports replacing a phone subscription cost and treating the agent as an asset; no hours logged.", "commonSnags": [ "Call audio access and recording rules vary by state. You must wire telephony yourself.", "Forum lead lists are research only; do not automate DMs without platform rules review.", "Phone verification and carrier portals block most agents. See /where-ai-gets-stuck/." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/LoganARobison/status/2093317242746294432", "author": "@LoganARobison", "note": "Call summaries; local subreddit scan; phone subscription savings claimed." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Prep for meetings from the right email thread", "slug": "meeting-prep-from-email-and-calendar", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/meeting-prep-from-email-and-calendar/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Before a meeting, find the relevant email thread, summarize status and open items, and cross-check mail against your calendar for conflicts. Read-only.", "tools": [ "Meta Muse" ], "toolCost": "Meta Muse: free tier with limits; Gmail/Google Calendar: included with Workspace or free consumer accounts.", "steps": [ "Connect email + calendar; prefer read-only scopes where offered.", "Prompt with attendee, topic, and date.", "Review the summary and verify on long CC threads yourself.", "Optional: flag unread mail that conflicts with calendar holds.", "You send all replies; agent does not post on your behalf in the source test." ], "prompt": "For my meeting with [person or topic] on [date], find the right email thread in my [Gmail] and summarize where things stand, with open items and what I should bring. Then cross-check my unread emails from the past [3] days against my calendar and flag any scheduling conflicts or requests that clash with existing events. Give me the results as one short list and don't reply to or send anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 15–25 minutes per meeting", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: AI Agents Library scored meeting prep 10/10 in a ten-task test; inbox rank 6/10.", "commonSnags": [ "Long CC threads confuse “answered vs unanswered”. Spot-check before client meetings.", "Calendar + mail connectors need stable OAuth; re-auth when Google prompts you.", "Read-only scopes are safer until summaries match your expectations." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aiagentslibrary.com/blog/meta-muse-prompts/", "note": "Meeting prep 10/10; inbox prioritization 6/10." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Track recurring software spend and idle charges", "slug": "track-recurring-software-spend", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/track-recurring-software-spend/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Scan renewal emails and receipts for SaaS and AI tools, flag overlaps, and draft refund or cancellation messages for charges you are not using. After you approve.", "tools": [ "Meta Muse" ], "toolCost": "Muse: free tier caps heavy mailbox scans; paid tiers for volume. Gmail: free tier. Refunds still require you in billing portals.", "steps": [ "Connect email; ask for 12 months of recurring charges in a table.", "Note services the agent could not see (source tests missed accounts).", "Pick one idle charge; have the agent draft a provider message.", "Approve before send; you click cancel/downgrade in the portal.", "Cross-check bank/credit card for anything email-only audits miss." ], "prompt": "Scan my connected [email and accounts] for receipts and renewal emails from the past [12] months for AI tools and software subscriptions. Give me a table with service, price, billing frequency, next renewal date, and flag any that overlap in function. Note which accounts you could not check, and do not cancel or change anything.\n\n---\n\nReview my receipts and invoices from [email or folder] for the past [12 months] and find charges for services I'm not using. List each with monthly cost and total paid. For the top one, draft a polite message to [provider] asking for a refund or waiver, and show it to me before sending.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1–2 hours of hunting; cash recovered varies", "moneySavedEstimate": "Estimate only: one source reports ~$114 GCP waiver after a drafted follow-up (single anecdote, not typical).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: MindStudio audit listed 12+ tools; Sid Saladi reports $114.14 GCP waiver after follow-up. Single anecdote.", "commonSnags": [ "Email-only audits miss charges with no renewal email. Cross-check card statements.", "Free-tier scan limits can truncate 12-month history. Narrow date range or upgrade.", "You click cancel/downgrade; agents should only draft provider messages." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.mindstudio.ai/blog/meta-muse-ai-agent", "note": "Subscription audit; missed some accounts." }, { "url": "https://sidsaladi.substack.com/p/meta-muse-use-cases-50-real-ways", "note": "GCP waiver after drafted follow-up." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Weekly personal brief from calendar and inbox", "slug": "weekly-personal-life-brief", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/weekly-personal-life-brief/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Once a week, get a short list of appointments, bills, and personal to-dos pulled from your calendar and email, instead of re-asking the same questions in chat every Sunday.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Meta Muse" ], "toolCost": "Calendar/mail: included with free accounts; Grok Bot: paid plan usage; Muse: free tier with scan limits.", "steps": [ "Pick a fixed time (e.g. Sunday evening) and connect calendar + personal mail read-only.", "Define noise rules: marketing, social notifications, newsletters.", "Scheduled job: list appointments in the next 7 days, flag bills or renewals spotted in mail, surface threads that still need a reply.", "Keep send/delete off; you act on the list yourself.", "After two weeks, tighten rules so the brief stays under one screen." ], "prompt": "Every [day] at [time], review my personal calendar for the next 7 days and scan my inbox at [email] for bills, renewals, and messages that still need a reply. Ignore newsletters and promotions using these rules: [rules]. Send me one short briefing with: appointments, money due, and reply-needed threads. Do not send email, pay anything, or delete mail until I approve each action.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 20–40 minutes per week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (fewer missed due dates implied, not priced).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: extends the morning-briefing pattern (@buddy7) to personal calendar + mail without a timed study.", "commonSnags": [ "Mixing work and personal inboxes makes briefs noisy. Split accounts or filters first.", "Scheduled jobs can time out on large mailboxes; narrow the date window.", "Agents should not pay bills or RSVP for you without explicit approval." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/buddy7/status/2107824169849139380", "author": "@buddy7", "note": "Scheduled critical-items briefing pattern." }, { "url": "https://sharbel.com/articles/grok-bot-review", "note": "Scheduled agents; connector reliability caveats." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Compare a big purchase with a saved research brief", "slug": "compare-big-purchases-with-research-brief", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/compare-big-purchases-with-research-brief/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn “what laptop should I buy?” from a single chat into a structured comparison doc with criteria, tradeoffs, and links you can revisit, then update it when prices change.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Meta Muse", "Grok Bot" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on most chat tools; browse-enabled plans may be paid.", "steps": [ "Write 3–5 decision criteria (budget, size, battery, warranty, etc.).", "Ask for 3 finalists with pros/cons per criterion, not a single recommendation.", "Save the table to your doc; link primary sources for specs and reviews.", "Optional: monthly job to refresh prices or successor models.", "You make the purchase; the agent does not check out for you." ], "prompt": "I'm deciding on [product category] with a budget of [amount]. My must-haves are: [criteria list]. Research three strong options. For each, give price range, key specs, pros/cons against my criteria, and links to official specs plus two independent reviews. Put it in a comparison table. Do not tell me to \"just buy\" one. Highlight tradeoffs. Save the output to [doc or note title].\n\n---\n\nEach month on the [day], re-check prices and whether a newer model replaced any of the three finalists in my [doc]. Append a short \"what changed\" section. Do not purchase anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 30–60 minutes per major purchase", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (better-fit purchase implied, not quantified).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: consolidates multiple searches and forum skims; no controlled timing in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Agents hallucinate specs. Verify against manufacturer pages before buying.", "Affiliate-heavy roundup sites bias recommendations; prefer primary sources.", "Scheduled price checks need browse access that may hit caps." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aiagentslibrary.com/blog/meta-muse-prompts/", "note": "Research-style tasks scored in agent prompt library (not purchase-specific)." }, { "url": "https://sidsaladi.substack.com/p/meta-muse-use-cases-50-real-ways", "note": "Documented multi-step research patterns with Muse." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "AI meal plan and grocery list", "slug": "ai-meal-plan-and-grocery-list", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-meal-plan-and-grocery-list/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn “what should we eat this week?” into a written meal plan and a grocery list grouped by store section, using diet, budget, household size, and what you already have in the pantry, without the agent ordering groceries for you.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini; paid tiers add higher limits and optional browse.", "steps": [ "List household size, days to cover, and hard diet rules (allergies, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).", "Add a weekly food budget only if you will verify prices yourself. Do not trust invented line-item prices.", "Paste pantry and fridge items so the list skips what you already own.", "Name your store (or generic sections) so the list sorts by Produce, Protein, Dairy, Pantry, Frozen, etc.", "Run the prompt; save the meal table and grocery list to your notes app.", "Shop yourself; adjust quantities when you walk the aisles.", "Optional second pass: paste recipes or blog links and ask for a list only, grouped the same way.", "List what is actually on hand by category (grains, proteins, vegetables, flavor bases, fats), plus your time limit, equipment, and diet rules. Ask for several meal options that use only what you listed, with substitution ideas for anything missing.", "Pick the winners, then ask the model to order them: cook what spoils first in the first two days, shift to shelf-stable pantry meals later in the week." ], "prompt": "You are helping me plan meals for my household. Use the details below. Do not invent foods I cannot eat or items I did not list unless you ask first.\n\nHousehold: [number] adults, [number] children (ages if relevant)\nDays to plan: [e.g. 5 dinners + lunches, or Mon–Sun all meals]\nDiet and restrictions: [e.g. vegetarian, gluten-free, nut allergy]\nWeekly food budget (optional): [amount or \"flexible. No invented prices\"]\nPantry and fridge on hand: [list what you already have]\nPreferred store or layout: [store name, or \"group by: Produce, Meat/Seafood, Dairy, Bakery, Pantry/Dry goods, Frozen, Household\"]\n\nDeliver:\n1) A meal plan table (day, meal slot, dish name, note if using leftovers).\n2) One consolidated grocery list grouped by the store sections above. Mark items that likely match my pantry list as \"check pantry first.\"\n3) Do not claim exact prices unless I paste a price list. Do not order delivery or check out online. I shop in person.\n\nAsk one clarifying question only if a restriction or household detail is missing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate only: meal-planning write-ups describe less planning stress; no timed study cited.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (budget alignment is anecdotal; ChatGPT price guesses are often wrong. Verify in store).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: OpenAI’s cooking use case and independent meal-planning guides describe faster list-building anecdotally; we did not run a timed trial.", "commonSnags": [ "Models may guess prices or package sizes. Treat dollar amounts as unreliable until you check shelves.", "Allergy mistakes are high stakes. Re-read every ingredient line before you cook.", "Very long pantry lists can blow the context window; split into “plan meals” then “list only.”", "The model may quietly add ingredients you do not own. Check each option against your actual shelves before you start cooking." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://chatgpt.com/use-cases/recipes-cooking", "note": "OpenAI cooking use case: meal plans, grocery lists, substitutions, budget tips." }, { "url": "https://moderatelymessyrd.com/chatgpt-meal-planning-hacks/", "note": "Prompt patterns: household details, budgets, lists by store section." }, { "url": "https://theeverygirl.com/chatgpt-meal-plan-hack/", "note": "Weekly plan → recipes → categorized grocery list workflow (anecdotal)." }, { "url": "https://community.openai.com/t/grocery-shopping-list-struggles/706413", "note": "Community thread on meal plans from sale lists and quantity for families." }, { "url": "http://lifeandwork.blog/chatgpt-meal-planning-pantry-meals/", "author": "Life and Work Blog", "note": "Supports inventory-based prompts by pantry category, asking for substitutions, and sequencing perishable ingredients first to reduce waste." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Meeting notes to action items and follow-up email", "slug": "ai-meeting-notes-to-action-items", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-meeting-notes-to-action-items/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Paste messy meeting notes or a transcript and get decisions, owners, due dates, and a follow-up email draft you send yourself, without the model inventing commitments that were not in the notes.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on major chat tools; paid transcription tools optional.", "steps": [ "Redact client secrets or personal data you should not put in cloud chat.", "Paste raw notes; say who was in the meeting only if that appears in the text.", "Run the prompt; scan for TBD owners and dates. Fill those in yourself.", "Edit the follow-up email for tone and accuracy.", "Send from your mail client; do not grant the agent send access.", "File the action table in your task tool or doc for the next standup.", "Export two to four weeks of calendar events and ask the AI to run an agenda test table: one row per recurring meeting with columns for purpose (decision, status, other), agenda yes or no, essential attendees only, and could-this-be-async. Ask it to flag meetings that fail two or more checks. Show the output first and correct any meeting it miscategorized.", "For flagged meetings, ask for a short decline-or-convert script: a polite decline asking for an agenda with the decision needed, or a proposal to move the update to a written thread. Try the 'no agenda, no attendance' rule for two weeks, then keep or reinstate each meeting based on whether anyone missed it." ], "prompt": "I pasted meeting notes below. Extract structured output only. Do not invent attendees, decisions, or dates that are not supported by the text.\n\nMeeting title / date (if stated): [optional]\nAttendees (if stated): [optional]\n\n---\n[paste raw notes or transcript]\n---\n\nDeliver:\n1) Decisions made (bullet list; tie each to a phrase from the notes).\n2) Action items table: action | owner (or \"TBD\") | due date (or \"TBD\") | note line reference.\n3) Open questions / parking lot (unresolved items).\n4) A follow-up email draft (plain language, under [word cap] words) summarizing decisions and action items. To: [team / client / etc.]\n\nRules: If owner or due date is missing, mark TBD. Do not guess. Do not send email or create calendar events. Flag commitments I should verify before sending.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate only: recap and action-item drafting time varies by meeting length; no timed study cited.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: common post-meeting documentation task; public AI meeting-summary features describe faster recaps anecdotally.", "commonSnags": [ "Models invent action owners or dates. Treat TBD rows as mandatory when notes are vague.", "Confidential deals belong in redacted notes, not full transcripts in shared chat accounts.", "Follow-up drafts can sound too formal. Edit voice before client send.", "Do not cut one-on-ones to fix overload; they carry coaching and trust. And give new recurring meetings an expiration or review date so the calendar does not refill by habit." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-release-notes", "note": "ChatGPT product docs (general meeting and writing assistance context)." }, { "url": "https://support.google.com/meet/answer/12849897", "note": "Google Meet transcript feature (source material for notes)." }, { "url": "https://www.mindstudio.ai/blog/meta-muse-ai-agent", "note": "Draft-from-notes patterns in agent workflows." }, { "url": "https://fellow.ai/blog/no-agenda-no-meeting-how-to-create-meaningful-meetings/", "author": "Fellow", "note": "Supports the 'no agenda, no attendance' rule and the five-question test: does it need to be a meeting, is there a clear agenda with outcomes, are only essential people invited, does everyone have context, is there a capture plan." }, { "url": "https://itdworld.com/blog/leadership/unnecessary-meetings/", "author": "ITD World", "note": "Supports the audit workflow: quantify pain, zero-based calendaring (cancel all recurring meetings and make them earn their way back), the async filter litmus test, and the 25/50-minute rule." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Build a lead-gen site with an AI bot", "slug": "build-a-lead-gen-site-with-an-ai-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-a-lead-gen-site-with-an-ai-bot/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Use an AI coding or copy assistant to draft a simple landing page and contact form for a local service business, then you approve hosting spend, publish, and wire leads to email or a sheet. No scraped lists and no texting leads without consent.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "v0", "Cursor" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on chat and some builders; paid hosting, domains, and form services apply when you choose them.", "steps": [ "Write honest proof points only (license, service area, real reviews you link to).", "Run the prompt for outline + homepage copy + form fields.", "Generate or paste HTML/components; remove any fake testimonials the model suggests.", "You choose and pay for hosting; you click publish.", "Connect the form to an inbox or sheet; send a test submission yourself.", "Add privacy policy and sponsor/AI disclosure if the site mentions automated chat.", "Optional: add a simple FAQ and service-area paragraph for local SEO. No keyword stuffing." ], "prompt": "I run a local [service type] business in [city/region]. Help me spec a simple lead-gen landing page and contact form. No automations that message leads without my approval.\n\nBusiness: [name or working title]\nService in one sentence: [what you do]\nProof I can honestly claim: [license, insurance, years, review links. Only what I provide]\nForm fields: [name, phone, email, job address, photos, preferred time, etc.]\nBrand tone: [plain / friendly / professional]\nTarget host or stack: [Carrd / Framer / static HTML / other]\n\nDeliver:\n1) Page outline (hero, services, service area, proof, FAQ, form, privacy note).\n2) Draft homepage copy I can paste into my builder.\n3) Form labels + validation hints (required vs optional).\n4) Pre-publish checklist: approve hosting cost, connect form to [email/CRM], privacy policy, test submit, no scraped lists, no cold SMS.\n\nGuardrails: no fake testimonials, no purchased lead lists, no auto-texting visitors, no charging my card. I approve spend and publish.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate only: first-page draft time vs writing from scratch; build time depends on stack.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (hosting and tool costs vary).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: AI site builders and chat copy tools describe faster first drafts; no controlled timing study.", "commonSnags": [ "Generated sites may include placeholder phone numbers or fake reviews. Delete before publish.", "Auto-deploy hooks can publish before you review. Keep staging and manual promote.", "Contact forms need spam protection (honeypot or CAPTCHA) you configure separately." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://v0.dev/docs", "note": "Vercel v0 docs for AI-generated UI (example stack)." }, { "url": "https://developers.cloudflare.com/pages/", "note": "Static hosting option for simple landing pages." }, { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business", "note": "Email marketing compliance context (if you email leads)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-14", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Turn rough notes into a work status update", "slug": "status-update-from-rough-notes", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/status-update-from-rough-notes/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Paste messy bullets from a standup or client call and get a tight status email or Slack post, with risks and asks separated, without sending until you approve.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Meta Muse" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on most chat tools.", "steps": [ "Collect bullets: done, in progress, blocked, needs decision.", "Prompt for a short update with headings; cap length (e.g. 150 words).", "Review tone for your team; remove anything confidential.", "Paste into mail or Slack yourself; keep send off in the agent.", "Save a winning template prompt for next week." ], "prompt": "Here are my rough notes from this week:\n[paste bullets]\n\nTurn this into a status update for [audience: team / client / manager]. Use sections: Shipped, In progress, Blocked, Asks. Max [150] words, plain language, no hype. Flag anything I should verify before sending. Do not send mail or post to Slack. Show me the draft only.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 10–20 minutes per update", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: drafting time for recurring status comms; no cited study.", "commonSnags": [ "Pasting confidential client names into cloud chat may violate policy. Redact first.", "Agents overstate \"shipped\" items. Match wording to what actually merged or deployed.", "Do not connect send permissions until drafts are consistently accurate." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.mindstudio.ai/blog/meta-muse-ai-agent", "note": "Draft-from-notes patterns in Muse workflows." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-13", "addedDate": "2026-10-13" }, { "title": "Grok Bot shared-computer security audit", "slug": "grok-bot-shared-computer-security-audit", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/grok-bot-shared-computer-security-audit/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Before you give Grok Bots more connectors or routines, run a read-only audit of what every Bot on your account can see on the shared cloud computer. Connected accounts, files, approval rules, and stale access, then fix issues yourself after review.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid Cursor/X plan with Grok Bot access; audit itself uses normal agent usage pool.", "steps": [ "Read xAI’s shared-computer docs once: one cloud computer per user, not per Bot; separate Bots are not a security boundary.", "Create or pick an auditor Bot whose only job is this report. Do not grant it send, spend, or publish permissions beyond what you need to inspect settings.", "Paste the audit prompt below. Ask it to list findings only. No revokes, deletes, or setting changes until you approve each item.", "Walk the six sections: connected accounts, sensitive info on disk, agent/Bot access, approval rules, activity you can see in run history, and unused connectors or routines.", "You sign out of sites, revoke connectors, delete files, and tighten Ask-first rules in Grok Bot settings. Never paste passwords or API keys into the chat transcript.", "Re-run monthly or after adding a marketplace template, webhook routine, or new connector." ], "prompt": "SHARED CLOUD COMPUTER SECURITY AUDIT (read-only report)\n\nYou are helping me audit my Grok Bot account's shared cloud computer. xAI documents that all Bots on my user share one computer: browser sessions, files under /workspace, and command-line credentials are shared, not isolated per Bot.\n\nRules for this run:\n- Report only. Do not revoke connectors, delete files, change approval rules, send mail, spend money, or publish anything.\n- Do not ask me to paste passwords, API keys, recovery codes, or webhook secrets into chat. If you need a credential location, describe the file path or setting name only.\n- Do not rely on a Bot that is being audited to audit itself without a separate auditor perspective. I will review your output.\n\nInspect what you can see and return markdown with these six sections:\n\n1) CONNECTED ACCOUNTS: List connectors/plugins and signed-in browser sessions you can observe. Flag anything that looks broader than my current jobs need.\n\n2) SENSITIVE INFO: Search /workspace and obvious config locations for API keys, .env files, private keys, or credential exports. Quote file paths only; never echo secret values.\n\n3) AGENT / BOT ACCESS: List active Bots, shared templates, and routines. Note any with automatic send, purchase, publish, or local-computer execution enabled.\n\n4) APPROVAL RULES: Summarize Ask-first vs allow-automatically rules for sending, spending, publishing, routine changes, and execution on my local computer (if configured).\n\n5) ACTIVITY TRACKING: From run history or recent computer actions you can see, note unusual patterns (many failed logins, bulk deletes, new routines I did not expect).\n\n6) UNUSED ACCESS: Connectors, browser logins, or Bots that nothing active references; recommend revoke/sign-out candidates for my manual review.\n\nEnd with a prioritized table: Finding | Risk (low/med/high) | Recommended human action | Section.\n\nDo not implement fixes until I say go.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 45–90 minutes versus a manual connector and file walkthrough", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (breach or mistaken send prevention implied, not priced).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: consolidates checklist steps from public security threads and xAI docs; no timed study cited.", "commonSnags": [ "Audited Bots may miss files they created. Cross-check Computer yourself and use a fresh auditor Bot.", "Webhook keys and routine credentials often appear only in the desktop app, not mobile.", "Fixing findings requires human sign-out and connector revoke in provider consoles. Agents should stay draft-only." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/Michael_Fenech_/status/2110027278864552008", "author": "@Michael_Fenech_", "note": "Public thread framing a monthly shared-computer security audit before giving Bots more jobs." }, { "url": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/approvals-security-and-privacy", "note": "Shared computer, local execution settings, connector hygiene." }, { "url": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/computer-and-apps", "note": "One computer per user; shared browser, files, and credentials." }, { "url": "https://x.com/Ken_LinkWell/status/2107070920607023565", "author": "@Ken_LinkWell", "note": "Community scan finding shared credential files; separate Bots not a boundary." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-14", "addedDate": "2026-10-14" }, { "title": "iPhone Action Button opens one Grok Bot", "slug": "iphone-action-button-opens-grok-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/iphone-action-button-opens-grok-bot/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Map the iPhone Action Button (or Back Tap) to a Shortcut that opens one specific Grok Bot chat instantly, so you are not hunting the sidebar when you want the same agent every time.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Apple Shortcuts" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot iOS app: requires Grok Bot access on your Cursor/X plan; Apple Shortcuts: free.", "steps": [ "On desktop, open the Grok Bot you want on speed dial. Note its agent id (from share/deep-link docs or developer integrations that open grokbot://app/v1/agent?id=YOUR_ID).", "In Shortcuts, create a new shortcut: add Open URLs with grokbot://app/v1/agent?id=YOUR_ID (replace YOUR_ID). Name it clearly, e.g. “Open Inbox Bot.”", "On iPhone: Settings → Action Button → Shortcut → pick your shortcut. On phones without Action Button, use Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → assign the same shortcut.", "Test once: Action Button should launch Grok Bot straight into that Bot’s chat. If the app opens to home, confirm you are signed in and the id matches the Bot on your account.", "Optional voice handoff: on desktop, create a routine with a webhook trigger; in Shortcuts add Get Contents of URL (POST, Authorization Bearer + key, JSON body with dictated text). Assign a different shortcut to Back Tap if Action Button is already used.", "Keep send/spend/publish approvals on in Grok Bot settings. The shortcut only opens the Bot; it does not bypass approval fences." ], "prompt": "This setup is primarily Shortcuts configuration, not a Bot system prompt.\n\nOpen URL (Action Button shortcut):\ngrokbot://app/v1/agent?id=YOUR_BOT_ID\n\nOptional: dictate text into a webhook routine (configure on desktop where webhook URL, key, and Authorization header are shown):\n\nShortcut actions:\n1. Dictate Text (or Receive input)\n2. Get Contents of URL: Method POST\n URL: [webhook URL from routine on desktop]\n Headers: Authorization: Bearer [key from desktop]\n Request Body: JSON: pass the dictated text\n3. Show notification \"Sent to [Bot name]\"\n\nReplace placeholders with values from your routine's desktop settings. Do not embed secrets in the shortcut name or share the shortcut publicly.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 5–15 seconds per open; adds up if you launch the same Bot many times per day", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: saves sidebar search and app navigation; no cited timing study.", "commonSnags": [ "Webhook URL, key, and Authorization header for routines are documented as desktop-only today. Plan to copy them on Mac/Windows first.", "grokbot:// links inside mobile chat may not open until the app handles them. Use a Shortcut Open URL for reliability.", "Wrong agent id opens a different Bot or template preview. Double-check id against the Bot you use daily." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/mobile", "note": "Grok Bot on iPhone; share sheet and search." }, { "url": "https://grokdoc.dev/b/shortcuts-webhook-jarvis", "author": "@McKlayneMarsh", "note": "Community pattern: Shortcuts POST to routine webhook; credentials on desktop." }, { "url": "https://forum.cursor.com/t/grok-bot-desktop-should-honor-voice-and-publish-speaking-or-amplitude/172905", "note": "Documents grokbot://app/v1/agent?id= deep link shape." }, { "url": "https://forum.cursor.com/t/webhook-credentials-in-app-links-grokbot/174163", "note": "Webhook fields on desktop; mobile limitations noted by team." }, { "url": "https://offscreenspace.com/grok/mobile", "note": "Action Button and Back Tap patterns for Grok shortcuts on iPhone." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-14", "addedDate": "2026-10-14" }, { "title": "Route Grok Bot tasks to your Claude and ChatGPT subscriptions", "slug": "route-grok-bot-tasks-to-claude-and-chatgpt-subscriptions", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/route-grok-bot-tasks-to-claude-and-chatgpt-subscriptions/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Install Claude Code and OpenAI Codex CLIs on Grok Bot’s shared cloud computer, sign in with your own Anthropic and OpenAI subscriptions, then set routing rules so writing, coding, and browser-heavy jobs hit the model you already pay for, without pasting the setup into Codex or Claude Code directly.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "Claude Code CLI", "OpenAI Codex CLI" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid plan usage pool; Claude Code and Codex CLIs: draw on Anthropic and OpenAI subscriptions you already pay for. Limits and agent-use terms are provider-specific.", "steps": [ "Read each provider’s terms for automated or agent use of a consumer or team subscription. You are routing usage through CLIs on a shared cloud machine.", "Run the Grok Bot shared-computer security audit setup first; every Bot on your account shares that computer, browser sessions, and credential files.", "Open one Grok Bot chat (any Bot you trust for setup). Paste the prompt below here, not into Claude Code or Codex terminals.", "When the Bot offers sign-in links or codes for Claude Code or Codex, complete OAuth or device login yourself; do not paste passwords or API keys into chat.", "After login, have the Bot run a short smoke test in each CLI (one harmless command each) and confirm which subscription usage pool each draw affects.", "Set default models in each CLI if prompted, then add explicit routing rules to every Bot’s instructions (e.g. “use Codex for repo edits, Claude Code for refactors, Grok for browser research”).", "Save the same routing block to shared memory or a /workspace file all Bots are told to read so rules persist across chats. Otherwise Bots tend to revert to Grok-only.", "Re-test after a day: ask a coding task and a writing task and confirm the Bot names which CLI it used." ], "prompt": "SUBSCRIPTION CLI ROUTING SETUP (run in this Grok Bot chat only, not inside Claude Code or Codex)\n\nGoal: On my Grok Bot shared cloud computer, install and authenticate Claude Code CLI and OpenAI Codex CLI with MY subscriptions, then document routing rules so my Bots use the right tool per job.\n\nSafety and scope:\n- Complete the shared-computer security audit mindset first: one computer per user; all Bots share files and CLI logins. Prefer an isolated host or separate Cursor user if I need hard credential separation.\n- I will approve every sign-in link, device code, and OAuth screen myself. Never store tokens in plain text files other Bots can read (no committing .env with secrets to /workspace).\n- If a CLI is unavailable, not installed, or a usage limit is hit, say so clearly and do the task yourself in Grok instead of failing silently.\n- Ask before changing any other Bot's instructions or shared memory.\n- When finished, report which Bots you updated and which CLIs authenticated successfully.\n\nTasks:\n1) Check whether Claude Code CLI and Codex CLI are installed; install per official docs if missing.\n2) Guide me through subscription login for each CLI I want (I perform login; you verify with a read-only version or status command).\n3) Explain whose rate limits and terms apply for each CLI call (Anthropic vs OpenAI vs Grok usage pool). In plain language, citing what you can see from CLI output only.\n4) Draft a ROUTING RULES block I can paste into each Bot's instructions, for example:\n - Long-form writing / editing → [Claude Code or Codex per my preference]\n - Repo coding / tests → [Codex or Claude Code]\n - Browser research, connectors, email → Grok Bot native tools\n - If limit hit → notify me and fall back to Grok with a short note\n5) Save the ROUTING RULES to shared memory (or a agreed /workspace path) and confirm how other Bots should load it each session.\n6) Run one tiny test task per CLI and show me the command output summary (no secrets).\n\nDo not revoke connectors or delete files unless I explicitly approve after this setup.", "timeSavedEstimate": "One-time setup; saves repeated “which CLI?” confusion per task", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (uses subscriptions you already pay for; their usage limits apply).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one-time setup; no timed source.", "commonSnags": [ "Paste the setup prompt into Grok Bot chat, not into Codex or Claude Code. Public threads ask “where do I paste this?”", "Bots revert to Grok unless routing rules live in each Bot’s instructions plus shared memory or a file they re-read.", "Subscription usage limits and rate limits are per provider; heavy coding can eat Claude or OpenAI allowance faster than Grok-only work.", "CLI login sessions expire; you may need to re-authenticate on the shared computer after updates or idle timeouts.", "CLI login on a shared cloud computer exposes credentials to every Bot on the account. Isolate the host or audit first." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/coreyganim/status/2110467523418194103", "author": "@coreyganim", "note": "Pattern for installing subscription CLIs on Grok Bot’s computer and routing work." }, { "url": "https://x.com/solomonsgrave/status/2110611386573455748", "author": "@solomonsgrave", "note": "Where to paste setup: Grok Bot chat vs Codex vs Claude Code." }, { "url": "https://x.com/SilvaRhys70444/status/2110659672499945693", "author": "@SilvaRhys70444", "note": "Need to tell Grok to use Claude/GPT each time or it reverts to Grok." }, { "url": "https://x.com/chenxi2072332/status/2110598876365525083", "author": "@chenxi2072332", "note": "Question on whose rate limits and terms apply." }, { "url": "https://x.com/sebuzdugan/status/2110668038655852627", "author": "@sebuzdugan", "note": "CLI login exposes local credentials; isolate host first." }, { "url": "https://x.com/vaitkus/status/2110620485385863611", "author": "@vaitkus", "note": "Routing also consumes subscription limits." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-15", "addedDate": "2026-10-15" }, { "title": "Turn your X bookmarks into a second brain with Grok Bot", "slug": "turn-x-bookmarks-into-a-second-brain-with-grok-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-x-bookmarks-into-a-second-brain-with-grok-bot/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "After you connect X, Grok Bot reads your bookmarks, sorts them into keepers vs one-day noise vs tools you never tried, and writes one short note per keeper into Notion or Google Docs. Nothing is deleted on X unless you explicitly approve.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot", "X", "Notion or Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid plan; X access may use API credits on some plans. See author claims in sources. Notion/Google Docs: free tiers usually sufficient for text notes.", "steps": [ "Connect X to Grok Bot with read access first; keep delete and post permissions off until you trust the workflow.", "Paste the prompt below into one Grok Bot chat. Ask for a read-only pass over your bookmarks. No API spend until you confirm the approach fits your plan.", "Clear-out sort: work in batches (e.g. last 200 bookmarks). Buckets: worth rereading, only mattered that day, tools I never tried.", "For each keeper, create one note with a two-line summary, why you likely saved it, and one tag (topic or project).", "Run a pattern check: “What am I clearly trying to learn from these saves?”. One short paragraph.", "Tool check on “tools I never tried”: does the product still exist, current price, and a reminder not to sign up until you choose.", "Set a daily or weekly digest routine for new bookmarks since last run.", "Add a “do one thing” step: pick one keeper and turn it into a single concrete task for this week so notes are not just a pile.", "Schedule a six-month keep/drop review; instruct the Bot not to remove anything on X or in Notion until you say yes.", "Work small batches and ask the Bot to verify tips or links still hold before you act on old saves." ], "prompt": "X BOOKMARKS → SECOND BRAIN (read-only on X unless I approve)\n\nConnect to my X account read-only. Do not delete, unbookmark, or post anything without my explicit yes.\n\nPhase 1: Sort (batch of ~200 or fewer per run):\n- Fetch my bookmarks you can access on my plan.\n- Classify each: KEEP (worth rereading), DAY-ONLY (mattered that day), TOOL-SKIP (tool I never tried), or DUPLICATE.\n- Report counts per bucket before creating notes.\n\nPhase 2: Notes for KEEP items only:\nFor each KEEP bookmark, add one entry to [Notion database or Google Doc URL I provide] with:\n- Title (from post or your short label)\n- Two-line summary\n- Why I likely saved it (one sentence)\n- One tag\n- Link back to the original post\n\nPhase 3: Insight:\n- Write one paragraph: \"What am I clearly trying to learn from these bookmarks?\"\n- List TOOL-SKIP items with: still exists? current pricing if public? \"Do not sign up\" reminder.\n\nPhase 4: Habit:\n- Propose a weekly digest template for new bookmarks since [date].\n- Pick ONE keeper and suggest a single \"do this week\" action so the second brain leads to action.\n\nRules:\n- If X API credits or plan limits block a full fetch, say so and process the largest batch allowed; never invent bookmarks.\n- Flag dead links and duplicates; do not remove on X until I approve.\n- Six-month review: draft keep/drop suggestions only; no deletions until I confirm.\n\nStart by telling me which access path you are using (connector vs reply flow) and any credit or limit implications you see.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Replaces manual rereading and copy-paste into notes", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources; public posts cite ~$0.50 to sort 99 bookmarks via X API credits (@emanueledpt claim) or zero API credits via a @bot bookmark reply flow (@papagatorz claim). Costs vary by plan.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: replaces manual rereading; no timed source.", "commonSnags": [ "X API credits or plan caps can stop large bookmark pulls mid-run. Use smaller batches.", "Duplicate saves and dead links clutter the index unless the Bot flags them explicitly.", "A long summary doc nobody opens feels pointless. Include the weekly “do one thing” step.", "Some flows cost API credits; others use reply-based bookmark commands. Confirm which your plan supports." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/gilkmanz/status/2109966084506087655", "author": "@gilkmanz", "note": "Organize X bookmarks on Grok plan without API fees. Plan-dependent." }, { "url": "https://x.com/DanteBorgese/status/2109843741288648732", "author": "@DanteBorgese", "note": "“What’s the point?”. Notes vs recreating bookmarks on X." }, { "url": "https://x.com/joxegr/status/2110666226603299000", "author": "@joxegr", "note": "Bookmarks as graveyard of unread saves." }, { "url": "https://x.com/emanueledpt/status/2110415408218194359", "author": "@emanueledpt", "note": "Author claim: ~$0.50 to sort 99 bookmarks using X API credit." }, { "url": "https://x.com/papagatorz/status/2109694598020763972", "author": "@papagatorz", "note": "Author claim: @bot bookmark reply flow without X API credits." }, { "url": "https://x.com/BsalehUae/status/2109655073043456501", "author": "@BsalehUae", "note": "Work in small batches; verify tips still hold." }, { "url": "https://x.com/free_ai_guides/status/2110641876625981758", "author": "@free_ai_guides", "note": "Format reference for bookmark-to-notes workflows." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-15", "addedDate": "2026-10-15" }, { "title": "How to add a shared Grok Bot template when Add Bot fails", "slug": "add-a-grok-bot-template-as-coworker", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/add-a-grok-bot-template-as-coworker/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Install a public Grok Bot template (for example Side Hustle–style giveaways people share on X) when the in-app “Add Bot” button errors, without copying proprietary template prompts, then onboard the new coworker with minimum connectors and approval gates.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid plan usage per vendor pricing; template giveaways are often free to install but usage still counts against your plan.", "steps": [ "Copy the public template or giveaway link (for example from the author’s X post). Do not paste proprietary prompt packs from paid products.", "Open a Bot you already trust. Paste the link and ask it to add that Bot as a coworker using the product’s coworker flow (community workaround when Add Bot fails).", "If install still fails, check whether you hit a bot limit. Archive or remove an unused Bot, then retry.", "Before granting connectors, run or review the shared-computer security audit setup; connect only what this coworker’s first job needs.", "Tell the new coworker what it may not do: no spend, no outbound send, no delete, no publish without your explicit approval each time.", "Assign one narrow first task for about a week; note usage cost and how long you spend reviewing output before expanding scope." ], "prompt": "I want to add a public Grok Bot template as a coworker. The Add Bot button failed for me.\n\nTemplate link (public URL only): [paste template or giveaway URL]\n\nUsing Grok Bot’s coworker features, walk me step by step to add this template Bot to my account. If the UI blocks install, suggest the workaround of adding via an existing Bot I trust.\n\nRules for you:\n- Do not reproduce or invent proprietary template prompts from paid products. Only use what the public link allows.\n- Do not connect new connectors or change approval settings without listing each change and waiting for my yes.\n- After install, propose the minimum connectors for one narrow first job: [describe job in one sentence].\n- Remind me to remove an unused Bot if I am at a bot limit.\n\nDo not spend money, send messages, or delete anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "“Couldn’t add bot” and similar errors often mean a failed install or account limit. Retry after removing an unused Bot, not after pasting secrets into chat.", "Public templates do not create an audience or distribution; revenue demos in launch threads often reflect the author’s following, not a typical outcome for installers.", "We document install steps and guardrails only. We do not reproduce proprietary template contents from paid or private packs.", "Every coworker shares the same cloud computer as your other Bots. Treat connector grants as high risk until the security audit looks clean." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/AlexFinn/status/2110851435223285909", "author": "@AlexFinn", "note": "Oct 2026 template giveaway wave; replies describe install failures, bot limits, and adding via an existing Bot / coworker (paraphrased on this page)." }, { "url": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/approvals-security-and-privacy", "note": "Official: approvals, shared computer, connector hygiene." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to plan a trip with Grok Bot (approve before it books)", "slug": "plan-a-trip-with-grok-bot-approve-before-booking", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-trip-with-grok-bot-approve-before-booking/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Research a trip, compare options with links, watch fares, and prep documents, without letting the Bot charge a card or confirm bookings until you say yes in plain language.", "tools": [ "Grok Bot" ], "toolCost": "Grok Bot: paid plan usage; airlines and hotels may charge change fees regardless of how you book.", "steps": [ "Send a brief: destination, nights, date window, travelers, and all-in budget. Ask the Bot to clarify one question at a time before searching.", "Request three options: cheapest, best value, and money-no-object. Each with flights, stay, estimated total, one catch, and links. No booking.", "Set a fare-watch routine: alert you when price drops below a threshold or a direct flight appears.", "Run a paperwork checklist: passport validity, visas, entry forms, insurance, phone plan. Fill free forms only; no payments without approval.", "When you are ready to book, require a summary: total, dates, passenger names exactly as on IDs, cancellation terms, then wait for your explicit “yes” before any card use.", "Day before departure: check-in links, terminal, leave-by time, weather, and a local-language address; ask the Bot to watch the flight for changes." ], "prompt": "You are my trip research assistant. Do not book, purchase, or charge any card unless I reply with the exact phrase: APPROVE BOOKING.\n\nTrip brief:\n- Destination: [city/country]\n- Nights: [number]\n- Date window: [flexible or fixed dates]\n- Travelers: [names, ages if relevant]\n- All-in budget: [amount and currency]\n\nPhase 1: Clarify: Ask at most one clarifying question at a time until you can search.\n\nPhase 2: Options: Return three labeled options (cheapest / best value / money-no-object). For each include flights, stay, estimated total, one catch, and source links. Do not book.\n\nPhase 3: Fare watch: Propose a routine to alert me when price drops below [amount] or a direct flight appears on [route]. No purchases.\n\nPhase 4: Paperwork: Checklist for passport, visa, entry forms, insurance, phone. Flag items I must verify on official government sites. Fill free forms only; stop before any paid step.\n\nPhase 5: Booking (only after I say APPROVE BOOKING): Show total, dates, passenger names as on tickets, cancellation terms, and wait for my explicit yes before any payment.\n\nPhase 6: Day before: Check-in links, terminal, leave-by time, weather, local-language address; monitor flight status for changes.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Airlines and hotels can change fares, schedules, and refund rules after you research. Reconfirm before you approve payment.", "You own the final yes; assistants can misread names, dates, or fare classes. Match tickets to passport exactly yourself.", "Connecting a card increases risk; a prepaid or virtual card with a hard cap is safer if you ever allow assisted checkout.", "Public news about companies covering agent purchase mistakes is not a guarantee we extend to your trip. Read vendor terms yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/free_ai_guides/status/2111004261488480425", "author": "@free_ai_guides", "note": "Public multi-step travel-agent prompt thread (paraphrased above; not copied verbatim)." }, { "url": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/approvals-security-and-privacy", "note": "Official: spend and purchase approvals." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "Turn a messy draft into a clear, polite work email", "slug": "turn-messy-draft-into-polite-work-email", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-messy-draft-into-polite-work-email/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Paste a rough, angry, or rambling draft and get a clear, polite, concise work email (or Slack) draft. Facts kept, no new commitments invented, you send it yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for paste-and-go rewrites.", "steps": [ "Paste your rough draft and state who receives it (role and relationship: manager, client, peer).", "Ask for a polite, concise rewrite under a word cap (for example 120 words) in plain language.", "Require in the prompt: do not invent facts, deadlines, or promises. Only rephrase what you provided.", "Read the draft aloud; fix anything that sounds stiff, fake-urgent, or passive-aggressive.", "Optional second pass: ask it to flag phrases that could read as snark or “as per my last email” energy.", "Paste into Gmail, Outlook, or Slack yourself. Keep send and post permissions off in any connected agent." ], "prompt": "You are helping me rewrite a work message. Do not send email or post to Slack.\n\nMy role: [your role]\nRecipient: [name or role: e.g. client PM, my manager]\nDesired tone: [polite and direct / warm but firm / apologetic but clear]\nMax length: [120] words\n\nRough draft:\n[paste messy draft]\n\nRules:\n- Keep my meaning and facts exactly; do not add new information, deadlines, or promises.\n- Do not invent attachments, meetings, or approvals I did not mention.\n- Use short paragraphs; no corporate filler or fake urgency.\n- Show the rewrite only: do not send.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 5–15 minutes per sticky email", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: time spent rewording emotional or rambling drafts; no timed study cited.", "commonSnags": [ "Models pad with fake urgency or commitments you never made. Delete anything not in your draft.", "Over-formal “as per my last email” phrasing can sound worse than your original. Ask for plain language.", "Pasting confidential names or deal terms into cloud chat may violate policy. Redact first.", "Never connect send or “act as me in Gmail” for this job; paste the final text yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-email/", "note": "Public roundup of email rewrite prompts (paraphrased guardrails on this page)." }, { "url": "https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-professional-email/", "note": "Professional email tone reference, not AI-specific." }, { "url": "https://support.google.com/mail/answer/9259770", "note": "Gmail help: composing and sending stays in your account." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "ChatGPT Prompt for Tailoring Your Resume to a Job Description", "slug": "tailor-resume-to-job-description-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/tailor-resume-to-job-description-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Match a specific job posting to your real resume. Keyword gaps, stronger bullets, and a short cover-letter angle, without the model inventing jobs, degrees, or skills you do not have.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for paste-and-go tailoring.", "steps": [ "Paste the job description first and ask the model to list required vs nice-to-have requirements in a table.", "Paste your resume and ask for a gap table: requirement → where you already prove it → what is missing → honest fix (reword vs skip).", "Ask for rewritten bullets for roles you already list. Same employers and dates, stronger verbs, keywords from the posting where truthful.", "Reject any invented certification, tool, or metric; tell it to mark TBD instead of guessing.", "Optional: ask for a 3-sentence cover-letter hook that cites one real win from your resume.", "You copy the final resume and application text into the employer site yourself. No connected agents with apply permissions.", "Cover letter: collect the facts before you open the chat - 2 or 3 real achievements you can prove, 1 or 2 specific reasons this company interests you (from their site or the ad), and your name and the company name only. Leave phone numbers, addresses, and ID numbers out of the paste.", "Cover letter: brief the model first with the role, your writing style, phrases to avoid (like 'I am writing to apply'), and a hard rule - do not invent skills, results, tools, or dates; ask instead. Then ask for a 250 to 350 word draft and ask it to list every claim against your notes so you can catch inventions. You review the output before it is used.", "Career break: ask for a combination-style resume - skills and any freelance, volunteer, or coursework up top, work history below - with the break as one plain line (for example, 'Career break - caregiving, [years]'). Then ask it to translate the break into transferable skills (scheduling, budgeting, logistics) only where they map to the target job." ], "prompt": "You are helping me tailor my resume to one job. Do not submit applications or edit files on my computer.\n\nJob description (full text):\n[paste posting]\n\nMy current resume:\n[paste resume]\n\nRules:\n- Use only employers, dates, titles, and outcomes that appear in my resume unless I explicitly add new facts in chat.\n- Do not invent skills, certifications, tools, or metrics. If something is missing, say \"gap\" and suggest honest wording or omit.\n- Match keywords from the posting only where my experience supports them.\n- Output: (1) requirements table, (2) gap table, (3) suggested bullet rewrites per job entry, (4) optional 3-sentence cover hook.\n- Show drafts only: I approve before anything is sent or uploaded.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Models love to quietly add skills you do not have. Treat every bullet like a fact-check before you apply.", "Pasting your whole career into cloud chat may violate employer or recruiter policy. Redact client names if needed.", "One generic rewrite rarely beats a human read of the posting, if the gap table is mostly red, the role may be a stretch.", "Cover letter drafts invent flattering details you never gave - run a fabrication check (ask the model to list every claim not found in your notes) and delete anything you cannot defend in an interview." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-resume/", "note": "Public roundup of resume tailoring prompts (paraphrased guardrails on this page)." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on clear instructions and verifying outputs." }, { "url": "https://jobtailor.co.uk/writing-a-cover-letter-that-doesnt-sound-like-generic-ai-output", "author": "JobTailor", "note": "Supports the anti-AI-tell pattern: answer why this role, why this org, why you, why now, with specifics; use AI for phrasing and tone checks, never for invented stories." }, { "url": "https://medium.com/@brightworkguides/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-with-chatgpt-that-doesnt-sound-like-chatgpt-6-copy-paste-prompts-30e44967b894", "author": "Brightwork Guides", "note": "Supports the fact-first workflow: collect real achievements and company reasons before prompting, a brief that forbids invention, and a final fabrication check of every claim against the original notes." }, { "url": "https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/parent-resume-employment-gap", "author": "Indeed", "note": "Supports listing the break as a plain line item, functional or combination resume formats for returners, translating transferable skills, and adding volunteer work or refresher courses." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to Use AI to Reply to Google Reviews (Even the Bad Ones)", "slug": "reply-to-google-reviews-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/reply-to-google-reviews-with-ai/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft on-brand replies to Google reviews. Thank happy customers, de-escalate angry ones, and invite offline resolution, without letting an agent post as your business or invent policies you do not offer.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on chat tools; Google Business Profile is free to manage.", "steps": [ "Copy the review text and star rating into chat. Include the date if Google shows it.", "Paste your fact sheet and tone rules (warm, brief, no legal threats, no bribing for edits).", "Ask for two drafts under 80 words: one public reply, one optional private follow-up note you might send by email.", "For 1–2 star reviews, require empathy, one specific fix you can offer, and an offline contact path. No arguing in public.", "Read for HIPAA, PCI, or client confidentiality if the review names a person or order.", "Paste into Google Business Profile and post yourself; do not connect send or GBP write access to an agent." ], "prompt": "You draft Google review replies for my business. Do not post to Google or send email unless I paste your text myself.\n\nBusiness facts (only use these: do not invent policies):\n[paste name, location, phone, hours, real redo/refund policy]\n\nTone: [friendly and brief / formal / apologetic but firm]\nMax length: 80 words per public reply\n\nReview to answer:\nRating: [1-5 stars]\nText: [paste review]\n\nRules:\n- Thank the reviewer by name if shown.\n- For low stars: apologize for their experience, offer one concrete next step we can actually do, invite them to call/email: no discounts unless listed in business facts.\n- For high stars: thank them and mention one specific detail from their review.\n- No legal threats, no asking them to change the review, no sharing private customer data.\n- Output public reply only unless I ask for a private follow-up draft.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Drafts can sound corporate or passive-aggressive. Read aloud before you post.", "Never confirm private order details in a public reply; keep it vague and move offline.", "Google’s policies still apply to your text. AI does not know your industry’s compliance rules." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474050", "note": "Google help: replying to reviews in Business Profile." }, { "url": "https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-business-profile-review-responses/", "note": "Industry guidance on public review responses (paraphrased)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to Use AI to Create a Budget (Copy-Paste Prompt)", "slug": "create-a-budget-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/create-a-budget-with-ai/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn messy income and bill numbers into a monthly budget template with categories, caps, and a short “if you only fix three things” list, without the model guessing your balances or moving money.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on chat tools; your spreadsheet or budgeting app may have its own pricing.", "steps": [ "Gather take-home income and fixed monthly bills. Round if you want, but do not let the model invent missing amounts.", "Paste the numbers and pick a framework (50/30/20, zero-based, or envelope-style categories).", "Ask for a table: category, planned amount, notes, and “verify in bank” flags where you were unsure.", "Ask what to cut first if expenses exceed income. Require tradeoffs, not magic.", "Copy the table into Sheets or your app; you assign dollars and pay bills yourself.", "Re-run monthly with updated totals. Treat chat as a planner, not a bank feed.", "Export a CSV from your bank and redact account numbers. Summarize it into category totals yourself in a spreadsheet, or use an offline tool that runs locally with no upload. The chatbot should only ever see totals, never raw transactions.", "Paste the category totals into the prompt and ask: which three categories grew most this month, and what is one cut per category? Check every number against your sheet before you act on it." ], "prompt": "You are my budget drafting assistant. Do not connect to my bank, move money, or pay bills.\n\nMonthly take-home income (after tax): [amount]\nFixed bills (list each with amount):\n[paste rent, utilities, insurance, debt minimums, subscriptions, childcare, etc.]\nSavings goal (optional): [amount or \"none\"]\nBudget style: [50/30/20 / zero-based / envelope categories]\n\nRules:\n- If a number is missing, ask me: do not guess balances or income.\n- Show income minus expenses; if negative, list three realistic cuts in priority order.\n- Output a markdown table: Category | Planned $ | Notes | Verify? (yes/no)\n- Add a short \"three moves this month\" list I can act on without automation.\n- Draft only: I approve before any payment or transfer.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Chat guesses subscription amounts. Replace every line with numbers from your statement.", "Pasting full bank exports can leak account numbers. Summarize categories yourself first.", "A pretty table does not change spending. You still need a weekly check-in habit.", "Trusting auto-categorized totals without checking them. Import tools guess your columns and categories, and a misread column can double your spending in one category." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/budgeting/", "note": "CFPB budgeting basics (framework reference, not AI-specific)." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on specifying inputs and verifying outputs." }, { "url": "https://pocketclear.app/blog/privacy-first-expense-tracking-guide.html", "author": "Pocket Clear", "note": "Supports the privacy-first model: manual import and local storage eliminate bank-credential sharing and third-party server risk; bank-linked apps share credentials with aggregators like Plaid." }, { "url": "https://www.spendscope.net/", "author": "SpendScope", "note": "Supports the offline option: an app that imports bank CSVs and runs analysis with no account, no cloud upload, and no tracking." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Complaint Letter That Gets a Response", "slug": "write-a-complaint-letter-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-complaint-letter-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn a frustrating billing, shipping, or service mess into a clear complaint letter with timeline, evidence list, and a specific ask, without threats, fake legal citations, or the model contacting the company for you.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for paste-and-go drafts.", "steps": [ "Write bullet facts only: what happened, when, what you already tried, what resolution you want (refund, repair, credit).", "Paste bullets and ask for a one-page letter with subject line, numbered timeline, and a clear deadline for response.", "Forbid insults, crime accusations you cannot prove, and fake “my lawyer says” lines unless a lawyer actually said it.", "Ask for a shorter version if the company uses a web form with character limits.", "You send via your email client or mail service. No agent send permissions.", "If they reply, start a new thread with the full history pasted; do not let the model auto-respond." ], "prompt": "You help me write a complaint letter. Do not send email, file disputes, or contact the company for me.\n\nCompany: [name]\nChannel I will use: [email / web form / certified mail]\nMy goal: [refund / replacement / fee reversal / apology + fix]\n\nFacts (only what I provide: do not invent):\n[paste timeline bullets, order numbers, amounts, prior contact attempts]\n\nTone: [firm and professional / calm but persistent]\nDesired response deadline: [e.g. 14 business days]\n\nRules:\n- One page or less; numbered timeline; list attachments I actually have.\n- State the specific remedy I want and a reasonable deadline.\n- No insults, no unverified legal threats, no fabricated regulations.\n- Include subject line and sign-off with my name: I will edit before sending.\n- Output draft only: I approve before anything is sent or spent.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Models add fake statute numbers or “legal team” language. Delete unless your lawyer provided it.", "Uploading IDs or medical details to cloud chat can be a privacy problem. Describe facts in text when you can.", "A strong letter does not guarantee a yes. Keep records and escalate through official channels yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-the-best-way-to-negotiate-a-settlement-with-a-debt-collector-en-1449/", "note": "CFPB guidance on clear written requests (tone reference for disputes)." }, { "url": "https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-email/", "note": "Public email drafting prompts (adapted for complaints on this page)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "AI Chore Chart Generator for Kids (Printable Weekly Chart)", "slug": "ai-chore-chart-for-kids", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-chore-chart-for-kids/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Generate a kid-friendly weekly chore chart. Tasks by age, simple icons or emoji labels, and a reward line you actually enforce, without the model parenting for you or connecting to your bank.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on chat tools; printing is your paper and ink.", "steps": [ "List each child’s age and chores they can actually do safely (no “mow lawn” for a six-year-old unless you mean it).", "Pick a layout: one row per kid, or columns for Mon–Sun with checkboxes.", "Paste ages, chores, and reward rule (stickers, allowance amount, screen-time minutes).", "Ask for a markdown or HTML table you can copy into Docs, plus a one-line “parent note” for how you’ll track completion.", "Print or screenshot; put it where kids see it; you mark boxes. No agent marks chores done for them.", "Re-run when seasons change or you add a pet. Update the prompt doc instead of starting from zero." ], "prompt": "You are helping me create a printable chore chart for my kids. Do not connect to apps, move money, or message my children.\n\nKids (age and name optional):\n[paste ages and names]\n\nChores each kid should have (only what I list):\n[paste chore list]\n\nSchedule: [daily / weekdays only / split Sat deep-clean]\nReward system: [stickers / $ per week / screen minutes: amounts I specify]\nChart style: [emoji icons / simple words / checkbox grid Mon–Sun]\n\nRules:\n- Age-appropriate tasks only; flag anything that looks unsafe for the age I gave.\n- Keep language positive and short for kids who read.\n- Output: (1) weekly chart table, (2) parent tracking tip in 2 sentences, (3) optional blank \"bonus chore\" row.\n- Draft only: I print and enforce; you do not send texts or pay allowance.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Charts can cram too many chores. Cut to five per kid or nobody finishes.", "Emoji-heavy layouts may not print well on black-and-white. Ask for a plain checkbox version too.", "Allowance amounts in the draft are not legal or tax advice. Set numbers yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-set-up-a-chore-chart-that-works", "note": "Chore chart basics for families (not AI-specific)." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on clear instructions and verifying outputs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "AI to Write a Job Description (Copy-Paste Prompt for Hiring)", "slug": "write-a-job-description-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-job-description-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft a clear job description. Title, responsibilities, requirements, benefits you actually offer, and EEO language your lawyer would expect you to review, without inventing perks or salary you cannot pay.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on chat tools; job boards and ATS may charge per post.", "steps": [ "Write facts only: team size, reporting line, tools used, outcomes for the first 90 days.", "Separate required skills from nice-to-haves so the model does not merge them.", "Paste tone (formal startup, trades shop, nonprofit) and forbidden fluff words.", "Ask for sections: About us (short), Role summary, Responsibilities, Requirements, Nice-to-have, Benefits (only what you list), How to apply.", "Add a note that EEO/disability/accommodation boilerplate is a placeholder. You or counsel review.", "Copy into your ATS; you publish and answer candidates. No connected agents with post permissions.", "Ask for a shortlist of interview questions tied to the role: paste the job description and ask for 8 to 10 questions, each mapped to one required skill, with most questions asking for a past example (what they did, what happened) rather than hypotheticals. Have the model show its output first and review every question before you use it.", "Ask for a one-page scorecard table: columns for the skill being tested, the question, what a good answer sounds like, what a bad answer sounds like, and a 1 to 5 score. Score each candidate right after the interview, before you discuss them with anyone else." ], "prompt": "You draft a job description for my company. Do not post to job boards or email candidates.\n\nRole title: [title]\nLocation / remote policy: [details]\nComp range (if I provide it): [range or \"do not invent salary\"]\nCompany blurb (facts only):\n[paste 2-4 sentences]\n\nDay-to-day responsibilities:\n[paste bullets]\n\nRequired:\n[paste]\n\nNice-to-have:\n[paste or \"none\"]\n\nBenefits we actually offer:\n[paste: if empty, say \"benefits not listed; do not invent\"]\n\nTone: [professional / casual / trades / nonprofit]\n\nRules:\n- No discriminatory language; use inclusive \"you\" where natural.\n- Do not invent stock, unlimited PTO, or tools we do not use.\n- Mark EEO/legal footer as [REVIEW WITH COUNSEL] unless I paste approved text.\n- Output draft only: I approve before anything is published or sent.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Models invent benefits and salary. Delete every perk you did not paste.", "Generic “fast-paced environment” lines attract the wrong applicants. Swap for concrete outcomes.", "Legal compliance varies by state and country. This is a writing aid, not HR counsel.", "The model can drift into questions about protected topics (age, family, health). Treat any such question as a hard fail: delete it and re-run with the lawful-questions rule stated up front." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/employment-tests-and-selection-procedures", "note": "EEOC selection guidance (compliance is on you, not the model)." }, { "url": "https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-recruiters/", "note": "Public recruiter prompt roundup (paraphrased guardrails on this page)." }, { "url": "https://www.guardianforge.co.uk/guides/structured-interviews-small-business.html", "author": "Guardian Forge", "note": "Supports asking all candidates the same core questions, building questions around evidence of past work, and scoring independently before panel discussion." }, { "url": "https://www.wearemove.com/blog/hiring-essentials-structured-interview-process-question-bank", "author": "Move", "note": "Supports the scorecard format: criteria, question, rationale, good-vs-bad answer signals, 1-to-5 score, and comparing candidates on scores after all interviews." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "Can I Use AI to Organize My Computer Files? (Safe Draft-Only Plan)", "slug": "organize-computer-files-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/organize-computer-files-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Turn a Downloads graveyard into a folder plan, file-naming rules, and a phased move checklist, without an agent renaming, deleting, or uploading your whole drive to the cloud.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free chat tiers; backup drives and cloud storage are your existing costs.", "steps": [ "Back up or snapshot the messy volume before changing anything.", "Export a shallow tree: top-level folders plus one sample subfolder per area (redact client names if needed).", "Describe goals: by client, by year, photos vs docs, what must stay on desktop.", "Ask for a target folder tree, naming pattern (YYYY-MM-DD_client_topic), and a 3-phase move plan (quick wins first).", "Require “do not delete” and “confirm before archive” rules in the prompt.", "You move files in small batches; re-paste the tree after phase one if you want a second pass." ], "prompt": "You help me plan how to organize files on my computer. Do not run commands, delete files, or upload anything: I move files myself after I approve your plan.\n\nSystem: [Mac / Windows]\nMain pain folders: [e.g. Downloads, Desktop, Documents/clients]\nSample folder tree (redacted names OK):\n[paste tree: max ~200 lines]\n\nGoals:\n[paste: e.g. client work by year, separate personal, archive old projects]\n\nRules:\n- Propose a target folder structure as an indented list.\n- Propose a file naming convention with examples.\n- Give a phased checklist: Phase 1 safe moves, Phase 2 deeper sort, Phase 3 archive candidates: mark anything risky as \"ask me first.\"\n- Never suggest bulk delete; flag duplicates as \"review manually.\"\n- Draft only: I approve before any move, send, spend, or delete.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Pasting thousands of filenames can leak client or health info. Redact and sample instead.", "Desktop “AI cleaner” apps may delete without undo. This setup is plan-only, you execute.", "One giant move on a Friday night breaks paths for open projects. Do phases." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/organize-files-in-folders-mh26885/mac", "note": "Apple folder organization basics (not AI-specific)." }, { "url": "https://support.microsoft.com/windows/organize-your-files-in-windows-10-9c8e1735-9b4d-4f5a-9b2e-8e2f8e2f0000", "note": "Windows file organization help (pattern reference)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Letter of Recommendation", "slug": "write-a-letter-of-recommendation-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-letter-of-recommendation-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft a professional recommendation letter for a student, employee, or contractor using only facts you provide, without the model inventing grades, titles, or character claims you cannot stand behind.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for paste-and-go drafts.", "steps": [ "Confirm you can recommend them honestly, if not, decline instead of prompting.", "Paste facts only: how you know them, dates, role, strengths backed by examples, areas of growth if appropriate.", "Paste the target (grad school, job title, scholarship) and length limit.", "Ask for formal letter format with opening, two example paragraphs, closing, and signature block with your title.", "Forbid invented metrics, awards, or superlatives you did not supply.", "You export to PDF or paste into email. You send; no agent mail access." ], "prompt": "You help me draft a letter of recommendation. Do not send email or submit forms for me.\n\nCandidate name: [name]\nMy relationship: [manager / professor / client]\nDates known: [range]\nRole / context: [title, class, project]\n\nFacts I can stand behind (only use these: do not invent):\n[paste bullets: projects, skills, outcomes, character with examples]\n\nThey are applying to: [program / job / scholarship]\nLength limit: [e.g. one page]\nTone: [warm professional / formal academic]\n\nRules:\n- If I did not provide a fact, do not add grades, rankings, or awards.\n- Include one specific story from my bullets; no generic filler.\n- Note where I should personalize the opening sentence in [brackets].\n- Draft only: I approve before anything is sent, spent, or uploaded.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Models upgrade weak candidates into “top 1%”. Delete hype you cannot testify to.", "Academic integrity policies may restrict AI help. Check your school or employer rules.", "Uploading student records to cloud chat can be a FERPA/privacy issue. Use redacted bullets." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/recommendation-letters/", "note": "UNC writing center on recommendation letters (structure reference)." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on specifying inputs and verifying outputs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "ChatGPT scheduled reminders with Tasks", "slug": "chatgpt-scheduled-reminders-with-tasks", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/chatgpt-scheduled-reminders-with-tasks/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Create a repeating ChatGPT Task that reminds you to do a specific checklist job (follow up, review subscriptions, prep for Monday) on a schedule you choose. Notification only, no outbound mail from the model.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT free tier may limit Tasks; paid ChatGPT plans document scheduled Tasks in OpenAI help.", "steps": [ "Open ChatGPT and start a Task (scheduled task) from the product UI. OpenAI documents this under scheduled Tasks.", "Paste the reminder prompt below; replace bracketed fields with your real dates and names.", "Set cadence (one-time, daily, weekly) in the Task scheduler, not in the prompt text alone.", "Run a test reminder for “in 5 minutes” if the UI offers a short interval.", "When the Task fires, copy any draft text out manually; do not expect ChatGPT to email clients for you." ], "prompt": "Task: Remind me on [day/time/cadence] to do this checklist:\n1) [step one]\n2) [step two]\n3) [step three]\n\nWhen you remind me, show the checklist again and ask if I want a 2-sentence draft for [email/DM]: do not send anything. If I say yes, draft only; I send from my account.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Tasks notify inside ChatGPT. They are not a full calendar replacement.", "Do not put passwords or client PHI in the Task instructions.", "Timezone and notification settings live in the app; verify on your phone." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9823710-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI help: scheduled Tasks in ChatGPT." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "ChatGPT travel itinerary you approve before booking", "slug": "chatgpt-travel-itinerary", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/chatgpt-travel-itinerary/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Draft a multi-day trip plan with neighborhoods, timing, and reservation prompts, without ChatGPT purchasing tickets or charging your card.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT free or paid chat tiers; booking costs are separate.", "steps": [ "Paste trip constraints: dates, city, budget, mobility needs, kids, dietary limits.", "Ask for a table: day, morning/afternoon/evening, neighborhood, transit between stops.", "Request “book these yourself” callouts for trains, museums, and restaurants that need reservations.", "Cross-check opening hours and transit on official sites. Models drift on hours.", "You book; save the final itinerary in Notes or a Project.", "Set the total trip budget first, then ask the AI to build the itinerary around it: split it into lodging, travel, food, and fun, and tell the model the cap is firm.", "Have the AI mark free or cheap activities for each day (parks, beaches, free museum days, community events) and limit paid attractions to one or two real splurges, so the fun survives the budget." ], "prompt": "Plan a [N]-day trip to [city/region] from [start date] to [end date].\nTravelers: [who]. Budget: [range]. Must-do: [list]. Avoid: [list].\n\nReturn:\n- Day-by-day schedule with realistic transit between stops\n- One rain backup per day\n- Reservation needed? yes/no per activity\n- Packing shortlist\n\nRules: Do not purchase tickets or hotels. Flag anything you are unsure about with \"verify on official site.\" Draft only.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Opening hours and strike closures change. Verify before you go.", "ChatGPT cannot see live airfare; check airline sites for prices.", "Visa and entry rules need government sources, not chat paraphrases.", "Any cost totals in the AI plan are guesses. Verify every flight, room, and ticket price on the real sites before you commit." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI prompt practices. Verify factual claims." }, { "url": "https://centralpenn.aaa.com/blog/budget-friendly-family-vacation-itinerary/", "author": "AAA Central Penn", "note": "Supports budget-first planning: set a total and build the itinerary around it, pick destinations strategically, and use free activities and discount stacking to hold the budget." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "ChatGPT workout plan with your constraints", "slug": "chatgpt-workout-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/chatgpt-workout-plan/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Generate a beginner-friendly weekly workout schedule with warm-up, main sets, and rest days. Draft only, no health claims or automatic logging.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT free or paid chat tiers.", "steps": [ "List injuries, doctor limits, days per week, and equipment (home vs gym).", "Ask for RPE or simple rep ranges, not max lifts the model guesses.", "Request a printable table: day, focus, exercises, sets/reps, rest.", "Try week one; note pain or boredom; paste feedback for a revision.", "See a clinician for chest pain, dizziness, or new injury. Do not prompt through that.", "Paste your current weekly mileage, a recent race or time trial result, the race date, and how many days per week you can train. Ask for pace targets derived from your recent race time, not vague effort words.", "Before week one, verify the plan: weekly mileage should grow no more than about 10 percent, with a recovery week every 3 to 4 weeks and a taper of 2 to 3 weeks before race day. Tell the model to fix any of these that fail." ], "prompt": "Create a [N]-day per week workout plan for [goal] for someone with:\nEquipment: [list]\nTime per session: [minutes]\nInjuries/limitations: [list or \"none known\"]\nExperience: [beginner/intermediate]\n\nFormat as a table: Day | Focus | Exercises | Sets x reps | Rest | Notes\nInclude warm-up and one optional cardio day.\nRules: No medical diagnoses. Say \"stop and see a clinician\" for red-flag symptoms. Draft only. I choose what to attempt.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Models invent exotic exercises. Swap for ones you know.", "Not a substitute for physical therapy or cardiologist clearance.", "Progressive overload still needs your judgment on weight.", "Some plans start above your actual current mileage. Never start a plan whose first week is more than you are already running." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on specifying constraints." }, { "url": "http://stopa.app/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt-marathon-training-plan", "author": "Stopa", "note": "Supports specific prompting for marathon plans: anchor in current fitness, derive paces from a recent race, and verify mileage progression, recovery weeks, and taper before trusting the plan." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "Draft a client invoice in ChatGPT from your notes", "slug": "chatgpt-invoice-from-email", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/chatgpt-invoice-from-email/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn rough project notes into a formatted invoice with line items, subtotal, tax note, and payment instructions. Draft only.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT chat tiers; accounting software is separate.", "steps": [ "Gather line items, hours, rates, discounts, and client billing address.", "Paste into ChatGPT with your business legal name and payment methods.", "Ask for a table plus payment terms and late-fee language you already use.", "Recalculate tax and totals in your spreadsheet. Do not trust silent math.", "Export from your accounting app; you email the PDF." ], "prompt": "Draft an invoice (do not send or charge anyone).\n\nFrom: [your business legal name, address]\nTo: [client name, address]\nInvoice #: [number or \"assign manually\"]\nDate: [date]\nDue: [terms]\n\nLine items:\n[paste hours, rates, descriptions]\n\nTax: [rate or \"exempt: verify locally\"]\nPayment methods: [ACH link, check, etc.]\n\nOutput: professional invoice sections + line-item table + total. Flag any missing info in [brackets]. I send from my own tool.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Sales tax rules vary by state. Verify with your accountant.", "Do not paste full bank account numbers. Use payment links.", "ChatGPT cannot mark an invoice as paid in QuickBooks for you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI guidance on verifying outputs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "Claude Projects for small business repeat work", "slug": "claude-projects-for-small-business", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/claude-projects-for-small-business/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Stand up a Claude Project with your business context files, then reuse one master prompt for recurring ops writing (reviews, hiring blurbs, customer updates).", "tools": [ "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Claude free and paid tiers; Project limits documented in Anthropic help.", "steps": [ "Create a Claude Project; upload or paste brand voice, policies, and services list.", "Add custom instructions: draft-only, no sends, cite when unsure.", "For each job type, open the Project and run the prompt below with fresh facts.", "Copy outputs into Gmail, Google Business Profile, or your ATS. You publish.", "Refresh Project files when pricing or services change." ], "prompt": "You are my small-business writing assistant inside this Project. Use only facts from Project files and my message.\n\nJob today: [review reply / job description / customer update / other]\nFacts for this draft:\n[paste specifics]\n\nRules:\n- Match our tone examples in the Project.\n- Do not invent discounts, licenses, or guarantees.\n- Draft only: I send, publish, or spend manually.\n- Flag missing info in [brackets].", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Stale Project files cause wrong pricing. Date your uploads.", "Do not upload customer PII you are not allowed to store in cloud AI.", "Projects do not replace a CRM. Copy drafts back to your system." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9517075-what-are-projects", "note": "Anthropic help: what Projects are." }, { "url": "https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9517075-what-are-projects", "note": "Anthropic support mirror for Projects." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "Claude vs ChatGPT for everyday writing (honest comparison)", "slug": "claude-vs-chatgpt-for-writing", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/claude-vs-chatgpt-for-writing/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Choose the right assistant for a writing job using product features documented in official help, not hype benchmarks, and run the paired prompt in the tool you pick.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Both offer free tiers; paid tiers add limits documented in each vendor’s help center.", "steps": [ "Name the job: short email, long report, template you reuse, or scheduled reminder.", "Read the comparison table on this page. Features only, no speed scores.", "Open the matching product (ChatGPT Project/Task or Claude Project/Artifact).", "Paste the prompt below with facts; forbid invented quotes and sends.", "You edit voice and send from your apps." ], "prompt": "Help me draft: [describe document]\nAudience: [who]\nTone: [warm/professional/plain]\nFacts I provide (only use these):\n[paste]\n\nRules:\n- Do not invent names, metrics, or quotes.\n- Mark uncertainties with [verify].\n- Draft only: I send/publish manually.\nReturn: outline, then full draft, then 3-bullet checklist of what I should verify.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Feature names change. Re-read help docs when a button moves.", "Neither tool knows your inbox unless you connect integrations they explicitly support.", "Do not paste regulated data (HIPAA, kids’ IDs) into either without policy review." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9823710-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt", "note": "OpenAI Tasks feature." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9517075-what-are-projects", "note": "Anthropic Projects feature." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them", "note": "Anthropic Artifacts feature." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-16", "addedDate": "2026-10-16" }, { "title": "How to give your AI bot a long-term memory with an Obsidian vault", "slug": "give-your-ai-bot-a-long-term-memory-with-obsidian", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/give-your-ai-bot-a-long-term-memory-with-obsidian/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Replace fuzzy in-chat “memory” with inspectable Markdown files: the bot appends a daily note and decision log to a Git-backed vault; you review in Obsidian; a weekly routine sorts an Inbox folder into PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive).", "tools": [ "AI bot", "Obsidian", "GitHub" ], "toolCost": "Obsidian app: free for personal use on desktop and mobile per Obsidian’s site; Obsidian Sync is a separate paid subscription if you use it. GitHub: free private repos on personal accounts per GitHub docs; bot usage depends on your agent plan.", "steps": [ "Create a private GitHub repo with top-level folders: Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive, plus Inbox for unsorted captures.", "Clone the repo locally and open that folder in Obsidian (“Open folder as vault”). Obsidian stores notes as Markdown files in that folder.", "Tell the bot the repo path rules: daily notes go in a dated file under Areas or Projects; decisions get a short log entry with date and source link.", "Paste the memory prompt below. Require the bot to commit only Markdown you can review. No force-push, no deleting Archive without your yes.", "After the bot pushes, pull on your machine (or merge) so Obsidian shows new files; edit wording yourself in Obsidian.", "Schedule a weekly bot job: move Inbox items into one PARA bucket each, with a one-line reason; you skim the diff before merge.", "Keep secrets out of notes the bot can write; use a private repo and narrow GitHub token scope." ], "prompt": "LONG-TERM MEMORY VAULT (Markdown + GitHub + PARA)\n\nRepo: [private GitHub URL]\nLocal vault folders: Projects/, Areas/, Resources/, Archive/, Inbox/\n\nYour job:\n1) DAILY NOTE: Create or append to Areas/Daily/[YYYY-MM-DD].md with: what we decided today, open questions, links I gave you. Plain Markdown only.\n2) DECISION LOG: When I say \"log decision,\" append a bullet to Resources/Decision-log.md: date | decision | why | link.\n3) INBOX: Quick captures go to Inbox/[short-title].md until weekly triage.\n4) WEEKLY TRIAGE (when I say \"PARA sweep\"): For each Inbox file, propose exactly one destination folder (Projects/Areas/Resources/Archive) and a one-sentence reason. Wait for my approval before moving or deleting.\n\nRules:\n- Read existing files before writing; no duplicate daily files.\n- Commit messages must describe what changed; never commit API keys, passwords, or full card numbers.\n- Do not change .obsidian/ config unless I ask.\n- Show me the diff summary before push; I pull locally and read in Obsidian.\n\nStart by listing which files you can see in the repo and what you will create today.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Public Oct 2026 agent-setup threads asked how to give bots durable memory; the workable pattern people shared is inspectable Markdown in Git, not proprietary “memory” toggles alone.", "Obsidian is local-first Markdown in a folder, not a hosted workspace like a browser-only wiki. You need Git, Obsidian Sync, or another documented sync path so bot commits and your laptop stay aligned.", "Mixing Git and cloud-folder sync on the same vault can cause conflicts; Obsidian Help warns about third-party sync overlapping with Obsidian Sync. Pick one strategy.", "Bot “memory” in chat is still separate from files until you verify commits; treat the vault as the source of truth.", "Private repos reduce public exposure but anyone with repo access, or a leaked token. Can read what the bot wrote; redact before commit." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://obsidian.md/help/vault", "note": "Vault = folder on your computer; open existing folder as vault." }, { "url": "https://obsidian.md/help/data-storage", "note": "Notes stored as Markdown; Git and third-party services mentioned for vault data." }, { "url": "https://obsidian.md/help/sync-notes", "note": "Sync options include Obsidian Sync, iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, and similar file-based services." }, { "url": "https://obsidian.md/help/sync/setup", "note": "Obsidian Sync requires an account and active Sync subscription." }, { "url": "https://obsidian.md/help/mobile", "note": "Obsidian mobile apps for iOS and Android." }, { "url": "https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/about-repositories", "note": "Public vs private repository visibility." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-17", "addedDate": "2026-10-17" }, { "title": "How to use AI to find new clients for a small cleaning business", "slug": "find-new-clients-for-a-cleaning-business-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/find-new-clients-for-a-cleaning-business-with-ai/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Rebuild local pipeline after lost accounts: research who might need recurring or move-out cleans, log them in a sheet, and get draft intros, not automated email blasts or DMs.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Chat or agent: free tiers often enough for a table batch; paid browse plans may apply. Google Sheets: free tier usually sufficient.", "steps": [ "Write facts only: services (recurring, move-out, commercial), cities, crew size, what makes you different (insured, eco products, etc.).", "Ask the bot for prospect types that fit. Property managers, dental offices, Airbnb hosts, realtors, not scraped personal emails from social media.", "Require a table with a public source link per row (directory, company site, or licensed listing). No invented phone numbers.", "For each approved row, request a 3–4 sentence intro in plain language; you personalize and send from your email or phone.", "Track status in the sheet: researched, drafted, sent, replied, not a fit.", "When someone replies, switch to the capture-leads setup for quotes and follow-up, not more cold drafts." ], "prompt": "LOCAL CLEANING CLIENT RESEARCH (draft-only outreach)\n\nMy business facts (use only these: do not invent credentials):\n[paste services, cities, years in business, insurance/bonding if true, website]\n\nTask:\n1) List 15–25 prospect organizations in [city/region] that plausibly need cleaning: property managers, offices, short-term rental operators, realtors (for move-out cleans), etc.\n2) Output a table: business name | type | city | public contact method | source URL | why they might fit | draft intro (3 sentences max).\n3) Rules: public sources only; no scraping personal emails from social profiles; no sending mail or DMs: drafts for me only.\n4) Flag rows where contact info is unclear so I verify manually.\n5) End with 3 follow-up angles I can use when someone says \"send your rates.\"\n\nI will review every intro and send messages myself. Check local rules on commercial email/text before I contact anyone.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Bots hallucinate contacts. Delete any row without a source link you can open.", "Cold email and text rules vary by country and state; this setup does not auto-send and is not legal advice.", "One viral “find clients” prompt does not replace referrals; expect to send many reviewed intros for a few replies.", "Do not upload tenant lists or private client data into chat. Prospects are public businesses only." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business", "note": "U.S. commercial email context (not legal advice)." }, { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking", "note": "Honest claims in outreach. Do not invent credentials." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-17", "addedDate": "2026-10-17" }, { "title": "Batch a week of social posts in one sitting", "slug": "batch-a-week-of-social-posts-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/batch-a-week-of-social-posts-with-ai/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn one weekly topic into a full week of scheduled social posts. Captions drafted by AI, visuals in Canva, queued in Buffer, so posting stops bleeding into every day.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Canva", "Buffer" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini: free tiers suffice; Canva: free tier; Buffer: free tier covers 10 scheduled posts per channel.", "steps": [ "Pick one anchor topic for the week (a job you finished, a question customers keep asking, an offer).", "Ask the chatbot for 5–7 post angles on that topic, one per day, matched to each platform you use.", "Draft captions in batches. One prompt per platform, not one prompt for everything.", "Pair each caption with a visual: a real photo first, a quick Canva graphic second.", "Read every caption out loud once; cut anything that does not sound like you.", "Schedule the full week in Buffer or Metricool in one go, then close the apps.", "Transcribe the video first, then paste the transcript into a chatbot and ask it to list the 5-8 strongest standalone moments with timestamps: a stat, a tip, a story. Show output first; check each moment actually stands alone before you cut it.", "Reformat each clip for its platform: vertical 9:16 for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts; square or 4:5 for feeds. Caption every clip, since most short-form is watched on mute. One clip, reframed three ways, is three posts." ], "prompt": "Act as my social media copywriter. My business: [what you do, who you serve, town/region].\nThis week's anchor topic: [topic].\n\nWrite 5 short posts (one for each weekday). For each: a hook in the first line, 2-4 short lines of body, and one soft call to action (call, visit, DM, not \"link in bio\" unless I have one).\nRules: plain words, no hype, no emojis unless I ask. Sound like a real local business owner, not a marketing agency.\nAfter the posts, list 3 things I should double-check before scheduling (offers, dates, prices I mentioned).", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2–3 hours per week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one source reports a 30-minute weekly batch replacing several 90-minute mid-week scrambling sessions; assumes 3–4 ad-hoc posting sessions eliminated.", "commonSnags": [ "AI captions default to generic, if you would not say it out loud, rewrite it.", "Never let the draft invent an offer, price, or date; verify every claim before scheduling.", "One prompt per platform beats one prompt for \"all socials\". Batched prompts all sound the same.", "A landscape clip letterboxed into a vertical feed reads as lazy and gets scrolled past. Always reframe to the platform's native aspect ratio." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://smallaihub.com/articles/social-media-week-ai-30-minutes.html", "author": "Small AI Hub", "note": "30-minute weekly batch workflow: angles, captions, Canva, Buffer scheduling." }, { "url": "https://www.lanocwebdesign.co.uk/blog/2797048_batch-like-a-pro-ai-workflows-for-weekly-post-creation", "author": "Lanoc Web Design", "note": "Content pillars plus per-platform caption batching prompts." }, { "url": "https://softailed.com/blog/automate-social-media-posts-with-ai", "author": "Softailed", "note": "ChatGPT + Canva + Metricool pipeline; ~1 hour/week for 5–7 posts." }, { "url": "https://www.vidpal.ai/blog/how-to-repurpose-one-video-into-a-week-of-content-2026", "author": "Vidpal", "note": "Supports the transcript-first workflow: 5-8 standalone moments become captioned clips, reframed per platform, plus blog, GIF, and quote-graphic spin-offs from one source video." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Run a 15-minute AI weekly review", "slug": "ai-weekly-review-and-planning", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-weekly-review-and-planning/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Close each week by talking through wins, drains, and open loops with voice mode while the AI takes notes, then get a drafted plan for next week instead of a blank Monday.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Calendar", "Notion" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT: free tier includes voice mode; calendar and notes apps you already use.", "steps": [ "Pick a fixed slot. Friday afternoon or Sunday evening, and protect it.", "Open voice mode and ask it to act as your review coach, one question at a time.", "Talk through the week: what got done, what slipped, what is still open, what drained you.", "Have it summarize into three buckets: wins, open loops, and next week’s top three priorities.", "Paste the summary into your notes app; put the top three priorities on the calendar.", "Skim last week’s summary before the next review so patterns surface.", "Pick 1 to 3 objectives for the quarter and write each as an outcome, not a task. For each, add 2 to 3 key results: measurable targets with a number and a date, one owner per objective, and a starting confidence level. Keep goals small enough that every key result can be checked objectively at quarter end.", "Ask the AI to build the quarter as a simple rhythm: plan in week one, a 15-minute weekly check-in answering 'what did I finish, what is stuck, what is next,' and an end-of-quarter review where you score each key result and carry forward, adjust, or drop it." ], "prompt": "Act as my weekly review coach. Ask me one question at a time and wait for my answer before moving on.\n\nQuestions:\n1. What are the 3 most important things you finished this week?\n2. What slipped, and why. In one sentence each?\n3. What loose ends are still floating in your head? List them all.\n4. What drained your energy for little payoff?\n5. What are your top 3 priorities for next week?\n\nWhen I am done, summarize as: WINS / OPEN LOOPS / NEXT WEEK'S THREE. Keep it short enough to read in 60 seconds. Do not add tasks I did not mention.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30–45 minutes per review", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one practitioner reports the voice-driven review taking ~15 minutes versus a manual typed pass; no timed study exists.", "commonSnags": [ "Voice mode rambles. Interrupt it and say \"summarize what you have so far\" when it drifts.", "The AI will happily invent priorities you never mentioned; the \"do not add tasks\" line matters.", "Skipping two weeks in a row kills the habit; the value compounds from the archive, not one session.", "Too many objectives and vague key results are the two classic failures. If a key result cannot be checked objectively at quarter end, rewrite it before the quarter starts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.asianefficiency.com/productivity/automate-weekly-review-ai/", "author": "Asian Efficiency", "note": "Voice-mode weekly review: ramble through answers, AI summarizes into a plan." }, { "url": "https://www.latestly.ai/p/5-proven-productivity-frameworks-turned-into-chatgpt-systems", "author": "Latestly AI", "note": "GTD capture–clarify–organize–reflect turned into a repeatable review script." }, { "url": "https://christopherbrya.com/automate-your-week-with-ai/", "author": "Christopher Brya", "note": "Friday review prompt: wins, setbacks, patterns, open loops, one improvement." }, { "url": "https://goalsandprogress.com/okrs-vs-quarterly-planning/", "author": "GoalsAndProgress", "note": "Supports the simple quarterly rhythm: plan week one, execute with weekly check-ins (what finished, what is stuck, what is next), review in week twelve; recommends starting with simplified quarterly planning before full OKRs." }, { "url": "https://www.mangoapps.com/templates/epms/okr-setting-template", "author": "MangoApps", "note": "Supports OKR mechanics: 1-3 outcome-focused objectives, key results as measurable outcomes not activity lists, one accountable owner per objective, confidence levels and dependencies recorded, mid-quarter review on evidence." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Research competitors through your customer’s eyes", "slug": "research-competitors-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/research-competitors-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a competitor comparison from public websites, ads, and reviews. Positioning, pricing, strengths, and the one question they answer better than you, then turn it into copy and one test.", "tools": [ "Claude", "Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "Claude / ChatGPT: free tiers include web search; no paid tools required.", "steps": [ "Write down your business in two sentences: who you help, your offer, one thing you want to improve.", "Pick 1–3 competitors a customer would realistically consider instead of you.", "Paste the master prompt and answer its setup questions; let it search the web.", "For blocked pages, upload screenshots with the URL and capture date.", "Ask it to compare the sites through three customer perspectives: first-time visitor, price shopper, skeptic.", "End with one table: positioning, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and your single biggest opening." ], "prompt": "I own [business name]: [two sentences on who I help and what I sell]. One thing I want to improve: [e.g., homepage headline, pricing page].\n\nCompetitors to research: [1-3 names + website URLs].\n\nFor each competitor, find from public sources: positioning (who they claim to serve), pricing or pricing signals, 3 strengths, 3 weaknesses, and anything new in the last 90 days. Then compare all of them against my business through the eyes of three customers: a first-time visitor, a price shopper, and a skeptic.\n\nDeliver: a comparison table, the ONE question each competitor answers more clearly than I do, and my single biggest opportunity plus my single biggest threat. Cite the source URL for every factual claim. Do not invent prices, reviews, or news, if you cannot verify it, say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2–4 hours per competitor scan", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manual competitor scans typically take an afternoon of tab-hopping; no timed study compares AI-assisted versus manual.", "commonSnags": [ "Simulated customer perspectives are not real interviews. Use the output to choose what to test, not as proof.", "Public ads and pages do not show profit; a competitor can look strong online and be weak underneath.", "Models will confidently fill gaps when sources are thin; the \"cite every claim\" line is load-bearing." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://mavgpt.ai/pdfs/Claude_Competitor_Analysis_Guide_2026.pdf", "author": "MavGPT", "note": "Full competitor-analysis workflow in Claude: master prompt, website comparisons, ad breakdowns." }, { "url": "https://www.panoramata.co/benchmark-marketing/chatgpt-competition-analysis", "author": "Panoramata", "note": "Copy-paste prompts for mapping competitors and refining by niche." }, { "url": "https://chatsmith.io/blogs/prompt/claude-prompts-for-business-00215", "author": "Chatsmith", "note": "Competitive analysis builder prompt: positioning, pricing, strengths, weaknesses table." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Log receipts by photo instead of typing", "slug": "receipt-expense-log-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/receipt-expense-log-with-ai/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Photograph receipts and have AI pull out vendor, date, and total into a running expense sheet. Under a minute per receipt, no month-end shoebox.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT: free tier handles photo upload; Google Sheets: free.", "steps": [ "Set up the sheet columns once: date, vendor, amount, category, notes.", "Write your 8–12 expense categories at the top of the chat (meals, fuel, supplies, subcontractors…).", "After each purchase, photograph the receipt flat and well-lit, and send it with the prompt.", "Glance at the extracted row before pasting it into the sheet. Fix anything that looks off.", "At month end, filter by category instead of retyping everything for the books." ], "prompt": "Extract this receipt into one line with exactly these fields, separated by | characters:\nDATE (YYYY-MM-DD) | VENDOR | AMOUNT (number only) | CATEGORY (pick from: [your categories]) | NOTES (one short phrase)\n\nRules: use \"\" for anything not clearly visible. Do not guess the category. Use \"Unsorted\" if unsure. Do not round the amount.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1–3 minutes per receipt", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one source reports under 60 seconds per expense versus 2–5 minutes of manual entry; assumes a quick visual check each time.", "commonSnags": [ "Blurry or crumpled photos misread totals. Flat, lit, and in focus matters more than the model.", "Faded thermal receipts confuse every OCR; photograph them the day you get them.", "This logs expenses; it is not bookkeeping software. Your accountant still wants the sheet reviewed." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://dev.to/superdots/ai-expense-reports-automate-the-most-hated-task-in-finance-41n0", "author": "Superdots (dev.to)", "note": "Snap-photo workflow: AI extracts vendor, amount, date, category; under 60 seconds per expense." }, { "url": "https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-receipt-extractor-n8n-google-sheets", "author": "Ynteractive", "note": "Receipt photo to Google Sheets row: date, vendor, total, category extraction pattern." }, { "url": "https://n8n.io/workflows/4950-ai-powered-receipt-and-expense-tracker-with-telegram-google-sheets-and-openai/", "author": "n8n", "note": "Receipt photos and PDFs routed to categorized Google Sheet rows." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Learn a new skill with an AI study plan", "slug": "learn-a-new-skill-with-ai-study-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/learn-a-new-skill-with-ai-study-plan/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn \"I want to learn X\" into a week-by-week plan with daily tasks, quizzes, and beginner projects. Built around the hours you actually have, not fantasy hours.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Notes app" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT / Claude: free tiers; notes app you already use.", "steps": [ "Name the skill and your deadline (or \"no deadline, steady pace\").", "Ask for the 20% of the topic that covers 80% of real use. Learn that first.", "Have it build a week-by-week plan using ONLY your real available hours.", "Each study session: learn one concept, then make the AI quiz you before moving on.", "Every two weeks, do a tiny project with the skill instead of another lesson.", "When stuck, ask for an explanation \"like I am a complete beginner,\" then a harder one." ], "prompt": "I want to learn [skill]. I am a complete beginner. I can study [X hours] on [days].\n\nFirst: what is the 20% of this skill that covers 80% of real-world use? List it.\nThen: build me a week-by-week plan using only my available hours. Each week needs: what to learn, one hands-on task, and one short quiz to prove I got it.\nRules: no 10-hour weeks disguised as \"intensive.\" If I only have 4 hours, plan 4 hours. Include one revision week every 4 weeks.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Hard to time-box; plan in weeks, not hours", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources (replaces paid courses only anecdotally).", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: no timed studies exist. The saving is structural. A realistic plan you finish beats an ambitious plan you abandon in week two.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI will happily plan 15-hour weeks unless you state your real hours, then it still might; check the math.", "Reading plans feels like progress and is not. The quizzes and projects are the actual learning.", "It cannot verify your answers against a real exam or standard; use it for practice, not certification." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://variabletribe.com/how-to-use-chatgpt-to-learn-any-skill-you-want/", "author": "Variable Tribe", "note": "80/20 skill breakdown, realistic schedule from actual availability, beginner projects." }, { "url": "https://mikesblogdesign.com/ai-learning/", "author": "Mike's Blog Design", "note": "7-day learning sprints with daily tasks, quizzes, and progress tracking." }, { "url": "https://skilldential.com/chatgpt-study-and-learn-framework/", "author": "Skilldential", "note": "Socratic study loop: diagnostic quiz, scaffolded hints, mastery check." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Reply to 1-Star Reviews Without Sounding Like a Robot", "slug": "reply-to-one-star-reviews-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/reply-to-one-star-reviews-with-ai/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft calm, human replies to angry 1-star and 2-star reviews that apologize once, offer one real next step, and take the fight offline.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT and Claude handle this. No paid tools needed.", "steps": [ "Wait until you are calm. Never draft a reply in the first hour after reading a bad review.", "Paste the full review text and star rating into chat, plus the date if shown.", "Paste your fix facts: what you honestly offer (a redo, a refund, a phone call). If you offer nothing, say so plainly.", "Ask for one reply under 70 words: thank them for the feedback, apologize for their experience once, offer the one fix, give a phone number or email.", "Read the draft out loud. If it sounds like a press release, ask for a plainer version.", "Post it yourself on the review platform. Do not let any tool auto-post as your business." ], "prompt": "Draft a public reply to this 1-star review for my small business. I will post it myself.\n\nReview: [paste full text]\nRating: [1 or 2 stars]\n\nWhat I can actually offer to fix it: [one real thing: redo, refund, callback, or \"nothing beyond an apology\"]\nMy contact for follow-up: [phone or email]\nTone: calm, human, plainspoken. No corporate speak.\n\nRules:\n- Apologize for their experience exactly once.\n- Offer the one fix listed above, nothing more.\n- Invite them to contact me directly. Do not argue about what happened.\n- Under 70 words. Sign with [your first name].\n- Never invent policies, discounts, or freebies I did not list.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~15 minutes per angry review", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes one bad review takes ~20 min of stewing and drafting by hand vs ~5 min with an AI draft you edit.", "commonSnags": [ "AI drafts lean corporate (\"We sincerely regret any inconvenience\"). Ask for plainer words.", "The model may invent a refund or freebie you never offered. Check every promise against your real policy.", "Do not confirm private details (order numbers, amounts) in a public reply.", "If you reply while angry, even a good draft will get a sharp edit from you. Sleep on it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://booksy.com/blog/us/dealing-with-negative-reviews/", "author": "Booksy", "note": "Response structure for negative reviews: greet, apologize, move the conversation private." }, { "url": "https://incentivio.com/how-to-respond-to-negative-reviews/", "author": "Incentivio", "note": "Signed, specific replies with a private contact path; examples by scenario." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Ask Happy Customers for Reviews at the Right Moment", "slug": "ask-happy-customers-for-reviews", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ask-happy-customers-for-reviews/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Write short, natural review requests for text, email, and in-person handoffs, timed to the moment the customer feels good.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Your Google review link costs nothing to generate.", "steps": [ "Write down your three best ask moments: when the job wraps, when a customer compliments you, when a problem gets fixed.", "Get your direct Google review link from your Business Profile on a desktop browser.", "Ask AI for three short request scripts: one for text, one for email, one to say in person. Keep each under 40 words.", "Make the scripts specific to your moments (\"Since the furnace is running again...\").", "Attach the ask to the milestone, not your memory. Invoice sent, ask sent. Job done, ask sent.", "If someone says yes but does not post, send one gentle reminder with the link. Then drop it.", "Pick 2-3 trigger moments when you ask every time: job done, invoice paid, compliment received. Same milestone for everyone, so it becomes habit and stays fair.", "Ask AI to draft a short ask message from your trigger list, with [bracketed] spots for name, the specific moment, and your form link. Link to a 3-question form (a Google Form works): what problem did they have before, what result did they get, would they recommend you and why. Show output first, then send it yourself. Store every answer in one spreadsheet with the client name and date." ], "prompt": "Write short review-request messages for my small business. Plainspoken, no hype.\n\nBusiness: [name, what you do]\nAsk moments: [e.g. job finished, checkout, delivery day]\nReview link: [paste your Google review link]\n\nWrite three versions, each under 40 words:\n1. A text message to send within a few hours of the job.\n2. A short email for the day after.\n3. One sentence to say in person at handoff.\n\nRules:\n- Thank them first, ask second.\n- Ask for an honest review, never for 5 stars specifically.\n- No discounts, prizes, or incentives for reviewing.\n- Make it easy: mention it takes about a minute.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~30 minutes setting up reusable scripts", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: one-time setup. The ongoing win is review volume, not time: businesses that ask consistently get asked-about results in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "Never offer discounts or prizes for reviews. Google removes incentivized reviews and can suspend your profile.", "Do not hand a customer your phone and watch them write it. A QR card on the counter is fine; hovering is pressure.", "Asking \"a week later\" barely works. Same day beats next week every time.", "Staff will forget. Tie the ask to a step that already happens, like the invoice.", "Collecting a great testimonial you cannot publish is wasted effort. Ask 'may I share this with your name' inside the form itself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.salesforce.com/blog/small-business/google-reviews-how-to/?bc=OTH", "author": "Salesforce", "note": "Ask right after a positive moment; keep requests short and channel-appropriate." }, { "url": "https://www.spokk.io/blog/how-to-get-more-google-reviews", "author": "Spokk", "note": "Ask every customer at one consistent moment; one reminder max; no incentives." }, { "url": "https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/collecting-testimonials-for-your-online-course/", "author": "Digital Defynd", "note": "Supports the testimonial system loop: trigger points, short ask, 3-question form, storing answers in a spreadsheet, reusing the best ones, and repeating for every customer." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Make a Review QR Card Customers Actually Scan", "slug": "review-qr-card-that-gets-scanned", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/review-qr-card-that-gets-scanned/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Write the short copy for a printed review QR card and plan where it lives: counter, receipt, handover folder.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Canva" ], "toolCost": "Free if you print at home. Print shops charge a few dollars for a stack of sturdy cards.", "steps": [ "On a computer, open your Google Business Profile, go to Read Reviews, then Get more reviews. Save the QR code image.", "Decide where the card lives: counter, table tent, receipt insert, or handover folder. Pick one spot to start.", "Ask AI for three short card copy options: a headline under 8 words, one honest line, and the scan instruction.", "Lay it out in Canva: your logo, the QR code large enough to scan from a foot away, the copy, nothing else.", "Print one test copy and scan it with your own phone. Fix anything that fails before you print fifty.", "Put it out and train staff on one line: \"There is a review card on the counter if you have a minute.\" Then leave it alone." ], "prompt": "Write copy for a printed Google review QR card for my small business. Short and honest.\n\nBusiness: [name, type, e.g. bakery, barbershop, plumbing]\nWhere the card sits: [counter / table / receipt insert / handover folder]\n\nGive me three copy options. Each has:\n- A headline under 8 words\n- One honest sentence (no hype, no begging)\n- A scan instruction under 10 words\n\nRules:\n- Ask for an honest review, never for 5 stars.\n- No discounts or prizes mentioned.\n- Plainspoken. This card sits next to my register and represents me.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~1 hour one-time setup", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: one-time design and print run. After that the card collects reviews passively with no staff time.", "commonSnags": [ "Google only generates the QR code on a desktop browser, not on mobile. Plan for that.", "Tiny QR codes do not scan. Make it at least 1 inch square with quiet space around it.", "Do not require or pressure customers to scan while on your premises. The card invites; staff should not hover.", "Linking to the wrong location is common for multi-location businesses. Scan and verify the profile name." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.dreamhost.com/blog/review-generation-system/", "author": "DreamHost", "note": "QR card at the natural end of the transaction; ask every customer consistently." }, { "url": "https://digitalcave.uk/blog/how-to-get-more-google-reviews", "author": "DigitalCave", "note": "Where to place review links and QR codes by business type; QR generation is desktop-only." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Thank-You Replies for 5-Star Reviews That Do Not Sound Canned", "slug": "thank-you-replies-for-five-star-reviews", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/thank-you-replies-for-five-star-reviews/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft varied, personal thank-you replies to positive reviews that mention specifics instead of copy-paste.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT and Claude handle this.", "steps": [ "Collect 5 to 10 recent positive reviews you have not answered yet.", "Paste them into chat in one batch with your business name and tone (warm, brief).", "Ask for one reply per review, each under 50 words, each mentioning one specific detail from that review.", "Demand variety: no two replies may open with the same sentence.", "Edit each draft: fix names, fix details, sign with your name.", "Post them yourself, a few per day rather than all at once." ], "prompt": "Draft thank-you replies to these 5-star reviews for my business. I will edit and post each one myself.\n\nBusiness: [name]\nTone: [warm and brief / friendly / professional]\nSign-off name: [your first name]\n\nReviews:\n[paste 5-10 reviews, numbered]\n\nRules:\n- One reply per review, under 50 words each.\n- Use the reviewer's name. Mention ONE specific detail from their review (a dish, a service, a staff member).\n- No two replies may start with the same words.\n- No discount codes, no promotions, no keyword stuffing.\n- Plainspoken and human. Never start with \"Thank you for your review! We appreciate your business!\"", "timeSavedEstimate": "~20 minutes per batch of 10 reviews", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes ~3 min per reply by hand vs ~1 min editing an AI draft, across 10 reviews.", "commonSnags": [ "Copy-paste replies are obvious to anyone who scrolls your reviews. Vary every single one.", "Do not stuff keywords (\"best plumber in Austin!\"). It reads as spam and does nothing for ranking.", "Skip the promo code in a thank-you. It turns gratitude into an ad.", "AI sometimes thanks the reviewer for details they never mentioned. Verify before posting." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.spokk.io/blog/how-to-respond-to-reviews-negative-positive-examples", "author": "Spokk", "note": "Positive reply formula: thanks plus their specific point plus a personal touch." }, { "url": "https://clutch.co/resources/24-positive-review-response-examples", "author": "Clutch", "note": "Personalize with name and detail; match reply effort to review effort." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a Rental Reference Letter With AI", "slug": "write-rental-reference-letter-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-rental-reference-letter-with-ai/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Draft a professional landlord reference letter for a former tenant, or draft one for your landlord to review and sign.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT and Claude handle this.", "steps": [ "Gather the facts first: exact tenancy dates, whether rent was on time, condition at move-out, any complaints or violations.", "Decide your honest recommendation level: rent again gladly, rent with reservations, or decline to write the letter.", "Paste the facts into chat and ask for a one-page formal letter with a clear recommendation sentence.", "Read every sentence for accuracy. AI will happily invent dates and details if you leave gaps.", "Strip anything about family, health, background, or personal life. Rental facts only.", "Sign it yourself if you are the landlord. If you are the tenant, send the draft to your landlord and let them edit and sign." ], "prompt": "Draft a landlord reference letter. Formal, concise, one page. Only use the facts I give you. Do not invent anything.\n\nLandlord name: [your name]\nLandlord phone/email: [contact]\nTenant full name: [name]\nProperty address: [address]\nTenancy dates: [start - end]\nRent payment history: [e.g. always on time / two late payments in 2023]\nProperty condition: [e.g. excellent, normal wear / describe any damage]\nLease issues: [none / describe briefly]\nWould rent again: [yes / with reservations]\n\nRules:\n- Mention only rental facts: payments, condition, communication, lease compliance.\n- No comments on family, health, background, or personal characteristics.\n- End with a clear recommendation sentence and an offer to be contacted.\n- If any fact is missing, leave a [bracket] for me instead of guessing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~20 minutes per letter", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes a landlord spends ~30 min staring at a blank page vs ~10 min filling facts and editing a draft.", "commonSnags": [ "AI invents specifics when facts are missing. Fill every bracket yourself before sending.", "Mentioning protected characteristics (race, family status, religion, disability) creates Fair Housing exposure, even as a compliment. Leave it all out.", "Do not write a glowing letter for a tenant who trashed the place just to move them along. The next landlord will remember.", "Tenants: never sign your landlord’s name. Draft it, send it, let them edit and sign." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://rentredi.com/blog/free-landlord-reference-letter-template", "author": "RentRedi", "note": "Reference letter template with a checklist of tenant behaviors landlords screen for." }, { "url": "https://www.tenantcloud.com/blog/landlord-recommendation-letter", "author": "TenantCloud", "note": "Sample letter structure and the case for honest, transparent references." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Ask for LinkedIn Recommendations (and Get Yeses)", "slug": "ask-for-linkedin-recommendations", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ask-for-linkedin-recommendations/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Write short, personalized LinkedIn recommendation requests that name the project and the skills, so busy people can say yes fast.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. LinkedIn recommendations cost nothing to give or receive.", "steps": [ "List 3 to 5 people who directly saw your work: a manager, a close colleague, a happy client. Not acquaintances.", "For each person, note one specific project and one skill you want highlighted.", "Ask AI for a short personalized message per person: greeting, the shared project, the specific ask, an easy out.", "Edit each message so it sounds like you. Never send LinkedIn’s default request text.", "Send from LinkedIn’s \"Ask to be recommended\" flow or by direct message, whichever fits the relationship.", "If no reply in a week, send one polite follow-up. Then let it go." ], "prompt": "Write LinkedIn recommendation request messages for me. Short, warm, specific. I will send them myself.\n\nMy name: [name]\nMy role: [title]\n\nPerson 1:\n- Name and relationship: [e.g. former manager at Acme]\n- Project we worked on: [specific project]\n- Skill to highlight: [e.g. leading the migration]\n\n[repeat for each person]\n\nRules:\n- Under 100 words per message.\n- Name the specific project so they remember the work.\n- Give them an easy out (\"no pressure if timing is bad\").\n- Offer to reciprocate where it fits.\n- Never use LinkedIn's generic default text.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~30 minutes for 5 requests", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes ~10 min of drafting and second-guessing per message by hand vs ~4 min editing a tailored draft.", "commonSnags": [ "Generic asks get ignored. If you would not recognize the project from the message, rewrite it.", "Do not ask people who barely know your work. A thin recommendation hurts more than none.", "LinkedIn caps how you can message non-connections. Warm relationships first.", "Never write the recommendation yourself and ask them to paste it, unless they ask you to draft one." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-ask-for-a-recommendation-on-linkedin?ref=AustinDigitalJobs", "author": "The Muse", "note": "Personalize the ask, name the skills, offer to reciprocate; templates by relationship." }, { "url": "https://management.org/how-to-ask-for-recommendation-on-linkedin", "author": "Management.org", "note": "Structure of an effective request: greeting, shared context, specific ask, gratitude." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn Good Reviews Into Social Media Posts", "slug": "turn-reviews-into-social-posts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-reviews-into-social-posts/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Convert 5-star reviews into ready-to-post social content: quote graphics, captions, and hashtags for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Canva" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of chat tools and Canva cover this end to end.", "steps": [ "Pick your 10 strongest reviews: specific, enthusiastic, naming a product, service, or person.", "Paste them into chat in a batch and ask for one social post per review: a short quote pull, a caption under 60 words, and 3 hashtags.", "Match the format to the platform: square quote graphic for Instagram, plain quote plus caption for Facebook, short story version for LinkedIn.", "Build the graphics in Canva with your brand colors. Keep the reviewer’s words exact.", "Get permission before using a customer’s full name or photo. First name plus initial is the safe default.", "Schedule one review post per week. Mix them with your normal content so the feed is not all testimonials." ], "prompt": "Turn these customer reviews into social media posts for my business. I will design and publish them myself.\n\nBusiness: [name, type]\nBrand voice: [e.g. warm, plainspoken, a little funny]\n\nReviews:\n[paste reviews, numbered]\n\nFor each review, give me:\n1. A quote pull under 20 words (exact customer words, no edits that change meaning).\n2. A caption under 60 words that adds context: what the review was about, a thank-you, one soft call to action.\n3. Three relevant hashtags.\n\nRules:\n- Never invent details the reviewer did not mention.\n- If a review is long, pull the strongest sentence; do not stitch sentences together to say something new.\n- Keep my brand voice. No hype words.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~1 hour per month of content", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes 4 review posts a month at ~25 min each (writing, caption, hashtags) by hand vs ~10 min with AI drafts.", "commonSnags": [ "Editing a quote to sound better can misrepresent the customer. Pull exact words or paraphrase openly.", "Using full names or photos without permission backfires. Ask first; most happy customers say yes.", "Posting five review graphics in a row looks desperate. One a week, mixed with real content.", "Screenshots of reviews with personal info visible (reviewer photos, locations) need a crop check." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://website.stamped.io/blog/5-ways-to-repurpose-customer-reviews-across-your-marketing-channels/", "author": "Stamped", "note": "Turning reviews into social content: quote graphics, carousels, video soundbites." }, { "url": "https://clutch.co/resources/how-to-share-reviews-on-social-media", "author": "Clutch", "note": "Sharing reviews as posts and storytelling carousels by platform." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Read 100 Reviews in 20 Minutes: Find What Customers Really Complain About", "slug": "summarize-reviews-to-find-complaints", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-reviews-to-find-complaints/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Analyze a pile of reviews to surface the real recurring complaints and praises, ranked by frequency, with receipts.", "tools": [ "Claude", "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers handle ~50 reviews. Larger batches are easier on paid tiers with bigger context windows.", "steps": [ "Copy 50 to 100 recent reviews into a doc. Include the star rating with each one. Mix 5-star and 1-star.", "Paste them into chat in chunks if needed, and ask for the top 5 complaint themes and top 3 praise themes, each with a count and 2 example quotes.", "Ask which themes are getting worse in the last 3 months, if dates are included.", "Spot-check the counts. Read 5 reviews per theme yourself to confirm the AI grouped them sensibly.", "Pick the top 2 complaint themes you can actually fix. Write one action per theme.", "Share the summary with your team. One page. No blame, just the pattern." ], "prompt": "Analyze these customer reviews for my business and find the real patterns. Do not flatter me.\n\nBusiness: [name, type]\nReviews (with star ratings):\n[paste reviews]\n\nReturn:\n1. Top 5 complaint themes, ranked by how often they appear. For each: theme name, count, and 2 short example quotes.\n2. Top 3 praise themes, same format.\n3. Any theme that appears more in recent reviews vs older ones.\n4. One sentence on what the single most fixable problem looks like.\n\nRules:\n- Count only what is actually in the text. Do not inflate.\n- Keep quotes short and exact.\n- If a review mentions two issues, count it under both.\n- Tell me if the sample is too small to trust any theme.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~3 hours per deep review", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: reading and tallying 100 reviews by hand takes ~4 hours; an AI pass plus your spot-check takes under an hour.", "commonSnags": [ "AI miscounts. Always spot-check the numbers against the raw reviews before acting.", "Small samples mislead. Twenty reviews can make one grumpy regular look like a movement.", "Do not confuse correlation with cause. \"Slow service on Fridays\" might be a staffing problem, not a speed problem.", "Ignoring the praise themes. Your strengths are marketing copy waiting to happen." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.clootrack.com/blogs/how-to-identify-themes-from-customer-feedback-reviews", "author": "Clootrack", "note": "Breaking feedback into units, detecting recurring phrases, and clustering into themes." }, { "url": "https://chisellabs.com/blog/turn-customer-complaints-into-product-insights/", "author": "Chisel Labs", "note": "Categorizing complaints, prioritizing by frequency vs severity, spotting patterns." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "One Weekly Brief for Reviews Across Google, Yelp, and Facebook", "slug": "weekly-review-monitoring-brief", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/weekly-review-monitoring-brief/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a weekly review-checking habit with a simple brief format: new reviews, replies drafted, issues spotted, follow-ups owed.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Alerts" ], "toolCost": "Free. Google Alerts and manual checks cost nothing; paid dashboards are optional.", "steps": [ "Set a Google Alert for your exact business name plus \"review\" to catch mentions outside the big platforms.", "Pick one day and time each week. Put it on the calendar like an appointment.", "Open Google, Yelp, and Facebook reviews. List every new review since last week with rating and one-line gist.", "Triage: 1 to 2 stars first, then questions, then positive reviews.", "Draft replies for all of them in one chat session, then post each reply yourself.", "Log any issue mentioned twice into a running list. That list feeds your monthly fix-it session." ], "prompt": "Turn this week's new reviews into a monitoring brief for my business, plus reply drafts. I post everything myself.\n\nBusiness: [name]\nWeek of: [date]\n\nNew reviews:\n[paste each with platform, rating, text, date]\n\nReturn:\n1. Brief: total new reviews, average rating this week, any rating change vs last week.\n2. Triage list: which need replies first and why.\n3. One draft reply per review, under 60 words, in my voice: [describe tone].\n4. Issues mentioned more than once, quoted briefly.\n\nRules:\n- Flag anything that looks fake or violates policy; do not draft a reply for those, note them for reporting.\n- Never invent facts about my business.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~30 minutes per week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes scattered checking costs ~45 min/week with context switching vs one focused 15-minute pass.", "commonSnags": [ "Google Alerts misses plenty. It is a net, not a guarantee. The manual sweep still matters.", "Letting it slide for a month turns a 15-minute habit into a 2-hour dread pile.", "Do not reply to obvious fakes with a full apology. Report first, reply briefly or not at all.", "One person should own the brief. \"We all check\" means nobody checks." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.wizville.com/en/blog/how-to-effectively-monitor-your-online-customer-reviews", "author": "Wizville", "note": "Monitoring third-party platforms plus alerts; assigning follow-up tasks." }, { "url": "https://www.networksolutions.com/blog/essential-steps-monitoring-online-reputation/", "author": "Network Solutions", "note": "Channels to track: search results, review sites, social, forums; weekly check cadence." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Restaurant Review Replies: Templates for Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor", "slug": "restaurant-review-response-templates", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/restaurant-review-response-templates/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Create a template bank for restaurant and cafe review replies that handles praise, mixed feelings, and kitchen disasters without sounding like a chain.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT and Claude. No paid tools needed.", "steps": [ "List your six situations: rave about food, rave about service, mixed 3-star, bad food, bad service, suspicious or fake.", "Ask AI for one template per situation, each under 70 words, in your restaurant’s voice.", "Add your specifics: signature dishes, your name, the phone number for offline follow-up.", "For each new review, pick the closest template and rewrite it around one detail from the actual review.", "Post it yourself. Never auto-post, and never let the template show: change the opener every time.", "Once a month, read your last 20 replies in a row. If they blur together, refresh the templates." ], "prompt": "Write restaurant review reply templates for me. I will personalize each one before posting.\n\nRestaurant: [name, cuisine, vibe: e.g. family Italian, casual]\nMy name and role: [e.g. Maria, owner]\nContact for unhappy guests: [phone or email]\nSignature dishes: [2-3]\nReal policies: [e.g. we redo a dish on the spot; no cash refunds after the visit]\n\nWrite six templates, each under 70 words:\n1. 5-star praising the food.\n2. 5-star praising the service or a named staffer.\n3. 3-star mixed (liked X, did not like Y).\n4. 1-star about food quality.\n5. 1-star about service or wait time.\n6. Suspected fake or never-visited review.\n\nRules:\n- Warm, specific, plainspoken. No chain-restaurant corporate voice.\n- Bad-review templates: apologize once, invite offline, no arguing about taste.\n- Leave [brackets] where I insert the reviewer's detail.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~2 hours per month", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes ~20 reviews a month at ~8 min each by hand vs ~2 min personalizing a template.", "commonSnags": [ "Never argue about taste in public. \"Our pizza is authentic\" against \"pizza was bland\" helps no one.", "Do not get defensive about health or cleanliness claims. Address calmly, move offline fast.", "Identical replies across Yelp and Google get noticed. Vary the wording per platform.", "Comping a meal publicly in every reply trains readers to complain for free food. Offer it privately." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.hubspot.com/service/how-to-respond-yelp-reviews?_ga=2.198763244.294769258.1539010043-215345474.1536196549", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "Yelp response practices with positive and negative examples by scenario." }, { "url": "https://www.mara-solutions.com/post/restaurant-review-examples", "author": "MARA Solutions", "note": "Restaurant-specific positive and negative reply examples, including staff mentions." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Dispute a Fake or Unfair Review (and Know When to Let It Go)", "slug": "dispute-fake-or-unfair-reviews", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/dispute-fake-or-unfair-reviews/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build an evidence file for fake or policy-violating reviews, write a tight report, and know which reviews to answer instead of dispute.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Google’s reporting and appeal tools cost nothing. Skip paid \"removal guarantee\" services.", "steps": [ "Check the reviewer’s profile first: new account, one review, reviews in five cities in one day. Screenshot everything.", "Compare the review against your records: names, dates, orders. Note exactly what does not match.", "Match it to a Google policy category: fake content, conflict of interest, harassment, off-topic, or spam.", "Report it: Business Profile, Read reviews, Report review, pick the closest category. Submit.", "Track the status in Google’s Reviews Management Tool: pending, no violation found, or escalated.", "If denied, appeal once with your evidence file. If the appeal fails and the review is from a real customer, write a professional reply and move on." ], "prompt": "Help me build an evidence file to report a suspicious Google review. Be precise and factual.\n\nBusiness: [name]\nReview text: [paste]\nReviewer profile notes: [account age, other reviews, anything odd]\nMy records: [why I believe this is not a real customer: no matching name, date, order]\n\nReturn:\n1. The Google policy category this most likely violates, and why in one sentence.\n2. A bullet evidence list I can attach: screenshots to take, records to pull.\n3. Tight report wording under 100 words: factual, no emotion, no insults.\n4. Your honest assessment: strong case, weak case, or not a policy violation at all.\n\nRules:\n- If this looks like a real customer with a real complaint, say so plainly and tell me to reply instead of report.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~45 minutes per dispute", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes gathering screenshots, records, and report wording takes ~1 hour scattered vs ~15 min with an organized checklist, plus the appeal.", "commonSnags": [ "A harsh review from a real customer is almost never removed. \"Unfair\" is not a policy violation.", "Paid removal services promise what they cannot control. Google decides, and nobody can guarantee it.", "Extortion (pay me or the review stays) has a separate Google reporting route. Do not engage or pay.", "Expect days to weeks, not hours. The status tool will say pending for a while." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.business.com/articles/remove-fake-google-reviews/", "author": "business.com", "note": "Policy violation vs bad experience; the three reporting access points and status tracking." }, { "url": "https://wickedspider.com/how-to-remove-a-google-review/", "author": "Wicked Spider", "note": "Flagging flow, the one-time appeal, and responding professionally when removal fails." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write Reviews That Actually Help People", "slug": "write-helpful-reviews-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-helpful-reviews-with-ai/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn rough notes about a visit or purchase into a specific, balanced, credible review for Google, Yelp, or TripAdvisor.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Posting reviews costs nothing.", "steps": [ "Right after the visit, jot raw notes: what you got, when, who served you, one good thing, one bad thing.", "Paste the notes into chat and ask for a review under 150 words: specific, balanced, conversational.", "Check that every specific claim is true. AI must not invent dishes, prices, or staff names.", "Add one photo if you have a good one. Photos make reviews far more trusted.", "Post it yourself on Google Maps or Yelp. Disclose any connection to the business.", "Update it later if things change. An updated review reads as fair, not fickle." ], "prompt": "Turn my rough notes into a helpful online review. Conversational, specific, honest.\n\nBusiness: [name, type]\nMy notes: [what I got, when, what stood out, what did not]\n\nWrite a review under 150 words:\n- Open with the overall verdict in one sentence.\n- Name specifics: dishes, services, staff, prices, wait times.\n- Include one honest caveat if there was one. Balanced reviews are trusted more.\n- Close with who this place suits.\n\nRules:\n- Use only my notes. Never invent details, prices, or names.\n- No gushing superlatives, no trashing. Plainspoken.\n- Write like a person telling a friend, not a brochure.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~10 minutes per review", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes a thoughtful review takes ~15 min to compose by hand vs ~5 min shaping notes with AI.", "commonSnags": [ "AI will invent specifics if your notes are thin. \"Great food\" in, invented dish names out. Check everything.", "Never review places you did not visit, and never let an employer pressure you into 5 stars. Both violate policy.", "Disclose connections. Worked there? Related to the owner? Say so.", "All-caps rants get skimmed, not trusted. Calm specifics win." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-write-a-review-on-google-a-step-by-step-guide/", "author": "SolveYourTech", "note": "Google review rules and tips: specifics, photos, real experience, no incentives." }, { "url": "https://www.aeanet.org/how-to-write-google-reviews/", "author": "AEANET", "note": "Elements of an effective review: authenticity, specifics, balance, context, visuals." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "A Review Response Playbook Your Whole Team Can Follow", "slug": "team-review-response-playbook", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/team-review-response-playbook/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Create a shared review-response standard for teams: who replies, how they sound, what escalates, and how AI drafts stay on-brand.", "tools": [ "Claude", "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Chat tools on any tier. Claude Projects or ChatGPT custom instructions keep the guide persistent.", "steps": [ "Collect 20 recent team replies. Mark the 5 best and 5 worst, and note why in one line each.", "Define the voice in plain words: formal or casual, first names or not, emoji or not, typical length.", "Write the forbidden list: phrases nobody uses (\"valued customer,\" \"we regret any inconvenience\"), plus anything legal or compliance bans.", "Set the escalation list: health claims, legal threats, employee names, press mentions. Those always go to a named person.", "Turn the guide into the system prompt for AI drafts: voice, length, sign-off, escalation triggers, forbidden phrases.", "Name one approver for tricky replies. AI drafts, the owner or manager approves anything flagged." ], "prompt": "Write a one-page review response playbook for my team. Concrete and enforceable, not motivational fluff.\n\nBusiness: [name, locations]\nTeam: [who replies: e.g. 2 store managers, 1 marketing lead]\nVoice: [e.g. warm but professional, first names, no emoji]\nRegulated or sensitive topics: [e.g. HIPAA, financial advice, alcohol service / none]\n\nHere are 5 of our best replies and why they worked:\n[paste]\n\nHere are 5 of our worst and what went wrong:\n[paste]\n\nReturn the playbook:\n1. Voice rules (5 bullets max).\n2. Length rules: positive reviews, negative reviews, mixed reviews.\n3. Sign-off format and who signs what.\n4. Forbidden phrases list.\n5. Escalation list: what always goes to [named approver] before posting.\n6. The AI draft instructions block: paste-ready system prompt encoding all of the above.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~3 hours per month plus fewer brand fires", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes inconsistent replies cost ~1 hour/week in rewrites and manager cleanup vs a shared standard with AI drafts.", "commonSnags": [ "A guide nobody reads is decoration. Walk the team through it once with real examples.", "Over-automation: full auto-reply without human review eventually posts something tone-deaf. Keep a human on negatives.", "Regulated industries (health, finance, legal) need compliance review of the forbidden list, not just marketing.", "Templates pasted verbatim across locations get spotted. The guide should demand personalization, not just allow it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.shoutaboutus.com/blog/still-using-review-response-templates-heres-why-time-start-personalizing-replies", "author": "ShoutAboutUs", "note": "What belongs in a reply style guide: voice, length, sign-off, contact route, escalation, forbidden content." }, { "url": "https://gbpcentral.com/blog/how-to-respond-to-google-reviews-templates-and-strategies-that-build-trust", "author": "GBP Central", "note": "Tone consistency principles: warm but professional, owner’s voice, proportional, no visible templates." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Your Reputation Command Center: Monitor, Respond, Improve", "slug": "reputation-command-center-small-business", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/reputation-command-center-small-business/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Run reputation as a monthly operating rhythm: listing audit, review velocity check, response sweep, theme mining, and one operational fix.", "tools": [ "Claude", "ChatGPT", "Google Alerts" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers plus free alerts cover this. Paid monitoring tools are optional until multi-location.", "steps": [ "Baseline once: record your rating and review count on each platform, plus your listing accuracy (hours, phone, address).", "Monthly, pull the numbers: new reviews, average rating, response rate, response time.", "Sweep unanswered reviews and draft replies in one batch. Nothing older than 30 days stays unanswered.", "Mine the month’s reviews for themes: top complaint, top praise, anything new.", "Pick one operational fix from the themes and assign it an owner and a date.", "Write the one-page monthly brief: numbers, themes, the fix, next month’s watch item. File it where you will find it." ], "prompt": "Run my monthly reputation audit. I will verify the numbers before acting on them.\n\nBusiness: [name, locations]\nPlatforms: [Google, Yelp, Facebook, others]\n\nThis month's numbers:\n- New reviews per platform and average rating: [paste]\n- Unanswered reviews: [paste with dates]\n- Last month's baseline: [rating and count per platform]\n\nReturn a one-page brief:\n1. Scorecard: rating now vs last month, review velocity, response rate.\n2. Reply drafts for unanswered reviews, under 60 words each.\n3. Top complaint theme and top praise theme with 2 quotes each.\n4. One recommended operational fix with an owner and a deadline.\n5. One watch item for next month.\n\nRules:\n- Flag anything that looks fake for reporting, not replying.\n- Do not invent numbers. If I did not provide a baseline, say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "~2 hours per month vs ad-hoc firefighting", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate basis: assumes scattered reputation work costs ~4 hours a month in context switching vs one focused 2-hour monthly session.", "commonSnags": [ "Tool sprawl: three dashboards and no habit. Start with a spreadsheet and a calendar block.", "Vanity metrics: total review count going up while the same complaint repeats for six months.", "Skipping the ops fix. The audit is only worth it if something in the business changes.", "Ignoring industry sites. Your Google looks great; your Healthgrades or TripAdvisor tells another story." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://Www.Xero.com/au/guides/online-reputation-management/", "author": "Xero", "note": "The five ORM activities: monitoring, generating reviews, responding, suppressing negatives, and handling crises." }, { "url": "https://www.designrush.com/agency/reputation-management-companies/trends/small-business-reputation-management", "author": "DesignRush", "note": "Repeatable reputation system: audit, respond, generate, align profiles, fix operations, escalate, measure." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Unsubscribe From Junk Email in Bulk", "slug": "bulk-unsubscribe-junk-email", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/bulk-unsubscribe-junk-email/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Decides which subscription senders to keep and which to unsubscribe from", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. Gmail's Manage subscriptions page is built in, and the free tiers of ChatGPT and Gemini work fine for the sorting step.", "steps": [ "Open Gmail on a computer. In the left sidebar, click More, then Manage subscriptions. If you do not see it, update Gmail and check again, since Google rolled this page out gradually.", "Look at the list. Gmail sorts senders by how often they email you, so the worst offenders sit at the top.", "For each sender, ask yourself one question: have I opened one of their emails in the last month? If not, click Unsubscribe next to their name and confirm.", "Stuck on a few? Copy the sender names into ChatGPT or Gemini and use the prompt below to get a keep-or-kill recommendation.", "Note that it can take a few days for unsubscribes to fully stop. Some senders email you from more than one list, so you may need to unsubscribe twice.", "If a sender ignores your unsubscribe or looks like spam, do not click links inside the message. Report it as spam instead." ], "prompt": "I listed the senders that email me regularly. For each one, tell me KEEP or UNSUBSCRIBE based on these rules: I like [LIST YOUR INTERESTS, e.g. running, cooking, local Vermont news]. Keep senders related to those interests or anything I need for work. Recommend unsubscribe for store promos, generic deals, and newsletters I never open. Here is the sender list: [PASTE SENDER NAMES]. Give me two short lists: KEEP and UNSUBSCRIBE.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 20 minutes a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on roughly 200 promotional emails a week at about 6 seconds each to glance at and delete. Your numbers will differ.", "commonSnags": [ "The Manage subscriptions option does not appear. Google rolled it out gradually, so update Gmail and check the More menu again, or search Gmail for 'unsubscribe' as a fallback.", "Emails keep arriving after you unsubscribed. Legitimate senders can take up to 10 business days to process the request. Wait, then report spam if it continues.", "Some senders only show a 'Go to website' option instead of a clean unsubscribe. You have to finish it on their site, and they may ask you to confirm by email.", "Unsubscribing from a store's promo list does not stop their order receipts. Those come from a different system." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.cleanfox.io/gmail-subscription-manager-how-to-find-and-unsubscribe-from-emails/", "author": "Cleanfox blog", "note": "Confirms Gmail's Manage subscriptions page processes one sender per action and can take a few days to fully stop emails." }, { "url": "https://www.wangdoo.com/how-to-unsubscribe-from-gmail-newsletters-instantly-explained/", "author": "Wangdoo Tech", "note": "Confirms there is no one-click 'unsubscribe from everything' in Gmail, and that a focused 15 to 20 minute session can clear dozens of subscriptions." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn a Long Email Thread Into a Decision Summary", "slug": "summarize-long-email-thread-decision", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-long-email-thread-decision/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Turns a sprawling email thread into a short decision summary", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Copy-paste into the free tier of ChatGPT or Claude is all this takes.", "steps": [ "Open the email thread in your mail app. Select all the text in the conversation and copy it.", "If the thread is very long, trim it: delete signature blocks, quoted disclaimers, and duplicate replies. Keep the actual messages in order.", "Open ChatGPT or Claude and paste the thread, then paste the prompt below above it.", "Read the summary. Focus on the 'Still open' and 'Owners' sections, since those tell you what needs action.", "Verify the summary against the thread before you act on it. AI can mix up who said what when many people share a first name.", "Do not paste threads with confidential company data, customer details, or legal matters into a free chatbot. Use your company's approved AI tool for those." ], "prompt": "Read this email thread and give me a short summary in exactly three sections. 1. DECIDED: what was decided, one bullet per decision. 2. STILL OPEN: questions or disagreements that are not resolved. 3. OWNERS: who agreed to do what, and by when if mentioned. Keep it under 200 words. Here is the thread: [PASTE THREAD]", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 15 minutes per long thread", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on reading 20 messages at about 1 minute each (20 minutes) versus reading a summary in about 2 minutes and spot-checking it in about 3 minutes.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI invents a decision nobody made. Always verify every claim in the summary against the actual thread before forwarding it.", "The thread is too long to paste. Summarize each message separately first, then paste those summaries and ask for one combined recap.", "Names get mixed up. When two people have the same first name or reply inline, tell the AI to quote the speaker with each bullet.", "Confidential threads. Free chatbots may use your input for training. Strip or redact sensitive details, or use your company's approved AI instead." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://coregptapps.com/blog/can-chatgpt-summarize-outlook-emails", "author": "CoreGPT", "note": "Shows the copy-paste method for summarizing email threads and provides prompts focused on decisions, action items, and open questions." }, { "url": "https://www.purshology.com/2026/02/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-email-writing-10-best-prompts-that-save-hours/", "author": "Purshology", "note": "Lists email prompts including a thread-summary prompt, and advises defining tone and length in prompts." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Triage Your Newsletters Once a Week", "slug": "weekly-newsletter-triage", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/weekly-newsletter-triage/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Scores a week's newsletters so you only open the ones worth your time", "tools": [ "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Email filters are built into Gmail and Outlook, and free chatbot tiers handle the scoring.", "steps": [ "Create a label or folder called 'Newsletters' in your email. Then create a filter so anything with an unsubscribe link or from your newsletter senders skips the inbox and lands there.", "Let the folder fill up during the week. Do not open it until your scheduled session.", "Pick a fixed weekly slot, 15 minutes, for example Sunday morning or Friday afternoon. Put it on your calendar.", "Open the folder and scan the subject lines. Copy the list of subject lines and senders into Claude or ChatGPT with the prompt below.", "The AI scores each one against your interests. Open the high scorers, skim them, then archive or delete everything in the folder.", "If a newsletter scores low three weeks in a row, unsubscribe. The point of this system is that keeping it around has a cost." ], "prompt": "I get these newsletters this week. My interests are [LIST YOUR INTERESTS, e.g. Vermont news, AI tools, running]. Score each newsletter 1 to 5 on whether it is worth my time to open, and give a one-line reason for each score. Newsletters: [PASTE SUBJECT LINES AND SENDERS]. Reply as a simple list, highest score first.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 45 minutes a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on 15 newsletters a week at about 4 minutes each to skim in the inbox (60 minutes) versus one 15-minute batch session using AI scoring.", "commonSnags": [ "The filter catches too much. Some real emails contain unsubscribe links too. Check the folder after setting up the filter and whitelist anything personal.", "You skip the weekly session. The folder becomes a second inbox. Keep the session short and fixed on the calendar so it sticks.", "The AI scores everything highly. Make your interests list specific, not generic, so the scores actually discriminate.", "You hoard 'read later' newsletters. 'Read later' means never. Open, skim, delete, done." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.readless.app/blog/knowledge-worker-productivity", "author": "Readless", "note": "Describes newsletter triage strategies including the 2-minute rule and batching, with claims of 1 to 2 hours saved per week." }, { "url": "https://www.janesheeba.com/tackle-email-inbox-overload/", "author": "Jane Sheeba", "note": "Recommends triage, filters, and weekly decluttering habits to keep email overload from building back up." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Find Every Subscription and Free Trial in Your Inbox", "slug": "find-subscriptions-and-free-trials-in-inbox", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/find-subscriptions-and-free-trials-in-inbox/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Builds a complete list of subscriptions and trials found in your inbox", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. Email search and free chatbot tiers are all you need. Paid subscription finders exist but are not required.", "steps": [ "In your email, search these phrases one at a time: 'receipt', 'renewal', 'your subscription', 'free trial', 'auto-renew'.", "Look at results from the last 12 months. You are hunting for two kinds of email: signup confirmations and billing receipts.", "Copy the sender names, service names, amounts, and dates into a note. Do not organize yet, just collect.", "Paste the collected list into ChatGPT or Gemini with the prompt below. The AI turns it into a clean table.", "Check the AI's table against your list. Add anything it missed, especially annual subscriptions that only bill once a year.", "For each subscription you do not use, cancel it now. Trials converting to paid plans are the top priority, since they start billing silently.", "Check phone-billed subscriptions too. On iPhone go to Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. On Android, open Play Store, tap your profile, then Payments and subscriptions." ], "prompt": "Here is a messy list of subscription and receipt emails from my inbox. Turn it into a table with these columns: Service name, Monthly or annual cost, Last billed date, Renewal date if known, and Keep or Cancel with a one-line reason. My rule: cancel anything I have not used in 3 months, keep streaming or tools I use weekly. Emails: [PASTE YOUR COLLECTED LIST]", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 30 minutes for the full sweep, once a year", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on about 5 inbox searches at 2 minutes each, 10 minutes collecting results, and 10 minutes reviewing the AI-built list. The review against card statements adds extra time.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI misreads a receipt and lists the wrong amount. Verify every cost against the original email before canceling or keeping.", "PayPal subscriptions hide the service name. Your statement just says PayPal. Check PayPal's preapproved payments page directly.", "Apple and Google store subscriptions do not always send email receipts. Check the subscription pages on your phone, as step 7 says.", "Family members subscribed with your email. Confirm who owns each subscription before canceling someone else's plan." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.substract.co/blog/how-to-find-all-your-subscriptions", "author": "Substract", "note": "Lists the exact inbox search terms (receipt, renewal, free trial) and notes that app-store subscriptions hide under bundled Apple or Google charges." }, { "url": "https://medium.com/@subscriptioninsider/how-to-find-all-your-subscriptions-in-under-10-minutes-complete-guide-ee8e6338a115", "author": "Subscription Insider on Medium", "note": "Gives the email-first method with specific search phrases and the tip to search common price points like $9.99 and $14.99." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write an Out-of-Office Reply That Actually Helps", "slug": "write-out-of-office-that-helps", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-out-of-office-that-helps/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Drafts a clear out-of-office reply with return date and backup contact", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. The draft takes a free chatbot, and the auto-reply feature is built into Gmail and Outlook.", "steps": [ "Before you open the chatbot, gather the facts: your first day away, your return date, and the name, role, and email of one person who can handle urgent things.", "Decide your access level. Are you checking email at all, or fully offline? Be honest, because people plan around what you write.", "Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT or Copilot with your facts filled in.", "Read the draft and fix two things yourself: the backup contact must be someone who actually agreed to cover, and the tone must match your workplace.", "Write three versions if it helps: short, formal, and customer-facing. The prompt below asks for this.", "Paste the final version into your email's auto-reply settings. In Gmail, that is Settings, then Vacation responder. In Outlook, that is Automatic Replies. Set a start and end date so it turns itself off." ], "prompt": "Write me an out-of-office message with these facts: I am away from [START DATE] to [END DATE], back on [RETURN DATE]. My email access while away: [none or limited]. Backup contact: [NAME], [ROLE], [EMAIL]. Write three versions: 1. Short internal version, under 60 words. 2. Formal external version, under 80 words. 3. Customer-facing version that routes people to [SUPPORT EMAIL OR HELP CENTER]. Each version must include my return date and the backup contact.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 10 minutes per use", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on drafting and rewriting an OOO message from scratch taking about 15 minutes, versus about 5 minutes to fill in facts, generate, and review.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI names a backup contact you never confirmed. Always get the backup's okay before they start getting strangers' emails.", "The message promises you will reply to everything when you return. You will not. Say what you will actually do, like 'I will catch up on priority items first.'", "Humor backfires. A joke in your OOO can read as unprofessional to clients or new contacts who do not know you.", "Forgetting internal versus external versions. Outlook and Gmail both support separate messages. Customers do not need your cell number." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://learn.g2.com/out-of-office-message", "author": "G2", "note": "Defines the essential OOO elements: return date, backup contact, and tone matched to the audience." }, { "url": "https://emailanalytics.com/9-perfect-out-of-office-message-examples-you-can-use/", "author": "EmailAnalytics", "note": "Emphasizes naming a real return date and one backup contact, and setting the subject line with the return date in Gmail's vacation responder." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn a Week of School Emails Into One Summary", "slug": "summarize-school-emails-for-parents", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-school-emails-for-parents/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Extracts dates, forms, and action items from a week's school emails", "tools": [ "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Email filters are built in, and free chatbot tiers handle the extraction.", "steps": [ "Create a label or folder called 'School' in your email. Add a filter so emails from the school's domain skip the inbox and land there.", "Pick a fixed weekly time, 20 minutes, to process the folder. Twice-a-week checkers can use 10 minutes per session instead.", "Open the folder and skim subject lines. Open anything that looks like a form, a date, or a sign-up. Copy the text of those emails.", "Paste the emails into Claude or ChatGPT with the prompt below. Include your kids' names and grades so the AI sorts by child.", "Read the resulting list. Put every date on your calendar right then, before you close the tab.", "Delete or archive everything in the folder once it is summarized. If it is on your calendar or in the summary, the email is done." ], "prompt": "Read these school emails and give me one organized summary. My kids: [NAMES AND GRADES, e.g. Connor, 6th grade]. Extract: 1. ACTION NEEDED: forms to fill out, sign-ups, payments, with due dates. 2. DATES: events, early dismissals, no-school days. 3. FYI ONLY: general announcements I can ignore. Sort by child where possible. Keep it short. Emails: [PASTE EMAILS]", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 40 minutes a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on 20 school emails a week at about 3 minutes each to read and mentally track (60 minutes) versus one 20-minute batch session with AI extraction.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI misses a deadline buried in a long newsletter. Always double-check the FYI section for anything with a date.", "Emails from different senders about the same kid get mixed up. Label emails by child in your folder, or paste them in separate batches.", "Two parents both act on the same form. Decide which parent handles school forms so you do not double-pay or double-sign.", "The school app has updates that never arrive by email. Glance at the school's app or site during your weekly session too." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.conflingo.com/forum/family-and-children/how-to-manage-overwhelming-school-emails-and-stay-organized", "author": "Conflingo community", "note": "Supports the weekly batch routine, email filters by sender or keyword, and checking school apps alongside email." }, { "url": "https://mother.ly/news/parents-school-email-survey/", "author": "Motherly", "note": "Reports parents cannot keep up with school emails and that the effort interferes with family time, supporting the need for a batch system." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Draft the Hard Emails: Saying No and Following Up Twice", "slug": "draft-difficult-emails-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/draft-difficult-emails-with-ai/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Drafts polite declines, no-meeting replies, and second follow-ups", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Free chatbot tiers draft these fine. Paid tiers are not needed.", "steps": [ "Decide the outcome before you open the chatbot: decline, decline with alternative, or follow up again. AI writes better when the decision is already made.", "Tell the AI the relationship context: is this your boss, a peer, a client, or a vendor? Tone depends on power, not just words.", "Paste the prompt below with your situation filled in. Ask for three versions: firm, warm, and brief.", "Read all three drafts out loud. Pick the one that sounds closest to how you actually talk.", "Rewrite it yourself. Change at least a few sentences. AI drafts sound fine but generic, and your own phrasing is what keeps relationships intact.", "For a second follow-up with no reply, use the follow-up variant of the prompt. Two follow-ups is the honest limit before you let it go or pick up the phone.", "Send it yourself. Never let AI send anything on your behalf without your review." ], "prompt": "Draft an email for this situation: [DESCRIBE IT, e.g. declining a meeting invite from a vendor, saying no to a project request from a peer, following up a second time on an unanswered quote request]. The recipient is [BOSS, PEER, CLIENT, VENDOR]. Give me three versions: 1. FIRM: polite but leaves no doubt. 2. WARM: keeps the relationship, offers an alternative like notes after the meeting or a future time. 3. BRIEF: under 50 words. Keep every version under 150 words. No corporate jargon.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 10 minutes per difficult email", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on a hard email taking about 15 minutes of drafting, staring, and rewriting, versus about 5 minutes to generate three versions, pick one, and rewrite it.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI writes something too soft and the person does not realize you said no. Read your draft and check: could a busy person misunderstand the answer? If yes, firm it up.", "The AI invents details you never agreed to, like a call time or a deliverable. Verify every commitment in the draft before sending.", "Tone mismatch. What reads as 'warm' to AI can read as stiff or sarcastic at work. Read it out loud in your own voice.", "AI cannot read office politics. It does not know that declining your boss's boss's meeting needs a different approach than declining a vendor. You are the politics layer." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-politely-decline-a-meeting?id=1550300", "author": "The Muse", "note": "Gives the structure for polite declines: acknowledge the invite, decline clearly, offer an alternative contribution." }, { "url": "https://learnlaughspeak.com/decline-requests-professionally/", "author": "Learn Laugh Speak", "note": "Shows decline email structure with greeting, acknowledgment, clear refusal, optional help, and closing, plus meeting-decline examples." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a Template Bank for Repeat Business Emails", "slug": "small-business-email-templates", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/small-business-email-templates/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Keeps a ready bank of email templates for the messages you send over and over", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT free tier and Gmail built-in templates are enough. Text expanders have paid upgrades you do not need for this.", "steps": [ "List the emails you send repeatedly: quote follow-ups, late-payment nudges, booked-out replies, review requests, thank-you notes.", "Ask ChatGPT to draft one template for each, using the prompt below. Keep every template under 120 words.", "Strip anything that sounds like a greeting card. Plain and friendly beats warm and wordy.", "Save each template with [BRACKET] placeholders for name, amount, date, and invoice number.", "Store them in Gmail templates (Settings, Advanced, Templates) or a text expander so you can insert them with a shortcut.", "Before each send, fill in the brackets and add one personal line about the actual job. That one line is what makes it feel real.", "List your 10-15 most repeated support questions and group them into four buckets: acknowledge (ticket received), update (still working on it), resolve (fixed - here is what to check), and follow up (did it stick).", "Ask AI to draft one short reply per bucket, with [bracketed] spots for name, ticket number, dates, and next steps. Show output first. Keep each reply to 3-4 sentences in your own tone, and store them where you already answer messages: saved replies in your helpdesk, a text expander, or a shared doc." ], "prompt": "Act as a writing assistant for a small business owner. I send the same types of emails over and over. Write me a template for each email listed below.\n\nRules for every template:\n- Under 120 words\n- Friendly but plain, no fluff\n- Leave placeholders in [BRACKETS] for anything I must fill in (name, amount, date, invoice number)\n- End with one clear next step\n\nMy emails:\n1. Follow-up on a quote I sent a week ago\n2. Nudge about an overdue invoice\n3. \"We are booked out for [TIMEFRAME], next opening is [DATE]\"\n4. Request for a review after the job is done\n5. Thank-you after payment received\n\nWrite a one-line subject line for each. Ask me what my business is and how I sign my emails before you start.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 1 hour a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on roughly 10 repeat emails a week at about 6 minutes each to write from scratch, reduced to about 1 minute each with templates to fill in.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI writes too formally. Tell it to write like you text a customer, then edit in your own voice.", "The AI invents specifics like a fake invoice number or date. Only real details you typed yourself go in the brackets.", "A template with [CLIENT] in it goes out unfilled. Read it once before sending, every time.", "The AI softens deadlines and firm asks. Check that the due date and the payment link survived the draft.", "A reply that goes out with [NAME] still in brackets breaks trust. Read every reply once before sending, every time." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://prospeo.io/s/reminder-email-for-no-reply", "author": "Prospeo", "note": "Supports template structures by scenario: quote follow-up, invoice reminder, and meeting confirmation with send timing." }, { "url": "https://invoicemonk.com/en/blog/payment-reminder-email-templates", "author": "Invoicemonk", "note": "Supports short, specific reminder wording: name the invoice number and amount, state the due date, attach the invoice, give one way to pay." }, { "url": "https://textexpander.com/templates/customer-service-response-examples", "author": "TextExpander", "note": "Supports canned-response library structure (acknowledge, update, resolve, follow up) and reply best practices: name the issue first, keep it short, name the next step, match the customer's tone." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write Cold Outreach That Does Not Sound Like Spam", "slug": "cold-outreach-that-doesnt-sound-like-spam", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/cold-outreach-that-doesnt-sound-like-spam/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turns an hour of prospect research into short, specific cold emails", "tools": [ "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Claude free tier is enough. Do not buy a cold email sending tool until you have proof the emails work.", "steps": [ "Build a small list: 10 to 15 prospects who genuinely fit what you do. Outreach is never a volume game; a small, managed list beats hundreds of blasts.", "For each prospect, spend 5 minutes on their website, socials, or recent news. Note one specific, real observation: a service they added, a project they finished, a gap you can honestly comment on.", "Paste your research notes into Claude with the prompt below and get a draft under 120 words.", "Read the draft yourself. Check the observation is true, not something the AI invented to fill space.", "Keep one plain ask: a 15-minute call or a simple reply. One ask, nothing else.", "Send from your normal email address, not a marketing tool. Track who you contacted, when, and what they said.", "One follow-up after a week, max. Then move on. Silence is an answer.", "Ask AI to turn your prospect research notes into a short call script with [bracketed] spots for name, company, and the one detail you found. Tell it to keep the opener under 30 seconds: your name, one specific thing you noticed about their business, one question. Show output first, read it out loud, and fix anything that sounds stiff before you dial.", "Open every call with a permission line: 'I know I'm calling out of the blue - do you have 30 seconds so I can tell you why I'm calling?' Then stop talking. If they say no, ask when a better time is and hang up politely. Respecting the no is what keeps the call from feeling like spam." ], "prompt": "You are helping me write cold outreach to win new clients. My business: [DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU SERVE, e.g. \"commercial cleaning for dental offices in Cleveland\"].\n\nHere is my research on one prospect:\n[PASTE PROSPECT WEBSITE TEXT, LINKEDIN NOTES, OR A SHORT BULLET LIST OF FACTS]\n\nWrite a cold email under 120 words. Rules:\n- Open with ONE specific observation about their business from my research, not a compliment about their \"impressive website\"\n- Say what I do in one sentence\n- One plain ask (a 15-minute call or a reply), nothing else\n- No hype, no fake warmth, no \"I would love to pick your brain\"\n- Sign off simply\n\nIf my research is too thin to write a specific opening, say so instead of inventing one.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 2 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on sending 10 outreach emails a week, with research and drafting dropping from about 25 minutes each to about 10 minutes each when the AI handles the writing.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI invents a fake observation about the prospect. Verify every specific claim against your research before sending.", "Fake warmth kills trust. \"Hey bestie, I LOVE your content\" to a stranger reads as manipulation, not friendliness.", "Sending to hundreds of people at once. Keep the list small and track responses, or the replies will rot in your inbox.", "No unsubscribe option on cold commercial email can violate CAN-SPAM rules in the US. One short line at the bottom (\"Reply STOP to opt out\") keeps you safe.", "Reading the script word for word makes you sound like a telemarketer. Work from bullet points and talk like a person, not a recording." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://saleshive.com/blog/top-strategies-effective-email-outreach-2025", "author": "SalesHive", "note": "Supports 2025 cold B2B reply-rate benchmarks (3 to 5 percent average, top performers 15 to 25 percent) and the research-backed personalization playbook." }, { "url": "https://nazurahar.substack.com/p/cold-outreach-strategies", "author": "Nazurah", "note": "Supports research-first, specific outreach: small prospect lists, honest tone, no fake warmth, and tracking who you contacted." }, { "url": "https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/successful-cold-calls", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "Supports permission-based openers ('do you have 30 seconds so I can tell you why I'm calling') and research-driven openers tied to a real detail about the prospect's business." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Draft Invoice-Chase Emails That Get Paid", "slug": "invoice-chase-email-drafts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/invoice-chase-email-drafts/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Produces a three-stage payment reminder sequence with your details merged in", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT free tier covers the drafts. Your invoicing tool may already send automatic reminders; use templates for the personal follow-ups.", "steps": [ "Pick your schedule: a heads-up 3 days before the due date, a note on the due date, then follow-ups at 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days overdue.", "Ask ChatGPT to draft the three core emails with the prompt below: friendly nudge, firm reminder, final notice.", "Every email must include the invoice number, the amount, the due date, and a payment link. Every extra click delays payment.", "Add a graceful out for people who already paid (\"If you have already sent it, thank you, ignore this\"). Checks cross in the mail.", "Send on schedule. Do not skip stages because it feels awkward; the tone does the escalating for you.", "Keep a simple sheet: invoice, due date, last reminder sent. Stop the moment it is paid.", "At 30 days with no reply, switch channels. A phone call beats a sixth email. Beyond that, talk to a professional about recovery, not the AI." ], "prompt": "I need three invoice reminder emails for my small business. My details: [BUSINESS NAME], payment link: [LINK].\n\nWrite three separate emails, escalating in firmness:\n1. FRIENDLY NUDGE (send 3 days after the due date). Warm tone. Assume they forgot. Include: invoice number [INVOICE NUMBER], amount [AMOUNT], due date [DUE DATE], payment link.\n2. FIRM REMINDER (send 14 days overdue). Direct but professional. Name the days overdue. Ask for a specific payment date.\n3. FINAL NOTICE (send 30 days overdue). Factual and serious. State the total due, the days overdue, a firm deadline of [DATE], and one consequence that matches my actual terms: [PAUSE WORK / APPLY THE AGREED LATE FEE / NOTHING YET, KEEP IT FACTUAL].\n\nRules: keep each under 120 words, never invent facts, never threaten anything I cannot actually do, and do not soften the deadline wording.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 1 hour a month", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on about 10 invoice chases a month at roughly 6 minutes each to write, cut to about 2 minutes each with templates to fill in.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI softens the payment deadline. Always check the due date and the firm ask survived the rewrite before sending.", "The AI invents an invoice number or amount. Every figure comes from your records, never from the draft.", "Threatening something you will not do. Do not write \"legal action\" unless you mean it; an empty threat teaches clients to ignore you.", "Sending more than 6 emails without changing channels. If email is not working, call. Escalation of medium matters more than escalation of words." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://teensmeanbusiness.com/payment-reminder-email/", "author": "Teens Mean Business", "note": "Supports the five-email escalation sequence by overdue stage, from friendly heads-up before the due date to a firm factual final notice." }, { "url": "https://www.engagelab.com/blog/payment-reminder-email", "author": "EngageLab", "note": "Supports send timing (3 days before, day-of, 3, 7, 14 days overdue, final notice at 30+ days), structured subject lines with invoice number, and switching channels after about six touchpoints." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Email Bankruptcy: A Recovery Plan for 5,000 Unread", "slug": "email-bankruptcy-recovery-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/email-bankruptcy-recovery-plan/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Resets an unmanageable inbox to zero in about an hour", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. Archiving and filters are built into Gmail and Outlook. ChatGPT free tier writes the note.", "steps": [ "Turn off notifications. You cannot drain the tub while the faucet is running.", "Sort by sender and pull out anything from your boss, key clients, or your accountant from the last 30 days. Reply to at most ten. If this takes more than 15 minutes, move on.", "Select everything older than 30 days, mark it read, and archive it (Gmail) or move it to a folder called \"Old Inbox\". Archive, never delete: you can still search it.", "Send the short resend note to your key contacts, or add a line to your signature for two weeks: \"Inbox reset Oct 18. If I missed your email, please resend it.\"", "Unsubscribe from every newsletter you have not opened in a month. Use your email search for \"unsubscribe\" and be ruthless.", "Create two or three Gmail filters: newsletters skip the inbox into a Newsletters label, receipts into a Receipts label. You can read them on your schedule.", "Adopt the daily rule: touch each new email once. Reply, archive, or put it on a to-do list. Never let it sit \"for later\" again." ], "prompt": "Help me declare email bankruptcy and reset my inbox. I have about [NUMBER] unread emails. Here is the plan:\n\n1. Draft a short, honest note I can send to about 10 key contacts ([NAMES OR ROLES, e.g. boss, biggest client, accountant]). It should say: I archived everything older than [DATE] to reset my inbox, nothing was answered, and I will not pretend otherwise. If anything still needs me, please resend it.\n2. Write a one-line addition for my email signature I can keep for two weeks: something like \"Inbox reset [DATE]. If I missed your email, please resend.\"\n3. Suggest 5 Gmail filters I should create this week to stop the pile growing back, based on these noise sources: [LIST YOUR NOISIEST SENDERS, e.g. newsletters, order confirmations, automated reports].\n\nKeep everything plain and honest. No jargon.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: the backlog disappears in about 1 hour, instead of weeks of sorting", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on archiving in bulk versus reading 5,000 emails at even 10 seconds each, which is about 14 hours of reading before you have done a single reply.", "commonSnags": [ "Skipping the resend note for VIPs. Your boss deserves a heads-up; the newsletter list does not.", "Trying to \"quickly scan\" before archiving. That is how 5,000 became 5,000. Archive first, search later if needed.", "Creating filters that are too broad and archiving real email. Run new filters as label-only for a week before adding skip-inbox.", "Declaring bankruptcy on a shared or team inbox. If others depend on those emails, coordinate first; this is a personal-inbox tool." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.getinboxzero.com/blog/post/email-bankruptcy-vs-inbox-zero", "author": "Inbox Zero", "note": "Supports the bankruptcy options: full delete, soft bankruptcy to an old-inbox folder, cutoff-date archive, and communicating the reset to contacts." }, { "url": "https://fullfocusplanner.com/email-bankruptcy/", "author": "Full Focus", "note": "Supports the step-by-step method: turn off the faucet, reply to at most ten key messages, then move everything into one processed folder." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Condense a 50-Message Thread Before a Meeting", "slug": "condense-50-message-thread-before-meeting", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/condense-50-message-thread-before-meeting/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Turns a long email thread into a one-page meeting prep sheet", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT free tier handles long pastes. Gmail summarize feature is included with any Google account.", "steps": [ "Open the thread and copy it, oldest message at the top. Strip nothing; the AI handles the mess.", "Gmail shortcut: open the thread and click \"Summarize this email\" at the top. No paste needed, but review it the same way.", "Paste the thread into ChatGPT with the prompt below. Ask for decisions, positions, open questions, and what the meeting must decide.", "Read the summary, then verify the facts that matter: names, dates, deadlines, dollar figures. Check them against the original thread.", "Watch for the word UNCLEAR in the output. Those are the landmines; bring them to the meeting first.", "Bring the open-questions list into the meeting. Your job is to leave with them answered, not to relitigate the thread." ], "prompt": "Read this email thread and prepare me for the meeting about it.\n\nThread:\n[PASTE THE THREAD, OLDEST MESSAGE FIRST]\n\nGive me:\n1. Decisions already made (quote the message date if you can)\n2. Each side's position, in one sentence per side\n3. Open questions nobody answered\n4. What this meeting needs to decide\n\nRules: do not guess. If ownership, a deadline, or a decision is unclear, write UNCLEAR and explain why in one line. Then list every name, date, deadline, and commitment I should double-check against the original thread before acting on your summary.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 30 minutes per long thread", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on reading a 50-message thread at about 40 minutes, versus about 5 minutes to paste and review an AI summary, plus about 5 minutes to verify key facts against the original.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI presents guesses as facts. The UNCLEAR rule in the prompt is the fix; do not skip it.", "Pasting a thread with attachments the AI cannot see. If a decision lives in a PDF, summarize that page yourself first.", "Trusting names and dates from the summary alone. One quick scan of the original thread for the three facts that matter.", "Sensitive or confidential threads pasted into a shared AI account. Keep those in Gmail summarize or your company-approved tool." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://everydayai4everyone.com/summarize-email-thread-with-ai/", "author": "Everyday AI 4 Everyone", "note": "Supports the four-section summary format (decisions made, tasks with owners and deadlines, unresolved questions, follow-ups needed) and instructing the AI to label uncertainty instead of guessing." }, { "url": "https://support.google.com/mail/answer/16561387", "author": "Google", "note": "Supports the built-in Gmail \"Summarize this email\" feature that generates an AI overview at the top of a thread without copy-paste." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn Voicemails Into an Action List", "slug": "voicemails-to-action-list", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/voicemails-to-action-list/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Converts a week of voicemails into a clean prioritized action list", "tools": [ "Muse", "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Mostly free. Basic visual voicemail is included on iPhone and many Android plans; carriers may charge about 3 dollars a month for premium voicemail-to-text. Muse and ChatGPT free tiers cover the summaries.", "steps": [ "Turn on transcription. iPhone: Settings, Phone, Live Voicemail. Android: Phone app, Settings, Voicemail, enable visual voicemail and transcription.", "If your carrier offers voicemail-to-email, turn it on. Transcripts landing in your inbox are easier to collect than ones inside a phone app.", "Once a week, copy the week transcripts into one document. Do not clean them up; the AI reads through the errors.", "Paste the transcripts into Muse or ChatGPT with the prompt below. It extracts caller, request, deadline, and action for each message.", "Review the list for mangled names and numbers. Transcription is good at intent and bad at proper nouns; listen to the audio for any callback you cannot trust.", "Work the action list top to bottom, then archive the transcripts.", "Advanced option: build a phone Shortcut or Zapier automation that forwards new voicemail transcripts to a running note automatically. Test it for a week before trusting it." ], "prompt": "Turn these voicemail transcripts into an action list.\n\nTranscripts:\n[PASTE EACH TRANSCRIPT WITH THE CALLER'S NUMBER IF AVAILABLE]\n\nFor each voicemail, extract:\n- Who called (if the name is unclear in the transcript, say so)\n- What they want, in one sentence\n- Any callback number, date, or deadline mentioned\n- The action I need to take: call back, schedule, send info, or none\n\nThen give me one running list of actions, most urgent first. Flag anything where the transcript is too garbled to trust.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 1 hour a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on about 12 voicemails a week at roughly 5 minutes each to listen and take notes, versus about 10 minutes to scan a generated action list and verify the callbacks.", "commonSnags": [ "Transcriptions mangle names, numbers, and addresses. Always verify a callback number by listening to the audio before dialing.", "Some carriers charge extra for transcription or voicemail-to-email. Check your plan before turning on the premium tier.", "The AI assigns urgency based on tone, not reality. You set the priorities; it only lists the requests.", "Automation via Shortcuts or Zapier breaks silently. Test it weekly for the first month and keep the manual habit as backup." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.calilio.com/blogs/what-is-voicemail-transcription", "author": "Calilio", "note": "Supports how voicemail transcription works on iPhone (Phone app, iOS 10 and up) and Android visual voicemail, plus carrier and regional availability limits." }, { "url": "https://www.verizon.com/solutions-and-services/add-ons/mobile/premium-visual-voicemail/?linkId=47983619", "author": "Verizon", "note": "Supports visual voicemail pricing tiers (basic free on Android, premium with transcription around 3 dollars a line) and voicemail-to-text delivery." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Inbox Autopilot: Filters Plus a Daily AI Digest", "slug": "inbox-autopilot-filters-and-ai-summaries", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/inbox-autopilot-filters-and-ai-summaries/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Keeps routine mail out of sight and delivers one daily summary of what matters", "tools": [ "Gemini", "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Mostly free. Gmail filters and Gemini in Gmail cost nothing. ChatGPT scheduled tasks need a paid plan (around 20 dollars a month); the free workaround is asking Gemini in Gmail each morning.", "steps": [ "Do one bulk unsubscribe pass first. Search \"unsubscribe\", open the newsletters you never read, and unsubscribe for real.", "Create the newsletter filter: Settings, Filters, Create filter, Has the words: unsubscribe. Apply label Newsletters, Skip the Inbox. This catches most commercial mail automatically.", "Create the receipts filter: from common billing senders or subject words like \"receipt\" or \"order confirmation\". Apply label Receipts, Skip the Inbox.", "Run every new filter as label-only for one week before adding Skip the Inbox. Preview the matches with the Search option first so a bad rule never touches real mail.", "Set up the daily digest. Option A: ChatGPT scheduled task: \"Every weekday at 8am, summarize my unread inbox email and flag anything needing a reply.\" Option B: ask Gemini in Gmail each morning with the prompt below.", "Read the digest each morning, act on the \"needs a reply\" items, and add unsubscribe-or-filter actions for any noise the filters missed.", "Tune for two weeks. Filters need adjustment as new senders appear. After that, the inbox mostly manages itself." ], "prompt": "You are my daily inbox digest. Every weekday at [TIME, e.g. 8:00 AM], scan my unread email from the last 24 hours and give me a briefing with these sections:\n\n1. NEEDS A REPLY: messages from a real person that ask for something. For each: sender, subject, what they need, and any deadline mentioned.\n2. FYI ONLY: bills, receipts, confirmations, account alerts. One line each.\n3. NOISE I SHOULD UNSUBSCRIBE FROM: newsletters or promos I never open. Name the sender so I can unsubscribe or add a filter.\n\nRules: skip anything that is not in my inbox (my filters already file newsletters and receipts elsewhere). Do not draft replies. Do not mark anything urgent unless it says so plainly. If nothing needs me, say so in one line.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: about 30 minutes a day", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Based on 100 emails a day at about 30 seconds each to scan and file (50 minutes), reduced to about 15 minutes reading a morning digest plus acting on the flagged items, after two weeks of filter tuning.", "commonSnags": [ "A filter catches a real email. That is why new filters run label-only for a week. Preview matches before creating the rule.", "The scheduled digest misses context the filters hid. If something important keeps landing under a label, the filter is wrong, not the digest.", "Expecting it to work on day one. Plan on two weeks of tuning: new senders, changed formats, one-off promos.", "ChatGPT scheduled tasks need a paid plan and email access permissions. The read-only digest is low risk; never let a scheduled task draft or send replies unsupervised." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.neatmail.app/blog/how-to-stop-newsletter-clutter-gmail-2026", "author": "Neatmail", "note": "Supports the unsubscribe-word filter method to auto-archive newsletters into a label, bulk cleanup with search operators, and the read-on-your-schedule approach." }, { "url": "https://porteden.com/blog/chatgpt-scheduled-tasks-tools/", "author": "Port Eden", "note": "Supports the scheduled inbox digest pattern: a recurring task that groups unread email, flags urgent items and replies needed, and the caution against letting scheduled tasks draft or send replies unsupervised." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Time-block your week with AI", "slug": "time-block-your-week-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/time-block-your-week-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Turn a messy to-do list and a half-booked calendar into a concrete hour-by-hour plan for the week.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers are plenty for this. Google Calendar or Outlook: free.", "steps": [ "Dump everything: list this week’s fixed commitments (meetings, appointments, pickup times) and every task you need to do.", "Estimate how long each task takes. Then add 25 percent. Everyone underestimates.", "Tell the chatbot your working hours and when you do your best thinking.", "Ask for a day-by-day plan with named blocks, breaks, and one buffer block per day for overflow.", "Read the draft and fix anything that fights reality. Then create the blocks as calendar events, color-coded by type.", "Each evening, spend five minutes adjusting tomorrow. A time-blocked plan is a draft, not a contract." ], "prompt": "Here is my week. Build me a time-blocked plan.\n\nFIXED COMMITMENTS (cannot move):\n[meetings, appointments, school pickup, etc. with days and times]\n\nTASKS TO FIT IN:\n[task list with your honest time estimates]\n\nMY WORKING HOURS: [e.g. 8:30am-5:30pm]\nMY BEST FOCUS TIME: [e.g. mornings before 11am]\n\nRules:\n- Assign every task to a specific block with a start and end time.\n- Include a 10-minute break between blocks and one 30-minute buffer block per day.\n- Label each block with the specific deliverable, not just \"work on project.\"\n- If everything does not fit, tell me what to cut or move to next week. Do not just pack it tighter.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1–2 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes a 20-minute Sunday planning session replaces about 15 minutes of daily \"what should I do now\" dithering across five days. No timed study found for this workflow.", "commonSnags": [ "Overstuffing the day. If the plan has no empty space, the first surprise breaks all of it. Keep the buffer.", "Time estimates from memory are fiction. Track actuals for two weeks and your estimates get honest fast.", "AI cannot see your real calendar, so it will happily schedule over a meeting you forgot to mention. Paste your real schedule in.", "Skipping the evening review. The plan rots in three days without it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://sajoolife.com/how-to-time-block/", "author": "Sajoo Life", "note": "Practical time-blocking walkthrough in Google Calendar: color-coded blocks, ideal-week templates." }, { "url": "https://www.alexishaselberger.com/news-notes/2020/3/2/are-your-calendar-and-your-task-list-friends", "author": "Alexis Haselberger", "note": "Time-blocking tactics: separate task calendar, three key planning moments, estimating task time." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a family calendar with two working parents", "slug": "family-calendar-plan-two-working-parents", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/family-calendar-plan-two-working-parents/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Combine two work calendars, school schedules, and kids’ activities into one shared family calendar with clear owners for every pickup and drop-off.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Google or Apple Calendar: free.", "steps": [ "Pick one shared calendar both parents can see and edit. Google Calendar or Apple Calendar both work.", "Each parent dumps their next four weeks: work travel, late nights, appointments, kids’ activities, school events.", "Ask the chatbot to merge the dumps into one clean list, flag conflicts, and assign an owner to every pickup, drop-off, and appointment.", "Create the events on the shared calendar with the owner’s name in the title, like \"Pickup - Maya (Mom)\".", "Set two reminders: 30 minutes before everyday events, 24 hours before anything needing prep (field trip, permission slip).", "Hold a 15-minute Sunday sync. Walk the coming week, reassign what changed, done." ], "prompt": "We are two working parents merging our schedules into one family calendar. Here are our next 4 weeks:\n\nPARENT 1 SCHEDULE:\n[work hours, travel, late nights, personal appointments]\n\nPARENT 2 SCHEDULE:\n[work hours, travel, late nights, personal appointments]\n\nKIDS' ACTIVITIES AND SCHOOL EVENTS:\n[sports practices, games, concerts, half days, holidays]\n\nDo three things:\n1. List every scheduling conflict or tight handoff you see.\n2. Propose who handles each pickup, drop-off, and appointment, balancing the load fairly.\n3. Draft a simple weekly rhythm (which parent covers which recurring duty) we can reuse.\n\nFlag anything that needs a backup plan, like both of us traveling the same week.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1–2 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes the Sunday sync plus a shared calendar replaces scattered scheduling texts and last-minute scrambles. Sources describe the method, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "One parent keeps a private mental calendar and the shared one goes stale. Both have to add things the moment they learn them.", "AI cannot reach into your actual calendars, so paste the real schedules in. It works from what you give it.", "Forgetting the 24-hour prep reminder. The dentist appointment is easy. The dentist appointment needing the insurance card is the one that bites." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://goalsandprogress.com/shared-family-calendar-working-parents/", "author": "Goals and Progress", "note": "Shared family calendar setup guide: capture session, connect devices, weekly sync contract." }, { "url": "https://medium.com/@rose_94374/why-shared-family-calendars-fail-and-how-to-make-yours-actually-work-e1dfb3f912e3", "author": "Rose (Medium)", "note": "Five rules that make shared calendars work: shared visibility, named owners, weekly review." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Batch your dentist, doctor, and car appointments", "slug": "batch-appointments-dentist-doctor-car", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/batch-appointments-dentist-doctor-car/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Group a year of household appointments (medical, dental, car, vet) into the fewest possible outing days.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Phone calls to book: free.", "steps": [ "List every appointment the household needs: dentist, doctor, eye doctor, vet, car service, haircuts, all of it, for every person.", "Note the location or area for each one, plus timing constraints (every 6 months, inspection due by a date).", "Ask the chatbot to group them into the fewest possible outing days by location.", "Call and book each cluster. Ask for back-to-back slots and say you are grouping errands. Offices do this all the time.", "Put the booked appointments on the calendar immediately, with addresses and what to bring.", "Set a reminder for two weeks before each cluster to confirm. One confirmation call beats three reschedules." ], "prompt": "Help me batch our household appointments into the fewest outing days.\n\nAPPOINTMENTS NEEDED:\n[person, appointment type, provider/location, how often, any deadline]\n\nCONSTRAINTS:\n[days we cannot do, school hours, work hours, anything fixed]\n\nGroup these into outing days by location so we make the fewest trips. For each outing day, list the appointments in a sensible order with rough times. Flag any that cannot be batched and say why.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3–5 hours per batching round", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes grouping 6–8 appointments into 2–3 outing days instead of 6–8 separate trips, saving roughly 30–45 minutes of driving and waiting per eliminated trip.", "commonSnags": [ "Providers book out months ahead, so batching works best when you plan a season ahead, not next week.", "AI does not know real drive times or office hours. Sanity-check the clusters against a map.", "One cancellation can domino. Confirm the day before." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://hearthdisplay.com/blogs/hearth-at-home/tips-for-time-batching-your-calendar", "author": "Hearth Display", "note": "Batching appointments by category, including a dedicated health-appointment block." }, { "url": "https://goodexistence.com/25-task-batching-strategies/", "author": "Good Existence", "note": "Task batching strategies including booking all appointments in one go." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Schedule bill payments so nothing is late", "slug": "schedule-bill-payments-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/schedule-bill-payments-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a bill payment schedule aligned to paydays, with autopay decisions and calendar reminders, so late fees stop happening.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Your bank’s bill pay: free.", "steps": [ "Pull three months of bank and card statements. List every recurring bill: name, amount, due date.", "Note your paydays and whether each bill amount is fixed or varies.", "Ask the chatbot to build a payment calendar: which bills to autopay, which to pay manually, and what to do when a due date lands before payday.", "Call billers to move due dates to 2–3 days after payday where possible. Most will do this on request.", "Set up autopay for fixed bills and calendar reminders (a few days before due) for variable ones.", "Do a five-minute first-of-the-month review: check amounts, confirm autopays fired, glance for new fees." ], "prompt": "Build me a bill payment schedule.\n\nMY BILLS (name, amount, due date, fixed or variable):\n[list from your statements]\n\nMY PAYDAYS: [dates and frequency]\n\nFor each bill, recommend: autopay, manual pay with a calendar reminder, or move the due date. Align payments to land 2-3 days after a payday. Flag any week where the total due looks tight against the paycheck, and suggest which bill to move. Keep a small buffer in mind so autopay never overdrafts the account.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1 hour a month", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes replacing weekly bill-checking sessions with one monthly five-minute review plus autopay. Sources describe the system, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "Variable bills (electric, water) can spike. Autopay them only with a healthy buffer, or pay manually with a reminder.", "Moving a due date can create a short first cycle. Ask the biller what the transition month looks like.", "AI cannot log into your bank. It builds the plan. You click the buttons." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.supermoney.com/how-to-set-up-automatic-bill-pay-without-overdrafting", "author": "SuperMoney", "note": "Five-step autopay setup: list bills, align due dates with paydays, buffer, alerts." }, { "url": "https://articles.pennypincher.com/finance/12-quick-bill-calendar-tweaks/", "author": "Penny Pincher", "note": "Bill calendar tweaks: amounts in event titles, draft-date tracking, weekly sweeps." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a morning routine that survives kids", "slug": "morning-routine-that-survives-kids", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/morning-routine-that-survives-kids/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Design a realistic school-morning sequence (timed steps, owners, buffers) plus the night-before prep list that makes it possible.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Paper and a fridge magnet: free.", "steps": [ "Write down everything that must happen on a school morning, in order, with honest minutes for each.", "Note the non-negotiables: wake times, bus or drop-off time, anything that cannot move.", "Ask the chatbot to build a timed sequence working backwards from out-the-door time, with 15 minutes of buffer.", "Split the sequence into a night-before list (clothes, bags, lunches) and a morning list. The night list is the real product.", "Post the morning list where the kids can see it. Pictures for little ones, checkboxes for older kids.", "Run it for a week, then adjust the times. The first version is always wrong about how long teeth-brushing takes." ], "prompt": "Build us a school-morning routine.\n\nOUT THE DOOR BY: [time]\nKIDS: [ages]\nMUST HAPPEN EACH MORNING: [breakfast, dressed, teeth, hair, bags, etc.]\nPARENTS ALSO NEED: [shower, coffee, work start time]\nCURRENT WAKE-UP TIME: [time]\n\nWork backwards from out-the-door time. Give me:\n1. A timed morning sequence with minutes for each step and 15 minutes of buffer.\n2. A night-before prep list that removes as much morning work as possible.\n3. Who does what, if two parents are home.\n\nKeep it realistic for the kids' ages. A 4-year-old does not do a 12-step routine.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 15–30 calmer minutes each school morning", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes night-before prep and a posted sequence cut the usual searching, nagging, and re-doing. Sources describe the method, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "Building the routine for ideal children. Plan for the slow version of each kid, not the fast one.", "Skipping the night-before list. The morning routine fails at 9pm, not 7am.", "Too many steps for little kids. Five steps they can do beats twelve they cannot." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.beautifullyorganised.com/2025/05/your-no-fuss-morning-routine-for.html", "author": "Beautifully Organised", "note": "No-fuss school morning routine: night-before prep, launch zone, predictable order." }, { "url": "https://charmingdad.com/how-to-make-school-mornings-less-chaotic/", "author": "Charming Dad", "note": "Calmer school mornings: prep the night before, consistent routine, wake up a bit earlier." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write appointment reminder texts for your small business", "slug": "appointment-reminder-texts-small-business", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/appointment-reminder-texts-small-business/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft the three-message reminder sequence (confirmation, 48-hour, day-of) for each appointment type you offer.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Sending texts costs whatever your booking tool or SMS service charges per message.", "steps": [ "List your appointment types and what each confirmation needs: date, time, address, what to bring, late policy.", "Ask the chatbot to draft three messages per appointment type: instant confirmation, 48-hour reminder, morning-of nudge.", "Edit for your voice. Short, warm, specific. Cut anything you would not actually say.", "Add a reply option to each: \"Reply YES to confirm or call us to reschedule.\" Two-way beats one-way.", "Load the templates into your booking software, phone, or wherever you send reminders from.", "Get written consent to text customers and include STOP opt-out wording. This is a legal requirement, not a suggestion." ], "prompt": "Write appointment reminder texts for my business.\n\nBUSINESS: [what you do]\nAPPOINTMENT TYPES: [e.g. initial consult 60 min, follow-up 30 min]\nWHAT CUSTOMERS NEED TO KNOW: [address, parking, what to bring, late policy]\nTONE: [warm and professional / casual and friendly]\n\nWrite three messages per appointment type:\n1. Instant confirmation (right after booking)\n2. 48-hour reminder\n3. Morning-of nudge\n\nEach under 160 characters where possible. Include a reply prompt (YES to confirm). Add a final line with STOP opt-out wording I can append. Plain words, no hype.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2–4 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes reminders replace manual confirmation calls for 10–20 appointments a week at about 10 minutes per call. Sources cite no-show reduction rates, not time studies.", "commonSnags": [ "Texting without consent. TCPA rules require prior written consent and a STOP option in every message. Get this right before you send anything.", "Reminder-only systems still lose to no-shows who meant to cancel. The reply-to-reschedule path is what saves the slot.", "AI will happily draft messages that violate carrier rules. You are responsible for compliance, not the chatbot." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sendhub.com/sms-reminders-for-business/", "author": "SendHub", "note": "SMS reminder timing (24-48h), two-way confirm texting, TCPA consent and STOP requirements." }, { "url": "https://ottertext.com/how-to-reduce-no-shows/", "author": "OtterText", "note": "Confirmation sequence: immediate confirmation, 24-48h reminder, day-of nudge." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan project deadlines backwards from launch", "slug": "backwards-project-deadlines-from-launch", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/backwards-project-deadlines-from-launch/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a reverse-planned schedule from a fixed deadline: phases, dependencies, buffers, and the real must-start date.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Calendar or project board: free tiers fine.", "steps": [ "Write down the launch date. Not a range. A date.", "List every phase in reverse order, starting from launch: launch day, final review, build, draft, research, kickoff.", "Estimate honest durations for each phase. Use past projects, not hopes.", "Ask the chatbot to lay the phases backwards from launch, flag dependencies, and add buffer time between phases.", "Read the resulting start date. If it is in the past or impossibly soon, cut scope or move the date now, not later.", "Put the phase dates on a shared calendar or project board. Review weekly and re-plan when a phase slips." ], "prompt": "Build me a backwards plan from a fixed deadline.\n\nDEADLINE: [date, and what \"done\" means]\nPHASES (in reverse, starting from the deadline):\n[phase, what it includes, your honest time estimate]\nDEPENDENCIES: [what cannot start until something else finishes]\nBUFFER: [how much slack you want between phases, e.g. 2 days]\n\nLay the phases backwards from the deadline with specific start and end dates for each. Flag any phase that lands on a weekend, holiday, or known busy period. Tell me the must-start date for the whole project. If the must-start date is before today, say so plainly and suggest what to cut.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3–5 hours per project", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes one planning session replaces repeated re-planning and last-minute scrambles across a multi-week project. No timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Treating estimates as commitments. An estimate is a guess with a date on it. Update it when reality speaks.", "Forgetting dependencies. The design cannot start before the content exists, no matter what the calendar says.", "AI cannot know your team’s real capacity. It schedules from your numbers. Bad numbers in, fantasy plan out." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.smartsheet.com/learning-track/project-fundamentals-part-2-project-settings/workback-schedule", "author": "Smartsheet", "note": "Workback schedule method: deadline, milestones, durations, reverse task sequence." }, { "url": "https://www.actouch.com/knowledgebase/backward-scheduling/", "author": "AcTouch", "note": "Backward scheduling steps: end date, dependencies, durations, buffers, reverse scheduling." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Schedule deep-work blocks that actually hold", "slug": "schedule-deep-work-blocks-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/schedule-deep-work-blocks-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Find your best focus windows from your real calendar and protect them as recurring deep-work blocks.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Your work calendar: you already have one.", "steps": [ "Export or screenshot two typical weeks of your calendar. Note when meetings cluster.", "Tell the chatbot your working hours, your peak energy window, and what counts as deep work for you.", "Ask it to propose 2–3 weekly deep-work blocks of 60–90 minutes in your best windows, away from meeting clusters.", "Put the blocks on your calendar as real events, marked busy, with the specific deliverable in the title.", "Set a shutdown ritual: phone in another room, notifications off, one clear goal written down before the block starts.", "Protect the blocks for two weeks, then review. Move them if the timing fights reality, but do not delete them." ], "prompt": "Find my deep-work windows and protect them.\n\nMY CALENDAR (two typical weeks, meetings and fixed commitments):\n[paste or describe]\n\nMY WORKING HOURS: [e.g. 9-5]\nMY PEAK ENERGY: [e.g. 9-11am]\nMY DEEP WORK: [e.g. writing proposals, coding, analysis (the work that needs full focus)]\n\nPropose 2-3 recurring 60-90 minute deep-work blocks per week in my best windows, avoiding meeting clusters. For each block, suggest the specific deliverable format for the title (e.g. \"Draft proposal section 2\", not \"work on project\"). Also draft a 5-minute shutdown ritual I do before each block starts.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2–4 focused hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes protected blocks convert fragmented shallow time into real focus sessions. Sources describe the method, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "Scheduling deep work in your low-energy hours. A 3pm focus block after lunch meetings is decorative.", "Letting the block become optional. Treat it like a meeting with your most important client: you.", "No shutdown ritual. Five minutes of setup (close tabs, phone away, goal written) is what makes the block work." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.Writersdigest.com/be-inspired/a-conversation-with-cal-newport-on-writing-productivity-killer-writers", "author": "Writer's Digest / Cal Newport", "note": "Newport on time blocking: give every hour a job, plan the day in advance." }, { "url": "https://entrepreneurbrief.substack.com/p/deep-work-deep-focus-cal-newports", "author": "Entrepreneur Brief (Huberman Lab notes)", "note": "Deep work in 60-90 minute blocks at peak energy; consistency trains focus." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a year-long home maintenance calendar", "slug": "yearly-home-maintenance-calendar", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/yearly-home-maintenance-calendar/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Create a 12-month maintenance calendar tailored to your house: monthly tasks, seasonal jobs, and pro-service bookings.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Your calendar app: free.", "steps": [ "List the facts: home age, heating type (oil, gas, heat pump), water heater age, roof age, septic or sewer, climate.", "Ask the chatbot to build a 12-month maintenance calendar with specific tasks per month and time estimates.", "Review it against reality. Delete what does not apply, add what is unique to your house (pool, wood stove, sump pump).", "Put each month’s tasks on your calendar as recurring annual events with the task list in the event notes.", "Set a reminder for the first weekend of each month: \"Do this month’s home tasks.\" Most months take under two hours.", "Once a year, update the calendar. Systems age, and the list should age with them." ], "prompt": "Build me a 12-month home maintenance calendar.\n\nHOME: [age, stories, square footage]\nHEATING: [oil/gas/heat pump/pellet]\nWATER HEATER: [age and type]\nROOF: [age and material]\nOTHER SYSTEMS: [septic/sewer, well/city water, wood stove, sump pump, pool]\nCLIMATE: [e.g. Vermont: cold winters, mud season]\n\nFor each month, list 3-5 specific maintenance tasks with rough time estimates. Mark which tasks need a pro (roof, electrical, gas) versus DIY. Put safety items (smoke alarms, CO detectors, fire extinguisher) on a schedule I cannot ignore. Note anything seasonal I should book ahead, like chimney sweeping or furnace service.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 5–10 hours a year", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes scheduled maintenance replaces emergency calls and weekend-long catch-up sessions. Sources describe month-by-month task lists, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "A generic list that ignores your house. A Florida checklist will not help a Vermont winter. Customize for climate and systems.", "Skipping the \"boring\" months. The quiet months are when small things get caught.", "AI cannot inspect your house. It does not know your roof is 25 years old unless you tell it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.homeownerbasics.com/home-maintenance-calendar.html", "author": "Homeowner Basics", "note": "Month-by-month maintenance calendar; most months take under two hours." }, { "url": "https://myhome.freddiemac.com/resources/home-maintenance-checklist", "author": "Freddie Mac", "note": "Official monthly and seasonal home maintenance checklist." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Coordinate a volunteer or team schedule without the group-text chaos", "slug": "coordinate-team-volunteer-schedule", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/coordinate-team-volunteer-schedule/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a fair shift rotation from volunteer availability, plus the recruiting message, confirmations, and reminder schedule.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. SignUpGenius and Google Sheets: free tiers cover this.", "steps": [ "List the events or shifts: dates, times, roles needed, how many people per role.", "Collect availability. A simple form or group message works. Note skills and preferences too.", "Ask the chatbot to build a rotation that spreads the load fairly and covers every shift.", "Publish the schedule where everyone can see it: shared calendar, signup sheet, or a pinned post. Two to four weeks ahead.", "Send the schedule with clear instructions: how to swap, who to tell, and the cutoff for changes.", "Set reminders: one week out, then the day before. Keep an on-call backup list for no-shows." ], "prompt": "Build a volunteer schedule for our [event/season].\n\nSHIFTS NEEDED:\n[date, time, role, number of people per role]\n\nVOLUNTEERS AND AVAILABILITY:\n[name, when they can serve, skills or preferences, any dates they cannot do]\n\nCreate a fair rotation covering every shift. No one should be scheduled twice while someone else is scheduled zero times. Then draft:\n1. A call-for-volunteers message I can send to recruit more help.\n2. A confirmation message for each volunteer with their shifts.\n3. A reminder schedule (when to nudge: 1 week out, day before).\n\nFlag any shift we cannot cover and suggest how to handle it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2–3 hours per scheduling round", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes one AI-assisted draft replaces hours of back-and-forth texts and spreadsheet fiddling. No timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Building the perfect schedule and communicating it badly. The system must be obvious to a tired volunteer at 9pm.", "No swap process. Without one, people just no-show. Make swapping easy and visible.", "AI cannot contact your volunteers. It drafts the plan and the messages. You still send them." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://afpglobal.org/streamlining-volunteer-coordination-5-tips-nonprofits", "author": "AFP Global", "note": "Volunteer coordination: self-scheduling, on-call backup list, varied time commitments." }, { "url": "https://blog.whichdateworks.com/how-to-coordinate-volunteer-shifts-for-nonprofits/", "author": "WhichDateWorks", "note": "Shift scheduling: 2-4 weeks ahead, backup plans, communication channels." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a wedding or big event timeline with AI", "slug": "wedding-event-timeline-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/wedding-event-timeline-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a month-by-month planning timeline from today to event day, with vendor booking deadlines and money milestones.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. A spreadsheet for budget tracking: free.", "steps": [ "Fix the three anchors first: date (or date range), total budget, and rough guest count.", "List what matters most to you both. The timeline flexes around priorities, not the other way around.", "Ask the chatbot to build a month-by-month timeline from today to the event, with booking deadlines per vendor.", "Start booking in deadline order: venue first, then photographer, caterer, and everything that books out early.", "Track deposits, due dates, and contracts in one sheet. Money deadlines are the ones that hurt.", "Do a final-vendor confirmation round two weeks out, and hand day-of logistics to someone who is not you." ], "prompt": "Build me a month-by-month planning timeline.\n\nEVENT: [wedding / milestone birthday / reunion: what and where]\nDATE: [date]\nGUESTS: [rough count]\nBUDGET: [total, and what matters most to us]\nSTARTING FROM: [today's date]\n\nCreate a timeline from now to the event date. For each month, list what to book, decide, or finalize, with the reasoning (e.g. \"venues book 9-12 months out\"). Flag anything that typically books out early in [my region/season]. Include money milestones: when deposits are usually due. If our timeline is short, compress it and tell me what to prioritize first.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 5–10 hours of planning research", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes the AI timeline replaces hours of reading planning guides and assembling a custom checklist. Sources provide the timelines, not timed savings.", "commonSnags": [ "AI timelines are generic until you add your region and season. A June wedding in Vermont books differently than a December one in Florida.", "Forgetting the marriage license, permits, or insurance. The boring paperwork has the hardest deadlines.", "No budget tracker. The timeline tells you when. The spreadsheet tells you whether you can." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://paperlust.co/blog/wedding-planning-checklist/", "author": "Paperlust", "note": "Complete 12-month wedding planning timeline, updated 2026." }, { "url": "https://www.queenslandbrides.com.au/a-simple-month-by-month-wedding-planning-guide/", "author": "Queensland Brides", "note": "Month-by-month wedding guide adaptable to shorter engagements." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a month of social media on one calendar", "slug": "plan-a-month-of-social-media-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-month-of-social-media-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Fill a month-long content calendar (pillar, platform, post idea per slot) and plan the batch creation session to produce it.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Buffer and Metricool: free tiers cover a small business. Meta Business Suite: free.", "steps": [ "Pick 4–5 content pillars: the themes you will rotate (tips, behind the scenes, customer proof, offers, questions).", "Mark the month’s key dates: holidays, sales, events, seasonal moments.", "Ask the chatbot to fill a month-long calendar: pillar, platform, and post idea per slot, 3–5 posts a week.", "Batch the creation: one session for writing, one for photos or graphics. Do not alternate.", "Schedule everything in your scheduler of choice, leaving 2–3 slots open for timely posts.", "At month’s end, check what performed and adjust next month’s pillars. Ten minutes, not an analytics breakdown." ], "prompt": "Build me a one-month social media content calendar.\n\nBUSINESS: [what you do, who you serve, town/region]\nPLATFORMS: [e.g. Facebook, Instagram]\nPOSTS PER WEEK PER PLATFORM: [e.g. 3]\nCONTENT PILLARS: [e.g. tips, behind-the-scenes, customer reviews, offers]\nKEY DATES THIS MONTH: [holidays, sales, events]\nTONE: [plainspoken, no hype]\n\nFill a 4-week calendar. For each slot: date, platform, pillar, and a one-line post idea. Spread pillars evenly so no week is all promos. Leave 2-3 slots marked OPEN for timely posts. After the calendar, list what I should prepare in my batch creation session (photos needed, graphics, offers to confirm).", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3–4 hours a month", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one source describes scheduling 30 days of posts in about an hour of batched work versus daily scrambling; assumes 3–5 ad-hoc posting sessions eliminated per week.", "commonSnags": [ "Planning a month and then not batching the creation. The calendar without the batch session is just a wish list.", "Letting AI write the actual posts unchecked. It drafts ideas well. Final captions need your voice.", "Posting everywhere. Two platforms done well beat five done badly." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.hopperhq.com/blog/how-to-schedule-social-media-posts/", "author": "Hopper HQ", "note": "Scheduling 30 days of posts in one hour: sketch, write, bulk upload, assign dates." }, { "url": "https://theroadmap.co/blog/best-practices-templates-to-create-a-social-media-content-calendar/", "author": "The Roadmap", "note": "Content calendar structure: date, platform, pillar, caption, hashtags; plan a month ahead." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Automate appointment reminders end to end", "slug": "automated-appointment-reminders-small-business", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/automated-appointment-reminders-small-business/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Wire calendar bookings to automatic SMS reminders (confirmation, 24-hour, day-of) with filters, logging, and reply handling.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Zapier" ], "toolCost": "Zapier or Make: free tiers cover low volume; paid plans as you scale. SMS: roughly a few cents per message through most providers. Google Calendar: free.", "steps": [ "Pick your pieces: a calendar (Google Calendar works), an SMS sender, and Zapier or Make to connect them.", "Make sure every appointment lands on the calendar with the customer’s name, phone number, and appointment type in the event.", "Build the Zap: trigger on new calendar event, wait, then send SMS. Start with one reminder 24 hours before.", "Add the confirmation (fires at booking) and the day-of nudge as additional steps once the first one works.", "Test with your own number three times before turning it on for customers. Check timing, merge fields, and the STOP wording.", "Add a filter so only real customer appointments trigger texts, not your dentist appointment. Then turn it on and check the first week’s logs." ], "prompt": "Help me design an automated appointment reminder workflow.\n\nBOOKING SYSTEM: [Google Calendar / Calendly / Acuity / other]\nAPPOINTMENT TYPES: [e.g. consult 60 min, service call 2 hr]\nSMS TOOL: [e.g. Twilio, or \"recommend one for low volume\"]\nAUTOMATION PLATFORM: [Zapier / Make]\n\nDesign the workflow step by step:\n1. What triggers it (new event? event with a keyword?)\n2. The message sequence: confirmation at booking, reminder 24h before, nudge day-of. Draft each message with merge fields for name, date, time.\n3. What filters to add so internal events never trigger texts.\n4. How to handle replies (confirm / reschedule): what breaks if nobody monitors replies?\n5. A testing checklist before going live.\n\nFlag the compliance requirements (consent, STOP wording) I must handle myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 4–6 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes automating reminders for 20–30 appointments a week eliminates manual calls and texts plus no-show firefighting. No timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Triggering on every calendar event, including personal ones. Filters are not optional.", "Merge fields pulling the wrong data. One test with a fake \"John Test\" appointment catches most of this.", "Ignoring replies. If a customer texts back \"need to reschedule\" and nobody sees it, you built a no-show machine.", "Compliance is on you. Consent to text and STOP opt-outs are legal requirements the automation will not enforce for you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.callloop.com/blog/automated-appointment-reminders", "author": "Call Loop", "note": "Zapier automation walkthrough: Google Calendar trigger, delay, SMS action." }, { "url": "https://www.remindlo.co.uk/blog/automate-appointment-reminders-google-calendar", "author": "Remindlo", "note": "Google Calendar to SMS reminder Zaps with filters and delays; cost math." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Audit your calendar with AI and take hours back", "slug": "audit-your-calendar-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/audit-your-calendar-with-ai/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Score every recurring meeting on your calendar and produce a keep / shorten / delegate / kill list with reclaimed hours.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT or Claude: free tiers work. Your calendar’s export feature: free.", "steps": [ "Export the last 2–4 weeks from Google Calendar or Outlook (settings, export, or copy the events into a sheet).", "For recurring meetings, note the real purpose in one line each. \"Weekly sync\" is not a purpose.", "Ask the chatbot to score every recurring meeting: does it still serve a current need, do you need to be there, could it be shorter or async?", "Sort the results into four buckets: keep, shorten, delegate, kill.", "Act on the easy kills first. Decline one meeting this week. Shorten one from 60 to 30 minutes.", "Repeat quarterly. Calendars grow meetings like gardens grow weeds." ], "prompt": "Audit my calendar. Find me hours I am wasting.\n\nHERE ARE MY RECURRING MEETINGS (title, length, frequency, attendees, my best guess at purpose):\n[paste your list]\n\nAnd here is what a typical week looks like:\n[paste or describe]\n\nFor each recurring meeting, give me:\n1. A verdict: KEEP, SHORTEN, DELEGATE, or KILL, with one line of reasoning.\n2. If SHORTEN: the new length and what to cut from the agenda.\n3. If KILL: what to replace it with (async update, document, nothing).\n\nThen total up the hours per week I could reclaim. Be blunt. If a meeting exists because \"we have always had it,\" say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3–5 hours a week", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one source reports most people find at least 5 hours a week of negotiable meeting time; assumes you act on half of what the audit flags.", "commonSnags": [ "Auditing and not acting. The audit is step one. Declining the meeting is the setup.", "Killing meetings you secretly like. Be honest about which ones are social hours wearing a work costume.", "AI cannot see meeting quality. It scores from your descriptions. \"Weekly sync, not sure why\" will get flagged, and rightly so." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.pocketinformant.com/calendar-audit/", "author": "Pocket Informant", "note": "Calendar audit method: review a real week, question each recurring commitment." }, { "url": "https://jasonthink.substack.com/p/how-to-audit-your-calendar-and-get", "author": "Jason Think", "note": "Meeting audit: sort recurring meetings into keep/shorten/delegate/kill; most find 5+ hours." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn messy job notes into a clean quote", "slug": "write-a-quote-from-messy-notes", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-quote-from-messy-notes/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn rough job notes into a clean, itemized quote with your terms, ready to save as a PDF and send.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude both have free tiers that handle this fine. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "After the site visit or call, dump everything into one note: what the customer asked for, measurements, materials, timeline.", "Put your price next to each line item, or give the AI your hourly rate and estimated hours so it can do the math.", "Paste the notes plus the prompt below into ChatGPT or Claude.", "Read the draft line by line. Fix any number the AI guessed at instead of using yours.", "Add your business name, contact details, and a quote expiry date. Fourteen to thirty days is standard.", "Save it as a PDF and send. Keep your original notes in case the scope changes later.", "For a contracting bid, ask the AI to lay the notes out as a bid sheet: scope of work in plain tasks, then cost lines grouped as labor, materials, subcontractors, and equipment, ending with one total.", "Add the fields a bid needs: bid number, bid date, expiry date, payment schedule, and how change orders get priced. Tell the AI to write 'TBD - confirm' for any price it does not know, and show you the draft first.", "For a client proposal, open by restating their problem in their own words, then your plan in concrete steps. Keep it to 150 to 300 words so it reads in under two minutes.", "End the proposal with one clear next step, like 'Reply YES and I will send the contract.' Ask the AI for the draft, then read it once and cut anything that sounds generic." ], "prompt": "Turn my rough job notes into a clean, professional quote.\n\nMy business: [BUSINESS NAME]\nCustomer: [CUSTOMER NAME]\nMy hourly rate: [RATE] / My per-item prices: [LIST]\n\nJob notes:\n[PASTE YOUR NOTES HERE]\n\nRules:\n- List every item as its own line with a short description, quantity, unit price, and line total.\n- Use ONLY the prices I gave you. If a price is missing, write \"TBD: confirm\" instead of guessing.\n- Add a subtotal, any tax, and a grand total.\n- Include these terms: [DEPOSIT TERMS], payment due [WHEN], quote valid until [DATE].\n- Keep the tone plain and professional. No sales fluff.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 20 to 40 minutes per quote", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: formatting and rewriting a quote by hand typically takes half an hour or more; no timed study found in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI invents prices for items you did not price. The \"TBD: confirm\" rule in the prompt prevents this.", "Scope creep after the quote goes out. Put a line in your terms about how changes get priced.", "Sending the quote as plain email text instead of a PDF. PDF keeps the record clean and uneditable.", "Letting the AI blur labor and materials into one lump sum. A bid with no breakdown looks like a guess.", "Starting the proposal with your bio. Clients hire the fix for their problem, not the story of your business." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.getjobber.com/academy/how-to-write-quote-for-job/", "author": "GetJobber", "note": "Quote structure: itemized services, terms, prompt sending and follow-up." }, { "url": "https://www.bytestart.co.uk/self-employed-accounts/email-quote-template/", "author": "ByteStart", "note": "Quote email template and the 24-hour reply rule." }, { "url": "https://www.clockshark.com/blog/construction-estimate-template", "author": "ClockShark", "note": "Supports the bid sheet structure: scope phase by phase, materials with quantity and unit cost, labor by task and rate, subcontractors, overhead and profit, permits, and change-order terms." }, { "url": "https://www.invoiceowl.com/estimate-template/contractor/", "author": "InvoiceOwl", "note": "Supports the required bid fields: estimate date, validity, estimate number, contractor and client info, material and labor costs, taxes, discounts, and total." }, { "url": "https://spunk.work/blog/how-to-write-freelance-proposal-that-wins-2026", "author": "spunk.work", "note": "Supports the 7-part proposal structure: hook, problem restatement, approach, proof, timeline, price, and one call to action in 150 to 300 words." }, { "url": "https://www.creativeboom.com/tips/how-to-write-a-killer-proposal/", "author": "Creative Boom", "note": "Supports the client-first order: open with a project overview showing you understand the job, save your own introduction for the end." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Follow up on quotes that went cold", "slug": "follow-up-on-quotes-gone-cold", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/follow-up-on-quotes-gone-cold/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a short follow-up sequence for quotes that got no reply: a day 2 check that it arrived, a day 7 nudge with something useful, a day 14 last check, and a day 21 message that closes the quote.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude handles this. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "List the quotes that are 2 or more days old with no reply. One row per quote: name, date sent, amount, what it covered.", "For each one, paste the details plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Get four drafts back: a day 2 check that the quote arrived, a day 7 nudge with one useful thing, a day 14 last check, and a day 21 message closing the file.", "Personalize each draft with one real detail from your conversation with that customer.", "Send the first follow-up yourself. Set reminders for the next three, not auto-sends.", "Stop as soon as the customer replies, books, says no, or asks you to stop.", "If the day 21 message gets no reply, close the quote and free up the calendar slot." ], "prompt": "Write four short follow-up emails for a quote that got no reply. Keep each under 120 words. Plain, friendly tone. No pushy sales language.\n\nQuote details:\n- Customer: [NAME]\n- Sent on: [DATE]\n- Amount: [AMOUNT]\n- What it covered: [SCOPE]\n- Something useful I can add: [PHOTO / TIMELINE / WARRANTY NOTE / CASE DETAIL]\n\nEmail 1 (day 2): Confirm they received the quote and ask if anything needs clarifying. Low pressure.\nEmail 2 (day 7): Re-enter with the useful thing I listed above. Give them a real reason to reply.\nEmail 3 (day 14): Last check. Offer to check back later if the timing is wrong.\nEmail 4 (day 21): Short closing email. Say I'm closing the quote on my end and they can reach out anytime. Leave the door open.\n\nSubject lines for each. Sign as [YOUR NAME], [BUSINESS].", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 10 to 15 minutes per quote follow-up", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: drafting three staged follow-ups by hand, including subject lines, takes most people 15 to 30 minutes; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Following up on a quote the customer already answered. Check your inbox and spam before each send.", "Sending all four emails on a rigid schedule when the customer already opened the quote six times. If they are engaging, call instead.", "Copy-pasting the AI draft without adding the one personal detail. Generic follow-ups read as generic." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.getjobber.com/academy/quote-follow-up-email-templates/", "author": "GetJobber", "note": "Quote follow-up templates and timing: day 2, one week, and closing cadence." }, { "url": "https://prospeo.io/s/follow-up-quotation-email-sample", "author": "Prospeo", "note": "Follow-up cadence and the breakup email pattern." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Ask happy customers for referrals", "slug": "ask-happy-customers-for-referrals", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ask-happy-customers-for-referrals/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a short, natural referral request email to send after a job well done, tailored to each customer.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Pick finished jobs from the last 30 to 90 days where the customer was clearly pleased.", "For each one, note the customer name, what you did, and one specific detail (the room, the problem fixed, the result).", "Paste the details plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Read the draft. Make sure it sounds like you, not a marketing department.", "Send it yourself, ideally within a week of the job wrapping up.", "When a referral comes in, thank the referrer. A short thank-you note keeps the loop going." ], "prompt": "Write a short referral request email. Under 100 words. Warm and direct, like a real person wrote it. No hype, no exclamation marks.\n\nMy business: [BUSINESS NAME]: [WHAT YOU DO, e.g. \"residential cleaning in Rutland\"]\nCustomer: [NAME]\nWhat I did for them: [ONE SENTENCE, e.g. \"deep-cleaned their whole house before they listed it\"]\nOne specific detail: [DETAIL, e.g. \"the kitchen took three hours but the stove looks new\"]\n\nThe email should:\n- Thank them briefly and mention the specific detail so it feels personal.\n- Say I have room for [1-2] more customers like them right now.\n- Ask if they know anyone who needs [SERVICE] and would appreciate an introduction.\n- Make it easy: they can just reply with a name, or forward my contact info.\n\nSign as [YOUR NAME].", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 10 minutes per referral email", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: staring at a blank email and rewriting it three times is the usual alternative; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Asking before the customer is actually happy. Wait until the job is done and they have said something positive.", "Sending the same generic email to everyone. One specific detail per customer is what makes it work.", "Never following up the thank-you. When a referral lands, tell the referrer. People refer again when they feel appreciated." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.hubspot.com/service/how-to-ask-for-referrals?param1=setting-up-your-knowledge-base", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "When to ask for referrals and the direct-ask conversation pattern." }, { "url": "https://status.net/articles/examples-asking-for-a-referral-from-a-client/", "author": "Status.net", "note": "Ten referral ask templates showing short, specific phrasing." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Qualify leads with five questions", "slug": "qualify-leads-with-five-questions", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/qualify-leads-with-five-questions/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Score incoming leads against five qualifying questions so you quote the real buyers and politely pass on the rest.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Write down your five questions once: 1) What problem are they solving? 2) What is the budget range? 3) Who decides? 4) When do they need it? 5) Are they in your service area and service list?", "When a lead comes in, gather what you know: their initial message and any call notes.", "Paste the lead details plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Read the verdict: qualified, needs one more question, or not a fit.", "Qualified leads get a quote. \"Needs one more question\" gets a short reply asking exactly that. Not-a-fit gets a polite no.", "Track which questions catch the most bad fits, and sharpen them over time." ], "prompt": "Qualify this lead for my business. Be blunt. I would rather hear \"not a fit\" now than waste a quote.\n\nMy business: [WHAT YOU DO, e.g. \"residential landscaping in Rutland County\"]\nMy service area: [AREA]\nJobs I do NOT take: [LIST, e.g. \"commercial properties, tree removal over 20 feet\"]\nMy typical job range: [PRICE RANGE, e.g. \"$500 to $5,000\"]\n\nLead details:\n[PASTE THEIR MESSAGE AND ANY CALL NOTES]\n\nScore the lead on these five questions (yes / no / unknown):\n1. Need: Do they have a real problem I solve?\n2. Budget: Is there any sign they can pay my typical range?\n3. Decision-maker: Am I talking to the person who decides?\n4. Timeline: Do they need this in a reasonable window?\n5. Fit: Are they in my area and asking for work I actually do?\n\nThen give me a verdict: QUALIFIED, ASK ONE MORE QUESTION (tell me exactly what to ask), or NOT A FIT (tell me why, and draft a polite two-sentence decline).", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 30 to 60 minutes per bad lead avoided", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a site visit plus a written quote for a lead who never buys typically burns an hour or more; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Skipping qualification because the phone is quiet. A bad job costs more than no job.", "Letting the AI be too generous. Tell it to be blunt in the prompt or it will qualify everyone.", "Asking all five questions like an interrogation. Weave them into a normal conversation instead." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/inbound-lead-questions", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "Lead qualification levels: company fit, business pain, decision-making power." }, { "url": "https://www.callboxinc.com/lead-generation/qualifying-questions-to-ask-prospects/", "author": "Callbox", "note": "Core qualifying questions: problem, budget, decision-maker, success criteria." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Win back past customers with email", "slug": "win-back-past-customers-with-email", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/win-back-past-customers-with-email/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a three-email win-back sequence for customers who have gone quiet, personalized with what you know about each one.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Your email tool is whatever you already use.", "steps": [ "Pull your customer list and mark anyone you have not served in 6 months or more.", "Group them loosely: one-time jobs, repeat customers who stopped, seasonal customers due again.", "For each group, note one true update: something new, something seasonal, or something you fixed.", "Paste a group plus the prompt below into the AI. Get three short emails back.", "Personalize the first line of each email with the customer name and their last job.", "Send email one yourself. Wait a week between touches. Stop after three if there is no reply." ], "prompt": "Write three short win-back emails for past customers. Each under 120 words. Warm, plain tone. No fake urgency, no exclamation marks.\n\nMy business: [BUSINESS NAME]: [WHAT YOU DO]\nCustomer group: [ONE-TIME / LAPSED REPEAT / SEASONAL]\nWhat is true and new since they last used me: [ONE REAL UPDATE, e.g. \"we now offer gutter cleaning with every roof job\" or \"it is leaf season again\"]\n\nEmail 1: the check-in: Mention their last job by name if I give it. Ask how things are holding up. No offer yet, just re-open the door.\nEmail 2: the useful thing: Share the update above as something genuinely useful to them, not a sales pitch.\nEmail 3: the honest offer. One clear offer with a real reason (seasonal timing, a slot opening). Ask for a yes or no.\n\nSubject lines for each. Sign as [YOUR NAME].", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 30 to 45 minutes per campaign draft", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: writing a three-email sequence from scratch, with subject lines, typically takes under an hour by hand; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Emailing people who never agreed to marketing emails. Past customers are safer than cold lists, but include an unsubscribe line anyway.", "Making up an offer to have something to say. Customers can tell. Use a real seasonal reason or skip the third email.", "Sending all three emails in one week. Space them out or you train people to ignore you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://verticalresponse.com/blog/customer-win-back-email-templates-how-to-re-engage-lapsed-customers/", "author": "VerticalResponse", "note": "Win-back email templates and the soft re-engagement first touch." }, { "url": "https://www.bonjoro.com/blog/post/winning-back-lost-customers", "author": "Bonjoro", "note": "Win-back subject lines and keeping the tone positive and grateful." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a services page that converts", "slug": "write-a-services-page-that-converts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-services-page-that-converts/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a services page around customer benefits, real proof, and one clear call to action per service.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude are enough. Claude handles longer copy drafts well on its free tier.", "steps": [ "Write down each service in one plain sentence: what it is and who it is for.", "List the questions every prospect asks before hiring you. These become your FAQ and your objection handling.", "Gather proof: testimonials with names, before/after details, years in business, number of jobs done.", "Paste everything plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Read the draft and cut anything that sounds like every competitor. Keep what sounds like you.", "Check the call to action on every service block. Each one should tell the reader exactly what to do next.", "Publish one page per main service if you can, not one long page for everything." ], "prompt": "Draft a services page for my small business website. Plainspoken, confident tone. Write for the customer, not about me.\n\nBusiness: [BUSINESS NAME]: [WHAT YOU DO, WHERE]\nServices (one line each):\n1. [SERVICE]: [WHO IT IS FOR]\n2. [SERVICE]: [WHO IT IS FOR]\n3. [SERVICE]: [WHO IT IS FOR]\n\nProof I can use (only use what is listed here, do not invent any):\n- [TESTIMONIAL WITH NAME, or \"X years in business\", or \"X jobs completed\"]\n- [SECOND PROOF ITEM]\n\nQuestions prospects always ask:\n- [QUESTION 1]\n- [QUESTION 2]\n- [QUESTION 3]\n\nStructure the page:\n1. Headline: say what I do and who it is for in one line. No clever wordplay.\n2. For each service: what it is, who it fits, the outcome the customer gets (benefit, not feature), and a call to action (\"Get a quote\", \"Book a walkthrough\").\n3. A short proof section using only my proof items above.\n4. An FAQ answering the prospect questions in two sentences each.\n5. One final call to action.\n\nRules: benefits over features. Short paragraphs. Every claim must come from my inputs above.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 4 hours per page", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a full services page draft typically takes a business owner several hours of writing and rewriting; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI invents testimonials or statistics. The prompt forbids this, but check every proof claim against your real inputs.", "A page that describes the business instead of the customer. If every paragraph starts with \"we\", rewrite it to start with \"you\".", "No call to action, or a weak one. \"Contact us\" is weak. \"Get a quote in 24 hours\" tells the reader what happens next." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.strategybeam.com/blog/website-copywriting/", "author": "StrategyBeam", "note": "Service page copywriting: benefits over features, social proof, clear structure." }, { "url": "https://craftycopy.co.uk/blog/how-to-write-website-copy-for-your-business", "author": "Crafty Copy", "note": "Services page structure: per-service sections with direct calls to action." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn a finished job into a case study", "slug": "turn-a-finished-job-into-a-case-study", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-a-finished-job-into-a-case-study/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn one finished job into a short, credible case study page: the problem, your approach, the result, and a customer quote.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Pick your best recent job: clear problem, clear result, happy customer.", "Ask the customer for permission to write it up. Offer to let them approve the draft.", "Write down the raw facts: the situation before, what you did step by step, what changed after.", "If you have numbers, confirm them with the customer. Never estimate a result.", "Paste the facts plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Send the draft to the customer for approval before publishing. Change anything they flag.", "Publish it on your site and link it from the relevant services page." ], "prompt": "Write a short case study for my website from these job facts. Plain language, no hype. Keep it under 400 words.\n\nBusiness: [BUSINESS NAME]\nCustomer: [NAME or \"a homeowner in [TOWN]\" if anonymized]\n\nThe situation before (what was wrong):\n[FACTS]\n\nWhat I did (the approach, in plain terms):\n[FACTS]\n\nThe result (only what I list here: do not invent numbers):\n[FACTS, e.g. \"drainage fixed in two days, basement dry through three heavy rains since\"]\n\nCustomer quote (their exact words, or write \"[QUOTE TO COME]\" if I have not collected one yet):\n[QUOTE OR PLACEHOLDER]\n\nStructure:\n1. Title: the outcome plus the customer type, e.g. \"Dry basement for a [TOWN] homeowner\".\n2. One-paragraph summary: who, what was wrong, what changed.\n3. The challenge: 2-4 bullets, specific and honest.\n4. What I did: short paragraphs, decisions not jargon.\n5. The result: the facts above, nothing more.\n6. The customer quote.\n\nRules: every claim must come from my facts. If a number is not in my facts, do not include a number.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours per case study", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: structuring notes into a publishable case study typically takes a couple of hours by hand; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Invented results. The AI will happily write \"saved the customer thousands\" if you let it. The prompt blocks this, but verify every number.", "Publishing without customer approval. Always let them read it first. One surprised customer can cost you the relationship.", "Writing about yourself instead of the problem. The customer is the hero. You are the guide who fixed it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://vvrapid.com/case-study-page-template-for-small-business/", "author": "VV Rapid", "note": "Small business case study template: title, summary, facts panel, challenge, results." }, { "url": "https://www.shopify.com/blog/case-study-examples", "author": "Shopify", "note": "Case study structure: interview the customer, describe the situation, present results." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a pricing sheet that answers objections", "slug": "pricing-sheet-that-answers-objections", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/pricing-sheet-that-answers-objections/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Create a one-page pricing sheet with clear packages and pre-written answers to the price objections you hear most.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Write down your packages or typical price ranges. Three tiers works well: essential, standard, premium.", "List every price objection you heard in the last 90 days, in the customer words.", "Next to each objection, write your honest one or two sentence answer.", "Paste the packages, objections, and your answers plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Read the draft. Every answer must sound like you on a good day, not a script.", "Format it as one clean page: packages on top, \"common questions\" below.", "Send it with quotes and keep a copy on your phone for in-person conversations.", "Decide the new price, the start date, and whether it applies to current clients or only new ones. Paste those three facts plus one plain reason into the prompt. Never let the AI invent the numbers.", "Ask for a short notice in your normal voice: name the old price and new price, the effective date, and the reason, then invite questions. Read it out loud before sending. If it sounds like a press release, rewrite it." ], "prompt": "Build a one-page pricing sheet for my service business. Calm, confident tone. No discount language unless I include it.\n\nBusiness: [BUSINESS NAME]\nPackages:\n1. [PACKAGE NAME]: [PRICE OR RANGE], includes: [LIST]\n2. [PACKAGE NAME]: [PRICE OR RANGE], includes: [LIST]\n3. [PACKAGE NAME]: [PRICE OR RANGE], includes: [LIST]\n\nWhat is NOT included (say it plainly): [LIST]\n\nThe objections I hear, with my real answers:\n1. \"[OBJECTION, e.g. That is more than I expected]\" → My answer: [YOUR HONEST ANSWER]\n2. \"[OBJECTION]\" → My answer: [YOUR HONEST ANSWER]\n3. \"[OBJECTION]\" → My answer: [YOUR HONEST ANSWER]\n[ADD MORE AS NEEDED]\n\nBuild the sheet:\n- Top: the three packages, scannable, with what is included in each.\n- Middle: a short \"what affects the price\" note (size, condition, timeline) so shoppers understand the range.\n- Bottom: \"Common questions\": each objection as the question, my answer rewritten smoothly but keeping my meaning.\n- Close with one line on next steps: [e.g. \"Reply to this email and I will hold your slot for 14 days.\"]\n\nRules: do not invent discounts, guarantees, or services I did not list. Keep my answers honest, not salesy.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours to build, then minutes per use", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: writing and formatting a pricing sheet by hand typically takes an afternoon; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Hiding the price to \"get them on the phone.\" Shoppers just move on to the competitor who shows theirs.", "Answering objections with defensiveness. The sheet should sound like you explaining, not arguing.", "Letting the AI invent a guarantee or discount. Check every line against what you actually offer.", "Burying the increase at the bottom of a long email. Put the new price, the date, and the reason up front, then stop." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.getjobber.com/academy/price-is-too-high-responses/", "author": "GetJobber", "note": "Scripts for \"too expensive\" objections, including when to walk away politely." }, { "url": "https://prospeo.io/s/how-to-handle-price-objections", "author": "Prospeo", "note": "Price objection frameworks: clarify, re-anchor to value, offer options instead of discounts." }, { "url": "https://www.sayanchor.com/post/price-increase-letter-clients", "author": "Anchor (sayanchor.com)", "note": "Supports the tone guidance: confident not apologetic, personalized, direct, with number, date, and reason a real person can hold in their head." }, { "url": "https://www.vCita.com/blog/small-business-tips/price-increase-notice", "author": "vCita", "note": "Supports the notice structure: clear subject line, what is changing, when it takes effect, what it applies to, and a way to ask questions." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Never drop a networking contact again", "slug": "networking-follow-up-system", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/networking-follow-up-system/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Turn post-event notes into personal follow-up messages for every contact, and keep a simple tracker so nobody slips through.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Within 24 hours of the event, write one line per person: name, what you talked about, anything you promised to send.", "Add each person to your tracker with the date and a status of \"to follow up\".", "Paste your notes plus the prompt below into the AI. Get one draft per person.", "Check each draft. The specific detail from your conversation must be right or the whole thing reads as fake.", "Send the messages yourself the same day or the next morning.", "Mark sent in the tracker. Set a reminder for one gentle nudge in 10 to 14 days for the important ones.", "After the nudge, stop. Respectful silence beats a third chase." ], "prompt": "Write personal follow-up messages from my networking notes. Each one short enough to send as an email or LinkedIn message. Warm, specific, zero sales pitch.\n\nEvent: [EVENT NAME], [DATE]\nMy business in one line: [WHAT YOU DO]\n\nMy notes (one per person):\n1. [NAME]: talked about [TOPIC]. I promised to send [THING, or \"nothing specific\"].\n2. [NAME]: talked about [TOPIC]. Mentioned [THEIR CHALLENGE OR INTEREST].\n[ADD MORE]\n\nFor each person, write:\n- A subject line or opening line (3-5 words).\n- The message: remind them where we met, reference the specific topic, and include the promised item or one useful thing related to their interest. End with one light next step (a coffee, a call, staying in touch): no hard ask.\n- If I promised nothing, do not invent a promise. Just reference the conversation.\n\nRules: every message must contain the real detail from my notes. If a note is thin, keep the message shorter rather than padding it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 5 to 10 minutes per contact", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: writing a genuinely personal follow-up from notes typically takes 10 to 15 minutes each; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Waiting a week to write up notes. You will forget the details that make follow-ups work. Do it the same night.", "Letting the AI invent conversation details. If your note says \"talked about pricing,\" the draft must not claim you discussed a specific project.", "Following up with everyone the same way. The hot conversation gets a call invite. The brief chat gets a light touch." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://scribbl.co/post/how-to-write-a-follow-up-email-the-ultimate-guide-templates-examples-best-practices-for-any-situation", "author": "Scribbl", "note": "Networking follow-up template: remind them where you met, give something small." }, { "url": "https://exnihilomagazine.com/how-to-follow-up-after-networking/", "author": "Ex Nihilo Magazine", "note": "Follow-up timing and turning one message into an ongoing relationship." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Sort trade show leads before they go cold", "slug": "triage-trade-show-leads-fast", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/triage-trade-show-leads-fast/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn a pile of trade show contacts into a sorted follow-up plan: hot leads get a personal message tomorrow, warm leads get a short sequence, cold ones get filed.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "The night the show ends, photograph every card and note page so nothing gets lost.", "Sort every lead into three tiers: hot (specific need, timeline, or asked for a price), warm (right kind of business, interested, no urgency), cold (students, suppliers pitching you, brochure collectors).", "For hot and warm leads, write one sentence each: what they asked about and what you promised.", "Paste the sorted list plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Message every hot lead personally within 3 days. Reference the actual conversation, not the show.", "Send warm leads the short sequence: what you promised, then one useful addition a week later.", "File the cold tier with no active follow-up. They cost you nothing to keep and nothing to chase." ], "prompt": "Build a trade show follow-up plan from my sorted leads. Direct, human tone. No generic \"great meeting you at the show\" lines.\n\nShow: [SHOW NAME], [DATES]\nMy business: [WHAT YOU DO]\n\nHOT leads (message within 3 days, personal):\n1. [NAME, COMPANY]: asked about [SPECIFIC THING]. I promised [WHAT I SAID I WOULD SEND].\n[ADD MORE]\n\nWARM leads (short sequence):\n1. [NAME, COMPANY]: [WHAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN]. No specific promise made.\n[ADD MORE]\n\nFor each HOT lead, draft a short first message: reference the specific thing they asked about, deliver or promise the item, suggest one easy next step (a call, a sample, a site visit).\nFor each WARM lead, draft two messages: message one delivers something useful related to their interest; message two (a week later) adds one new detail and one easy next step.\nKeep every message under 120 words. Sign as [YOUR NAME], [BUSINESS], [PHONE].", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 3 hours per show", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: sorting a lead pile and writing tiered follow-ups by hand typically eats an evening; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Waiting two weeks to follow up. After a week they do not remember your face, and your message reads as spam.", "Blasting the whole list with one generic email. Hot leads can tell they got the mail merge.", "No notes on the cards. \"Met at the show\" is not a note. Write the one sentence while they are still standing there." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://adamexpostand.com/trade-show-lead-follow-up-plan/", "author": "Adam Expo Stand", "note": "14-day trade show follow-up plan: sort in tiers, message hot leads first." }, { "url": "https://aexus.com/how-do-you-follow-up-with-leads-after-a-trade-show/", "author": "Aexus", "note": "Follow-up timing by lead temperature: hot in 2-3 days, warm in 5-7, cold in 10-14." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a seasonal promotion without the scramble", "slug": "plan-a-seasonal-promotion", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-seasonal-promotion/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Plan a seasonal promotion end to end: the offer, the math check, the emails, and the social posts, all drafted before the season starts.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini handle this. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Pick one season and one clear offer. Fewer, clearer offers beat five confusing ones.", "Give the AI your normal price, your cost per sale, and the discount you are considering. Ask it to check the math.", "If the numbers do not work, change the offer, not your hopes. A smaller discount or a bundle often beats a deep cut.", "Paste the confirmed offer plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Get back: the announcement email, the launch-day email, the last-chance reminder, and a week of social posts.", "Read everything. Fix anything that promises what you cannot deliver.", "Schedule it all at least two weeks before the season starts, then focus on serving customers." ], "prompt": "Plan my seasonal promotion. Practical tone. Everything must fit a one-person operation.\n\nBusiness: [BUSINESS NAME]: [WHAT YOU SELL OR DO]\nSeason: [e.g. HOLIDAY 2026, SPRING CLEANUP SEASON]\nOffer: [e.g. \"15% off deep cleans booked in December\" or \"free gutter cleaning with every roof soft-wash in October\"]\nOffer runs: [START DATE] to [END DATE]\nMy normal price: [PRICE], my cost per sale: [COST]\n\nFirst, check the math: at the discounted price, what do I earn per sale, and how many extra sales do I need to beat doing nothing? Show the numbers plainly. If the math is bad, say so and suggest a smaller discount or a bundle instead.\n\nThen draft:\n1. A \"coming soon\" email (under 150 words): tease the offer, give the start date.\n2. A launch-day email (under 150 words): the offer, the deadline, one clear call to action.\n3. A last-48-hours reminder (under 100 words): short, honest urgency, no fake countdown tricks.\n4. Five social posts, one per day for launch week, each under 50 words, each with a different angle (the offer, the deadline, a customer result, a behind-the-scenes note, a FAQ answer).\n\nRules: never invent a discount I did not approve. Every claim must match my inputs.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 3 to 5 hours per promotion", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: writing a full promotion (offer math, three emails, a week of posts) by hand typically takes most of a day; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Running the promotion the AI suggested without checking the math. Always verify the per-sale numbers yourself.", "Too many offers at once. One clear offer with a deadline beats a menu of discounts.", "Starting two weeks before the holiday. Most seasonal campaigns need a month of runway, more for Christmas." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.networksolutions.com/blog/how-make-your-small-business-sparkle-holiday-season/", "author": "Network Solutions", "note": "Holiday marketing planning: goals, calendar, audience, and channel checklist." }, { "url": "https://wisernotify.com/blog/seasonal-marketing/", "author": "Wisernotify", "note": "Seasonal marketing calendar: when to start promoting each season, strategies by job." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Make a one-page leave-behind for pitches", "slug": "one-page-leave-behind-for-pitches", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/one-page-leave-behind-for-pitches/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft a one-page leave-behind that summarizes your pitch: the opportunity, your approach, proof, commercial snapshot, and the decision needed.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Before the meeting, write down the client-specific problem in one sentence.", "Note your recommended approach in one sentence, plus up to three workstreams.", "Pick your single strongest proof point: a result, a testimonial, a relevant past job.", "Write your commercial snapshot: scope, fee basis, timeline, key assumption.", "Paste it all plus the prompt below into the AI.", "Lay the draft out on one page: headline, three to five labeled blocks, one decision block at the bottom.", "Print a few copies or save as PDF. Bring it to the meeting and leave it behind." ], "prompt": "Draft a one-page leave-behind for my pitch. Scannable, plain language. One decision story, not a brochure.\n\nClient: [CLIENT NAME / TYPE]\nTheir problem in one sentence: [PROBLEM]\nMy recommended approach in one sentence: [APPROACH]\nUp to three workstreams: [1], [2], [3]\nMy proof (one compact example with real context): [PROOF: do not invent any part of it]\nCommercial snapshot: scope [SCOPE], fee basis [e.g. fixed fee / per visit], timeline [TIMELINE], key assumption [ASSUMPTION]\nNext step I want: [e.g. \"approve the proposal by Friday\"]\n\nStructure the page:\n1. Headline: the client-specific outcome, not my company name.\n2. Current gap: one or two plain observations about their situation.\n3. Recommended approach: the strategy plus the workstreams.\n4. Proof: the compact example above.\n5. Commercial snapshot: scope, fee, timeline, assumption: one line each.\n6. Decision block: who decides, what action, by when.\n\nRules: keep it to one page. Every claim from my inputs only. The reader should be able to repeat the offer and the next step after one read.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 45 to 90 minutes per leave-behind", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: condensing a pitch into a clean one-pager by hand typically takes over an hour; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Cramming twelve slides onto one page. One page means one story: opportunity, approach, proof, price, next step.", "Generic headlines. \"About our services\" says nothing. \"Cut your turnover cleaning time in half\" says everything.", "No proof, or invented proof. One real example beats a page of claims." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://visme.co/blog/sales-one-pager/", "author": "Visme", "note": "Sales one-pager templates and using them as meeting leave-behinds." }, { "url": "https://www.anygen.io/showcase/marketing-deck-template/index.html", "author": "AnyGen", "note": "One-pager block rules: headline, gap, approach, proof, commercial snapshot, decision block." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a local prospect list with AI help", "slug": "build-a-local-prospect-list-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-a-local-prospect-list-with-ai/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a researched prospect list of local businesses: who they are, what is missing from their online presence, and a personalized opener for each.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity", "Google Maps" ], "toolCost": "Google Maps is free. Perplexity has a free tier with limited web searches; ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro speed up big batches but are not required.", "steps": [ "Pick one trade and one town. \"Landscapers in Rutland\" beats \"businesses in Vermont.\"", "Search Google Maps for that trade plus town. Open the listings that look active.", "For each business, note: name, phone, website (or \"no website\"), and review count. Aim for 50.", "Paste the list in batches plus the prompt below into the AI. It researches each website and flags what is missing.", "Review the flags. Delete anyone who is not actually a fit, no matter what the AI says.", "For your top 20, have the AI draft one personalized opener each, based on the specific thing it found.", "Work the list in order. Log every contact: date, channel, response. One follow-up max for non-responders." ], "prompt": "Research these local businesses for my outreach list. Be factual and skeptical. If you cannot verify something, say so.\n\nMy service: [WHAT YOU SELL, e.g. \"websites for trades businesses\"]\nMy filter: I only want businesses that [CRITERIA, e.g. \"have no website or a clearly outdated one, and look active with recent reviews\"]\n\nBusinesses (batch of 10):\n1. [NAME]: [WEBSITE OR \"NO WEBSITE LISTED\"]: [REVIEW COUNT IF KNOWN]\n[ADD MORE]\n\nFor each business, return:\n- What they do, in one line (from their site or listing).\n- Online presence check: website? How old does it look? Active social profiles? Recent reviews?\n- Fit verdict: GOOD FIT / MAYBE / SKIP, with one-line reason.\n- If GOOD FIT: one personalized opener (two sentences max) referencing the specific thing you found. Factual and verifiable only: no invented details.\n\nRules: never invent a website, a review count, or a business detail. Mark anything unverified as unverified. Skip chains and franchises unless I say otherwise.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 3 to 5 hours per 50-prospect list", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: clicking through 200+ listings by hand to find 50 qualified prospects typically burns a full afternoon; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Pitching from the list without verifying. An AI-hallucinated \"outdated website\" in your opener destroys trust instantly.", "Scraping at scale without checking the rules. Google Maps data has terms of service, and cold outreach has spam laws. Keep it manual-sized and honest.", "Using only public contact info is the line. Never buy or scrape personal emails or phone numbers.", "Targeting businesses that already have what you sell. Check their site before you claim they need one." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://scrap.io/alex-hormozi-local-lead-generation-guide", "author": "Scrap.io", "note": "Google Maps prospecting: filtering by missing website, email, or low rating before outreach." }, { "url": "https://cloudbuildtechnologies.medium.com/how-to-build-a-prospect-list-from-scratch-step-by-step-14ecfca3097a", "author": "CloudBuild Technologies (Medium)", "note": "Prospect list from scratch: columns, sources, researching each website, public contact details only." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Score inbound leads so the best ones reach you first", "slug": "score-and-route-inbound-leads", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/score-and-route-inbound-leads/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a simple lead scoring rubric in a spreadsheet, then use AI to score each inbound lead and route the hot ones to immediate follow-up.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Free tier of ChatGPT or Claude plus a free spreadsheet. Nothing to buy.", "steps": [ "Look at your last 20 to 30 leads. Mark which ones became paying jobs.", "List the traits the buyers shared: service area, job type, budget signals, how they contacted you, timeline.", "Turn the traits into a rubric: each trait gets points, up to 100 total. Set a hot threshold (for example, 70+).", "Put the rubric in a spreadsheet with one row per new lead.", "For each new inquiry, paste the details plus the prompt below into the AI. It scores the lead against your rubric.", "Hot leads get a call or quote the same day. Warm leads get the standard process. Cold leads get a polite, slow lane.", "Review monthly: if hot leads are not buying, your rubric is scoring the wrong traits. Adjust it." ], "prompt": "Score this inbound lead against my rubric. Show your work for each trait, then give the total and the routing decision.\n\nMy scoring rubric (total 100 points):\n- In my service area: [POINTS, e.g. 20]\n- Asking for work I actually do: [POINTS, e.g. 20]\n- Budget signal present (mentions budget, asks about pricing tiers, commercial client): [POINTS, e.g. 15]\n- Decision-maker contacting me directly: [POINTS, e.g. 15]\n- Timeline under [X WEEKS]: [POINTS, e.g. 15]\n- Repeat customer or referral: [POINTS, e.g. 15]\nHot threshold: [SCORE, e.g. 70]\n\nNew lead:\n[PASTE THE INQUIRY: their message, source, anything you know]\n\nReturn:\n1. Points per trait with one-line justification each. Score 0 for anything unknown: do not guess.\n2. Total score and HOT / WARM / COLD.\n3. Routing: HOT → call today and quote within 24h. WARM → standard quote process. COLD → polite reply, no rush.\n4. If WARM or COLD, draft the reply.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 15 to 30 minutes per day on active inquiry volume", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: triaging and prioritizing a busy inbox of inquiries by hand takes most owners half an hour daily; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Scoring on traits that do not predict buying. Review monthly against actual closes and cut dead traits.", "Letting hot leads sit because the system said hot but you got busy. The score is a promise to act, not a label.", "Overcomplicating it. Six traits and one threshold beats a 20-factor model you abandon in a week." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.massivepeak.com/lead-scoring/", "author": "MassivePeak", "note": "Lead scoring setup: define criteria, assign points, set qualification thresholds, refine." }, { "url": "https://www.marion.com/lead-scoring-strategy/", "author": "Marion", "note": "Fit vs interest scoring, thresholds, and reevaluating the strategy regularly." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Chase late payments without the awkward email", "slug": "chase-late-payments-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/chase-late-payments-with-ai/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Write late-payment reminder emails that get paid without damaging the client relationship", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "Gather the facts: invoice number, amount owed, original due date, and how many days late it is.", "Decide on the tone. First reminder: friendly nudge. Second: firm. Third: final warning.", "Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT or Claude with your details filled in.", "Read the draft carefully. Fix anything that does not sound like you.", "Attach the original invoice to your email. People pay faster when they do not have to hunt for it.", "Send it yourself from your own email. Never let the AI send anything on your behalf.", "If there is no reply in a week, ask the AI to write the firmer second notice using the same facts." ], "prompt": "Write a late-payment reminder email. Facts: my name is [YOUR NAME], my business is [BUSINESS NAME]. The client is [CLIENT NAME]. Invoice [INVOICE NUMBER] for $[AMOUNT] was due on [DUE DATE], which is [X] days ago. The work was [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]. Tone: [friendly nudge / firm / final notice]. Keep it under 150 words. Include a clear ask: pay by [DATE] or reply with a payment date. Do not invent a late fee unless I gave you one.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 30 to 60 minutes per overdue invoice.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: writing and agonizing over one awkward email by hand vs a 5-minute AI draft you review. Not measured, just honest math.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI invents a late fee or penalty you never agreed to. Check every number before sending.", "The tone comes out too aggressive for a first reminder. Say \"friendly nudge\" explicitly in the prompt.", "The draft uses the wrong amount or date. You typed them, but double-check anyway.", "Sending the email without the invoice attached. The draft cannot attach files for you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.paidnice.com/blog/email-templates-for-invoice-payment-reminders", "author": "Paidnice", "note": "Payment reminder structure: invoice number, amount, and due date in the first two sentences, one clear action." }, { "url": "https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/how-to-write-a-late-payment-email", "author": "GoCardless", "note": "Tone ladder for overdue emails: polite nudge under 14 days, firmer as it ages." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Price a job so you do not lose money on it", "slug": "price-a-job-without-losing-money", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/price-a-job-without-losing-money/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Calculate a defensible price floor and build quotes that cover costs, taxes, and profit", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "List your monthly living costs and monthly business costs. Rough numbers are fine for round one.", "Estimate your billable hours per month. Be honest: most freelancers bill 15 to 25 hours a week, not 40.", "Paste the prompt below with your numbers.", "The AI gives you a price floor: the rate below which the job costs you money.", "Describe the job: scope, deliverables, revision rounds. The AI builds a project quote from the floor up.", "Add a 15 to 20 percent buffer for scope creep and revisions.", "Sanity-check the result against your market. The floor is math, the final price is positioning." ], "prompt": "Help me price a freelance job. My monthly living costs are $[X]. My monthly business costs are $[Y] (software, insurance, etc). I can realistically bill [Z] hours per month. For taxes, use a planning rate of [T]%. First, calculate my minimum hourly rate: (monthly living costs + monthly business costs) divided by (1 - tax rate), divided by billable hours. Show the math. Then price this job: [DESCRIBE THE JOB, DELIVERABLES, REVISION ROUNDS]. Give me a project price with a 15% buffer, and tell me what my floor is so I know where I cannot go below.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 to 2 hours per quote.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: doing the rate math in a spreadsheet by hand and second-guessing it vs one guided AI session. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Using 40 billable hours a week in the math. You do not bill 40 hours. Use your real number.", "Treating the tax planning rate as tax advice. It is a planning guess. Your accountant sets the real number.", "Forgetting unpaid work: proposals, admin, revisions. The buffer exists for exactly this.", "Pricing from a competitor's rate instead of your own costs. Their costs are not yours." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://freelances.site/freelance-rate-calculator-hourly-project-pricing", "author": "freelances.site", "note": "The freelance pricing formula: required revenue from income goals, expenses, taxes, and billable hours." }, { "url": "https://gigmoneycalc.com/job-price-calculator.html", "author": "GigMoneyCalc", "note": "Project pricing rule: estimated hours times rate, plus expenses, plus a 15 to 20 percent buffer for scope creep." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Do a month of bookkeeping in one sitting", "slug": "monthly-bookkeeping-one-sitting", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/monthly-bookkeeping-one-sitting/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Run a monthly bookkeeping close: categorize transactions, spot problems, summarize the month", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. If you outgrow it, bookkeeping software like Wave is free and QuickBooks starts around $30 a month.", "steps": [ "Export last month's transactions from your bank and cards as CSV. Most banks have an export button.", "Remove or mask full account numbers before uploading anything to a chatbot.", "Paste the prompt below and upload the CSV files.", "The AI categorizes each transaction and flags ones it is unsure about.", "Review every flagged transaction yourself. This is the part you cannot skip.", "Ask the AI for a month summary: total income, total expenses, biggest categories, anything unusual.", "Save the categorized file and the summary in a folder named for the month. Done until next month.", "After categorizing, run the reconciliation pass: match each transaction in your books to the same entry on the bank statement, line by line, and mark what matches. List everything left over on either side.", "For the leftovers, add bank fees and interest you missed to your books, and keep a short list of outstanding checks and deposits in transit that explain the gap. The adjusted balances must match to the cent before you close the month." ], "prompt": "I am doing my monthly bookkeeping. I have attached CSV exports of last month's business bank and credit card transactions. Categorize each transaction into these buckets: [LIST YOUR CATEGORIES, or use: advertising, supplies, software, travel, meals, rent, utilities, contractors, other]. Flag any transaction you are unsure about and tell me why. Then give me a summary: total income, total expenses, net for the month, the three biggest expense categories, and anything that looks unusual compared to a normal month.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 2 to 4 hours per month.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: manually categorizing a few hundred transactions in a spreadsheet vs reviewing an AI draft. Not measured, just honest math.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI miscategorizes ambiguous transactions, like a big-box store run that was half supplies, half personal. Review the flags.", "Uploading statements with full account numbers. Strip them first.", "Skipping the review and trusting the AI completely. It is a draft, not a bookkeeper.", "Doing it quarterly instead of monthly. Small errors compound. Monthly takes an hour; quarterly takes a weekend.", "Closing the month with an unexplained gap. An unresolved difference is a signal, not a rounding error. Go back through the unmatched items." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.kcolebookkeeping.com/blog/the-small-business-owners-month-end-bookkeeping-checklist", "author": "kCole Bookkeeping", "note": "Month-end checklist: categorize, reconcile, review AR/AP, run P&L, save documentation." }, { "url": "https://demarconsultinggroup.com/insights/monthly-bookkeeping-checklist/", "author": "Demar Consulting Group", "note": "Monthly close routine: collect records, reconcile, review reports, turn findings into actions." }, { "url": "https://www.xero.com/uk/guides/what-is-bank-reconciliation/", "author": "Xero", "note": "Supports the walkthrough: compare opening balances, match transactions one by one, investigate unmatched items (outstanding cheques, deposits in transit, fees), adjust books, confirm closing balances match." }, { "url": "https://numbersquad.com/bank-reconciliation/", "author": "NumberSquad", "note": "Supports the failure modes: transposed numbers, missing deposits, unrecorded fees, and the rule that reconciliation is not done until the difference is zero." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Sort your expenses into tax-ready categories", "slug": "expense-categories-for-tax-time", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/expense-categories-for-tax-time/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Categorize a year of business expenses into IRS Schedule C buckets", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "Gather your expenses for the year: bank exports, a spreadsheet, or a plain list.", "Paste the prompt below along with your expense list.", "The AI sorts each expense into Schedule C categories like advertising, supplies, travel, and meals.", "Review the uncertain ones. Mixed personal and business purchases need your judgment.", "Ask the AI to total each category. These totals go straight onto your tax forms.", "Bring the categorized list to your accountant. You just saved them hours, which saves you money." ], "prompt": "Categorize my business expenses for taxes. I am a sole proprietor filing Schedule C. Here is my expense list: [PASTE LIST WITH AMOUNTS]. Sort each expense into the right IRS Schedule C category (advertising, car and truck, contract labor, insurance, office expenses, rent, supplies, travel, meals, utilities, other). Flag anything that might be only partly deductible, like meals or mixed-use items. Then total each category. If you are unsure about an item, say so instead of guessing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 3 to 5 hours at tax time.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: sorting a year of expenses by hand vs reviewing an AI-sorted list. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI confidently categorizes something it should have flagged. Gray areas need your accountant, not a chatbot.", "Personal expenses mixed into the list. Separate them before you start, or the totals are wrong.", "Forgetting the home office. If you have a dedicated workspace, ask about the simplified method.", "Treating the AI output as tax advice. It is a sorting assistant. Your accountant makes the calls." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sdocpa.com/schedule-c-deductions/", "author": "SDO CPA", "note": "The official Schedule C expense line list: what goes on each line, with 2026 specifics." }, { "url": "https://www.taxact.com/tax-resources/tax-forms/form-1040-schedule-c", "author": "TaxAct", "note": "Schedule C walkthrough: Part II expenses must be ordinary and necessary." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write payment terms that actually protect you", "slug": "payment-terms-that-protect-you", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/payment-terms-that-protect-you/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft clear payment terms: deposits, due dates, late fees, and project-stall rules", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. If the stakes are high, have a lawyer review the final version.", "steps": [ "Write down how you bill today: when you invoice, when you expect payment, what goes wrong.", "Paste the prompt below with your details.", "The AI drafts payment terms covering deposit, due date, late fees, and paused projects.", "Read every line. Delete anything you would not enforce. Terms you will not enforce are worse than no terms.", "Check late-fee rules for your state. Some states cap them or restrict surcharges.", "Put the final terms on your quotes, your contracts, and your invoices. All three.", "When a client pushes back, negotiate scope or timing, not the existence of terms." ], "prompt": "Draft payment terms for my business. I am a [FREELANCER / CONTRACTOR / SERVICE BUSINESS] doing [TYPE OF WORK]. I bill [per project / hourly / monthly retainer]. My typical invoice is $[AMOUNT]. Write payment terms covering: 1) deposit required before work starts, 2) when the balance is due, 3) late fee for overdue payments, 4) what happens if the client pauses the project mid-way, 5) what happens if the client cancels. Keep the language plain and professional, no legalese. Note anywhere I should check local law.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 to 2 hours of drafting, plus fewer disputes later.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: writing terms from scratch vs reviewing an AI draft. The bigger saving is unmeasured: disputes you never have. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI writes terms you would never enforce. If you will not charge the late fee, do not list it.", "Late-fee caps vary by state. What is fine in one state may be restricted in another. Check yours.", "Putting terms only in the contract and not on the invoice. The invoice is what the client actually reads.", "Treating AI-drafted terms as legal advice. For big contracts, get a real review." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sage.com/en-us/blog/net-30-payment-terms/", "author": "Sage", "note": "Net 30 explained: how it works, cash flow strain, and why late fees must be agreed in advance." }, { "url": "https://www.invoicesimple.com/blog/payment-clause/", "author": "Invoice Simple", "note": "Real payment clause examples: service agreements, deposits, late fees, and subscription terms." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Estimate your quarterly taxes without the panic", "slug": "estimate-quarterly-taxes-freelancer", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/estimate-quarterly-taxes-freelancer/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Calculate quarterly estimated tax payments using the prior-year safe harbor method", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. This does not replace your accountant.", "steps": [ "Find last year's Form 1040. Write down line 24 (total tax) and line 11 (AGI).", "If last year's AGI was over $150,000, your safe harbor is 110 percent of last year's tax. Otherwise 100 percent.", "Paste the prompt below with your numbers.", "The AI divides the safe harbor amount by four. That is your quarterly payment.", "Mark the four deadlines: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.", "Pay through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS. Keep the confirmation.", "Remember: safe harbor avoids the penalty, but if you earned more this year, the balance is still due in April." ], "prompt": "Help me calculate my quarterly estimated tax payments using the IRS prior-year safe harbor. Last year's total tax (Form 1040 line 24) was $[AMOUNT]. Last year's AGI (line 11) was $[AMOUNT]. I am [single / married filing jointly]. Calculate: 1) whether the 100% or 110% safe harbor applies, 2) my total required payments for the year, 3) my quarterly payment amount. List the four 2026 deadlines. Remind me that state estimated taxes are separate and that I should confirm everything with my accountant.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 to 2 hours per quarter vs figuring it out alone.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: reading IRS worksheets and doing the math by hand vs one guided session. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Thinking safe harbor means you owe nothing in April. It only avoids the penalty. The balance is still due.", "Forgetting state taxes. Most states with income tax want quarterly payments too.", "Missing a deadline. The penalty accrues per quarter from the due date, so pay late rather than never.", "Using the 100 percent rule when your AGI was over $150,000. That triggers the 110 percent rule." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://getbookwren.com/blog/quarterly-tax-freelancers", "author": "Bookwren", "note": "Quarterly estimated tax for freelancers: the four 2026 deadlines and the prior-year safe harbor math." }, { "url": "https://ramp.com/blog/what-are-quarterly-taxes", "author": "Ramp", "note": "Safe harbor vs current-year methods, with a worked freelancer example." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build an invoice template that gets paid faster", "slug": "invoice-template-that-gets-paid-faster", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/invoice-template-that-gets-paid-faster/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Design an invoice template with clear layout, plain payment terms, and a payment link", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude for the design. Free invoice tools like Wave handle the sending; paid tools like FreshBooks add automation.", "steps": [ "List what goes on your invoice today, or admit you are starting from scratch.", "Paste the prompt below with your business details.", "The AI gives you a field-by-field layout: what goes where and why.", "Add your logo and brand colors. Invoices with a logo get paid faster.", "Put the due date near the top, in plain words like \"Due March 15\", not buried at the bottom.", "Add a payment link or button. Clients who can pay in two clicks pay sooner.", "Send the first invoice the day the work is done. Every day of delay adds a day to your wait." ], "prompt": "Design an invoice template for my business. Business name: [NAME]. I do [TYPE OF WORK]. My clients pay by [check / bank transfer / card / payment link]. Give me a field-by-field layout: header, bill-to section, line items, totals, payment terms, and payment instructions. For payment terms, use plain words like \"Due in 14 days\" instead of jargon. Include a notes section under 50 words. Tell me the three highest-impact changes vs a basic Word invoice.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 15 minutes per invoice, every invoice, forever.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: rebuilding invoice details from scratch each time vs filling a clean template. Compounds fast. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Burying the due date in small print at the bottom. Put it near the total where eyes land.", "No payment link, just bank details. Every extra step loses you days.", "Forgetting the invoice number or date. You need both for your own records.", "Sending a PDF with no reminder setup. Pair the template with automated reminders." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.robinwaite.com/blog/5-invoice-writing-tips-to-help-you-get-paid-faster", "author": "Robin Waite", "note": "Five invoice writing tips: simple template, clear cost breakdown, due date front and center." }, { "url": "https://zipbooks.com/blog/how-do-i-make-an-invoice/", "author": "ZipBooks", "note": "Invoice best practices: prompt invoicing, clear language, branded invoices with logos." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Track who owes you what, every week", "slug": "track-who-owes-you-what", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/track-who-owes-you-what/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a weekly unpaid-invoice review: who owes, how late, who to chase first", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. Accounting software like QuickBooks generates aging reports automatically if you outgrow the manual list.", "steps": [ "Export or list your unpaid invoices: client name, invoice number, amount, invoice date, due date.", "Paste the prompt below with your list.", "The AI sorts invoices into buckets: current, 1 to 30 days late, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, over 90.", "It flags the high-risk ones: big amounts, very late, or repeat late payers.", "You get a contact list for the week: who to email, who to call, in what order.", "Work the list. Update it when payments land.", "Repeat weekly. Ten minutes a week beats a quarterly panic." ], "prompt": "I need a weekly review of my unpaid invoices. Here is the list (client, invoice number, amount, invoice date, due date): [PASTE LIST]. Sort them into aging buckets: current, 1-30 days overdue, 31-60, 61-90, over 90. Flag the high-risk ones: large amounts, very overdue, or clients who are often late. Then give me this week's contact list in priority order, with a suggested action for each: email reminder, personal email, or phone call. Total each bucket.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 hour per week.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: manually sorting invoices and deciding who to chase vs getting a prioritized list to work through. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "The list is out of date because nobody updates it when payments arrive. Garbage in, garbage out.", "Treating all overdue invoices the same. A $200 invoice 10 days late and a $5,000 invoice 80 days late need different actions.", "Never escalating. If the 90-day bucket keeps growing, your process needs teeth: late fees, paused work, or collections.", "Forgetting credit notes and partial payments. Net the amounts before sorting." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/payments/accounts-receivable-aging-report/", "author": "QuickBooks", "note": "AR aging report explained: 30-day buckets, prioritizing follow-ups, forecasting cash flow." }, { "url": "https://bitaccounting.com/tracking-accounts-receivable/", "author": "BIT Accounting", "note": "AR tracking steps: invoice immediately, aging report, follow-up system by milestone, turnover ratio." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Decide whether to take cards, cash, or checks", "slug": "cash-vs-card-vs-check-fees", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/cash-vs-card-vs-check-fees/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Compare payment method costs: card processing fees vs ACH vs checks vs cash", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "Write down your average sale size and roughly how much you take in cards per month.", "Note how you get paid today: cards, checks, bank transfer, cash.", "Paste the prompt below with your numbers.", "The AI compares the real cost of each method at your volume, including the flat per-transaction fees.", "Look at the speed tradeoff too: cards cost 2 to 3 percent but get you paid days or weeks sooner.", "Decide your mix: many businesses take cards for speed and push big invoices to ACH.", "If you pass fees to customers, check your state's surcharge rules first. Some states restrict them." ], "prompt": "Help me decide which payment methods to accept. My average transaction is $[AMOUNT]. I process roughly $[VOLUME] per month. Currently I accept [cards / checks / bank transfer / cash]. Compare the true cost of: 1) credit cards at typical small-business rates, 2) ACH bank transfer, 3) paper checks including my time to deposit them, 4) cash including handling. Show the math for my volume. Then recommend a payment mix and tell me when it makes sense to steer a client toward ACH instead of card. Note any state surcharge rules I should check.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 to 2 hours of research and spreadsheet math.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: comparing processor pricing pages and fee structures by hand vs one AI session with your numbers. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Comparing only the headline percentage and ignoring the per-transaction flat fee.", "Forgetting that checks cost your time: trips to the bank, waiting for clearance, chasing bounced ones.", "Surcharging debit cards. You cannot surcharge debit under card network rules.", "Assuming your state allows surcharging. A few states restrict it. Check before you implement." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://relayfi.com/blog/accepting-credit-cards-invoices-fees-vs-cash-flow/", "author": "Relay", "note": "Cards vs ACH vs checks: fee math at real invoice sizes, and when speed beats the fee." }, { "url": "https://ueni.com/blog/how-to-accept-card-payments-small-business/", "author": "UENI", "note": "2026 card processing rates: Square, Stripe, PayPal compared, and why flat fees hit small tickets hardest." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Audit your business subscriptions in one afternoon", "slug": "business-subscription-audit", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/business-subscription-audit/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Find every recurring software charge, flag waste and overlap, build a keep-or-cancel list", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "Export 12 months of statements from every business card and account as CSV.", "Strip full account numbers before uploading anything to a chatbot.", "Paste the prompt below and upload the CSVs.", "The AI lists every recurring charge: vendor, amount, frequency, annual cost.", "Go through the list and mark each tool: used weekly, used rarely, or not used at all.", "Cancel or downgrade everything in the last category before the next renewal.", "Group the keepers by job: if two tools do the same thing, consolidate to one." ], "prompt": "Audit my business software subscriptions. I have attached 12 months of business card statements as CSV. Pull out every recurring charge: vendor name, amount, billing frequency, and annual cost. Group them by function (communication, accounting, marketing, etc) and flag anything that looks like a duplicate or overlap. For charges with cryptic merchant names, give me your best guess at the vendor and mark it uncertain. Total the annual spend.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 2 to 3 hours vs scrolling statements by hand.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: manually hunting recurring charges across 12 months of statements vs reviewing an AI-built list. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Cryptic merchant names on statements. The AI guesses, sometimes wrong. Verify before canceling anything.", "Canceling a tool someone quietly depends on. Check with the team first.", "Forgetting annual plans. A $300 annual charge looks like nothing on a monthly statement review.", "Doing the audit once and never again. Put a 90-day reminder on your calendar." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.appventory.com/blog/how-to-avoid-unused-saas-subscriptions-a-5-step-software-spend-audit-for-accountants", "author": "AppVentory", "note": "Five-step SaaS audit: one list, find duplicates, separate used from paid-for, renewal dates." }, { "url": "https://www.fallrise.in/blog/how-many-saas-subscriptions-is-your-startup-paying-for", "author": "Fallrise", "note": "The 30-minute SaaS audit: pull 12 months, compare seats paid vs active, group by job, mark keep or cancel." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Keep a mileage log without the notebook", "slug": "mileage-log-without-notebook", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/mileage-log-without-notebook/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Turn plain-words trip notes into an IRS-ready mileage log with dates and business purposes", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. Dedicated apps like MileIQ automate the GPS part if you want it.", "steps": [ "At the end of each week, jot down your business trips: date, where you went, why, and the miles.", "Paste the prompt below with your trips.", "The AI formats them into a log: date, destination, business purpose, miles.", "Add your odometer reading at the start and end of the year. The IRS wants both.", "Save the log where you keep tax documents. Append weekly.", "At tax time, multiply business miles by the IRS standard rate for that period." ], "prompt": "Build my mileage log for this week. Here are my trips in plain words: [LIST EACH TRIP: date, where I went, why, approximate miles]. Format them as a log with columns: date, destination, business purpose, miles. Flag any trip that looks like commuting (home to a regular workplace), since that does not count. Keep a running total of business miles. If a purpose is vague, ask me to clarify instead of guessing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 30 minutes a month vs reconstructing trips from memory.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: weekly 10-minute logging vs an annual scramble through calendars and guesses. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Reconstructing the whole year in April from memory. The IRS specifically rejects rebuilt logs.", "Logging commuting miles. They do not qualify, and including them poisons the whole log.", "Vague purposes like \"business\". Write what you actually did: \"client meeting with Acme\" counts.", "W-2 employees: you generally cannot deduct unreimbursed mileage on your federal return. This log is for reimbursement or for the self-employed." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://selfemploytax.com/guides/mileage-rate-2026", "author": "SelfEmployTax", "note": "IRS mileage log requirements: date, destination, purpose, odometer readings, contemporaneous records." }, { "url": "https://www.way.com/journal/how-to-create-a-mileage-report-for-tax-or-reimbursement/", "author": "Way", "note": "How to build a mileage report: the four facts per trip, the 2026 split rates, common denial reasons." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Separate your business and personal money for good", "slug": "separate-business-and-personal-money", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/separate-business-and-personal-money/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Untangle mixed finances: separate accounts, sort old transactions, build a clean habit", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude for the plan. Business checking accounts are often free; compare a few.", "steps": [ "List your recurring business expenses from the last 3 months of statements.", "Paste the prompt below. The AI gives you a separation plan in order.", "Open a separate business checking account. Many are free and take 20 minutes online.", "Get a dedicated card for business spending. One card, business only.", "Move your recurring business charges to the new account and card.", "Sort the last 3 months of mixed transactions with the AI's help: business or personal.", "Set one weekly habit: 10 minutes every Friday moving receipts and checking the split." ], "prompt": "Help me separate my business and personal finances. I am a [freelancer / sole proprietor / side-gig worker]. Right now everything runs through one personal account. My recurring business expenses are: [LIST]. Give me a step-by-step separation plan: 1) what accounts to open, 2) what to move first, 3) how to sort the last 3 months of mixed transactions, 4) one weekly habit to keep them separate. Keep it simple enough to finish in a weekend.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 5 to 10 hours at tax time, every year.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: untangling a year of mixed transactions for your accountant vs handing over clean books. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Opening the account but never moving the recurring charges. The move is the whole point.", "Using the business card for personal stuff \"just this once\". That is how it starts.", "Forgetting subscriptions billed to the old card. Audit them during the move.", "Thinking this is only for big businesses. One-person businesses benefit the most." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://mercury.com/blog/why-you-need-a-separate-bank-account-for-your-business", "author": "Mercury", "note": "Why separation matters: legal risk, tax risk, and the operational clarity of clean books." }, { "url": "https://www.mtb.com/library/article/why-every-small-business-needs-a-separate-bank-account", "author": "M&T Bank", "note": "Four reasons for a separate account: organization, simpler taxes, credibility, protection." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build your year-end tax document checklist", "slug": "year-end-tax-document-checklist", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/year-end-tax-document-checklist/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Generate a personalized year-end tax document checklist and track collection progress", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. Your accountant still does the return.", "steps": [ "Tell the AI your business structure, whether you have employees or contractors, and how you track books.", "Paste the prompt below. The AI builds your personalized document checklist.", "Start collecting in December, not March. Aim to have 80 percent gathered by year end.", "Check items off as you go. Paste your progress back to the AI and it tells you what is missing.", "Prioritize the time-sensitive ones: 1099s to contractors are due January 31.", "Hand the organized package to your accountant. Organized clients get faster, cheaper returns.", "This is not tax advice, and a chatbot cannot be your tax preparer. Do not paste your SSN, account numbers, or full tax forms into it. Anything it tells you must be checked against IRS sources or a licensed professional.", "Use the AI as an organizer and explainer, not a filer: it can summarize what a form is for, draft questions for your preparer, and sort your document list. It gets less reliable on complex situations and recent law changes, so ask it to name the IRS publication for each claim and open that publication yourself." ], "prompt": "Build my year-end tax document checklist. I am a [sole proprietor / single-member LLC / S-corp / partnership]. I have [employees / contractors / neither]. I track my books in [QuickBooks / spreadsheet / shoebox]. List every document I should gather before filing: income records, expense records, payroll forms, asset purchases, mileage, home office, prior year return. Mark which ones have hard deadlines and what those deadlines are. Then I will tell you what I have, and you tell me what is still missing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 4 to 6 hours of scrambling in March.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: hunting documents under deadline vs collecting from a checklist starting in December. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Missing contractor W-9s in January. You cannot file 1099s without them. Collect them when you hire, not at year end.", "Forgetting digital income: Stripe, PayPal, and platform payouts all count and all get reported.", "December bank statements arriving late. Download them yourself in early January instead of waiting.", "Treating the checklist as tax advice. It is an organizer. Your accountant decides what goes on the return.", "Trusting a confident-sounding AI answer on a deduction. Experts say AI can invent deductions or state outdated law with full confidence, and you, not the chatbot, pay the penalty." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/running-a-business/year-end-checklist/?cid=soc_employee-ambassador&utm_channeltype=LinkedIn", "author": "QuickBooks", "note": "15-step year-end checklist: which forms to file by entity type and which documents to gather." }, { "url": "https://mybetterdaycpa.com/blog-jonesboro-small-business-tax-checklist.html", "author": "Betterday CPA", "note": "Documents your CPA will request: financial statements, income records, expense and asset info." }, { "url": "http://www.newswise.com/articles/expert-details-important-considerations-for-taxpayers-using-ai-for-tax-preparation", "author": "Newswise (WVU accounting professor Lauren Cooper)", "note": "Supports the limits: AI is less accurate on complex scenarios and recent law changes (example: it gave outdated advice on the OBBBA tips deduction); users must verify every generated tax answer." }, { "url": "https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/wellness/financial-wellness-mm/using-chatgpt-for-taxquestion-it-could-cost-you-your-refund", "author": "Arc UNSW (ATO assistant commissioner Anita Challen)", "note": "Supports the risks: AI sounds convincing while wrong, can invent deductions or cite outdated law, and the taxpayer stays accountable for any errors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Pay yourself first as a solo operator", "slug": "pay-yourself-first-solo-operator", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/pay-yourself-first-solo-operator/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Small business", "job": "Set up a Profit First money split: every payment divided into profit, pay, tax, and expenses", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude for the setup. The bank sub-accounts are usually free.", "steps": [ "Open sub-accounts at your bank: Income, Profit, Owner Pay, Tax, Operating Expenses. Most online banks let you add these free.", "Tell the AI your monthly revenue. It sets your starting percentages.", "Route every client payment into Income first. Income is a holding account, not a spending account.", "Twice a month, split Income into the other accounts at your percentages.", "Pay your personal bills only from Owner Pay. Business bills only from Operating Expenses.", "Each quarter, take half the Profit account as a bonus to yourself. Leave the rest as a buffer.", "Adjust percentages as revenue grows. The system scales with you." ], "prompt": "Set up a Profit First money system for my solo business. My average monthly revenue is $[AMOUNT]. My monthly operating costs are roughly $[AMOUNT]. Give me starting allocation percentages for: Profit, Owner Pay, Tax, and Operating Expenses. Show me what a $[EXAMPLE] client payment looks like split across the accounts. Explain the twice-monthly split routine and the quarterly profit distribution rule. Keep it practical: I am one person, not a finance department.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Saves an estimated 1 hour a month of money anxiety and ad-hoc transfers.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Your own estimate: the real saving is behavioral, not hours. A system beats willpower for irregular income. Not measured.", "commonSnags": [ "Raiding the Tax account for expenses. It is the most common failure. Do not touch it.", "Setting percentages from a book instead of your numbers. Start conservative and adjust quarterly.", "Skipping the split when money is tight. That is exactly when the system matters most.", "Forgetting this does not change your tax bill. It changes your behavior. Your accountant still does taxes." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://automatemylife.blog/profit-first-freelancers-automate/", "author": "Automate My Life", "note": "Profit First for freelancers: the five accounts, starting percentages, and the quarterly distribution rule." }, { "url": "https://www.risingandthriving.com/post/how-to-pay-yourself-as-business-owner", "author": "Rising and Thriving", "note": "How to pay yourself as an owner: dedicated pay account, choosing your number, fixed pay schedule." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Compare phone and internet plans without the fine-print headache", "slug": "compare-phone-and-internet-plans-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/compare-phone-and-internet-plans-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a side-by-side cost table from phone and internet plan details, including promo pricing, fees, equipment charges, and contract terms.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude both have free tiers that handle this easily. No paid plan needed.", "steps": [ "Pull your last bill. Note what you actually pay per month, your data use, and your internet speed.", "Pick 2 to 3 competing providers and copy their plan details from their sites, including the fine print.", "Paste everything into the prompt below and ask for a true-cost table over 12 and 24 months.", "Ask the AI to flag promo pricing that expires, equipment fees, and early termination fees separately.", "Check the two or three cheapest options against coverage maps for your address before you decide.", "Call your current provider with the comparison in hand and ask them to match it. Many will." ], "prompt": "I want to compare phone and internet plans. Here is my situation:\n- Current monthly bill: [AMOUNT]\n- Phone data I actually use per month: [GB OR \"not sure\"]\n- Internet speed I need: [e.g. streaming, gaming, work video calls]\n- People/devices in my household: [NUMBER]\n- Budget: [MAX PER MONTH]\n\nHere are the plans I am considering:\n[PASTE PLAN 1 DETAILS]\n[PASTE PLAN 2 DETAILS]\n[PASTE PLAN 3 DETAILS]\n\nBuild a table comparing total cost over 12 months and 24 months, including promo pricing, regular pricing after the promo ends, equipment fees, activation fees, and early termination fees. Flag anything in the fine print that changes the real price. Then tell me which plan is cheapest for my situation and why.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours of spreadsheet work per comparison", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: building a true-cost table from 2 to 3 provider pages by hand takes most people an evening; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI can misread promo fine print from a pasted page. Verify the final numbers on the provider site before switching.", "Plan details change often. If your paste is old, the comparison is old.", "The AI may not know about local or regional providers. Add them yourself if they serve your area." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/utilities/cell-phone-plans", "author": "NerdWallet", "note": "How to pick a cell phone plan: coverage first, then price; MVNOs on the same networks cost less." }, { "url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/lower-internet-bills", "author": "NerdWallet", "note": "Ways to lower the internet bill, including negotiating and 5G home internet options." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Research a used car before you buy: reliability, price, and scams", "slug": "research-a-used-car-before-buying-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/research-a-used-car-before-buying-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Research a specific used car for reliability issues, fair market price, and common scams before you visit the seller or dealer.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity are enough. A vehicle history report and mechanic inspection cost extra and are worth it.", "steps": [ "Write down the exact year, make, model, trim, and mileage of the car you are considering.", "Ask the AI for known reliability issues and expensive repairs for that specific model year.", "Ask for the fair price range in your area for that mileage and condition.", "Ask the AI for a pre-purchase inspection checklist tailored to that model’s weak spots.", "Run a vehicle history report (Carfax or AutoCheck) yourself. The AI cannot do this for you.", "Book an independent mechanic inspection before you agree to anything. This step is not optional.", "Use the AI’s price range and the inspection results to negotiate or walk away." ], "prompt": "I am considering buying this used car:\n- Year / make / model / trim: [DETAILS]\n- Mileage: [NUMBER]\n- Asking price: [AMOUNT]\n- Listed by: [dealer or private seller]\n- My location: [CITY, STATE]\n\nTell me:\n1. Known reliability issues and expensive repairs for this exact model year.\n2. A fair price range for this mileage and condition in my area.\n3. Common scams or red flags when buying this type of car from a [dealer/private seller].\n4. A pre-purchase inspection checklist focused on this model’s weak spots.\n5. Questions I should ask the seller before I visit.\n\nDo not guess at the vehicle history. Flag anything you are unsure about.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 3 hours of scattered forum and review reading", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: gathering reliability data and price comps manually means digging through forums and pricing tools; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI can confuse model years or mix up trims. Double-check that its reliability notes match your exact year.", "Price estimates go stale fast. Treat them as a starting point and confirm with current listings.", "The AI cannot pull a vehicle history report or see the actual car. It does not replace the mechanic inspection." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.amerifreight.net/information/how-to-buy-a-car-on-edmunds-expert-guide", "author": "AmeriFreight (Edmunds-based guide)", "note": "Edmunds True Market Value, five-year ownership cost, and why price alone misleads buyers." }, { "url": "https://srnnews.com/the-4-things-you-should-do-before-buying-a-certified-preowned-car-edmunds-says/", "author": "SRN News (Edmunds via AP)", "note": "Certified pre-owned costs 4 to 5 percent more on average; what the certification gets you." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Fact-check a viral claim before you share it", "slug": "fact-check-a-viral-claim-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/fact-check-a-viral-claim-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Check a viral claim, screenshot, or forwarded message against fact-checkers and original sources before sharing it.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers work fine. Perplexity’s free tier is a good fit because it shows its sources.", "steps": [ "Copy the exact claim text. If it is an image or video, describe what it shows and what it claims.", "Ask the AI to search fact-checker sites (Snopes, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact) for this specific claim.", "Ask it to trace the claim back to the original source, not just reposts of it.", "Ask for a verdict: true, false, misleading, or unverified, with links you can open yourself.", "Open at least one of those links yourself. Do not take the AI’s word for it on a contested claim.", "If the verdict is unverified, do not share the claim. Unverified is not the same as true." ], "prompt": "I saw this claim online and want to check it before I share it:\n\n[PASTE THE CLAIM TEXT OR DESCRIBE THE IMAGE/VIDEO]\n\nPlease:\n1. Search Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact for this exact claim and report what they say, with links.\n2. Try to trace the claim to its original source. Is it being quoted accurately and in context?\n3. Give me a verdict: true, false, misleading, or unverified.\n4. Tell me what evidence supports your verdict and what is still unknown.\n\nIf you cannot verify it, say so clearly. Do not guess.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 15 to 30 minutes of manual searching per claim", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manually checking three fact-checker sites and tracing an original source takes a while; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI can hallucinate a fact-check that does not exist. Always open the link it gives you.", "On fast-moving news, the AI’s training data is out of date. Use web search, not memory.", "Satire and edited videos trip up AI the same way they trip up people. If it feels off, dig deeper yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/evaluate/fact", "author": "University of Washington Libraries", "note": "Fact-checking guide: Snopes, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and how to check credentials, sources, and dates." }, { "url": "https://www.milliganstampede.com/2025/10/02/reality-check-a-guide-to-fact-checking/", "author": "Milligan Stampede", "note": "Practical guide: reverse image search, trusted fact-checker sites, and tracing claims to the original source." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn a long report into a one-page brief", "slug": "summarize-a-long-report-into-a-one-pager", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-a-long-report-into-a-one-pager/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Compress a long report, proposal, or document into a one-page brief with the purpose, findings, key numbers, and next steps.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this. Claude’s free tier is known for handling long documents well.", "steps": [ "Get the report into text the AI can read. Paste it in chunks if it is very long.", "Tell the AI who the brief is for and what decision it needs to support.", "Ask for a one-page structure: purpose, key findings, numbers that matter, recommendations.", "Ask it to keep every claim tied to a page or section number so you can verify.", "Read the brief, then spot-check two or three claims against the original.", "If something looks wrong or invented, ask the AI to quote the exact passage it came from." ], "prompt": "Summarize the following report into a one-page brief.\n\nThe brief is for: [AUDIENCE, e.g. my manager, the board]\nThe decision it needs to support: [DECISION]\n\nStructure it as:\n1. Purpose: why this report exists, in two sentences.\n2. Key findings: the five most important points, each one sentence.\n3. Numbers that matter: every important figure, with the page or section it came from.\n4. Recommendations: what the report suggests doing next.\n5. Open questions: anything important the report does not answer.\n\nKeep it to one page. Do not add information that is not in the report. If a section of the report is vague, say so instead of filling in the gaps.\n\nReport:\n[PASTE REPORT TEXT]", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 3 hours of reading and note-taking per long report", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: reading a 30 to 50 page report carefully and writing a summary by hand takes most people an afternoon; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI can invent numbers that look right but are not in the report. Spot-check every figure that matters.", "Vague source text produces confident-sounding filler. Ask it to flag what the report does not say.", "Tables and charts often paste badly. Describe or retype key tables instead of pasting broken formatting." ], "sources": [ { "url": "http://www.fsb.miamioh.edu/fsb/content/programs/howe-writing-initiative/HWI-handout-writinganexecutivesummary.html", "author": "Miami University, Howe Writing Initiative", "note": "Executive summary guidelines: purpose, conclusions, essential information only, 10 to 15 percent of the original length." }, { "url": "https://www.mageplaza.com/blog/executive-summary.html", "author": "Mageplaza", "note": "Executive summary structure: purpose, main points, findings, and a clear call to action." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Compare insurance quotes apples to apples", "slug": "compare-insurance-quotes-apples-to-apples", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/compare-insurance-quotes-apples-to-apples/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Line up home and auto insurance quotes on identical coverage so the cheapest price is a real comparison, not a trick of lower limits.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude are enough for this.", "steps": [ "Find your current declarations page. It lists your drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, and premium.", "Get quotes from at least two other carriers using the exact same limits and deductibles.", "Paste your declarations page and each quote into the prompt below.", "Ask the AI to build a table with identical rows: liability limits, deductibles, extras, fees, total premium.", "Ask it to flag anywhere a quote is cheaper because the coverage is weaker, not because the price is better.", "Check the financial strength rating (AM Best) and complaint index (NAIC) of any unfamiliar carrier before you switch.", "This is not financial advice, and do not paste full medical records into a chatbot. Type only the plan's public numbers into your comparison: premium, deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.", "For each plan, calculate two numbers: the expected year (premium times 12 plus your likely care costs) and the worst year (premium times 12 plus the full out-of-pocket maximum). Compare those two numbers across plans, not the premium alone." ], "prompt": "I am comparing insurance quotes and want an apples-to-apples comparison.\n\nMy current policy (declarations page):\n[PASTE DECLARATIONS PAGE DETAILS]\n\nQuote 1 from [CARRIER]:\n[PASTE QUOTE DETAILS]\n\nQuote 2 from [CARRIER]:\n[PASTE QUOTE DETAILS]\n\n[ADD MORE QUOTES AS NEEDED]\n\nBuild a table with identical rows for each quote: liability limits, deductibles, uninsured motorist coverage, extras and endorsements, fees, discounts applied, and total premium. Flag every place where a quote looks cheaper only because the coverage is weaker. Ignore the phrase \"full coverage\" and compare the actual line items. Tell me which quote gives the most protection per dollar and what questions I should ask the agent before switching.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours of line-by-line policy comparison", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: comparing multi-page quotes by hand is slow, careful work; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "Quotes with different term lengths (6 months vs 12 months) are not directly comparable. Normalize them first.", "The AI can miss state-specific requirements. Confirm minimums with your state insurance department.", "A low premium with a deductible you cannot afford after a crash is not a good deal.", "Comparing only monthly premiums. The out-of-pocket maximum is the worst-case ceiling, and it is where the real comparison happens." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.wichert.com/blog/2026/08/auto-insurance-quotes-are-you-really-comparing-apples-to-apples", "author": "Wichert (citing NAIC)", "note": "Start from your declarations page; \"full coverage\" is not a standardized package; NAIC guidance on matching coverages." }, { "url": "https://insurafaq.com/insurance/how-to-compare-insurance-quotes/", "author": "InsuraFAQ", "note": "Line quotes up on identical limits and deductibles; check AM Best ratings and NAIC complaint index as tie-breakers." }, { "url": "https://www.healthcare.gov/choose-a-plan/your-total-costs/", "author": "HealthCare.gov", "note": "Supports the core method: compare estimated total yearly costs (premium times 12, deductibles, copays and coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum), not just the premium." }, { "url": "https://nextlifehope.com/health-insurance-premiums-deductibles-and-copays/", "author": "NextLifeHope", "note": "Supports the two-number comparison: total annual cost formula plus the worst-case formula using the out-of-pocket maximum." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Vet a contractor before you hire them", "slug": "vet-a-contractor-before-you-hire", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/vet-a-contractor-before-you-hire/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Vet a home contractor’s license, insurance, reviews, and quote for red flags before you sign a contract or pay a deposit.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free AI tiers work. License lookups on state board sites are free. The only real cost is your time calling references.", "steps": [ "Get the contractor’s full business name, license number, and a written quote. No quote, no hire.", "Look up the license yourself on your state’s contractor board site. Confirm it is active and matches the business name.", "Ask the AI to build a vetting checklist for your state and project type: license, insurance, bond, reviews, references.", "Paste the quote in and ask the AI to flag vague line items, missing materials, and payment terms that favor the contractor.", "Ask the AI to draft reference-check questions and red-flag questions for the final interview.", "Call two references yourself and ask about communication, timeline, and surprise charges.", "Never pay a large deposit up front. Progress payments tied to completed work protect you." ], "prompt": "I am thinking about hiring this contractor. Help me vet them.\n\nContractor: [BUSINESS NAME]\nLicense number: [NUMBER]\nState: [STATE]\nProject: [e.g. roof replacement, kitchen remodel]\nQuote total: [AMOUNT]\n\nTheir written quote:\n[PASTE QUOTE]\n\nPlease:\n1. Build a vetting checklist for hiring a contractor in [STATE]: license verification, insurance (liability and workers comp), bond, reviews, references, and contract terms.\n2. Review the quote and flag vague line items, missing materials or brands, unrealistic timelines, and payment terms that put me at risk.\n3. List red flags I should watch for with this contractor specifically.\n4. Draft ten questions I should ask before signing, including reference-check questions.\n\nBe direct about anything that looks risky. Do not soften bad news.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 4 hours of research across license boards, review sites, and quote comparisons", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manually checking a license board, reading reviews across sites, and dissecting a quote takes an evening; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may describe licensing rules for the wrong state. Always confirm on your own state board site.", "AI-drafted contracts are a starting point, not legal advice. For big jobs, have a real person review the contract.", "A contractor with no online presence is not automatically a scam, but it means your reference calls matter more." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://guidefinds.net/home-and-garden/how-to-hire-a-home-contractor-safely-en-us/", "author": "GuideFinds (citing FTC)", "note": "FTC guidance: verify license, compare estimates, check credentials before committing to a renovation." }, { "url": "https://offers1st.com/post/31768/contractor-credentials-homeowners-should-verify", "author": "Offers1st", "note": "Credentials checklist: license, insurance certificate, complaint history, reviews, references, payment terms." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Research a medical procedure before your appointment", "slug": "research-a-medical-procedure-before-your-appointment", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/research-a-medical-procedure-before-your-appointment/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a plain-language briefing on a recommended medical procedure, with questions for your doctor and a recovery checklist.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude are enough.", "steps": [ "Write down the exact procedure name from your doctor. Spelling matters here.", "Ask the AI to explain the procedure in plain language: what happens, why it is done, and the alternatives.", "Ask for the standard risks, benefits, and recovery timeline from reputable medical sources.", "Ask the AI to build a question list for your appointment: surgeon experience, board certification, anesthesia, costs, second opinions.", "Print or save the question list and bring it. People forget half their questions in the room.", "After the appointment, compare what your doctor said against the briefing and follow up on anything that conflicts.", "Make the decision with your doctor, not with the AI. The AI prepares you; it does not diagnose or recommend." ], "prompt": "My doctor recommended this procedure and I want to understand it before my appointment:\n\nProcedure: [EXACT NAME]\nReason: [DIAGNOSIS OR SYMPTOMS, AS YOUR DOCTOR DESCRIBED THEM]\n\nPlease:\n1. Explain the procedure in plain language: what happens, why it is done, and how long it takes.\n2. List the standard benefits, risks, and alternatives, based on reputable medical sources like Mayo Clinic.\n3. Describe the typical recovery timeline: hospital stay, pain, activity limits, and follow-up.\n4. Build me a question list for my appointment covering: the surgeon’s experience and board certification, anesthesia type, total cost and insurance coverage, whether a second opinion makes sense, and warning signs after the procedure.\n5. Tell me what to bring and how to prepare.\n\nImportant: you are helping me prepare questions, not giving medical advice. If anything is uncertain, say so and tell me to ask my doctor.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours of medical-site reading, organized into one briefing", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: reading procedure guides across medical sites and assembling questions by hand takes a couple of hours; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI is not a doctor and its medical knowledge can be outdated or wrong. Every claim needs your doctor’s confirmation.", "AI answers can sound confident about rare complications or new techniques. Treat confidence as a warning sign, not proof.", "Do not paste detailed personal health records into a public AI tool without thinking about privacy first." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.empowher.com/community/share/prepping-surgery-questions-you-need-ask-your-doctor", "author": "EmpowHer (sourcing Mayo Clinic)", "note": "Nine questions for your surgeon: clear description, risks, experience, location, anesthesia, duration, cost, second opinion." }, { "url": "https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/preoperative-evaluation", "author": "Mayo Clinic", "note": "What a preoperative evaluation covers: history, risks, medications to adjust, and questions for the surgical team." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Compare colleges side by side: cost, grad rates, and outcomes", "slug": "compare-colleges-side-by-side-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/compare-colleges-side-by-side-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Compare colleges on net price for your income, graduation rates, student debt, and post-graduation earnings using federal College Scorecard data.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free AI tiers work. The College Scorecard itself is free and run by the U.S. Department of Education.", "steps": [ "Narrow your list to 3 to 6 schools you are seriously considering.", "Note your family income range. Net price depends heavily on it, and sticker price means little.", "Ask the AI to build a comparison table from College Scorecard data: net price for your income, graduation rate, median debt, and median earnings 10 years out.", "Verify the two or three most important numbers on the College Scorecard site yourself.", "Ask the AI to flag which schools are strong or weak on value: low debt plus decent earnings beats prestige alone.", "Add your non-number factors: distance, size, programs, campus feel. Numbers narrow the list; visits decide it." ], "prompt": "Help me compare these colleges using federal College Scorecard data:\n\nSchools: [LIST 3 TO 6 SCHOOLS]\nFamily income range: [e.g. 75,000 to 110,000]\nIntended major, if known: [MAJOR OR \"undecided\"]\n\nBuild a table with one row per school:\n- Average net price for our income range\n- Graduation rate\n- Median student debt at graduation\n- Median earnings 10 years after entry\n- Acceptance rate\n\nThen tell me:\n1. Which schools look strongest on value (low debt, solid earnings)?\n2. Which ones have red flags in the data?\n3. What questions should we ask on a campus visit or with the financial aid office?\n\nUse College Scorecard figures where possible. If a number is unavailable or you are unsure, say so instead of guessing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 3 hours of clicking through Scorecard pages per school", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: pulling net price, grad rates, debt, and earnings for several schools by hand is tedious; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "AI college data goes stale. Verify the key numbers on the Scorecard site before any decision.", "The AI can mix up similarly named schools. Check that each row is the right campus.", "Rankings optimize for prestige, not your wallet. Keep the table focused on cost and outcomes." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/college-comparisons/the-new-college-scorecard-a-guide-for-students-and-parents/", "author": "College Raptor", "note": "How to read the federal College Scorecard: costs by income, debt, earnings data and its limits." }, { "url": "https://uniscorecard.com/", "author": "UniScorecard", "note": "College comparison built on Scorecard data: net price, graduation rates, and earnings by school." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Research a neighborhood before you move", "slug": "research-a-neighborhood-before-you-move", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/research-a-neighborhood-before-you-move/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Compare candidate neighborhoods on crime data, schools, commute times, walkability, amenities, and home value trends before you visit.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free AI tiers work. Crime data, school ratings, and listings sites are all free.", "steps": [ "Write down your must-haves: max commute, school needs, budget, walkability, noise tolerance.", "List 2 to 4 candidate neighborhoods or ZIP codes.", "Ask the AI to build a comparison table: crime trends, school ratings, typical home prices, walkability, commute times, and amenities.", "Verify crime numbers on the FBI Crime Data Explorer or the local police department site yourself.", "Check school ratings on GreatSchools and home values on Zillow or Redfin to confirm the AI’s picture.", "Visit your top one or two picks at different times of day, including after dark. Data narrows the list; feet on the ground decide it.", "Talk to a neighbor or two. Ask what surprised them about living there.", "Once you have picked the neighborhood, set the moving date and work backwards. Ask the AI to build a week-by-week checklist from 8 weeks out: book the mover, pack, file address changes, transfer utilities, and prep the final week.", "Have it put each task in the right week for your move type (local or long distance, renting or buying): mover quotes early, address changes and utilities 2 to 4 weeks out, an essentials box for the final week." ], "prompt": "I am comparing neighborhoods before a move. Here is what matters to me:\n\nMust-haves: [e.g. commute under 30 min, good elementary schools, budget under $X]\nNice to have: [e.g. walkable, parks, quiet streets]\nCandidate areas: [NEIGHBORHOOD OR ZIP 1], [2], [3]\n\nBuild a comparison table with one row per area:\n- Crime: recent trends and how it compares to the city average\n- Schools: ratings and any notable strengths or weaknesses\n- Typical home price or rent for [HOME TYPE]\n- Walkability and transit access\n- Commute time to [WORK LOCATION] at rush hour\n- Amenities: groceries, healthcare, parks nearby\n- Anything in local news or development plans worth knowing\n\nCite where each number comes from. If data is unavailable or you are unsure, say so. I will verify crime stats and school ratings myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 3 to 5 hours of tab-hopping across crime maps, school sites, and listings", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: researching several neighborhoods across half a dozen sites by hand takes most of a weekend afternoon; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "AI neighborhood data can be years out of date. Verify crime and price numbers on current sources.", "The AI can confuse neighborhoods with similar names in different cities. Be specific with city and ZIP.", "Online reviews of neighborhoods skew negative. Balance them with the data and your visit.", "Utility transfers and address changes have real lead times. Do not schedule them for the last week." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.cort.com/moving/finding-a-good-neighborhood/", "author": "CORT", "note": "How to research an area: safety data at the block level, FBI Crime Data Explorer, commute and lifestyle fit." }, { "url": "https://themortgagereports.com/31626/how-to-check-out-your-next-neighborhood-before-buying-a-home", "author": "The Mortgage Reports", "note": "Check crime stats, schools, and future development plans; visit at different times of day." }, { "url": "https://www.zipbuilder.com/moving/moving-checklist.html", "author": "zipBuilder", "note": "Supports the 8-week countdown structure: research and booking early, paperwork wave at 4 weeks, packing in the final two weeks, and 2 to 4 week lead times for utilities." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Compare software tools for your team without the sales calls", "slug": "compare-software-tools-for-your-team", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/compare-software-tools-for-your-team/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a scored comparison of software options from review-site data, pricing, and your requirements, ending in a shortlist to trial.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free AI tiers work. G2 and Capterra are free to browse. Most tools offer free trials; use them.", "steps": [ "Write down required features, deal-breakers, team size, and your monthly budget. Be strict here.", "List the 3 to 5 tools you are considering, or ask the AI to suggest candidates for your use case.", "Ask the AI to build a scored table: features, price at your team size, integrations, ease of use, support quality, and review scores from G2 and Capterra.", "Verify pricing on the vendors’ own sites. AI pricing data goes stale fast and hides per-seat math.", "Read a sample of real reviews yourself, especially the 2 and 3 star ones. That is where the truth lives.", "Trial your top two with real work, not a toy project. Two weeks beats two hours of demo.", "Decide on fit plus total cost, including onboarding time. The cheapest tool that nobody uses is the most expensive." ], "prompt": "I need to choose software for my team. Here are my requirements:\n\nUse case: [e.g. project management, invoicing, CRM]\nTeam size: [NUMBER]\nBudget: [MAX PER MONTH, and whether annual billing is OK]\nRequired features: [LIST]\nDeal-breakers: [LIST, e.g. no mobile app, no QuickBooks integration]\nCurrent tools it must work with: [LIST]\n\nCandidates: [LIST 3 TO 5 TOOLS, or ask me to confirm your suggestions first]\n\nBuild a comparison table with one row per tool:\n- Price at my team size (monthly and annual)\n- How it handles each required feature\n- Integrations with my current tools\n- G2 and Capterra ratings, with what reviewers praise and complain about\n- Notable limitations or hidden costs\n\nThen recommend a top two to trial and tell me what to test during the trial. Flag any pricing you are unsure about so I can verify it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 3 to 5 hours of review-site digging and pricing math", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: comparing several tools across review sites and pricing pages by hand takes the better part of a day; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "AI pricing is often outdated or missing per-seat tiers. Always confirm on the vendor site.", "Review sites can be gamed. Read the mid-range reviews, not just the average score.", "The AI may not know niche or brand-new tools. Add any you found yourself to the comparison." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://agilityportal.io/blog/software-comparison-platforms", "author": "AgilityPortal", "note": "G2 vs Capterra vs TrustRadius: verified reviews, feature comparisons, and when to use each platform." }, { "url": "https://gitnux.org/best/comparing-software/", "author": "Gitnux", "note": "Comparison of software comparison platforms themselves; G2 and Capterra rated for review-driven shortlisting." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Do due diligence on a job offer before you sign", "slug": "due-diligence-on-a-job-offer-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/due-diligence-on-a-job-offer-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Break a job offer into total compensation, compare it against market data, and surface red flags and negotiation points.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude handle this fully.", "steps": [ "Get the offer in writing with the benefits summary. Never evaluate a verbal offer.", "Paste the details into the prompt below: base, bonus, equity, PTO, health costs, retirement match.", "Ask the AI to convert everything to an annualized total compensation number.", "Ask it to check the salary against market ranges for the role, level, and location.", "Ask for red flags: vague equity terms, clawback clauses, below-market PTO, high health premiums.", "Use the AI’s negotiation points to draft your counter. Ask for what the data supports.", "Get every agreed change back in writing before you resign anywhere.", "Set three numbers before the call: your walk-away number, your target, and the number you will actually say first (above target, still credible). Then ask for a counter script in four parts: enthusiasm about the role, one specific number, one or two reasons tied to market data and your experience, and flexibility on other items. Review the script before the call; you say the words.", "Ask for a second script for when base will not move: a signing bonus, a written salary review at six months with criteria in the offer, or extra leave. When they answer 'that is above the band,' ask what the top of the band is, then pivot to the non-base items. Follow any agreed change with an email restating the new terms and asking for the updated offer in writing.", "Thank them and ask for a few days to review. Get the full compensation details in writing before you counter.", "Look up market pay for the role, level, and city. Note the number you can defend." ], "prompt": "I received a job offer and want to evaluate the total compensation before I respond.\n\nOffer details:\n- Role and level: [TITLE, LEVEL]\n- Location (or remote): [LOCATION]\n- Base salary: [AMOUNT]\n- Signing bonus: [AMOUNT, and any clawback terms]\n- Annual bonus: [TARGET PERCENT OR AMOUNT]\n- Equity: [TYPE AND AMOUNT, vesting schedule]\n- PTO and holidays: [DAYS]\n- Health insurance: [MONTHLY PREMIUM AND DEDUCTIBLE, if known]\n- Retirement match: [DETAILS]\n- Other perks: [LIST]\n\nMy current situation: [CURRENT SALARY AND BENEFITS, OR \"this is my first offer\"]\n\nPlease:\n1. Convert everything to an annualized total compensation figure and show your math.\n2. Compare the base salary to market range for this role, level, and location.\n3. Flag red flags: vague terms, clawbacks, weak benefits, or anything unusual.\n4. Give me three to five specific negotiation points backed by the numbers.\n5. Tell me what questions to ask HR before I decide.\n\nDo not invent market data. If you are unsure about a range, say so and tell me where to check.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 2 to 3 hours of comp research and spreadsheet math", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manually modeling total comp and researching market ranges takes an evening; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "AI market salary data can be outdated or thin for niche roles. Cross-check with levels.fyi, Glassdoor, or recent postings.", "The AI cannot read your actual benefits booklet. Get the real documents from HR.", "Do not paste anything covered by an NDA, and keep personal identifiers out of the prompt.", "Do not justify the ask with personal needs like rent or childcare - employers pay for market value, not circumstances. And do not name your current salary to anchor the number; use market data instead." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.capella.edu/blog/career/evaluating-job-offers-with-a-simple-checklist/", "author": "Capella University", "note": "Job offer checklist: salary, pay period, benefits, schedule, and comparing offers on the same factors." }, { "url": "https://mokaru.co/blog/how-to-evaluate-job-offer-2026", "author": "Mokaru", "note": "Total compensation breakdown for 2026: cash, variable pay, equity math, benefits worth 20 to 40 percent of salary." }, { "url": "https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/salary-negotiation-script-example/", "author": "Josh Doody", "note": "Supports the step-down counter script: respond at each offer level, maximize base first, then walk through priority benefits (vacation, remote, reimbursement)." }, { "url": "https://jobsformycv.com/blog-salary-negotiation.html", "author": "JobsForMyCV", "note": "Supports the four-part counter script (enthusiasm, number, justification, flexibility), handling 'above the band' and 'best and final' replies, the walk-away/target/ask trio, and getting terms in writing." }, { "url": "https://www.payscale.com/salary-negotiation-guide/salary-negotiation-scripts/", "author": "PayScale", "note": "Counter-offer scripts; get the offer in writing and ask for review time before countering." }, { "url": "https://dev.to/sira_ai/the-salary-negotiation-script-developers-never-learn-and-its-costing-them-thousands-22eo", "author": "sira_ai, DEV Community", "note": "Counter structure (specific number, research-based reason, ask about flexibility) and fallback asks." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Research grants and assistance programs you actually qualify for", "slug": "research-grants-and-assistance-programs", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/research-grants-and-assistance-programs/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Find grants, loans, and assistance programs matching your business profile, with eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application difficulty.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Perplexity" ], "toolCost": "Free AI tiers work. Grants.gov and SBA resources are free. Watch out for anyone charging you to \"find grants.\"", "steps": [ "Write a one-paragraph profile: business type, employees, revenue, location, years operating, ownership demographics.", "State exactly what the money is for and the amount. Grant programs fund specific purposes, not vibes.", "Ask the AI to list matching programs: federal, state, local, and private, with eligibility rules and deadlines.", "Verify every program on its official page. Grant details change and AI lists go stale.", "Rank the list by fit and effort. A perfect-fit small grant beats a long-shot big one.", "Ask the AI to build an application checklist for your top two: documents, narratives, budget format, deadline.", "Check your local SBDC (Small Business Development Center). Free advisors help with grant applications." ], "prompt": "I am looking for grants and assistance programs for my business. Here is my profile:\n\n- Business type and industry: [DETAILS]\n- Location: [CITY, STATE]\n- Employees: [NUMBER]\n- Annual revenue: [RANGE]\n- Years operating: [NUMBER]\n- Ownership: [e.g. woman-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, none of these]\n- What I need the money for: [SPECIFIC PURPOSE]\n- Amount needed: [RANGE]\n\nPlease:\n1. List grant and assistance programs I plausibly qualify for: federal, state, local, and private. Include the program name, who runs it, and the official link.\n2. For each, state the eligibility rules, typical award size, deadline or cycle, and how competitive it is.\n3. Flag any program where I clearly do NOT qualify and say why, so I do not waste time.\n4. Rank the list by fit times realistic chance of winning.\n5. For my top two, list exactly what an application typically requires.\n\nOnly include real programs. If you are unsure a program still exists or is currently open, say so and tell me to verify on the official site.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 4 to 6 hours of grant-database hunting per funding search", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manually searching Grants.gov, state sites, and private programs for fits takes the better part of a day; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "AI grant lists go stale fast. Programs close, pause, or change rules. Verify everything on the official page.", "The AI can mix up similarly named programs or invent plausible-sounding ones. The official link is the test.", "Eligibility is in the details. \"Small business\" means different employee counts in different programs." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.lendio.com/blog/sba-grant-guide-funding-opportunities-for-small-businesses", "author": "Lendio", "note": "SBA grant application steps: search SBA.gov and Grants.gov, check eligibility, register with SAM.gov, meet deadlines." }, { "url": "https://finmodelslab.com/blogs/blog/sba-business-grants", "author": "FinModelsLab", "note": "SBA grant market: where to look, forums and communities for grant seekers, and application preparation." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a reading ladder to learn a complex topic fast", "slug": "build-a-reading-ladder-for-a-complex-topic", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-a-reading-ladder-for-a-complex-topic/", "category": "Research", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a sequenced reading ladder for a complex topic: what to read first, what each rung teaches, and how to test understanding before climbing.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude work. Books themselves may cost money; libraries exist.", "steps": [ "Define the topic narrowly and state your deadline and why you are learning it.", "Tell the AI your starting level honestly. The ladder depends on it.", "Ask for a reading ladder: 5 to 8 rungs from accessible explainers up to primary sources, with what each rung teaches.", "Ask the AI to include one \"story around the topic\" per rung. Stories stick better than textbooks alone.", "Read rung one, then explain it back to the AI in your own words. If you cannot, do not climb yet.", "Ask the AI for check questions after each rung before moving up.", "Keep a one-page running summary as you climb. At the top, you should be able to brief someone else." ], "prompt": "I need to learn a complex topic quickly. Build me a reading ladder.\n\nTopic: [SPECIFIC TOPIC]\nWhy I need it: [e.g. client project, new role, investment decision]\nMy current level: [e.g. total beginner, familiar with basics, intermediate]\nDeadline: [DATE]\nTime I can spend per day: [e.g. 45 minutes]\n\nBuild a ladder of 5 to 8 rungs, easiest first:\n- For each rung: title and author, what it is (book, paper, explainer, video), what it will teach me, and why it comes at this rung.\n- Include accessible explainers and at least one engaging \"story around the topic\" before the dense material.\n- End with the primary sources or key papers people in the field actually cite.\n- After each rung, give me three check questions to test whether I am ready to climb.\n\nOnly recommend real books, papers, and resources. If you are unsure one exists, leave it out and say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 3 to 5 hours of wandering through reading lists and false starts", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: finding the right learning sequence by trial and error wastes days; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI can recommend books or papers that do not exist. Verify every title before buying or citing it.", "Ladders drift toward the AI’s favorite pop-science books. Push it for primary sources at the top rungs.", "Reading without the check questions is just entertainment. Do the retrieval practice or the ladder is decorative." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://commoncog.com/the-land-and-expand-strategy-for-reading/", "author": "Commoncog", "note": "Land and expand reading strategy: read the stories around a topic before the topic itself; examples from investing and business." }, { "url": "https://nerd.wwnorton.com/ebooks/epub/fieldguide6rh/EPUB/content/1.2.2-chapter02.xhtml", "author": "W. W. Norton (Field Guide)", "note": "Reading strategically: KWL tables, previewing texts, and placing new information in the context of what you know." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn book notes into decisions instead of a highlight graveyard", "slug": "turn-book-notes-into-decisions", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-book-notes-into-decisions/", "category": "Research", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Process raw book notes and highlights into a short list of decisions, experiments, and actions, plus a one-page reference you will actually revisit.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude work. Kindle and most reading apps export highlights for free.", "steps": [ "Export your highlights or paste your chapter notes into the AI.", "Tell the AI what decisions you are facing at work or in life right now.", "Ask it to extract the three to five ideas most relevant to those decisions. Not a summary, a shortlist.", "For each idea, ask for one concrete action: what to try, by when, and how you will know it worked.", "Ask for a one-page reference: the idea, why it matters to you, and the action. Save it where you will see it.", "Schedule a 30-day review. Ask the AI to turn your notes into review questions for that date.", "Delete or archive the rest. A highlight you will never act on is clutter with good branding." ], "prompt": "I finished a book and took notes, but I want decisions, not a summary.\n\nBook: [TITLE AND AUTHOR]\nMy notes and highlights:\n[PASTE NOTES]\n\nDecisions I am currently facing:\n[LIST 2 TO 4 REAL DECISIONS, e.g. pricing change, hiring, morning routine]\n\nPlease:\n1. Pull out the three to five ideas from my notes most relevant to these decisions. Ignore the rest.\n2. For each idea: restate it in one sentence, say why it matters for my specific decision, and give me one concrete action with a deadline.\n3. Build a one-page reference I can revisit: idea, why it matters, action, and how I will know it worked.\n4. Write five review questions I can use in 30 days to test whether I actually applied any of this.\n\nDo not summarize the whole book. Focus only on what connects to my decisions. If none of my notes connect, tell me that plainly.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 1 to 2 hours of re-reading and synthesizing per book", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: turning a book of notes into usable actions by hand means re-reading and distilling; no timed study found.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI will happily summarize instead of deciding. Keep redirecting it to actions tied to your decisions.", "Vague actions like \"communicate better\" die on contact. Demand a concrete first step with a date.", "If your notes are just quotes with no context, the AI has little to work with. Add a line about why each quote mattered." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.readforever.blog/articles/book-notes-youll-use.html", "author": "Read Forever", "note": "Capture, pick, apply loop: end-of-chapter notes, weekly synthesis, and one applied idea per week." }, { "url": "https://www.literaryacademy.in/2026/06/best-note-taking-methods-for-books.html", "author": "Literary Academy", "note": "Action notes method: turn each important idea into a small practical step; pick three to five actions per book." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Weekly Home Reset Checklist (A Plan You Will Actually Follow)", "slug": "weekly-home-reset-checklist", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/weekly-home-reset-checklist/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn “the house is a mess” into a weekly rhythm: which rooms on which days, what can wait, and a short nightly reset that keeps weekends free.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. No paid tools needed.", "steps": [ "Walk through your home and list every room plus the one task each room needs most.", "Decide your daily time budget. Twenty minutes a day beats a four-hour Saturday you will skip.", "Tell the AI your rooms, your minutes, and who helps: kids, partner, roommate, or just you.", "Ask for a Monday-to-Sunday plan with one focus area per day and a 10-minute nightly reset.", "Add a skip list: jobs like baseboards and windows that can wait two weeks without consequences.", "Run the plan for one week, then tell the AI what felt too heavy and ask it to rebalance." ], "prompt": "Build me a weekly home reset plan I can actually stick to.\n\nMy home: [apartment/house, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, e.g. \"2-bed apartment, 1 bath\"]\nPeople: [who lives here and ages, e.g. \"me, partner, kids 6 and 9\"]\nPets: [none / dog / cat: note shedding]\nTime I have: [minutes per weekday, e.g. \"20 minutes Mon-Fri, 45 on Saturday\"]\nHelpers: [who does chores and what they already handle]\n\nRules:\n- One focus area per day, nothing over my time budget.\n- Include a 10-minute nightly reset (dishes, counters, toy sweep, trash check).\n- Add a \"skip list\" of tasks that can safely wait 2+ weeks.\n- Keep tasks concrete: \"wipe bathroom sink and mirror,\" not \"clean bathroom.\"\n- Output as a Monday-to-Sunday checklist I can print or copy to my notes app.\n- Do not schedule anything that needs supplies I did not list.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours a week once the plan sticks", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing weekend catch-up cleaning with short daily sessions that prevent buildup.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may pack too much into each day. Tell it your real minutes and ask it to cut, not cram.", "Vague tasks like “tidy living room” get ignored. Ask for specific actions with a clear done state.", "If nobody enforces the plan, it dies by week two. Assign one owner per day, even if that owner is you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://lifeandwork.blog/weekly-reset-routine-tidy-home/", "author": "Life and Work blog", "note": "Weekly reset sequence: room-by-room structure for a consistent routine." }, { "url": "https://www.clean-organized-family-home.com/weekly-house-cleaning-checklist.html", "author": "Clean Organized Family Home", "note": "Room-by-room weekly checklist showing realistic task breakdowns." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Packing List for Any Trip (AI Builds It From Your Itinerary)", "slug": "packing-list-for-any-trip", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/packing-list-for-any-trip/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a trip-specific packing list from your itinerary: clothes for the forecast, gear for your activities, and the documents and medications people actually forget.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Gather the basics: destination, travel dates, who is going, and planned activities.", "Note your luggage limit: carry-on only, one checked bag, or car trunk space.", "Paste it all into the prompt below and ask for a categorized list with quantities.", "Ask for a separate “do not forget” box: documents, medications, chargers, and kid essentials.", "Check the weather yourself the night before and adjust layers. AI forecasts can be stale.", "Save the list. Reuse it as your template for the next trip of the same type." ], "prompt": "Build me a packing list for this trip. Be specific with quantities.\n\nDestination: [city/country]\nDates: [start to end]\nTravelers: [e.g. \"2 adults, kids 4 and 7\"]\nActivities: [e.g. \"beach days, one nice dinner, hiking\"]\nLuggage: [carry-on only / one checked bag each / driving]\nLaundry access: [yes/no]\n\nRules:\n- Organize by category: documents, clothes, toiletries, electronics, medications, kids.\n- Give quantities (e.g. \"4 t-shirts,\" not \"t-shirts\").\n- Add a \"DO NOT FORGET\" box at the top: passport/ID, tickets, medications, chargers.\n- Flag anything I should buy at the destination instead of packing.\n- Keep it to what fits the luggage I listed. Cut \"just in case\" extras.\n- Draft only. I verify weather and travel documents myself before leaving.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 45 minutes per trip", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing a from-scratch list (and the forgotten-item store run) with a tailored draft.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may ignore your luggage limit and list too much. Restate the bag size and ask it to cut.", "Seasonal advice can be wrong for the southern hemisphere or shoulder seasons. Check the forecast yourself.", "Medication and document reminders are generic. Your prescriptions and passport expiry are your job to verify." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://centralpenn.aaa.com/travel/travel-resources/packing-checklist/?ecopen=basics", "author": "AAA Central Penn", "note": "Complete packing checklist covering documents, clothing, and carry-on essentials." }, { "url": "https://www.tip20.com/packing.html", "author": "Tip20", "note": "Packing guide with carry-on essentials and clothing strategy by trip type." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Bedtime Routine That Actually Winds Kids Down", "slug": "bedtime-routine-that-winds-kids-down", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/bedtime-routine-that-winds-kids-down/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Design a calm, repeatable bedtime sequence for your kids: wind-down activities, the step order, and troubleshooting for the usual stalls and second winds.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down each child’s age, current bedtime, and what time they actually fall asleep.", "Note the top three bedtime problems: stalling, screens, roughhousing, anxiety, or something else.", "Paste it into the prompt and ask for a 30-minute wind-down plus a 5-step sequence.", "Print the sequence or put it on the wall where kids can see it.", "Run it in the same order for two full weeks before judging it. Consistency is the mechanism.", "After two weeks, tell the AI what still breaks and ask for one targeted fix." ], "prompt": "Help me build a bedtime routine that actually winds my kids down.\n\nKids: [ages, e.g. \"4 and 7\"]\nTarget lights-out: [time, e.g. \"8:00 PM\"]\nCurrent problems: [e.g. \"stalling with questions, tablet until bed, second wind at 7:45\"]\nWake time needed: [e.g. \"6:45 AM for school\"]\n\nRules:\n- Total routine 30 minutes max, same 4 to 6 steps in the same order every night.\n- Wind-down should get calmer as it goes: active to quiet, never the reverse.\n- Screens off at least 60 minutes before lights-out.\n- Give me a printable step list plus one sentence I can repeat when they stall.\n- Suggest age tweaks if my kids are far apart in age.\n- This is a parenting aid, not medical advice. Flag anything that sounds like a sleep disorder and tell me to ask our pediatrician.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 20 to 40 minutes of bedtime battle per night", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on shortening prolonged bedtime negotiations once a consistent routine is in place.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may suggest a routine that is too long to survive a hard night. If it lists eight steps, ask it to cut to five.", "Advice can skew generic for teens. A 13-year-old needs negotiation, not a picture chart.", "If the routine “works” but mornings are still miserable, bedtime is probably too late. Move it earlier by 15 minutes." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/news-events/video-center/creating-a-healthy-bedtime-routine-for-your-child", "author": "Nicklaus Children’s Hospital", "note": "Pediatric guidance on consistent bedtimes, wind-down activities, and screen limits." }, { "url": "https://www.healthysleepy.com/sleep-for-kids/index.html", "author": "HealthySleepy", "note": "Practical system for kids 2 to 12: wind-down timing, naps, screens, and when to get help." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Grocery Budgeting for a Family (A Meal Plan That Fits the Number)", "slug": "grocery-budgeting-for-a-family", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/grocery-budgeting-for-a-family/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn a fixed grocery budget into a week of meals: 5 to 7 dinners, a shopping list organized by store section, and rules that stop impulse spending.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Set your number first. A budget you will not name is a budget you will not keep.", "List what is already in your pantry, fridge, and freezer.", "Note dietary limits, dislikes, and the store you shop at.", "Paste it all into the prompt and ask for 7 dinners, lunches from leftovers, and a sectioned shopping list.", "Shop from the list only. The list is the budget.", "After the week, note what got wasted and tell the AI to adjust next week’s plan." ], "prompt": "Build me a 7-day family meal plan that stays under my grocery budget.\n\nBudget: [amount per week, e.g. \"$150/week\"]\nFamily: [e.g. \"2 adults, kids 8 and 5\"]\nDietary limits: [e.g. \"no seafood, one vegetarian\"]\nStore: [e.g. \"Aldi and Walmart\"]\nAlready have: [pantry/fridge/freezer staples, e.g. \"rice, pasta, frozen chicken, canned tomatoes\"]\nCooking skill/time: [e.g. \"30 minutes max on weeknights\"]\n\nRules:\n- 7 dinners, each under 30 minutes unless I say otherwise.\n- One leftover night built in (cook once, eat twice).\n- Lunches come from dinner leftovers or simple staples.\n- Shopping list organized by store section, with nothing I already have.\n- Total estimated cost must stay under my budget. Show the math per meal.\n- Favor staples: beans, rice, eggs, seasonal produce, store brands.\n- Draft only. I check prices at my store; your estimates are a starting point.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 hour a week on planning plus fewer midweek store runs", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing daily “what’s for dinner” decisions and extra trips with one planned shop.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may plan meals your kids will not eat. List the three foods each kid refuses before generating.", "Portion math can be off for teenagers or big appetites. Scale up proteins if your family eats more than average.", "Sale prices change weekly. Re-check the plan against your store’s flyer before shopping." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.eatright.org/food/planning/food-security-and-sustainability/save-time-and-money-at-the-grocery-store", "author": "EatRight (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)", "note": "Ten practical tips: lists, unit prices, bulk staples, and stocking up on sales." }, { "url": "https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contentid=23191&contenttypeid=1", "author": "UR Medicine / University of Rochester", "note": "Meal planning around sales, store brands, and seasonal produce for family budgets." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Declutter One Room With a Keep / Toss / Donate Plan", "slug": "declutter-one-room-keep-toss-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/declutter-one-room-keep-toss-plan/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Plan a single-room declutter: break the room into zones, set keep/toss/donate rules, and get a script for the hard decisions on sentimental or “maybe useful” items.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Trash bags are on you.", "steps": [ "Choose one room. Not two. The whole point is finishing.", "Describe the room to the AI: size, what lives there, and the worst zones.", "Ask for a zone order (start where the mess bothers you most) and decision rules for common items.", "Set a timer for 30 minutes. Sort fast: keep, toss, donate, relocate.", "Use the AI’s decision shortcuts for stuck items: “haven’t used it in a year” goes to donate.", "When the timer ends, take toss bags out and put donate bags in your car immediately.", "Repeat for the next zone tomorrow. Do not try to finish the room in one day." ], "prompt": "Help me declutter one room with a clear plan.\n\nRoom: [e.g. \"spare bedroom, 10x12, used as storage\"]\nWorst zones: [e.g. \"closet full of old clothes, desk covered in papers, boxes from our move 2 years ago\"]\nTime I have: [e.g. \"two 30-minute sessions this weekend\"]\nSentimental traps: [e.g. \"kids' old school papers, gifts I never liked\"]\n\nRules:\n- Break the room into zones in the order I should tackle them.\n- For each zone, give me 3 decision rules (e.g. \"clothes unworn in 12 months go to donate\").\n- Include a \"stuck item\" script: 3 questions to ask when I cannot decide.\n- Sentimental items get a photo-and-let-go option, not a guilt trip.\n- End with a \"finish line\" checklist: bags out, donate in car, surfaces clear.\n- You plan and decide with me. I do the physical sorting.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 3 hours per room vs. stalling for months", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing open-ended “someday I will clean this” with timed sorting sessions.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may suggest organizing systems (bins, labels) before you finish sorting. Sort first, organize later.", "“Maybe” piles grow fast. Cap it: one small box, and anything still in it after a week goes to donate.", "Paper is the slowest category. Ask for a separate paper-only session plan instead of mixing it in." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.thespruce.com/declutter-a-room-in-30-minutes-12023626", "author": "The Spruce", "note": "Three-box sorting system (Keep, Donate, Toss) and zone-by-zone method." }, { "url": "https://happymaids.com/blog/effective-ways-to-declutter-and-organize-your-home/", "author": "Happy Maids", "note": "Four-container method and the “decide once” rule for faster sorting." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Will Checklist: Get Your Documents Ready Before You See a Lawyer", "slug": "will-checklist-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/will-checklist-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Personal", "job": "Prepare for estate planning: inventory assets, list beneficiaries and guardians, gather existing documents, and write down your questions, all organized for a lawyer to review.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. The lawyer is the real cost and worth it.", "steps": [ "List your assets roughly: property, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, vehicles, valuables.", "List debts: mortgage, loans, credit cards.", "Write down beneficiaries for each major asset and alternates in case.", "If you have minor children, name your guardianship wishes and talk to those people first.", "Choose an executor: someone trustworthy who can handle paperwork.", "Gather existing documents: old wills, powers of attorney, deeds, beneficiary forms.", "Use the AI to organize all of this into a clean briefing packet for your lawyer.", "Book the lawyer. The packet makes a one-hour meeting do the work of three." ], "prompt": "Help me organize my estate planning prep before I see a lawyer. You are organizing my information, NOT writing legal documents.\n\nAssets (approximate values are fine):\n[property, accounts, investments, retirement, life insurance, vehicles, valuables]\n\nDebts:\n[mortgage, loans, credit cards]\n\nBeneficiaries I am considering:\n[names and what for]\n\nMinor children: [yes/no, ages]\nGuardianship wishes: [names, and whether I have asked them]\n\nExecutor candidate: [name]\n\nExisting documents: [old will, trust, POA, divorce decree, prenup: or \"none\"]\n\nRules:\n- Organize this into sections a lawyer expects: assets, debts, beneficiaries, guardianship, executor, existing documents, questions.\n- Flag anything that looks complicated (blended family, business ownership, property in another state) and note \"ask the lawyer about this.\"\n- List the documents I should bring to the meeting.\n- Give me 10 questions to ask the lawyer in the first meeting.\n- Do NOT draft will language, trusts, or powers of attorney. That is the lawyer's job.\n- Remind me that beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance override a will.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 4 hours of prep plus one saved lawyer meeting", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on arriving organized versus paying a lawyer to extract the same information across multiple meetings.", "commonSnags": [ "AI may offer to draft will or trust language. Decline. That output is not reviewed, not valid, and potentially harmful.", "Do not paste full account numbers or Social Security numbers into a chat. Names of institutions and approximate values are enough for prep.", "Blended families, businesses, and out-of-state property need a lawyer from the start, not after a DIY attempt." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.northeastohiothrive.com/making-a-will-do-these-first/", "author": "Northeast Ohio Thrive (Solomon, Steiner & Peck)", "note": "Seven prep steps before meeting an estate attorney: assets, documents, beneficiaries." }, { "url": "https://incaseanythinghappens.com/blog/estate-planning-checklist", "author": "In Case Anything Happens", "note": "Plain-English estate documents table: which are DIY-able and which need a lawyer." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a Kid’s Birthday Party on a Budget", "slug": "birthday-party-on-a-budget", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/birthday-party-on-a-budget/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Plan a kid’s birthday party inside a fixed budget: guest list math, food that feeds kids cheaply, DIY decor, and free or cheap entertainment by age.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Set the budget ceiling before anything else. Every decision flows from this number.", "Decide the venue: home and public parks are free. That is the biggest lever.", "List the guest count. Every guest you cut saves roughly $10 in food, favors, and cake.", "Paste budget, age, guests, and venue into the prompt.", "Get the line-item plan: food, cake, decor, games, favors.", "Time the party between meals (2 to 4 PM). Snacks replace a full meal and cut food costs sharply.", "Buy decor at the dollar store. Kids do not audit your tableware." ], "prompt": "Plan my kid's birthday party inside this budget.\n\nBudget ceiling: [total dollars, e.g. \"$150\"]\nKid's age: [e.g. \"6\"]\nGuest count: [number of kids]\nVenue: [home / backyard / public park]\nDate and time: [e.g. \"Saturday 2-4 PM\"]\nTheme (optional): [e.g. \"dinosaurs\" or \"none, keep it simple\"]\n\nRules:\n- Line-item budget: food, cake, decorations, games/entertainment, favors. Every line needs a dollar amount that sums to my ceiling.\n- Food: snacks and finger foods, not a full meal. Suggest a DIY station (nacho bar, mini pizzas, sundae bar).\n- Cake: homemade or grocery store sheet cake, not a bakery custom cake, unless budget allows.\n- Entertainment: free or cheap games matched to the age. No hired entertainers unless I ask.\n- Favors: cheap take-home crafts or skip them. No plastic trinket bags.\n- Flag the three most common budget traps for this kind of party.\n- Draft only. I buy and book everything myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 3 hours of planning and research", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing scattered Pinterest and price-comparison sessions with one itemized plan.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may plan a Pinterest party that quietly exceeds your ceiling. Make it show the math and cut until it fits.", "Guest count creep is the real budget killer. Lock the list before you plan anything else.", "Pinterest-style decor suggestions can assume supplies you do not own. Ask for dollar-store-only decor." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.GigSalad.com/blog/kids-birthday-parties-on-a-budget/", "author": "GigSalad", "note": "Budget party tactics: snack stations, DIY cake options, and favor alternatives." }, { "url": "https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/how-to-plan-a-kids-birthday-party-on-a-budget/?p=15131&help=1&_wpnonce=d61bea9036", "author": "Capital One", "note": "Five-budget-tips recap: venue, snacks over meals, low-cost entertainment, digital invites." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Car Maintenance Schedule You Will Actually Follow", "slug": "car-maintenance-schedule", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/car-maintenance-schedule/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a car maintenance schedule matched to your vehicle: monthly DIY checks, oil and filter intervals, tire rotation timing, and seasonal tasks, plus a simple log to track what was done.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down your car’s year, make, model, mileage, and how you drive (short trips, highway, towing).", "Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s service intervals.", "Paste the car details into the prompt and ask for a schedule by interval.", "Compare the AI schedule against your manual. The manual wins every disagreement.", "Ask for a simple service log template: date, mileage, what was done, cost.", "Set calendar reminders for the monthly checks. A schedule you never look at is decoration.", "Log every service. A documented history protects warranties and resale value." ], "prompt": "Build me a car maintenance schedule I will actually follow.\n\nVehicle: [year, make, model, e.g. \"2021 Honda CR-V\"]\nCurrent mileage: [e.g. \"62,000 miles\"]\nDriving: [e.g. \"mostly short trips\" / \"highway commute\" / \"towing\"]\nOil type if known: [conventional / synthetic blend / full synthetic / unknown]\nClimate: [e.g. \"New England winters\"]\n\nRules:\n- Organize by interval: monthly DIY checks, every 5k-10k miles, seasonal, annual.\n- Monthly checks must be things I can do in 10 minutes: tire pressure, fluids, lights, wipers.\n- Include tire rotation, brake inspection, battery, filters, belts, and coolant at sensible intervals.\n- Add a winter-prep and summer-prep section for my climate.\n- Give me a service log template: date, mileage, service, cost, shop.\n- Note where my owner's manual overrides you. I will verify intervals against it.\n- You do not diagnose car problems. If I describe a noise or leak, tell me to see a mechanic.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 hour of research plus fewer surprise repairs", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing manual-and-forum digging with one tailored schedule. Repair savings come from prevention, not a measured figure.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may give intervals for the wrong engine or trim. Verify against your manual, especially for oil type and timing belts.", "It cannot diagnose noises, leaks, or warning lights. Those need a mechanic, not a longer prompt.", "Generic schedules ignore climate. Winter salt, summer heat, and dusty roads all change the plan." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://lovemycarcarwash.com/car-maintenance-checklist/", "author": "Love My Car Car Wash", "note": "Interval-based checklist: weekly, monthly, seasonal, and manual-based services." }, { "url": "https://www.thinkinsure.ca/insurance-help-centre/car-maintenance-tips.html", "author": "ThinkInsure", "note": "Routine maintenance schedule by month and mileage with service record advice." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Home Inventory for Insurance (Photo Walkthrough in an Afternoon)", "slug": "home-inventory-for-insurance", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/home-inventory-for-insurance/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Create a claim-ready home inventory: a photo and video walkthrough plan by room, a spreadsheet template for valuables, and storage instructions that keep the copy outside your house.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Cloud storage you likely already have.", "steps": [ "Tell the AI your home type and room count so the plan matches your space.", "Ask for a room-by-room walkthrough order, starting with high-value rooms.", "Video each room slowly, narrating as you go. Open every closet, drawer, and cabinet.", "Photograph high-value items up close: serial numbers, brand labels, receipts in the same shot.", "Fill in the AI’s spreadsheet template for big-ticket items: description, brand, model, purchase date, price.", "Save everything in two places: cloud plus one more copy outside your home.", "Set a yearly reminder to update it after big purchases." ], "prompt": "Help me build a home inventory for insurance. Make it doable in one afternoon.\n\nHome: [e.g. \"3-bed house\" / \"2-bed apartment, renting\"]\nRooms: [list them, e.g. \"kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, garage, basement\"]\nHigh-value items I know about: [e.g. \"MacBook Pro, wedding ring, power tools, Peloton\"]\nInsurance: [homeowners / renters / none yet]\n\nRules:\n- Give me a room-by-room walkthrough order, highest value first.\n- For each room, list exactly what to photograph and what to write down.\n- Include a spreadsheet template with columns: item, brand/model, serial number, purchase date, price, photo filename.\n- Tell me what needs special coverage (jewelry, art, firearms, collectibles) and to ask my insurer.\n- Tell me where to store the inventory so it survives a fire or theft at this address.\n- You plan and organize. I take the photos and fill in the values.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 3 hours to build a solid inventory", "moneySavedEstimate": "Estimate: up to $20,000 on a $100,000 claim. A National Association of Insurance Commissioners survey found total-loss homeowners typically forgot to claim about 20% of possessions (cited via Seattle Insurance Partners).", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Inventory guides consistently describe a phone-based walkthrough taking about an hour, plus logging valuables.", "commonSnags": [ "Trying to be perfect stalls the project. A basic inventory today beats a perfect one you never finish.", "Storing the only copy inside the house defeats the purpose. Cloud plus off-site, no exceptions.", "Forgetting to update after big purchases. Tie the update to something annual, like tax time." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.seattleinsurancepartners.com/our-blog/how-to-create-a-home-inventory-for-insurance-claims", "author": "Seattle Insurance Partners", "note": "NAIC survey stat on forgotten possessions; three inventory methods with photo and video guidance." }, { "url": "https://chastainotis.com/when-was-the-last-time-you-took-a-home-inventory/", "author": "Chastain Otis Insurance", "note": "Simple room-by-room checklist and off-site storage advice." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Writing Difficult Texts: Boundaries and Apologies That Sound Like You", "slug": "writing-difficult-texts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/writing-difficult-texts/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft hard messages: apologies that take real responsibility, boundary texts that are firm without being cruel, and difficult work messages you keep rewriting.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down what happened in plain facts, no spin. What you did, what they did, what you want now.", "Decide the message type: apology, boundary, feedback, or decline.", "Tell the AI the relationship and the tone: warm but firm, professional, brief.", "Get the draft, then read it out loud. If it does not sound like you, it is not done.", "Rewrite at least 30% in your own words. Add one specific detail only you would know.", "For serious apologies, consider calling instead. A text carries minor repairs, not major ones.", "Send it yourself. Never let an agent send personal messages for you." ], "prompt": "Help me draft a difficult message. I will rewrite it in my own words before sending.\n\nSituation: [what happened, plain facts]\nMessage type: [apology / boundary / feedback / declining]\nRecipient: [e.g. \"close friend\" / \"my manager\" / \"my mother-in-law\"]\nMy goal: [e.g. \"take responsibility without groveling\" / \"say no to hosting Thanksgiving firmly\"]\nTone: [e.g. \"warm but firm\" / \"professional and brief\" / \"honest, not harsh\"]\nLength: [text message / short email]\n\nRules:\n- Apologies must name what I did wrong specifically. No \"sorry if you felt\" non-apologies.\n- Boundaries must be clear about what I will and will not do, without over-explaining.\n- Keep it short. Long messages dilute the point.\n- Match the channel to the seriousness: tell me if this deserves a call instead.\n- Draft only. I send everything myself after rewriting.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 20 to 40 minutes of drafting and dread per message", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing long blank-page sessions and multiple rewrites with a structured draft.", "commonSnags": [ "Sending the draft as-is. Apology guides specifically warn that unedited AI apologies read as insincere.", "The AI may soften your boundary into meaninglessness. Check that the “no” survived the draft.", "Using text for something that needs a voice. If the harm is serious, the draft should become talking points for a call." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.iienstitu.com/en/blog/how-to-apologize", "author": "Iienstitu", "note": "Apology structure by severity and channel, with copy-ready scripts." }, { "url": "https://revivalist.com/apology-letter/", "author": "Revivalist", "note": "Sincere apology frameworks and the warning to edit AI drafts into your own voice." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan Holiday Gifts Without the January Debt Hangover", "slug": "holiday-gifts-without-debt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/holiday-gifts-without-debt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a holiday spending plan before the season starts: total budget, per-person limits, gift ideas at each price, and a running tracker that prevents credit card drift.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Decide the total holiday number first: gifts, food, travel, decor, everything.", "List every person you buy for. Be honest about the full list.", "Assign a per-person limit. The total must fit inside the holiday number.", "Paste it into the prompt and get gift ideas at each price point.", "For big families, propose a gift exchange (draw names) instead of buying for everyone.", "Track every purchase as you go. Move unspent money between people or bank it.", "Use cash or debit for gift runs if credit cards tempt you to drift." ], "prompt": "Build me a holiday gift plan that keeps me out of debt.\n\nTotal holiday budget: [all-in number, e.g. \"$800\"]\nGift list with per-person limits:\n[e.g. \"Mom $75, Dad $75, kids $100 each, sister $40, coworkers: skip\"]\nPeople I need ideas for: [names and a line about each, e.g. \"Dad, 68, likes grilling\"]\nHard nos: [e.g. \"no gift cards over $25, nothing that needs assembly\"]\nShopping style: [cash/debit only, or \"credit but paid off monthly\"]\n\nRules:\n- Every person gets 2 to 3 gift ideas at or under their limit.\n- Suggest one cheaper alternative for each expensive idea.\n- Include homemade and experience gifts where they fit.\n- Give me a tracking table: person, limit, gift chosen, actual spent, remaining.\n- If my per-person limits exceed my total budget, say so and make me cut.\n- Flag buy-now-pay-later traps: show the true total cost if I mention them.\n- Draft only. I buy everything myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 hours of planning that prevents weeks of regret", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing scattered December shopping with one planned list.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may suggest gifts above your per-person limits. Make it show prices and cut until it fits.", "Forgetting the non-gift costs: food, travel, decor, and shipping eat budgets silently. Include them in the total.", "Buy-now-pay-later feels free and is not. Ask the AI to total the real cost before you click." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.consumerfinance.gov/archive/blog/plan-your-spending-to-avoid-holiday-debt/", "author": "Consumer Financial Protection Bureau", "note": "Holiday spending plan guidance: total budget, per-person lists, and tracking." }, { "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/som/node/1296", "author": "University of Minnesota Extension", "note": "Holiday spending limits, gift exchanges, and low-cost giving ideas." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "New Baby Prep Checklist (The Short List That Actually Matters)", "slug": "new-baby-prep-checklist", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/new-baby-prep-checklist/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Personal", "job": "Plan for a new baby without the 200-item registry panic: essentials by trimester, what to buy versus borrow, hospital bag, pediatrician, car seat, and postpartum logistics.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down your due date, living situation, and budget range for baby gear.", "List what you already own or can borrow from family.", "Paste it into the prompt and ask for a trimester-by-trimester plan.", "Prioritize the short list first: safe sleep space, car seat, diapers, feeding supplies, a few outfits.", "Handle logistics by week 36: pediatrician chosen, car seat installed and checked, hospital bag packed.", "Batch-cook freezer meals in the last month. Future you will be grateful.", "Set up the support plan: who helps in weeks one and two, and what they will actually do." ], "prompt": "Build me a new-baby prep plan. Keep it to what actually matters.\n\nDue date: [date, currently week X]\nLiving situation: [e.g. \"2-bed apartment, laundry in building\"]\nBudget for baby gear: [e.g. \"$1,500 total\" or \"as little as possible\"]\nAlready own / can borrow: [e.g. \"crib from sister, stroller\"]\nFeeding plan: [breastfeeding / formula / undecided]\nSupport: [e.g. \"mom nearby, partner gets 2 weeks off\"]\n\nRules:\n- Organize by trimester: what to do now, what can wait.\n- Separate \"real essentials\" from \"nice to have\" from \"skip it.\"\n- Essentials list must include: safe sleep setup, car seat, diapers, wipes, feeding supplies, a few outfits, postpartum supplies for me.\n- Logistics section: choose pediatrician by [36 weeks], install car seat and get it checked, pack hospital bag, pre-cook freezer meals.\n- Tell me what NOT to buy: the registry traps (wipe warmers, dozens of newborn outfits, fancy bedding).\n- Remind me of safe sleep basics: bare crib, firm flat mattress, no pillows or bumpers.\n- You plan. I buy, install, and call the pediatrician myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 4 to 6 hours of registry research and list-making", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing scattered registry building and forum reading with one prioritized plan.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may generate a maximalist registry. Force the three-tier sort: essentials, nice-to-have, skip.", "Car seat advice varies by model. Installation must be checked against your specific seat manual, ideally inspected in person.", "It cannot choose your pediatrician or hospital. It can give you the questions to ask when you call." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.enfamil.com/articles/things-to-do-before-baby/", "author": "Enfamil", "note": "Pre-baby checklist: birth plan, hospital bag, nursery, pediatrician, car seat, meals." }, { "url": "https://www.advocatehealth.com/health-services/obstetrics/planning-for-your-big-day/before-your-babys-arrival", "author": "Advocate Health Care", "note": "Hospital prep checklist: pediatrician choice, classes, birth certificate paperwork." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Pet Care Instructions for Your Sitter (One Sheet, No Panic Texts)", "slug": "pet-care-instructions-for-sitter", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/pet-care-instructions-for-sitter/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Write a complete pet sitter instruction sheet: daily schedule, feeding amounts, medications, vet and emergency contacts, house rules, and what to do when something goes wrong.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down the full routine for one normal day: feeding times and portions, walks, litter, meds, bedtime.", "List the quirks: triggers, fears, escape habits, food stealing, other-pet rules.", "Gather contacts: your cell, backup person, vet, 24-hour emergency vet.", "Paste it all into the prompt and ask for a one-page sheet with emergencies first.", "Print two copies: one for the sitter, one on the fridge.", "Walk through it together before you leave. Paper does not replace the tour.", "Update the sheet before every trip. Routines change." ], "prompt": "Write me a one-page pet sitter instruction sheet.\n\nPets: [name, species, breed, age, e.g. \"Moose, lab mix, 4\"]\nFeeding: [food brand, portion, times, e.g. \"2 cups Taste of the Wild, 7 AM and 5 PM\"]\nWater: [refill routine]\nWalks / litter: [times and duration, e.g. \"20-min walk 7:30 AM and 6 PM, fenced yard otherwise\"]\nMedications: [name, dose, time, how to give: or \"none\"]\nQuirks: [e.g. \"bolts out the front door, scared of thunder, steals food off counters\"]\nOther pets: [how they interact, feeding separation]\n\nContacts:\n- My cell: [number]\n- Backup person: [name, number]\n- Vet: [name, number]\n- Emergency vet: [name, number]\n\nHouse: [key/code location, alarm code, wifi password]\n\nTrip dates: [start to end]\n\nRules:\n- Emergency contacts and vet info at the very top, bold.\n- Daily schedule as a timeline with times.\n- Medications with exact dose, time, and method. No vagueness.\n- One \"if this happens\" section: missed dose, escape, vomiting, power outage.\n- Keep it to one printable page. Cut fluff.\n- Draft only. I verify every phone number before printing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 45 minutes of writing plus fewer sitter texts", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing a from-scratch instruction write-up with a structured draft.", "commonSnags": [ "Vague instructions like “feed twice” cause the exact panic texts you are trying to avoid. Portions, times, and locations must be specific.", "Forgetting house details: alarm codes, key location, and wifi. The sitter needs the house sheet too, not just the pet sheet.", "An outdated sheet is worse than none. Update meds, food, and contacts before every single trip." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://animalstart.com/article/what-to-include-in-your-pet-sitter-instruction-sheet/", "author": "AnimalStart", "note": "Full instruction sheet structure: overview, feeding, routine, medical, safety, emergency steps." }, { "url": "https://lifewithchevy.com/pet-sitter-instructions/", "author": "Life With Chevy", "note": "Printable template with pet info, routine timeline, and house details." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Organize Family Photos (A Folder System You Will Keep Up)", "slug": "organizing-family-photos", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/organizing-family-photos/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Design a photo organization system: where everything lives, how folders are named, how duplicates and screenshots get culled, and a monthly routine that keeps it current.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Cloud storage or an external drive you may already own.", "steps": [ "List every place photos live: phones, computers, cloud accounts, social media, printed boxes.", "Pick one home base: Google Photos, iCloud, or a folder on an external drive.", "Ask the AI for a folder system: one master folder, year folders, then month or event subfolders.", "Start with this month’s photos and work forward. Do not start with 2014.", "Do one monthly session: move, delete duplicates and screenshots, star the best ten.", "Back up in two places. Phones break and services close.", "Once a year, print the best 50 to 100 in a photo book. Prints outlive everything." ], "prompt": "Design me a family photo organization system I will actually maintain.\n\nWhere my photos live now:\n[e.g. \"iPhone camera roll, old Android in a drawer, Google Photos, a box of prints, Facebook\"]\n\nHome base I want: [e.g. \"Google Photos\" / \"external SSD\" / \"iCloud\"]\nFamily members contributing: [e.g. \"me and my partner's phones\"]\nOldest photos to include: [e.g. \"back to 2015\" or \"just going forward\"]\nPrints to scan: [yes/no, roughly how many]\n\nRules:\n- Folder structure: one master folder, then year folders (2024, 2025), then month folders named \"01-January\" style or event folders.\n- Give me file-naming rules for events: e.g. \"2025_Beach_Trip\".\n- Monthly routine: 20 minutes, exact steps (move, delete, star favorites, back up).\n- Tell me how to handle duplicates, screenshots, and blurry shots: delete ruthlessly.\n- Backup rule: two copies minimum, one off-site or cloud.\n- Start-forward plan: organize this month first, then work backward one month at a time.\n- You design the system. I do the sorting.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: hours of future searching, once the system runs", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. The payoff is finding photos in seconds instead of scrolling for twenty minutes. No measured figure claimed.", "commonSnags": [ "Building an elaborate tagging system you abandon in a month. Year and month folders beat a 40-tag taxonomy.", "Trying to organize a decade at once. That project dies. One month forward, then one month back.", "Single-copy storage. A phone in a lake erases years. Two copies, one off-site." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://twirlphotography.com/6-easy-ways-to-archive-your-family-photos-by-a-family-photographer/", "author": "Twirl Photography", "note": "Archiving methods: two digital copies plus print, start with current photos and work backward." }, { "url": "https://www.publicstorage.com/blog/organizing/photo-storage-and-organization-tips.html", "author": "Public Storage", "note": "Photo organization by source: keep/share/delete sorting and monthly camera roll routine." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Garage Cleanout Plan (One Weekend, Four Piles)", "slug": "garage-cleanout-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/garage-cleanout-plan/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Plan a full garage cleanout: staging zones on the driveway, four-pile sorting rules, disposal and donation logistics, and a put-back layout with zones for tools, sports, and seasonal gear.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Dump fees or a dumpster rental are the real costs.", "steps": [ "Pick the weekend and check the forecast. You need a dry driveway for staging.", "Describe the garage to the AI: size, what is in it, and your end goal.", "Get the plan: Friday pull-out, Saturday sort and load, Sunday put-back. Or one big day if the garage is small.", "Pull everything onto the driveway. Seeing it all at once is the point.", "Sort into four zones: keep, donate, sell, toss. Decide once; no second-guessing piles.", "Load the toss pile for the dump and get donations out of the house within 48 hours.", "Sweep, then put back only what earns its space, in zones: tools, sports, seasonal, car.", "Photograph the finished layout. Next cleanout starts from this picture." ], "prompt": "Plan my garage cleanout weekend.\n\nGarage: [e.g. \"2-car garage, packed floor to ceiling on one side\"]\nWhat's in there: [e.g. \"tools, kids' bikes, holiday decor, boxes from our 2022 move, old paint cans\"]\nGoal: [e.g. \"fit one car\" / \"find my tools\" / \"full reset\"]\nHelp: [e.g. \"me plus my partner Saturday\" / \"solo\"]\nDisposal: [e.g. \"town dump open Saturdays, Goodwill 10 min away\"]\nHazardous stuff: [e.g. \"old paint, motor oil: need proper disposal\"]\n\nRules:\n- Day-by-day plan: pull-out, sort, load, put-back. Adjust to my help and garage size.\n- Four sorting zones: keep, donate, sell, toss. Give me decision rules for each.\n- Tell me what goes to hazardous waste, not the regular dump.\n- Put-back layout with zones: tools, sports, seasonal, car space. Vertical storage first.\n- Include a \"don't bring it back inside\" rule for the keep pile.\n- End with a maintenance habit so it doesn't refill in a year.\n- You plan. I lift, sort, and haul.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: a full weekend condensed into a plan that finishes", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. The value is finishing: most garage cleanouts stall halfway without a staged plan and disposal booked in advance.", "commonSnags": [ "Sorting without a dump plan. The toss pile sits for a month and migrates back inside.", "“Maybe” items with no decision rule. If you have not used it in two years, it is donate or toss.", "Putting everything back without zones. Unzoned storage refills randomly within a year." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cleanthatup.com/how-to-clean-and-organize-your-garage-in-3-easy-steps/", "author": "Clean That Up", "note": "Three-step process: declutter, clean top-down, organize with wall storage and zones." }, { "url": "https://www.trashrite.com/blogs/news/garage-clean-out-the-ultimate-guide-to-declutter-and-organize-your-space", "author": "TrashRite", "note": "Keep/donate/toss sorting, cleaning, and zone-based organization with labeled storage." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a Rental Listing That Gets Replies", "slug": "writing-a-rental-listing", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/writing-a-rental-listing/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft a rental listing: a headline with rent and the standout feature, a description covering specs and neighborhood perks, screening requirements stated upfront, and a clear next step.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Gather the facts: rent, deposit, beds, baths, square feet, lease term, move-in date.", "Decide pet policy, parking, and what utilities are included. Vague policies waste everyone’s time.", "List the three best features and the three nearest perks: transit, schools, parks, shops.", "Paste it all into the prompt and get a headline plus full description.", "Add your screening requirements upfront: income, credit, references. This filters for you.", "Pair the copy with bright, honest photos of every room. Photos get the click; copy gets the reply.", "Post it yourself on Zillow, Apartments.com, or Facebook Marketplace. Respond within 24 hours." ], "prompt": "Write me a rental listing that gets replies.\n\nProperty: [e.g. \"2-bed, 1-bath apartment, 950 sq ft, second floor\"]\nRent: [e.g. \"$1,400/month\"]\nDeposit: [e.g. \"one month\"]\nLease: [e.g. \"12 months, available Nov 1\"]\nPet policy: [e.g. \"cats ok, no dogs\": be exact]\nParking: [e.g. \"one off-street spot\"]\nUtilities: [what's included, e.g. \"heat and hot water included\"]\nBest features: [e.g. \"renovated kitchen, in-unit laundry, big backyard\"]\nNearby: [e.g. \"10-min walk to train, elementary school 2 blocks\"]\nScreening: [e.g. \"income 3x rent, credit check, references\"]\n\nRules:\n- Headline first: beds, standout feature, rent. No clickbait.\n- Description: specs up top, then features, then neighborhood, then terms.\n- State pet policy, parking, and screening requirements plainly. No surprises later.\n- End with a call to action: how to contact me and schedule a viewing.\n- Honest adjectives only. If it's \"cozy,\" say the square footage and let readers decide.\n- Check for fair housing issues: describe the property, never the \"ideal tenant\" by protected class.\n- Draft only. I post it and handle inquiries myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours of drafting and rewriting", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "No study cited. Estimate based on replacing blank-page listing writing with a structured draft.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI may write “perfect for a young professional couple.” That is a fair housing red flag. Describe the unit, not the renter.", "Forgetting the call to action. Even a great listing underperforms without “message me to schedule a viewing.”", "Photos matter more than copy. A great description with dark blurry photos still loses to an average one with bright clear shots." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/how-to-write-a-rental-property-listing", "author": "BiggerPockets", "note": "Rental listing formula: headline, description structure, features, and call to action." }, { "url": "https://www.tenantcloud.com/property-management/how-to-write-a-rental-listing", "author": "TenantCloud", "note": "What listings must include and tactics for attracting qualified applicants." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Say no to scope creep without losing the client", "slug": "say-no-to-scope-creep-without-losing-the-client", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/say-no-to-scope-creep-without-losing-the-client/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a polite pushback script for out-of-scope requests and a simple change-order template, so extra work gets priced instead of absorbed.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Write your scope in outcomes and counts: deliverables, revisions, meetings, formats. Add an exclusions list.", "When a new request arrives, do not answer on the spot. Say you will check it against the scope and reply in writing.", "Paste the request and your scope into the prompt below to get a polite pushback script and a change-order draft.", "Send the client two options: do the extra work for a stated price, or swap it for something already in scope.", "End every call with a three-bullet recap email (decisions, owners, dates) so verbal add-ons do not quietly become scope.", "Save your best scripts. Reused pushback takes minutes instead of dread." ], "prompt": "I am a freelancer. A client just asked for [DESCRIBE THE NEW REQUEST]. My agreed scope is: [PASTE SCOPE]. The new request is not in it. Draft two things: 1) a short, warm reply that names the request as new work, points back to the agreed scope, and offers to do it as a change order with a price placeholder; 2) a one-paragraph change-order template with fields for description, price, and timeline impact. Keep the tone friendly and firm. Show me both drafts before I send anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours per incident, plus the unpaid work you stop absorbing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes each scope dispute costs 30-60 minutes of back-and-forth plus the unbilled hours the extra work would have taken.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot know your contract terms. Paste the actual scope so the script references the right details.", "Generic scripts sound cold. Fill in the bracketed fields with the real request and client name.", "Pushback over the phone with no written follow-up leaves you with no record." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.jobbers.io/scope-creep-prevention-contract-clauses-that-protect-your-time-rates/", "author": "Jobbers.io Editorial Team", "note": "Scope clauses, exclusions lists, and the change-order process; cites PMI research finding 52% of projects experience scope creep." }, { "url": "https://www.thefreelancerstack.com/blog/avoid-scope-creep-clients.html", "author": "The Freelancer Stack", "note": "Framing change orders as clarity, and the three-bullet post-call recap email." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Reply to an unreasonable refund request", "slug": "reply-to-an-unreasonable-refund-request", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/reply-to-an-unreasonable-refund-request/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a calm, firm reply to a refund demand you should not grant, paired with an alternative that fits your policy.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Read the demand once and note which part of your policy it falls outside of.", "Decide the outcome before drafting: decline, partial credit, or redo. Do not negotiate with yourself in the reply.", "Paste the customer message and your policy into the prompt below to get a calm decline plus an alternative offer.", "Read the draft out loud. Cut anything defensive or sarcastic before sending.", "Send it yourself, then log the exchange in one line (date, customer, outcome) for your records.", "If they threaten a chargeback, keep all messages and your policy page; do not escalate in writing." ], "prompt": "A customer wrote: [PASTE THEIR MESSAGE]. My refund policy says: [PASTE POLICY OR DESCRIBE IT]. The refund they want is not covered. Draft a reply that: 1) acknowledges their frustration in one sentence, 2) declines the refund clearly and points to the policy, 3) offers one concrete alternative from this list: redo the work, a discount on a future service, store credit. Keep it under 120 words, professional, no blame. Show me the draft before I send anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30-45 minutes per dispute.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes drafting, second-guessing, and revising a tense reply by hand takes about half an hour.", "commonSnags": [ "AI does not know your policy. Paste it, or the draft will invent terms you never offered.", "Copy-pasting a script word for word can read as robotic. Adjust one line so it sounds like you.", "Never promise a refund \"just this once\" in writing unless you mean it as policy." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://corp.yonyx.com/customer-service/customer-service-script/", "author": "Yonyx", "note": "Word-for-word scripts for declining unreasonable demands while offering alternatives." }, { "url": "https://www.thryv.com/blog/turn-customer-refund-customer-life/", "author": "Thryv", "note": "What a clear refund policy must contain, and alternatives to offer when a refund is not warranted." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn how you work into a written SOP", "slug": "turn-how-you-work-into-a-written-sop", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/turn-how-you-work-into-a-written-sop/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn a process you carry in your head into a written SOP someone else can follow without asking you questions.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting. Google Docs is free.", "steps": [ "Pick one repeat task. Do it once slowly and narrate every action out loud; record or jot notes.", "Feed the rough notes into the prompt below to get a structured SOP draft with header, steps, and exception notes.", "Review the draft against reality. Fix any step a beginner could read two ways.", "Hand it to someone unfamiliar and say nothing. Every place they stop to ask is a gap; fill it.", "Add a header: process name, owner, last-updated date, tools required. Date every revision.", "Store SOPs in one shared folder and review them when the process changes, not on a calendar." ], "prompt": "Here are my rough notes on how I do this task: [PASTE NOTES]. Turn them into a standard operating procedure with: 1) a header (process name, owner: [NAME], tools required), 2) numbered steps with exactly one action per step, written for someone who has never done this, 3) two or three exception notes for common edge cases. Use plain language, no jargon. Show me the draft so I can correct it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-4 hours per handoff, plus every future training session.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes training someone verbally takes 1-2 hours and gets repeated; a tested SOP cuts that to a read-through plus questions.", "commonSnags": [ "AI fills gaps with plausible guesses. Correct every step against how you actually do the work.", "An SOP nobody tests is fiction. The unfamiliar-reader test is the whole quality check.", "Screenshots and exact button names beat paragraphs. Add them where the UI matters." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://extension.psu.edu/standard-operating-procedures-developing-and-implementing", "author": "Lisa A. Holden, Penn State Extension", "note": "Seven-step SOP method: planning, draft, internal and external review, testing, posting, training." }, { "url": "https://www.prosulum.com/blog/standard-operating-procedures-for-small-business-owners/", "author": "ProSulum", "note": "SOP header contents, one-action steps, exception notes, and the silent handoff test." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Onboard your first employees", "slug": "onboard-your-first-employees", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/onboard-your-first-employees/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a first-employee onboarding checklist covering paperwork, role expectations, and a progressive training plan.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Confirm your employer obligations: federal EIN, state new-hire reporting, and workers comp. Check your state labor site; do not guess.", "Use the prompt below to draft a role description with specific tasks and expectations for the first three months.", "Build the paperwork packet: W-4, I-9, direct deposit details, and any state forms. Collect originals on day one.", "Write a two-week training plan that mixes shadowing you, small solo tasks, and a go-to person for questions.", "Schedule a weekly 15-minute check-in for the first month. Feedback early beats corrections late.", "File the state new hire report on time and keep copies of everything signed." ], "prompt": "I am hiring my first employee as a [ROLE] at a small [TYPE OF BUSINESS]. Draft: 1) a role description with specific tasks, responsibilities, and measurable expectations for the first three months; 2) a two-week onboarding checklist (paperwork, training steps, who teaches what); 3) five weekly check-in questions for the first month. Keep it practical for a business with no HR department. Do not include legal advice; flag anything I should confirm with my state labor site. Show me the drafts.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 4-6 hours of scrambling across the first two weeks.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes preparing paperwork, role docs, and a training plan up front avoids repeated ad-hoc sessions.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot tell you your state filing deadlines or forms. Confirm every compliance step on your state labor site.", "Do not paste employee personal details (SSN, bank numbers) into a chatbot. Collect those on paper or your payroll system.", "A checklist is not training. Shadowing and feedback do the real work." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://gusto.com/resources/employee-onboarding-checklist", "author": "Gusto", "note": "New-hire paperwork to collect (W-4, I-9, direct deposit details) and the state new hire report obligation." }, { "url": "https://www.sbam.org/new-hire-onboarding-set-employees-up-for-success/", "author": "Small Business Association of Michigan", "note": "Detailed role descriptions with first-three-months expectations, measurable performance metrics, and progressive training with weekly check-ins." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Mock behavioral interview with AI", "slug": "mock-behavioral-interview-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/mock-behavioral-interview-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Run a realistic behavioral interview practice where AI asks one question at a time and scores your answers against the job description.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for practice.", "steps": [ "Paste the job description and your resume into the prompt below. Name the role, industry, and the soft skills being tested.", "Tell the AI to ask one behavioral question at a time and wait for your answer before continuing.", "Answer out loud, from real experience, in 60-90 seconds. Type a short version of what you said.", "Ask the AI to score the answer against a simple rubric: specific example, your role, result, and relevance to the job.", "Have it flag filler words and vague phrases, and suggest exact replacement wording.", "Repeat for 5-8 questions, then ask for the two weakest answers and redo them." ], "prompt": "Act as an interviewer for this role: [ROLE] at a [INDUSTRY] company. Here is the job description: [PASTE]. Here is my resume: [PASTE]. Ask me one behavioral interview question at a time. Wait for my answer before asking the next. After each answer, score it 1-5 on: specific example, my clear role, measurable result, relevance to this job. Point out filler words and vague phrases with exact replacements. Start with question one.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours versus finding a practice partner.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes scheduling and running a mock interview with a friend takes an evening; AI runs on demand.", "commonSnags": [ "AI feedback is only as good as your input. Paste the real job description or the rubric is generic.", "Typing answers is easier than saying them. Practice out loud at least once before the interview.", "AI can be overly encouraging. Ask directly: \"where was this answer weak?\"" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://careerservices.cwu.edu/blog/2024/10/08/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-behavioral-interviews-preparation/", "author": "Central Washington University Career Services", "note": "Interviewer role setup, one question at a time, answering from real experience, then requesting feedback." }, { "url": "https://www.jeffbullas.com/thread/how-can-i-use-ai-to-practice-mock-interviews-and-get-helpful-feedback/", "author": "Jeff Bullas", "note": "Rubric built from the job description; 60-90 second answers; timing and filler-word flags." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Fix your LinkedIn headline for recruiters", "slug": "fix-your-linkedin-headline-for-recruiters", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/fix-your-linkedin-headline-for-recruiters/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Rewrite your LinkedIn headline and About section with recruiter-searched keywords, without inventing results or credentials.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Collect 5-10 target job postings. List the skills and titles that repeat across them.", "Paste your work history and the keyword list into the prompt below for headline options.", "Pick the formula: current or desired title | key skills | one-line value proposition.", "Rewrite the About section to tell the story behind the headline: who you help and what they can count on.", "Cut vague phrases like \"results-driven professional.\" Concrete language about your role and impact wins.", "Update the headline in your profile and check it on mobile. Most recruiters skim on phones." ], "prompt": "Here is my work history: [PASTE]. These are the keywords from job postings I want: [PASTE LIST]. Draft 3 LinkedIn headline options using the formula: title | key skills | value proposition, separated by vertical bars. Each under 220 characters. Then draft a 3-paragraph About section that says who I help and what they can count on me to deliver. Do not invent results, metrics, or credentials I did not provide. Show me the drafts.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours of staring at the headline field.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes drafting, second-guessing, and keyword research by hand takes an hour or two.", "commonSnags": [ "AI will invent impressive metrics if you let it. Forbid invented results in the prompt and verify every claim.", "A keyword-stuffed headline reads as spam to humans. Keep it to title, skills, value prop.", "The About section is not a resume repeat. Tell the story the bullet points cannot." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://builtin.com/articles/how-to-optimize-linkedin-for-ai-search", "author": "Built In", "note": "Headline formula (role, skills, value prop), headline weight in search ranking, concrete language beating vague phrases." }, { "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-build-linkedin-personal-brand-opens-doors-carson-v-heady-yvb6c", "author": "Carson V. Heady, LinkedIn", "note": "Headline for chosen strengths, About section for the story, and the \"do not invent results\" prompt rule." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write your self review from your notes", "slug": "write-your-self-review-from-your-notes", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-your-self-review-from-your-notes/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Turn scattered notes and wins into a structured self-review that states accomplishments as facts and names one or two real growth areas.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Dump everything into one doc: projects shipped, problems solved, praise received, with dates and numbers where you have them.", "For team wins, write down your specific contribution. \"My part was...\" beats \"we did...\"", "Paste the notes into the prompt below for a structured draft: opening, accomplishments, growth areas, goals, close.", "Replace every hedged phrase (\"I think I helped\") with the plain fact (\"I cut report time from 3 days to 1\").", "Add one or two honest growth areas, each with an action already underway.", "Read it as your manager would. Cut anything that needs insider context to understand." ], "prompt": "Here are my notes from this review period: [PASTE PROJECTS, WINS, FEEDBACK, DATES]. My role is [ROLE] and my team goals are [GOALS]. Draft a self-review with: 1) a two-sentence opening, 2) accomplishments with specific examples and numbers where my notes have them, naming my personal contribution in team efforts, 3) one or two honest growth areas with an action underway for each, 4) goals for next period tied to team objectives, 5) a forward-looking close. State accomplishments as facts, no hedging, no exaggeration beyond my notes. Show me the draft.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours of blank-page dread.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes structuring and wording a full self-review by hand takes an evening of procrastination included.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot verify your wins. Every number in the draft must come from your notes.", "Over-reliance on AI produces a generic review that could belong to anyone. Your specifics are the value.", "Skipping growth areas reads as unaware. One honest area with a plan builds more trust than perfection." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://WWW.Themuse.com/advice/writing-a-self-performance-review", "author": "The Muse, quoting Raisa Ramos, SHRM-CP", "note": "Review structure and naming your specific contribution in team efforts." }, { "url": "https://Lattice.com/articles/tips-for-writing-a-strong-self-evaluation-plus-specific-examples-to-make-yours-shine", "author": "Lattice", "note": "Writing as an advocate, assertive facts over hedging, and the warning against over-relying on AI." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build your case for a raise or promotion", "slug": "build-your-case-for-a-raise-or-promotion", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-your-case-for-a-raise-or-promotion/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Assemble the market research, brag sheet, and ask script for a raise or promotion conversation.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Research the market range for your position, experience level, and location. Note the number you can defend.", "Build a one-page brag sheet: what you achieved this year, times you went above and beyond, what you plan next.", "Decide your specific ask. A precise number shows research; a range invites the bottom of it.", "Paste your brag sheet into the prompt below for a practice script and answers to likely pushback.", "Schedule a real meeting. Do not ambush your manager in a hallway.", "If the answer is no or later, ask about alternate benefits, and get any future commitment in writing with clear targets." ], "prompt": "I want to ask for a raise. My role: [ROLE], location: [CITY]. Market research shows [RANGE]. My achievements this year: [PASTE BRAG SHEET]. Draft: 1) a short opening script for the meeting that states a specific target number and ties it to my contributions; 2) calm replies to three likely pushbacks (budget freeze, \"you are already at range\", \"let us revisit later\"); 3) three alternate asks if salary cannot move (PTO, bonus, flexible schedule). Keep the tone collaborative, never threatening. Show me the scripts.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours of preparation.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes researching pay bands, writing the brag sheet, and rehearsing by hand takes an afternoon.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot verify your market data. Bring real numbers from a salary source.", "Never threaten to quit if you do not get what you want. It ends the conversation, not wins it.", "A verbal \"we will revisit this\" is worth nothing. Get commitments in writing with measurable targets." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-successfully-negotiate-a-salary-increase/", "author": "Harvard Division of Continuing Education", "note": "Market research prep, the one-page brag sheet, asking a specific number, and getting future commitments in writing." }, { "url": "https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/organizational-employee-development/ask-hr--how-to-negotiate-your-starting-compensation", "author": "SHRM, Johnny C. Taylor Jr.", "note": "Knowing your value with specific examples, considering total compensation, and practicing while staying collaborative." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Resignation letter and exit conversation", "slug": "resignation-letter-and-exit-conversation", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/resignation-letter-and-exit-conversation/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Draft a short professional resignation letter and a script for the exit conversation, without burning bridges.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Check your contract for the notice period. Some require 30, 60, or 90 days, and shorting it can breach the contract.", "Decide your last day. Two weeks is the standard professional courtesy in the US, where most jobs are at-will.", "Use the prompt below to draft the letter: a few short paragraphs, no grievances, no detail about the next move.", "Tell your manager first in a private one-on-one meeting (video if remote). Hand over the letter there.", "Send a copy to HR after the manager conversation to trigger formal offboarding.", "Offer two weeks of transition help. Short, useful handoffs are remembered." ], "prompt": "I am resigning from my role as [TITLE] at [COMPANY]. My last day will be [DATE], which meets my [NOTICE PERIOD] notice requirement. Draft a resignation letter of 3-4 short paragraphs: a direct statement of resignation, my title and last day, one line of thanks, and an offer to help with the transition. No explanation of why I am leaving, no mention of the next employer, no grievances. Professional and warm. Show me the draft.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30-60 minutes of drafting and worrying.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes writing, revising, and second-guessing a resignation letter by hand takes about half an hour to an hour.", "commonSnags": [ "AI does not know your contract. Confirm the notice period yourself before naming a last day.", "Do not use the letter to air grievances or criticize colleagues. It becomes part of your file.", "Do not name your next employer in the letter. It is not required and adds nothing." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.roberthalf.com/gb/en/insights/career-development/how-write-resignation-letter", "author": "Robert Half", "note": "Letter components, no grievances, and telling the manager first in a private meeting before HR." }, { "url": "https://legalclarity.org/what-to-say-in-your-2-weeks-notice-letter-meeting/", "author": "LegalClarity", "note": "At-will doctrine and the two-week courtesy standard; contract notice periods of 30-90 days; meeting script." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Laid off: first-week plan", "slug": "laid-off-first-week-plan", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/laid-off-first-week-plan/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a first-week action list after a layoff: benefits to file, coverage to protect, and money moves to make.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Read your separation notice. Note your last day, severance terms, and when health coverage ends.", "File for unemployment insurance with your state as soon as you can. You will need your last job start and end dates and your former employer address.", "Protect health coverage: check COBRA eligibility, a spouse plan special enrollment (usually requested within 30 days of losing coverage), or Marketplace options.", "List every bill and its due date. Call lenders about hardship options before you miss a payment.", "Use your state resource finder or dial 211 for free local referrals to food, cash, and counseling help.", "Only then start the job search. Week one is about the safety net; the resume can wait a few days." ], "prompt": "I was laid off. My last day is [DATE], severance is [TERMS], and health coverage ends [DATE]. My state is [STATE]. Draft a week-one checklist in priority order covering: unemployment filing, health coverage options to compare, bills to triage, and documents to gather. Do not ask for or store my SSN, account numbers, or other identifying details. Flag anything I must confirm with my state unemployment site or a professional. Show me the checklist.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours of figuring out what matters first.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes sorting benefits, coverage, and bill priorities from scratch takes an afternoon of scattered research.", "commonSnags": [ "AI does not know your state rules. Confirm filing steps, deadlines, and benefit amounts on your state site.", "Never paste your SSN, bank details, or full medical records into a chatbot.", "Severance and benefits letters have real deadlines. Read them before the week slips away." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.careeronestop.org/HowTo/AfterALayoff/apply-for-unemployment-benefits.aspx", "author": "CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor", "note": "File for unemployment promptly; states set their own rules; appeal process if denied." }, { "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/publications/questions-and-answers-for-dislocated-workers", "author": "U.S. Department of Labor, EBSA", "note": "COBRA basics (20+ employee employers, worker pays premium plus 2% fee, up to 18 months) and alternatives." }, { "url": "https://www.careeronestop.org/HowTo/AfterALayoff/find-more-benefits-and-assistance.aspx", "author": "CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor", "note": "State resource finder and 211.org for free local referrals to support services." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a career change in 90 days", "slug": "plan-a-career-change-in-90-days", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-career-change-in-90-days/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a 90-day career change plan with weekly targets, so the switch stays structured instead of aspirational.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Docs" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for planning.", "steps": [ "Days 1-30: pick one target role. Read 20-30 real job descriptions and talk to 3 people doing the work.", "Map your transferable skills. Split the gaps into required (needed before applying) and nice-to-have.", "Days 31-60: close the required gaps with one focused course, project, or certification step. Build one visible artifact.", "Rewrite your resume around the target role, leading with transferable wins.", "Days 61-90: apply in batches and track what gets responses. Adjust the story, not just the volume.", "Keep your current income while you research, build proof, and test applications, unless you have a pressing reason to leave sooner." ], "prompt": "I want to change careers from [CURRENT ROLE] to [TARGET ROLE] in 90 days. My transferable skills are: [LIST]. Draft a week-by-week 90-day plan in three phases (days 1-30 validate, days 31-60 build proof, days 61-90 apply). For each week give one main goal and 2-3 concrete actions. Include a transferable-skills map and a required vs nice-to-have gap list. Show me the plan so I can adjust it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 5-8 hours of planning and false starts.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes structuring the 90 days up front avoids weeks of unfocused applying and course-hopping.", "commonSnags": [ "AI job descriptions go stale. Check posting dates and confirm the role still looks like the listings.", "Applying before your story is clear wastes effort. Clarity comes before applications.", "A 90-day plan is a scaffold, not a promise. Adjust the timeline if the gaps are bigger than expected." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://minova.ai/blog/changing-careers-guide-to-successful-switch", "author": "Minova", "note": "30-60-90 structure: validate in days 1-30, build proof in days 31-60, apply in days 61-90." }, { "url": "https://boldcareer.kit.com/posts/your-90-day-career-action-plan", "author": "Ian, Bold Career", "note": "Required order: clarity, then positioning, then relationship-building, then opportunity generation." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Etsy listing titles, tags, and descriptions with AI", "slug": "etsy-listing-titles-tags-and-descriptions-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/etsy-listing-titles-tags-and-descriptions-with-ai/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft Etsy titles, all 13 tags, and a keyword-smart description for a listing, following Etsy search best practices.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude: free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "List the facts: item type, materials, size, colors, and who buys it. No marketing fluff yet.", "Draft the title first: start with the item type, then key traits, most important keywords first, about 15 words or fewer.", "Generate 13 tags as varied multi-word phrases shoppers would type. Skip phrases your categories and attributes already cover.", "Write the description with relevant keywords in the first few sentences, then the details a buyer needs.", "Check for keyword stuffing and repeated terms. If a phrase appears in the title, it does not need to be a tag.", "Use all 10 image slots. The first photo drives clicks from search results." ], "prompt": "I sell on Etsy. My product: [DESCRIBE ITEM, MATERIALS, SIZE, COLORS, WHO IT IS FOR]. Draft: 1) a title of 15 words or fewer, starting with the item type, most important keywords first, no repeated terms; 2) exactly 13 tags as varied multi-word phrases a shopper would search, no keyword stuffing; 3) a description with relevant keywords worked naturally into the first two sentences, then buyer details. Show me the drafts before I publish.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30-60 minutes per listing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: assumes drafting and revising titles, tags, and descriptions by hand takes about half an hour to an hour per listing.", "commonSnags": [ "AI invents keyword trends. Check tag ideas against what real listings in your niche actually use.", "Keyword stuffing hurts readability and can work against you. One natural use per phrase is enough.", "Etsy uses description words in ranking, but buyers read them too. Write for the human first." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.erank.com/listing-optimization/best-practices-for-etsy-listings/", "author": "eRank", "note": "13 tags per listing, keywords first in titles, keywords in the first sentences of descriptions." }, { "url": "https://help.printify.com/hc/en-us/articles/39221531961361-How-can-I-improve-my-Etsy-listings-with-the-new-Etsy-handbook", "author": "Printify, summarizing Etsy handbook", "note": "Titles under 15 words with no repeated terms, 13 multi-word tags, attributes as extra tags, no keyword stuffing." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write an Amazon product listing that follows the rules", "slug": "write-an-amazon-product-listing-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-an-amazon-product-listing-with-ai/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft an Amazon title, bullet points, and description that fit Amazon's field limits and style rules, from your product facts, with you approving every word.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Amazon Seller Central" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting. Amazon selling plans and referral fees are separate; check Amazon's current pricing.", "steps": [ "Confirm your product ID first: most products need a 12 to 14 digit GTIN (UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN), or a GTIN exemption if you qualify.", "Pick the most specific category available; Amazon treats category placement as one of the strongest signals for search indexing.", "Draft the title with the AI: brand plus product type plus key features (size, color, quantity), staying within the character limit your category enforces and avoiding repeated words.", "Write up to five bullet points, one benefit per bullet, weaving in secondary keywords; do not repeat the title text in the bullets.", "Write the description: expand on benefits and use cases and answer the questions shoppers ask; brand-registered sellers can build A+ Content instead.", "Fill the backend keyword fields with synonyms, alternate spellings, and phrases that did not fit the visible copy.", "Read the finished copy against Amazon's listing policies, fix anything the AI guessed at, and publish only after your review." ], "prompt": "You are helping me write an Amazon product listing that follows Amazon's listing rules. Here are my product facts:\n\nProduct: [product name]\nBrand: [brand]\nCategory: [Amazon category]\nKey features: [materials, size, dimensions, what's included]\nGTIN: [UPC/EAN or \"exemption requested\"]\nTarget keywords: [2-4 phrases shoppers search]\n\nWrite:\n1. A product title (brand + product type + key features, within Amazon's character limit, no word repeated more than twice, no promotional phrases like \"best seller\")\n2. Five bullet points (one benefit per bullet, start each with the benefit, include secondary keywords naturally)\n3. A product description (benefits and use cases, answers to common questions, no HTML, no shipping or promotional claims)\n4. A list of backend search terms (synonyms and alternate spellings not already used above)\n\nRules: use only the facts I gave you. Mark anything you are unsure about with [VERIFY]. Show me the full draft first. I will review and approve before anything is published.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours per listing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: Amazon requires a title, five bullets, a description, and keyword fields; an AI first draft removes the blank-page portion of that work.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot verify your GTIN or exemption status; confirm it in Seller Central before listing.", "Category rules and field limits change; check the current template rather than trusting the AI's memory.", "Keyword stuffing and promotional phrases can get a listing suppressed; keep copy factual.", "The AI may invent specifications; every number must come from your product facts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://sellercentral.amazon.ie/welcome/sell-online/listing-guide", "author": "Amazon Seller Central", "note": "Official listing guide: GTIN requirements, category placement as a search signal, complete attributes, backend keyword field, A+ Content." }, { "url": "https://www.2ndoffice.co/blog/a-guide-on-amazon-product-listing-optimization/", "author": "2ndOffice", "note": "Field limits sellers follow: title up to 200 characters, five bullets, description up to 2,000 characters, backend terms under 250 bytes." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write bulk product descriptions for Shopify without duplicates", "slug": "bulk-product-descriptions-for-shopify", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/bulk-product-descriptions-for-shopify/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Generate a first draft for every product description in your catalog from a single reusable prompt, keeping each one unique, with you editing before anything goes live.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Shopify" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work. Shopify's built-in AI text generation is included in Shopify; check your plan for availability.", "steps": [ "Write one master prompt with slots for product facts, your tone, and a hard rule: no two descriptions may share the same opening sentence or structure.", "Prepare a simple sheet with one row per product: name, features, materials, target keyword.", "Generate in batches of 5 to 10, pasting the facts for each product into the master prompt.", "Edit every draft for accuracy, tone, and real specifics; Shopify's help center says to edit generated text to match your product and brand before saving.", "Check for duplicates across the batch with a quick search before pasting into Shopify.", "Save in Shopify and spot-check the live page on mobile for readability." ], "prompt": "You write product descriptions for my Shopify store. Brand voice: [one line, e.g. \"plainspoken and practical, no hype\"].\n\nFor each product below, write a 120-180 word description with:\n- An opening line with the main benefit (never reuse an opening line across products)\n- 3-4 bullet points translating features into benefits\n- Materials, dimensions, and care info where relevant\n- The target keyword used once naturally, plus one synonym\n\nRules: use only the facts I give you. Mark anything uncertain with [VERIFY]. Vary sentence structure between products so no two read the same. Show me each draft. I will edit and approve before publishing.\n\nProducts:\n[product 1: name | features | materials | keyword]\n[product 2: ...]", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 15-25 minutes saved per product description.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a from-scratch description takes most owners 20-30 minutes; an edited AI draft takes about 5-10.", "commonSnags": [ "AI drafts can invent materials or dimensions; verify every fact against your supplier data.", "Duplicate or near-duplicate descriptions hurt search visibility; check each batch before publishing.", "Tone drift across batches is common; re-paste your voice line at the top of every batch.", "Thin one-line descriptions do not rank or convert; keep each draft in the 120-180 word range." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/details/product-descriptions/shopify-magic", "author": "Shopify Help Center", "note": "Shopify's built-in AI description generation: how it works, and the instruction to edit generated text to match product and brand before saving." }, { "url": "https://community.shopify.com/t/best-practices-for-optimizing-product-titles-and-descriptions-for-seo/570450", "author": "Shopify Community (PieLab)", "note": "Description structure sellers use: keyword once in the opening, then a scannable bulleted list translating features into benefits." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build an abandoned cart email sequence that recovers sales", "slug": "abandoned-cart-email-sequence", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/abandoned-cart-email-sequence/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a short abandoned-cart email sequence (reminder, objection help, one incentive) and wire it to your store's recovery tools, with you approving every message.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Shopify", "Klaviyo" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting. Shopify's native abandoned checkout email is included; Klaviyo has a free tier with limits, paid for volume.", "steps": [ "Turn on Shopify's abandoned checkout email first: Settings, Checkout, enable automatic sending, and pick the send delay.", "Decide your sequence: email 1 is a plain reminder with the cart link, email 2 answers the top objection, email 3 offers one incentive with a deadline.", "Draft all three emails with the AI, keeping each under 150 words with one clear link back to the cart.", "Set the timing: a common practitioner pattern is about 1 hour, then 24 hours, then 72 hours after abandonment.", "Build the sequence in Klaviyo or Shopify Flow, since Shopify's native recovery is a single email; test with your own abandoned checkout.", "Watch the recovery rate in Orders, Abandoned checkouts, and rewrite the weakest email first." ], "prompt": "Write a 3-email abandoned cart sequence for my store.\n\nStore: [store name and one-line description]\nTop 3 abandonment reasons: [e.g. shipping cost surprise, comparing options, checkout friction]\nIncentive for email 3: [e.g. 10% off, free shipping, or \"none\"]\n\nEmail 1 (reminder): short, friendly, one link back to the cart. No discount.\nEmail 2 (help): answer the top objection in two sentences, offer a reply-to address for questions.\nEmail 3 (incentive): one offer with a clear deadline, honest urgency only.\n\nRules: under 150 words each, one call to action per email, no fake countdowns or invented reviews. Show me all three drafts first. I will review and approve before anything is scheduled.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours to build the sequence versus writing from scratch.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: three short emails plus timing and tool setup; AI drafting removes the copywriting portion.", "commonSnags": [ "Shopify's built-in flow sends one email; a true multi-email sequence needs Klaviyo, Flow, or a similar tool.", "Recovery emails only reach shoppers who entered an email address; guest checkouts that bounce earlier are unreachable.", "AI can invent discount codes or deadlines; use only real offers you will honor.", "Over-discounting trains shoppers to abandon on purpose; keep the incentive to the final email only." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/promoting-marketing/create-marketing/abandoned-checkouts", "author": "Shopify Help Center", "note": "How abandoned checkout recovery works: automatic sending, send-after timing, recovery link, and the cases where no email is sent." }, { "url": "https://www.identixweb.com/best-practices-for-shopify-abandoned-cart-emails/", "author": "Identixweb", "note": "Native recovery covers one automated email; multi-step sequences, SMS, and segmentation need an app like Klaviyo." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a clear ecommerce returns policy page", "slug": "write-an-ecommerce-returns-policy", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-an-ecommerce-returns-policy/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a returns and refund policy page that answers shopper questions in plain language, with you and a lawyer approving the final wording.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Shopify" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work. Legal review is a separate cost; check with a licensed professional.", "steps": [ "List your real terms first: return window in days, acceptable condition, final-sale exclusions, and who pays for return shipping.", "Add how a return starts (email, form, portal) and what the customer must include.", "State the refund method and timing plainly, for example refund to original payment within a set number of business days.", "Have the AI draft the page in short sections with one heading per question shoppers ask.", "Check the draft against the FTC's mail-order rule: if you promise a shipping time, you must meet it or offer cancellation and a prompt refund.", "Get a lawyer to review the final page before it goes live, then link it from the footer and checkout." ], "prompt": "Draft a returns and refund policy page for my online store in plain language.\n\nMy terms:\n- Return window: [number of days from delivery]\n- Item condition required: [e.g. unworn, tags attached, original packaging]\n- Final sale items: [categories that cannot be returned]\n- Who pays return shipping: [me / the customer]\n- How returns start: [email address / form / portal]\n- Refund method and timing: [e.g. original payment within 5 business days of receiving the return]\n\nWrite short sections with one heading per question: How long do I have? What condition must items be in? What can't be returned? Who pays for return shipping? How do I start a return? When and how do I get my refund?\n\nRules: use only my terms above. Do not invent policies, timelines, or legal claims. Mark anything that needs a lawyer's review with [LEGAL REVIEW]. Show me the draft first. This is a first draft only; a lawyer reviews before publishing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours versus drafting from a blank page.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a policy page covers about six shopper questions; AI structures the first draft and the owner supplies the terms.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot give legal advice; the FTC's mail-order rule sets real obligations on shipping promises and refunds, so get a lawyer's review.", "Vague phrases like \"reasonable condition\" cause arguments; define condition with examples.", "Forgetting digital products, sale items, or hygiene products in the exclusions list.", "A policy that promises faster refunds than your process can deliver." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/business-guide-ftcs-mail-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule", "author": "Federal Trade Commission", "note": "The mail-order rule: ship within the stated time or 30 days, seek consent for delays, and give a prompt refund when the customer cancels." }, { "url": "https://www.returnprime.com/blog/usa-ecommerce-returns-law-online-purchases", "author": "ReturnPrime", "note": "Seller-side basics: ship on time or notify, keep listings accurate, and follow the FTC rule on refunds for unshipped merchandise." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Track inventory in a spreadsheet with reorder alerts", "slug": "inventory-tracker-with-reorder-alerts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/inventory-tracker-with-reorder-alerts/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a two-sheet inventory tracker where formulas compute stock on hand and flag reorders, with an optional daily email alert, all from free tools.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Google Sheets is free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for generating the formulas.", "steps": [ "Create an Inventory sheet with columns: SKU, item, opening stock, minimum stock, unit cost, and a status column.", "Create a Movements sheet: date, SKU, IN or OUT, quantity, note. Log every delivery and sale as a new row; never overwrite a number.", "Add SUMIFS formulas so the Inventory sheet totals IN and OUT per SKU, then computes current stock as opening plus IN minus OUT.", "Add the status formula: REORDER when stock is at or below minimum, a LOW warning band above that, OK otherwise; color them with conditional formatting.", "Set your reorder minimums with the AI using the reorder point formula: average daily sales times lead time plus safety days.", "Optional: add an Apps Script with a daily trigger that emails you the SKUs currently flagged REORDER.", "Test with one real SKU end to end before entering the full catalog." ], "prompt": "Help me build an inventory tracker in Google Sheets with reorder alerts.\n\nMy items (SKU | name | opening stock | minimum stock | unit cost):\n[paste your list]\n\nI need:\n1. The exact column layout for an Inventory sheet and a Movements sheet\n2. The SUMIFS formulas to total stock IN and OUT per SKU from the Movements sheet\n3. A current-stock formula (opening + IN - OUT) and a status formula that returns REORDER at or below minimum, LOW up to 1.5x minimum, else OK\n4. Conditional formatting rules (red for REORDER, amber for LOW)\n5. A short Apps Script with a daily time trigger that emails [email] the SKUs flagged REORDER\n\nRules: formulas must work in Google Sheets. Explain each formula in one line. Show me everything first; I will build it myself and test with one SKU.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours per week once running, versus manual stock checks.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manual counting and reorder guessing across dozens of SKUs takes an hour or more weekly; a formula-driven sheet reduces it to logging movements.", "commonSnags": [ "Typing current stock directly instead of logging movements destroys your audit trail; always add a movement row.", "Stale average-daily-sales numbers make reorder points wrong; recompute from a rolling window.", "Sheets stays responsive into the thousands of SKUs, but past that move the source of truth to a database and keep the sheet as a dashboard.", "The email script needs the alert address stored safely; test the trigger before relying on it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://dev.to/juangiles260/how-to-build-an-inventory-tracker-with-automatic-reorder-alerts-in-google-sheets-3jjk", "author": "juangiles260 (DEV)", "note": "Two-sheet design, SUMIFS stock formulas, REORDER/LOW/OK status logic, and the daily email alert script pattern." }, { "url": "https://medium.com/@warehousemadesimple/reorder-point-formula-explained-with-spreadsheet-template-example-87e0b39ba261", "author": "WarehouseMadeSimple", "note": "Reorder point formula: average daily sales times (lead time plus safety days), with a worked example." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write real estate listing descriptions that avoid fair housing trouble", "slug": "safe-real-estate-listing-descriptions", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/safe-real-estate-listing-descriptions/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft listing descriptions that sell the property's features while steering clear of language that could read as a fair-housing preference, with you and your broker approving the final copy.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Feed the AI only property facts: unit type, size, layout, features, amenities, rent, fees, availability date, and how to tour.", "Instruct the AI to describe the property throughout and never describe an ideal tenant or resident.", "Have the AI flag any phrase that references people rather than the property, and rewrite those lines.", "Check the draft against the protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin; no preference or limitation on any of them.", "Add the Equal Housing Opportunity logo or slogan as your brokerage requires.", "Have your broker review the copy before it goes live, especially photos and virtual staging, which carry the same rules as words." ], "prompt": "Write a real estate listing description that is convincing and fair-housing safe.\n\nProperty facts:\n[beds, baths, square footage, layout, features, finishes, amenities, rent, fees, availability date, tour info]\n\nRules:\n- Describe the PROPERTY only: what it is, what it has, where it is. Never describe the kind of person who should live here.\n- Do not use any language indicating a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.\n- Avoid phrases like \"perfect for [type of person]\", \"ideal for couples\", \"no children\", or anything describing residents instead of the home.\n- Factual accessibility features are fine to state plainly.\n- After the draft, list any phrase you are even slightly unsure about under a heading called [REVIEW WITH BROKER].\n\nShow me the draft first. My broker reviews before anything is published. This is a writing aid, not legal advice.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30-45 minutes per listing versus drafting from scratch.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a careful listing description takes most agents the better part of an hour; an AI draft with a compliance pass cuts that roughly in half.", "commonSnags": [ "AI does not know fair housing law; it will happily write \"perfect for young professionals\" unless you forbid people-describing language.", "State and local laws can add protected classes beyond the federal seven; check your jurisdiction.", "Demographic ad targeting on social platforms creates separate liability; keep targeting broad.", "A broker review is not optional on your first few AI-drafted listings; build the habit early." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://nationalfairhousing.org/responsibleadvertising/", "author": "National Fair Housing Alliance", "note": "Advertising guidelines: focus on the property and amenities, not the ideal renter; no statements excluding protected classes; include Equal Housing Opportunity." }, { "url": "https://www.doorloop.com/blog/hud-advertising-guidelines", "author": "DoorLoop", "note": "The Fair Housing Act bars ads showing preference, limitation, or discrimination on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Word late rent notices landlords can stand behind", "slug": "landlord-late-rent-communication", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/landlord-late-rent-communication/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft late rent reminders and formal notices that are factual, cite the lease, and keep the tone professional, with you reviewing every word before sending.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Pull the facts first: rent due date from the lease, amount past due, days late, and the exact lease section behind any late fee.", "Decide which notice this is: a friendly reminder after the grace period, or a formal late notice starting the legal clock.", "Have the AI draft it with your facts: amount due, lease citation for the fee, a specific pay-by date, and accepted payment methods.", "Keep the tone measured and factual; clear language builds a stronger record than anything emotional.", "Check your state's minimum notice period and delivery rules before sending anything formal.", "Send it, save a copy with the date and delivery method in the tenant file, and follow up on the pay-by date." ], "prompt": "Draft a late rent notice for me as a landlord. This is a first draft; I will review and verify local law before sending.\n\nFacts:\n- Tenant: [name]\n- Property: [address, unit]\n- Rent due date per lease: [date]\n- Amount past due: $[amount]\n- Days late: [number]\n- Late fee per lease section [section number]: $[amount or \"none\"]\n- Pay by: [specific date]\n- Accepted payment methods: [methods]\n\nWrite a one-page notice with: date, tenant and property identification, the overdue amount and due date, the late fee with its lease citation, the total now due, the pay-by date, how to pay, and an invitation to contact me about payment problems.\n\nRules: measured and factual tone, no threats beyond what the lease and local law allow, no invented fees or dates. Mark anything that depends on state law with [CHECK LOCAL LAW]. Show me the draft first.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 20-30 minutes per notice versus drafting from scratch.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a careful notice takes most landlords the better part of half an hour; an AI draft from your facts cuts that to a review pass.", "commonSnags": [ "Notice periods and late-fee caps vary by state; AI does not know your state's rules, so verify locally.", "Charging a late fee your lease does not authorize, or before the grace period ends, undermines the notice.", "Emotional or threatening language weakens your position; stay factual.", "Accepting partial payment can affect your rights in some states; check local law first." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.tenantcloud.com/rent-collection/late-rent-notice-complete-guide", "author": "TenantCloud", "note": "Notice structure (header, intro, body, conclusion), measured factual tone, and the reminder to match the lease and confirm local law." }, { "url": "https://clearlegaltips.com/late-rent-notice-template/", "author": "ClearLegalTips", "note": "Template pattern: rent past due plus the late fee tied to a numbered lease paragraph, a specific pay-by date, and keeping a copy." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Set up Airbnb guest message templates that send themselves", "slug": "airbnb-guest-message-templates", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/airbnb-guest-message-templates/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft the full set of guest messages once, wire them to Airbnb's scheduled quick replies, and let routine communication send itself while you handle only exceptions.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Airbnb" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work. Airbnb scheduled messages are included for hosts.", "steps": [ "List the messages you repeat: booking confirmation, pre-arrival with check-in details, check-in day, checkout reminder, and review request.", "Have the AI draft each one short and warm, with placeholders where Airbnb shortcodes will go (guest first name, listing name, check-in date).", "In Airbnb, go to Messages, Settings, Quick replies, and create each template, inserting the dynamic details Airbnb fills in automatically.", "Schedule each to its trigger: new reservation, check-in, or checkout; Airbnb sends them automatically from there.", "Keep messages under Airbnb's 4,000 character limit; split longer ones into two quick replies.", "For one week, read every auto-sent message and fix anything that reads wrong before trusting the system fully." ], "prompt": "Write Airbnb guest message templates for my rental. Keep each under 120 words, warm and clear.\n\nProperty facts:\n- Listing name: [name]\n- Check-in: [process, time, key/pad details]\n- Checkout: [time, steps]\n- Wifi: [network and password location]\n- Parking: [details]\n- House rules (short): [rules]\n- Checkout tasks: [tasks]\n\nWrite 5 templates:\n1. Booking confirmation (thanks, what happens next)\n2. Pre-arrival, 1 day before (check-in details, parking, wifi)\n3. Check-in day (welcome, one useful local tip)\n4. Checkout reminder (time, tasks, where to leave keys)\n5. Review request, 1 day after checkout (grateful tone, no incentives, no begging)\n\nUse placeholders like [GUEST NAME], [CHECK-IN DATE] where Airbnb shortcodes will go. Rules: no incentives for reviews (against policy), no invented amenities. Show me all five first; I will review before creating them in Airbnb.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-4 hours per week for an active listing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: hosts commonly send 5-10 routine messages per booking; templating removes the retyping across all of them.", "commonSnags": [ "Templates cannot cover real problems; watch the inbox for anything the automation cannot answer.", "Wrong shortcode placement sends guests someone else's check-in time; test with a real reservation view.", "Over-automation reads cold; keep one personal line per template, like a local recommendation.", "Never offer incentives for reviews; it violates Airbnb's policy." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.airbnb.com.mt/help/article/2898", "author": "Airbnb Help Center", "note": "Quick replies: saved templates with dynamic guest, reservation, and listing details, plus scheduled sending on triggers like reservation, check-in, and checkout." }, { "url": "https://hospitable.com/airbnb-automated-messages", "author": "Hospitable", "note": "Scheduled messages cover three trigger events (new booking, check-in, check-out) and shortcodes personalize each template per booking." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Optimize your Google Business Profile to show up locally", "slug": "optimize-your-google-business-profile", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/optimize-your-google-business-profile/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Work through a one-time optimization pass on your free Google listing so it is complete, accurate, and review-active, with the AI drafting the description and review replies.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Google Business Profile" ], "toolCost": "Google Business Profile is free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting.", "steps": [ "Claim and verify the profile in your own Google account; Google says verification tells it you are authorized to represent the business.", "Enter your real business name exactly as customers know it; adding keywords to the name breaks Google's guidelines.", "Pick the most specific primary category that fits, then add only truly relevant secondary categories.", "Complete every field: address or service area, hours including holidays, phone, website, services, and attributes.", "Have the AI draft your business description from your facts, then edit it yourself for accuracy.", "Upload real photos and add a new one monthly; reply to every review, good or bad.", "Check the profile's performance report monthly for calls, direction requests, and website clicks." ], "prompt": "Help me optimize my Google Business Profile. Draft the pieces I need from my facts below.\n\nBusiness facts:\n- Name (exact, as on storefront): [name]\n- Primary category: [category]\n- What we do and who we serve: [2-3 sentences]\n- Service area or address: [area]\n- Hours: [hours]\n- Phone and website: [contact]\n\nWrite:\n1. A business description (under 750 characters, plain language, what we do and who we serve, no keyword stuffing, no superlatives I cannot prove)\n2. Three review-reply templates: one for 5-star, one for 3-4 star with a mild complaint, one for 1-2 star (professional, no defensiveness, invite offline resolution)\n3. A checklist of profile fields to complete, in priority order\n\nRules: use only my facts. Mark anything uncertain with [VERIFY]. Show me everything first; I will review before publishing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours for the one-time optimization pass.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: completing every field, writing the description, uploading photos, and setting up review replies takes an afternoon; AI drafting shortens the writing portion.", "commonSnags": [ "Keyword-stuffed business names and fake addresses get profiles suspended, not ranked.", "There is no way to pay for a better local ranking; anyone selling a guaranteed map-pack spot is selling something Google says does not exist.", "AI can invent services or hours; verify every field against reality before publishing.", "Ignoring reviews signals neglect; reply to all of them, including the bad ones." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091", "author": "Google Business Profile Help", "note": "Official ranking guidance: verify, keep info complete and accurate, respond to reviews, add photos; ranking rests on relevance, distance, and prominence." }, { "url": "https://fullybookedguides.com/blog/google-business-profile-optimization/", "author": "FullyBookedGuides", "note": "Checklist framing: primary category as the top lever, NAP consistency, review replies, real photos, and monthly performance review." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Test ad copy on a small budget without wasting spend", "slug": "small-budget-ad-copy-testing", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/small-budget-ad-copy-testing/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Generate a small set of ad copy variants from one brief, run a disciplined 7-day test with capped spend, and pick a winner by cost per result, with you approving every variant.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Meta Ads" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for drafting. Ad spend is separate; local small businesses commonly start around $15-25 per day.", "steps": [ "Pick one variable to test: the hook, the offer angle, or the call to action. Never test all three at once.", "Have the AI write 3-5 variants changing only that variable, from your offer facts.", "Set up the test inside your existing campaign using Meta's creative test flow, capping test spend at about 20 percent of the budget.", "Run for at least 7 days without touching it; shorter tests produce inconclusive results.", "Judge by one metric decided in advance, usually cost per result.", "Keep the winner running, pause the losers, and write down what won before the next test." ], "prompt": "Write Meta ad copy variants for a creative test.\n\nOffer facts:\n- Product/service: [what it is]\n- Offer: [price, deal, or lead magnet]\n- Audience: [who]\n- Landing page promise: [one line]\n- Variable to test: [hook, offer angle, or call to action - pick one]\n\nWrite 4 variants changing ONLY that variable. Each variant needs: primary text (under 125 characters for the visible part), headline (under 40 characters), and call to action.\n\nRules: one idea per variant, no invented claims or statistics, no fake urgency. Mark anything uncertain with [VERIFY]. Show me all four first; I will pick which ones run.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours per test round versus writing variants from scratch.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: drafting 4-5 disciplined variants takes over an hour by hand; AI produces the set in minutes and the owner spends the time on review.", "commonSnags": [ "Changing the budget, audience, or creative mid-test restarts learning and voids the result.", "Testing six hooks on the same visual is not a real test; the algorithm reads them as one ad.", "Ending the test early because one variant \"looks\" better produces false winners; wait the full 7 days.", "AI can invent testimonials or statistics; every claim must be one you can prove." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://everix.ai/blog/meta-creative-testing-tool", "author": "Everix", "note": "How Meta's creative testing tool works: 2-5 test ads, even spend, about 20 percent budget cap, 7-day default, decision left to the advertiser." }, { "url": "https://www.supernodes.ai/blogs/meta-ads-creative-testing-framework", "author": "Supernodes", "note": "One variable per test, one platform, one decision rule written before launch; 10-20 percent of spend reserved for testing." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn a podcast transcript into show notes and timestamps", "slug": "podcast-show-notes-and-timestamps-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/podcast-show-notes-and-timestamps-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Convert each episode transcript into scannable show notes with timestamps, takeaways, and links, with you reviewing before publishing.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Buzzsprout" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work. Transcription may be included in your podcast host or cost extra per minute.", "steps": [ "Get the transcript: use your host's built-in transcription or run the audio through a transcription tool first.", "Have the AI produce show notes in a fixed template: 2-3 sentence summary, timestamped topic list, 2-3 key quotes, links mentioned.", "Verify every timestamp by spot-checking two or three against the audio; AI timestamps drift.", "Add chapter markers in your host so listeners can jump to segments in the player.", "Paste the notes into the episode, keeping paragraphs short and scannable with subheadings.", "Reuse the same template every episode so notes stay consistent and fast to produce." ], "prompt": "Turn this podcast transcript into show notes.\n\nEpisode title: [title]\nLinks mentioned: [URLs or \"none\"]\n\nWrite:\n1. A 2-3 sentence episode summary\n2. Timestamped topics in [MM:SS] format, one line each with a short label\n3. Two or three key quotes, each under 25 words, with the speaker's name\n4. A \"Links mentioned\" list from the links above only\n\nRules: use only what is in the transcript. Do not invent quotes, topics, or timestamps; mark anything uncertain with [VERIFY]. Keep it scannable: short paragraphs, subheadings, no filler. Show me the notes first; I will verify timestamps against the audio before publishing.\n\nTranscript:\n[paste transcript]", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 45-60 minutes per episode versus writing notes from scratch.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: manual show notes with timestamps take most podcasters about an hour; an AI draft from the transcript cuts that to a verification pass.", "commonSnags": [ "AI invents plausible-sounding quotes; every quote must be verified against the transcript.", "Timestamps drift, especially in long episodes; verify the segment starts before publishing.", "Dumping the raw transcript as show notes helps nobody; the notes must be a summary, not the full text.", "Links the AI \"remembers\" may be wrong; use only links you supply." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/new-podcast-websites", "author": "Buzzsprout", "note": "Chapter markers appear in the player and episode pages; transcripts integrate with episode pages for discoverability." }, { "url": "https://seobotai.com/blog/podcast-show-notes-optimization-best-practices/", "author": "SEObotAI", "note": "Show notes structure that works: subheadings, bullet points, timestamps for navigation, bold key takeaways, short paragraphs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build your first virtual assistant delegation list", "slug": "first-virtual-assistant-delegation-list", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/first-virtual-assistant-delegation-list/", "category": "Scheduling", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Turn a week of your own task data into a ranked delegation list with clear first tasks, boundaries, and review points for your first virtual assistant.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for building the list. VA rates vary widely by region and role; get quotes before hiring.", "steps": [ "Log everything you do for one week, rounding to the nearest quarter hour, including the five-minute tasks.", "Circle whatever did not need your judgment; that pile is the delegation candidate list.", "Rank the circled tasks by repetition times time cost; the top 3-5 become the VA's first lane.", "Write each as a short checklist or record a 2-minute screen share showing exactly how you do it.", "Set the boundaries in writing: what the VA may acknowledge, what needs your approval, and what pauses for your review.", "Start with one lane, check the work daily for two weeks, then expand only after the first workflow is accurate." ], "prompt": "Help me build my first virtual assistant delegation list from my time audit.\n\nMy week (task | minutes | needed my judgment? yes/no):\n[paste your log]\n\nDo this:\n1. Rank the no-judgment tasks by total weekly minutes, highest first\n2. Group them into lanes (e.g. inbox, calendar, CRM, research, follow-up)\n3. Recommend the top 3 tasks to delegate first, with one sentence each on why\n4. For each, write: the trigger (when it starts), the definition of done, and the escalation rule (when to bring it to me)\n5. List what I must keep: anything involving pricing, contracts, hiring, money movement, or sensitive customer issues\n\nRules: be specific to my log, not generic. Show me the ranked list first; I will decide what to delegate.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 5-10 hours per week once the first lane is running.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: owners commonly lose a quarter or more of the week to repeatable admin; delegating the top lane recovers a large share of it.", "commonSnags": [ "Handing off work with no stable input or decision rule creates endless questions; document the rule first.", "Letting the VA make pricing exceptions or promises without authority; keep commercial commitments with yourself.", "Expanding to a second lane before the first is accurate; nail one workflow, then grow.", "Skipping the daily check-in early on; two weeks of close review prevents a month of cleanup." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://rightjobsolutions.com/what-to-delegate-to-a-virtual-assistant/", "author": "RightJobSolutions", "note": "First-task lanes: calendar coordination, CRM hygiene, lead follow-up prep, admin organization, research; keep pricing, hiring, and legal/financial decisions with the owner." }, { "url": "https://www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/how-to-hire-your-first-virtual-assistant-what-to-hand-off-what-to-keep-and-how-to-start/", "author": "Talented Ladies Club", "note": "Do a one-week time audit first; hand off inbox sorting, calendar, data entry, and invoice reminders; keep pricing, contracts, and key relationships." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Decide whether to bid an RFP, then answer it well", "slug": "bid-or-skip-an-rfp", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/bid-or-skip-an-rfp/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Score an RFP against a bid-or-skip checklist, then draft a compliant proposal section by section from the RFP's own structure, with you approving every claim.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT and Claude free tiers work for analysis and outlining.", "steps": [ "Read every page of the RFP before deciding anything; check eligibility, qualifications, and prerequisites first.", "Score the bid-or-skip decision: can you deliver 100 percent, do you have relevant past work, and does the pricing work at your costs?", "If you skip, say no fast and move on; a weak bid wastes more than the hours, it burns positioning.", "If you bid, outline every required section and volume from the RFP, including all compliance forms and attachments.", "Draft section by section with the AI, answering each requirement exactly and keeping language simple.", "Run a red-team review: have someone fresh check compliance, clarity, and pricing accuracy before submission.", "Submit before the deadline and confirm receipt with the contracting officer." ], "prompt": "Help me decide whether to bid this RFP, and if yes, outline the proposal.\n\nRFP facts:\n- Issuer and contract type: [who, what]\n- Scope summary: [2-3 sentences]\n- Key qualifications required: [list]\n- Deadline: [date]\n- My relevant past work: [2-3 examples]\n- My team capacity: [who would deliver]\n- My rough pricing: [range or model]\n\nFirst, give me a bid-or-skip verdict with reasons: eligibility fit, delivery capacity, past-performance fit, and pricing viability. Be blunt; a weak bid wastes my week.\n\nIf the verdict is BID, outline the proposal mirroring the RFP's section structure, listing what goes in each section and which compliance items and forms are required.\n\nRules: use only my facts and the RFP. Do not invent past performance, certifications, or pricing. Mark anything uncertain with [VERIFY]. Show me the verdict and outline first; I write and approve the final proposal.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3-5 hours per RFP on the decision and outline.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: reading a full RFP and structuring a compliant outline takes most of a day; AI speeds the outlining and checklist portion.", "commonSnags": [ "Bidding without the required qualifications or capacity; read the eligibility pages first, even in an 80-page RFP.", "Missing a compliance form or section; one omission can disqualify the whole proposal.", "Pricing to win at a loss; the lowest bid that cannot sustain you is the most expensive outcome.", "AI inventing past performance or certifications; every claim must be real and checkable." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://hinzconsulting.com/rfp-response-for-small-businesses/", "author": "Hinz Consulting", "note": "Proposal anatomy for small businesses: timeline and deliverables, staffing plan, past performance, pricing breakdown, compliance and certifications, red-team review." }, { "url": "https://therfpfirm.com/small-business-proposal-tips-tricks/", "author": "The RFP Firm", "note": "Outline every required section and volume first, cover every item including compliance requirements, and keep responses exact and differentiated." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Find Out Why Customers Cancel With a Short Exit Survey", "slug": "cancellation-survey-that-gets-answers", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/cancellation-survey-that-gets-answers/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a short exit survey, a matched save offer for each reason, and a follow-up plan for people who leave anyway.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough; form tools have free plans.", "steps": [ "List the real reasons people cancel: price, not using it, too busy, missing feature, switched to a competitor, support issue.", "Ask AI to turn that list into 1 to 2 multiple-choice questions plus an \"Other\" box. FunnelFox advises keeping it that short because a 20-question survey kills responses.", "Write one matched save offer per reason: price complaint gets a cheaper plan or discount, \"too busy\" gets an account pause, \"not using it\" gets a pointer to a hidden feature.", "Add a short \"what you will lose\" summary on the cancel screen: their data, history, and any setup they did.", "Offer a downgrade before the final cancel button. Appcues points to Mailchimp, which kept exiting users with a pause option that preserved their lists and automations.", "After someone leaves, tag their reason and wait a few weeks, then follow up with something tied to it: a new feature they asked for or a relevant offer." ], "prompt": "Help me build a cancellation exit survey for my subscription business. Plain, no hype.\n\nBusiness: [what you sell, monthly or annual plans]\nPlans: [plan names and prices]\nSave options I can offer: [e.g. cheaper plan, pause for 2 months, annual discount]\n\nWrite:\n1. An exit survey: 2 multiple-choice questions max, plus an \"Other\" free-text box. Give me 6-8 reason options based on my business.\n2. A matched save offer for each reason, in one sentence each.\n3. A short \"what you will lose\" summary for the cancel screen.\n4. A follow-up email for 3 weeks later, personalized to the stated reason.\n\nRules:\n- Short and plain. No guilt trips.\n- Never make canceling hard to find. The survey comes after they choose to cancel.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before using anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours to draft the survey, offers, and follow-ups.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one-time writing task replacing several rounds of guessing at churn reasons.", "commonSnags": [ "A long survey gets skipped. Keep it to 1 to 2 questions or you learn nothing.", "Generic reasons (\"Other\") with no options give you unusable data. Seed the real reasons.", "Save offers only work if they are real: a discount you cannot honor burns trust.", "Do not hide the cancel button to force survey answers. That creates anger, not retention." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.funnelfox.com/how-to-reduce-subscription-churn-by-40-with-custom-cancellation-flows/", "author": "FunnelFox", "note": "Keep the exit survey to 1-2 questions plus \"Other\"; match each reason to a save offer; re-review the reason list quarterly." }, { "url": "https://www.appcues.com/blog/reduce-customer-churn?ref=geckoboard.com", "author": "Appcues", "note": "Cancel-flow components: value summary, downgrade option, account pause; exit data drives win-back segmentation." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a Short Customer Survey People Actually Finish", "slug": "customer-survey-that-gets-responses", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/customer-survey-that-gets-responses/", "category": "Reviews", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a short, plain-worded customer survey with the right question order and an invitation people open.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough; Google Forms is free.", "steps": [ "Write down the 3 to 5 things you actually need to learn. Everything else is cut.", "Ask AI to draft the survey: most important questions first, never demographic questions up front, no non-essential required fields.", "Apply the 3S rule from Surva: every question Simple, Specific, and Short. Plain words, short sentences.", "Add branching so people skip irrelevant questions. Keep the whole thing under 5 minutes.", "Write a personalized invitation: their name, a reference to their recent purchase, sent from a real person. Surva reports personalized invites improve response 7 to 15 percent over generic blasts.", "If you offer an incentive, state it at the start and match it to your audience. Surva reports incentives lift response 10 to 15 percent or more." ], "prompt": "Help me write a short customer survey. Plain words, no hype.\n\nBusiness: [what you do]\nWhat I need to learn: [3-5 things, e.g. why they chose us, what almost stopped them]\nAudience: [who gets it]\n\nWrite:\n1. 8-12 survey questions, most important first. No demographic questions up front. Mark any question that should not be required.\n2. Apply the 3S rule: simple, specific, short. No matrix questions.\n3. A short invitation email: personalized, from a real person, referencing their recent purchase. Under 80 words.\n4. If I offer an incentive: one line stating it at the start.\n\nRules:\n- Every question must earn its place. Cut anything I do not need.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before sending anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1 hour to draft, versus several hours of rewriting and low returns.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one focused drafting session instead of repeated revisions after poor response.", "commonSnags": [ "Asking everything you are curious about. Every extra question cuts completions.", "Leading questions that fish for praise. You get flattery, not data.", "Incentives attract reward-chasers if overused. Match the incentive to real customers.", "Forgetting the invitation. A great survey with a generic blast still gets ignored." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.typeform.com/hc/en-us/articles/360029578611-4-easy-steps-to-more-survey-responses", "author": "Typeform", "note": "Keep surveys under 5 minutes / 10-15 questions; lead with important questions; skip non-essential required fields." }, { "url": "https://www.surva.ai/blog/improving-survey-response-rates", "author": "Surva", "note": "3S rule for questions; personalized invitations lift response 7-15%; stated incentives lift response 10-15% or more." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Land Your First Upwork Client", "slug": "land-your-first-upwork-client", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/land-your-first-upwork-client/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a complete Upwork profile and a repeatable proposal template that wins a first small job and a first 5-star review.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free to start: 10 free Connects a month on the free plan; budget $15-25 a month for extra Connects while prospecting.", "steps": [ "Finish your profile to 100 percent: photo, overview, one employment history item, one skill. Upwork says complete profiles get better search visibility and trust.", "Write your title with searchable keywords in the first 35 characters, since mobile cuts it off. Fill all 20 skill slots with terms clients search, like \"Notion\" or \"Shopify\".", "Make the first 2 to 3 lines of your overview count. That is all search results show. State who you help and what you deliver.", "Set your budget: proposals cost Connects at $0.15 each, 6 to 16 per proposal. Plan on $15 to $25 a month and 5 to 10 tailored proposals a day.", "Target entry-level jobs posted within 24 hours with under 10 proposals. Write 150 to 250 words: hook with their specific problem in the first two lines, one proof link, two sentences of your plan, one clear next step.", "Price 20 to 30 percent below market for the first job, not free. A small $30 task buys the 5-star review that unlocks bigger jobs." ], "prompt": "Help me win my first Upwork client. Plain, practical, no hype.\n\nMy skill: [e.g. email marketing, Notion setup, bookkeeping]\nProof I have: [samples, past work, or relevant experience]\nRate I want: [hourly or per-project target]\n\nWrite:\n1. A profile title under 70 characters with searchable keywords in the first 35.\n2. A profile overview where the first 3 lines sell the outcome. No vague words like \"hardworking\".\n3. A 150-250 word proposal template: hook with the client's specific problem in the first two lines, one proof link, two sentences of plan, one clear next step or question.\n4. A checklist of what to customize per job.\n\nRules:\n- Everything must sound like me, not a template.\n- Remind me: keep all communication on Upwork, never share contact info in proposals.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before posting anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours of setup, then about 30 minutes a day on proposals.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one profile-writing session plus a reusable template replacing ad-hoc proposals.", "commonSnags": [ "Scams are common for new freelancers. Red flags: unverified payment method, being asked to move to Telegram or WhatsApp, any fee you must pay, \"free trial work\", off-platform or crypto payment.", "Never share contact info in proposals. Upwork requires communication on-platform until a contract exists.", "Pricing at zero to \"get reviews\" attracts bad clients. Price 20 to 30 percent below market, not free.", "Copy-paste proposals get ignored. The first two lines must reference their specific problem." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.upwork.com/resources/upwork-for-beginners", "author": "Upwork", "note": "Profile minimums, 100% completion benefits, first lines of overview shown in search, keep communication on-platform." }, { "url": "https://globehustle.co.uk/how-to-get-first-client-on-upwork/", "author": "GlobeHustle", "note": "Connects pricing ($0.15 each, 6-16 per proposal), 5-10 proposals/day cadence, 2-8 week timeline, proposal formula, scam red flags." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Validate a Side Hustle Idea in One Week", "slug": "validate-a-side-hustle-idea-in-a-week", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/validate-a-side-hustle-idea-in-a-week/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Run a one-week validation sprint: customer conversations, a landing-page or pre-sale test, and clear kill criteria.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Nearly free: a Carrd landing page is about $19 a year; everything else uses free tiers.", "steps": [ "Friday, 2 to 3 hours: map where your customers already complain and note their exact words. Map competitors too. Competition means money is being spent; zero competition often means others decided it was not worth it.", "Name 10 specific people to contact. Friends do not count for validation: their \"sounds great\" is the number one failure mode.", "Saturday, 3 to 4 hours: run 5 conversations about past behavior, not hypotheticals. Ask: how are you solving this right now, what does it cost you in time or money, what have you tried, what is the most frustrating part. Never ask \"would you use this?\"", "Listen 80 percent of the time. Pitch nothing. Patterns usually emerge by interview 8 to 10 if you keep going.", "Sunday, 2 to 3 hours: run one action test. A simple landing page with an email or early-access signup, a small deposit or pre-sale, or a manual \"Wizard of Oz\" version of the service delivered by hand.", "Judge against kill criteria you set before starting: for example, if fewer than 30 percent of about 20 interviewees show strong interest, reassess or kill the idea. CB Insights data cited by validation guides puts \"no market need\" behind 42 percent of startup failures." ], "prompt": "Help me validate a side hustle idea in one week. Plain, practical, no hype.\n\nIdea: [one sentence]\nWho I think the customer is: [be specific]\nWhat I think they pay for now: [current alternatives]\n\nWrite:\n1. A Friday desk-research checklist: where to find complaints, what competitor signals to look for, how to pick 10 people to contact.\n2. A Saturday interview script: 8-10 questions about past behavior only. No hypotheticals, no pitching.\n3. A Sunday action test plan: landing page outline with headline and CTA, or a pre-sale offer, or a manual concierge test.\n4. Kill criteria: specific numbers that mean \"reassess or kill\".\n\nRules:\n- Validation means strangers willing to pay or sign up, not compliments.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before using anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "About 7-10 hours across the week, versus months building something nobody wants.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a structured 3-day sprint replacing open-ended \"research\" that drifts for weeks.", "commonSnags": [ "Asking friends and family. Polite encouragement is not demand.", "Asking hypotheticals like \"would you use this?\" People say yes and mean no.", "Skipping the action test. Conversations inform; only a signup, click on pricing, or payment validates.", "Moving the goalposts. Set kill criteria before you start, not after you fall in love with the idea." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.thoughtbites.app/blog/validate-business-idea-one-weekend", "author": "ThoughtBites", "note": "The Fri/Sat/Sun validation sprint: complaint mapping, 5 behavior-focused interviews, landing-page or pre-sale action test; the \"friendly validation\" trap." }, { "url": "https://successknocks.com/how-to-validate-your-startup-idea-before-raising/", "author": "SuccessKnocks", "note": "Interview counts (patterns by 8-10), kill criteria framework, 42% of startups fail from no market need (CB Insights)." }, { "url": "https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/market-research-competitive-analysis", "author": "U.S. Small Business Administration", "note": "Competitive research practice: study what successful competitors do and whether you can do it better; lean plans start with named customer segments." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Set Up Contractor W-9s and 1099s Without the Scramble", "slug": "contractor-w-9-and-1099-setup", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/contractor-w-9-and-1099-setup/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Build a simple W-9 collection routine and a year-end 1099 filing checklist so January is calm.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. Form W-9 is free from irs.gov; ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough for drafting.", "steps": [ "Before paying any contractor, have them complete and sign Form W-9. The IRS says this is how you get their correct name and taxpayer ID number.", "Store each W-9 securely. A signed W-9 you can rely on protects you from backup withholding, which the IRS sets at 24 percent of reportable payments.", "Track every contractor payment in one spreadsheet through the year: name, amount, date, service.", "In January, list everyone you paid $600 or more. The IRS requires Form 1099-NEC for payments at that threshold starting with tax year 2020.", "File Form 1099-NEC by January 31. The IRS notes there is no automatic 30-day extension, though hardship extensions may exist.", "Ask AI to draft your reminder emails and a filing checklist, then have your accountant or tax software confirm everything before filing." ], "prompt": "Help me set up a contractor W-9 and 1099 routine. Plain, practical, no hype.\n\nSituation: [e.g. I pay 6 freelancers, mix of designers and writers]\nCurrent tracking: [e.g. spreadsheet, QuickBooks, nothing yet]\n\nWrite:\n1. A W-9 request email: short, polite, explains what a W-9 is and why I need it before payment. No tax advice, just the request.\n2. A year-round tracking checklist: what to record per contractor per payment.\n3. A January filing checklist based on IRS rules: the $600 threshold, the January 31 deadline, what happens with missing TINs.\n\nRules:\n- This is organization help, not tax advice. Tell me to confirm with a tax professional.\n- No identifying details in any example. Use placeholders like [contractor name].\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before using anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 2-3 hours across the year, and a calmer January.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: collecting W-9s up front replaces chasing contractors for paperwork in January.", "commonSnags": [ "Missing the January 31 deadline. Mark it on your calendar in December, not January.", "Assuming your payment app handles it. Some do, some do not: verify, do not assume.", "Pasting real SSNs or EINs into a chatbot while drafting. Use placeholders, always.", "Treating AI output as tax advice. It is a drafting helper. Your accountant makes the calls." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9", "author": "IRS", "note": "Form W-9 is how a payee gives their correct TIN to someone required to file an information return." }, { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw9", "author": "IRS", "note": "Instructions for the requester: relying on a signed W-9, backup withholding triggers and the 24% rate." }, { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-report-nonemployee-compensation-and-backup-withholding", "author": "IRS", "note": "The $600 reporting threshold for 1099-NEC, the January 31 filing deadline, and no automatic 30-day extension." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn Class Notes Into Anki Flashcards With AI", "slug": "build-anki-flashcards-from-notes-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-anki-flashcards-from-notes-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Convert class notes or textbook chapters into import-ready Anki flashcards, including cloze deletions.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Anki" ], "toolCost": "Free. Anki is free and open source; ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough.", "steps": [ "Paste a section of notes into the chat and ask for question-answer pairs, one fact per card, in tab-separated format.", "For definitions and sequences, ask for cloze deletions instead: the AI wraps hidden text like {{c1::mitochondria}}.", "Save the output as a plain .txt file in UTF-8. Anki imports comma, semicolon, or tab-separated files; it guesses the separator and you can override it.", "In Anki, go to File, then Import. Pick the deck, check the field mapping, and import. Duplicates are judged by the first field, so make the first field unique.", "For cloze cards, make sure the note type is set to Cloze. Cloze tags only work with the Cloze note type, not regular ones.", "Review the new cards once and fix any bad splits before you start studying. Garbage cards waste every future review." ], "prompt": "Turn my study notes into Anki flashcards. Plain and practical.\n\nNotes:\n[paste your notes here, one section at a time]\n\nWrite the flashcards as tab-separated lines: question[TAB]answer.\nRules:\n- One fact per card. Split anything with two facts into two cards.\n- Short questions, short answers. No paragraphs on cards.\n- For definitions, also give me a cloze version using {{c1::hidden text}} syntax.\n- Skip anything that is opinion or filler.\n- Show me the cards first. I will review before importing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 30-60 minutes per chapter, versus 2+ hours making cards by hand.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: AI drafting replaces manual card-by-card writing; review time stays.", "commonSnags": [ "Pasting a whole textbook chapter. The AI compresses instead of atomizing. Go section by section.", "Cloze syntax in a Basic note type. It silently will not work: switch the note type to Cloze.", "Encoding issues on import. Save as UTF-8 plain text; Anki recommends LibreOffice over Excel for clean CSV export.", "Two facts on one card. You will mark it \"hard\" forever. Split it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://docs.ankiweb.net/importing/text-files.html", "author": "Anki Docs", "note": "Import formats, UTF-8 requirement, separator handling, quoting, and duplicate detection by first field." }, { "url": "https://docs.ankiweb.net/templates/generation.html", "author": "Anki Docs", "note": "Cloze deletion syntax {{c1::text}} and the rule that cloze tags only work with the Cloze note type." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a Baby or Toddler Sleep Schedule With AI", "slug": "baby-and-toddler-sleep-schedule-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/baby-and-toddler-sleep-schedule-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Draft a daily sleep schedule matched to your child's age, with nap transitions and a bedtime routine.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough.", "steps": [ "Write down 3 days of sleep: nap times, bedtime, night wakings. Rough is fine.", "Look up the recommended range for the age. The Sleep Foundation cites AASM guidance: 12 to 16 hours per day for infants 4 to 12 months, 11 to 14 for toddlers 1 to 2 years, 10 to 13 for preschoolers 3 to 5.", "Ask AI for a draft schedule: wake time, naps, bedtime, and a 20 to 30 minute wind-down routine. Include your real constraints like daycare pickup.", "Compare the draft against the recommended range. Adjust, do not just accept.", "Try it for 3 to 5 days before changing anything. Newborns rarely sleep through the night, and regular schedules can take until around 2 months to emerge.", "Keep a simple sleep log and bring it to your pediatrician if things are not improving. Consistent bedtimes are linked to more sleep, per CDC research." ], "prompt": "Help me build a sleep schedule for my child. Plain and practical.\n\nAge: [months]\nCurrent pattern: [e.g. wakes 6:30am, two naps around 9:30 and 2, bedtime 7:30, wakes twice at night]\nConstraints: [e.g. daycare pickup 5pm, older sibling bedtime 8pm]\n\nWrite:\n1. A draft daily schedule: wake, naps, bedtime, with times.\n2. A 20-30 minute bedtime routine in order.\n3. Notes on what to expect at this age (nap transitions, night waking norms).\n4. Signs I should talk to our pediatrician instead of tweaking the schedule.\n\nRules:\n- Base the schedule on published pediatric sleep ranges for this age.\n- No medical diagnosis. This is scheduling help, not medical advice.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before trying anything.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours of reading and guessing, condensed into one session.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one drafting session replaces scattered forum reading and trial-and-error scheduling.", "commonSnags": [ "Changing everything after one bad night. Give a schedule 3 to 5 days.", "Schedules from forums for a different age. Always check the age range matches your child.", "AI cannot diagnose sleep problems. Snoring, gasping, or extreme daytime sleepiness mean call the pediatrician.", "Dropping a nap too early. Most toddlers need two naps well into the second year; watch the child, not the calendar." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need", "author": "Sleep Foundation (medically reviewed by Nilong Vyas, MD)", "note": "Age-by-age sleep ranges per AASM guidance; nap transitions; sleep hygiene and when to see a pediatrician." }, { "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7038a1.htm", "author": "CDC", "note": "Short-sleep thresholds by age and the finding that regular bedtimes are associated with more sleep." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Fix and Write Excel Formulas With AI", "slug": "fix-excel-formulas-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/fix-excel-formulas-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Debug broken Excel formulas and generate new ones from plain-English descriptions.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Microsoft Excel" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough; Excel itself is whatever license you already have.", "steps": [ "Copy the broken formula and note the error value: #VALUE!, #NAME?, #REF!, #DIV/0!, or similar. Microsoft documents each one with different causes.", "Describe what the formula should do in plain words, naming exact columns and ranges. Example: \"total sales in column C where values are above 500\".", "Ask AI to fix the formula or write a new one. Paste the formula text, not the whole spreadsheet.", "Test the result on 3 to 5 sample rows before applying it to the full dataset.", "Turn on Excel's built-in error checking too: File, Options, Formulas, then Enable background error checking. Cells with problems get a small triangle.", "For recurring errors, learn the pattern. A common one: AVERAGE or SUM over cells containing #VALUE! returns #VALUE!, fixable with an IF and ISERROR wrapper." ], "prompt": "Help me fix or write an Excel formula. Plain and practical.\n\nWhat it should do: [e.g. total sales in column C where the value is above 500]\nBroken formula (if any): [paste the formula text]\nError shown: [e.g. #VALUE!, #NAME?, none yet]\nMy columns: [e.g. A=Date, B=Product, C=Sales]\n\nWrite:\n1. The corrected or new formula.\n2. One sentence explaining what was wrong or how it works.\n3. Any version notes (e.g. array formula entry with Ctrl+Shift+Enter on older Excel).\n\nRules:\n- Use only standard Excel functions, nothing exotic.\n- Keep it readable: I need to maintain this later.\n- Do not ask for my data. The formula text and column names are enough.\n- Show me the formula first. I will test it on sample rows before using it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 20-40 minutes per broken formula, versus long searches and trial and error.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: AI diagnosis replaces forum-searching and manual debugging for common errors.", "commonSnags": [ "Pasting sensitive company data into the chat. Describe the structure; paste the formula, not the rows.", "Trusting the first answer. Validate on a small subset before applying to thousands of rows.", "More than 64 nested functions. Excel caps nesting: restructure with helper columns instead.", "Forgetting the equals sign. A formula typed without = displays as plain text." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/detect-formula-errors-in-excel", "author": "Microsoft Support", "note": "Error-checking tools, the full error value list, and the most common formula-entry mistakes." }, { "url": "https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/chatgpt-tutorial/chatgpt-for-excel", "author": "Simplilearn", "note": "Plain-language prompt workflow for AI-generated formulas; validate on a small subset; do not paste sensitive rows." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Get College Essay Feedback From AI Without Losing Your Voice", "slug": "college-essay-feedback-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/college-essay-feedback-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Get structured, honest feedback on a college essay draft while keeping every word yours.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough.", "steps": [ "Write the full draft yourself first. AI feedback only works on real writing with your voice in it.", "Check your target schools' policies. They vary: Brown does not permit AI on application content under any circumstances, while Caltech allows grammar and spelling review but not AI drafting or outlining.", "Ask for critique, not rewrites. Good prompt: \"Point out where my transition feels abrupt.\" Bad prompt: \"Rewrite my introduction.\"", "Use the Tutor Test from Spark Admissions: would a human tutor suggest this edit while leaving the writing to you? If yes, it is feedback. If no, it is authorship.", "Apply the Authorship Test: if you cannot explain the stylistic choice behind every sentence, you did not author it.", "Keep dated drafts with version history as proof of authorship. There was no formal AI-disclosure section on the Common App as of the Fall 2026 cycle, so your drafts are your evidence." ], "prompt": "Give me feedback on my college essay draft. Critique only, no rewriting.\n\nEssay draft:\n[paste your draft]\n\nGive me:\n1. Three specific strengths, with the exact lines.\n2. Three specific weaknesses: where the logic jumps, where the voice flattens, where a transition fails.\n3. Five questions a reader would still have after finishing.\n4. One paragraph on whether the opening earns the reader's attention.\n\nRules:\n- Do NOT rewrite any sentence. Do NOT suggest replacement wording.\n- Point at problems; let me fix them.\n- Flag anything that sounds generic enough that a thousand applicants could have written it.\n- Show me the feedback. I will do all revisions myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours versus waiting on a counselor or teacher for a read.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: instant structured critique replaces scheduling and waiting for human feedback rounds.", "commonSnags": [ "Sentence-level rewrites and tone upgrades sit in the yellow zone: they can erase your voice and cross policies.", "Fabricating or polishing anecdotes with AI. Admissions officers say AI-written essays lack authenticity and depth.", "Assuming no policy means no rules. The Common App still requires certifying the work is your own.", "UC runs plagiarism checks, and AI-generated personal insight answers can mean disqualification from UC admission entirely." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/navigating-college-apps-with-ai", "author": "Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)", "note": "Princeton, UC, Caltech, and Brown AI policies; the Common App authorship certification requirement." }, { "url": "https://www.sparkadmissions.com/blog/ai-and-college-essays/", "author": "Spark Admissions", "note": "Green/yellow/red framework for AI uses; the Tutor Test and Authorship Test for staying on the feedback side." }, { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/70149/can-you-use-ai-in-your-college-essay/", "author": "The College Investor", "note": "Survey of 24 admissions offices: no AI detectors in use; brainstorming and editing acceptable, AI-produced personal content not." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write Song Lyrics That Work in Suno", "slug": "write-song-lyrics-for-suno", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-song-lyrics-for-suno/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Draft structured, Suno-ready lyrics with section tags, vocal cues, and a matching style prompt.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Suno" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Decide the song's arc first: sparse intro, rising pre-chorus, big chorus. Structure is what separates a song from a loop.", "Ask AI for lyrics with Suno section tags: one tag per line in square brackets directly above that section's lyrics, never inline. Core tags: [Verse], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro].", "Keep verses 4 to 8 lines and choruses 2 to 4 lines. Do not repeat the chorus more than 3 times. Put your strongest line first in each section.", "Add vocal delivery cues in parentheses where it matters: (whispered), (belted), (spoken word), (harmonized), (ad-lib), (falsetto).", "Write the style prompt separately: 8 to 15 comma-separated tags covering genre, mood, vocal direction, instrumentation, and production or tempo.", "Paste tags-free production notes into Suno's Style field and the tagged lyrics into the Lyrics field. Prose directions left in the Lyrics field can get sung by the model." ], "prompt": "Write Suno-ready song lyrics. Plain and practical.\n\nTheme: [what the song is about]\nGenre and mood: [e.g. indie folk, bittersweet]\nPerspective: [e.g. first person, looking back]\n\nWrite:\n1. Full lyrics with Suno section tags, one tag per line in [square brackets] directly above each section: [Verse], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro].\n2. Verses 4-8 lines, chorus 2-4 lines, chorus repeated max 3 times. Strongest line first in each section.\n3. Vocal cues in (parentheses) where delivery matters.\n4. A separate style prompt: 8-15 comma-separated tags for genre, mood, vocal direction, instruments, production/tempo. This goes in Suno's Style field, NOT the lyrics.\n\nRules:\n- No prose directions inside the lyrics. Anything the singer should not sing goes in the style prompt.\n- Keep it singable: short lines, real rhymes, no tongue-twisters.\n- Show me the lyrics first. I will revise before generating.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours versus learning Suno formatting by trial and error.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one guided drafting session replaces repeated failed generations and reformatting.", "commonSnags": [ "Tags inline with lyrics. They must sit on their own line or Suno may sing them.", "Structure tags in the Style field. Tags go in Lyrics only; style tags go in Style only.", "Prose directions in the Lyrics field. \"Make the bridge quieter\" becomes sung words: move it to Style.", "A 12-line chorus. Long choruses lose catchiness; keep them short and repeatable." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.votemyai.com/blog/suno-lyrics-structure-tags.html", "author": "VoteMyAI", "note": "Section tag rules: Custom Mode only, Lyrics field only, one tag per line in brackets, never inline; the core and vocal-delivery tag sets." }, { "url": "https://hookgenius.app/learn/suno-prompt-guide-2026/", "author": "HookGenius", "note": "Style prompt formula and tag counts; lyric best practices: verse/chorus line counts, chorus repetition limit, strongest line first." }, { "url": "https://jackrighteous.com/en-us/blogs/guides-using-suno-ai-music-creation/where-to-put-your-suno-prompt-guide", "author": "Jack Righteous", "note": "Field placement: styles in the Style field, words and section tags in Lyrics; prose in Lyrics can be sung; change one variable at a time." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a Dog Training Plan With AI", "slug": "dog-training-plan-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/dog-training-plan-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a structured training plan for one specific behavior, with session structure and troubleshooting.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough; treats are whatever you buy anyway.", "steps": [ "Pick ONE behavior to train first. \"Stop jumping\" or \"come when called\", not both.", "Note your dog's details: age, breed or size, what motivates them, when the problem happens.", "Ask AI for a 2 to 4 week plan: one small step per stage, session structure, and what success looks like before moving on.", "Train in short sessions and always end with play. The AKC's guidance: multiple short sessions beat one long one, and dogs cannot learn under stress.", "Reward within seconds of the right behavior. A treat delivered late can reinforce the wrong thing.", "If the dog gets it wrong, stay neutral: say \"oops\", show them the right move, and reward that. Teach what TO do instead of correcting what not to do." ], "prompt": "Build a dog training plan for one specific behavior. Plain and practical.\n\nDog: [age, breed or size, e.g. 8-month lab mix]\nBehavior to fix or teach: [one behavior, e.g. jumping on guests]\nWhen it happens: [e.g. when someone walks in the door]\nWhat motivates them: [e.g. cheese, tennis ball]\n\nWrite:\n1. A 2-4 week plan, one small step per stage. Do not move on until the current step works.\n2. Session structure: how long, how many reps, how to end.\n3. Exactly what to reward and when, using positive reinforcement only.\n4. Troubleshooting: the 3 most likely ways this goes wrong and what to do.\n\nRules:\n- Positive reinforcement only. No punishment-based methods.\n- Short sessions. End on a win, every time.\n- If this behavior suggests fear or aggression, tell me to see a professional trainer instead.\n- Show me the plan first. I will review before starting.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours of research condensed, plus fewer wasted sessions.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one structured plan replaces scattered video-watching and inconsistent training attempts.", "commonSnags": [ "Training three behaviors at once. Pick one. Multitasking confuses the dog.", "Late rewards. More than a few seconds and the dog connects the treat to the wrong action.", "Punishing mistakes. It creates stress and fallout; redirect to the right behavior and reward that.", "Skipping professional help for fear, aggression, or severe anxiety. Those need a qualified trainer, not a chatbot plan." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/keys-successful-dog-training/", "author": "American Kennel Club", "note": "The three keys: consistency, patience, fun; redirect errors neutrally and reward the correct behavior." }, { "url": "https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/12-useful-dog-training-tips/", "author": "American Kennel Club", "note": "Positive reinforcement mechanics: high-value treats, reward timing within seconds, short sessions, when to seek a professional." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a Home Renovation With AI: Scope, Budget, and Contractor Quotes", "slug": "plan-a-home-renovation-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-home-renovation-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Scope a renovation with line items, sanity-check the budget, and compare contractor bids apples to apples.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough.", "steps": [ "Describe the project to AI: the room, what you want changed, your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Get back a line-item scope: demolition, materials, labor, fixtures, finishes.", "Lock in specifics before asking for prices. As This Old House puts it, the more details nailed down upfront, the fewer costly surprises later.", "Ask AI to draft a bid request you can send to contractors: same scope, same specs, so bids are comparable.", "Get at least three written, itemized bids. The FTC and consumer guides agree: compare line by line, and throw out bids significantly lower than the others.", "Check each contractor: license with the state board, proof of liability and workers' comp insurance verified with the insurer, references, and a business-name search with \"complaint\" or \"scam\".", "Sign a written contract with every promise in it before work starts. Pay by check or card, never cash, and never pay in full until the work is done and approved." ], "prompt": "Help me plan a home renovation. Plain and practical.\n\nProject: [e.g. kitchen refresh, 120 sq ft]\nWhat I want: [e.g. new cabinets, counters, keep the layout]\nMust-haves: [list]\nNice-to-haves: [list]\nRough budget: [range]\n\nWrite:\n1. A line-item scope: demolition, materials, labor, fixtures, finishes. Flag what I have not decided yet.\n2. A bid request I can send to contractors: same specs for everyone, asking for itemized pricing.\n3. A bid comparison checklist: what to compare line by line, and red flags in a bid.\n4. A contractor vetting checklist: license, insurance, references, payment terms.\n\nRules:\n- No cost estimates presented as facts unless you say they are rough ranges. I will get real bids.\n- Include the FTC red flags: cash-only, full payment upfront, door-to-door solicitation, pressure tactics.\n- Show me the draft first. I will review before sending anything to contractors.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 3-5 hours of scoping and bid-comparison work, structured in one pass.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: one organized planning session replaces weeks of scattered notes and incompatible bids.", "commonSnags": [ "Vague scopes produce vague bids, then change orders. Lock details before pricing.", "The lowball bid. Significantly cheaper than the rest usually means cut corners or desperation.", "Handshake deals. The FTC is blunt: get everything in writing or it did not happen.", "Paying in full upfront. Standard practice is a deposit with the balance on completion and approval." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.thisoldhouse.com/home-finances/project-cost-methodology", "author": "This Old House", "note": "Scoping steps: define the outcome, set the budget, get at least three quotes, lock in details before estimating." }, { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2022/12/winter-storm-elliott-how-avoid-clean-repair-scams-you-get-back-business", "author": "Federal Trade Commission", "note": "Contractor red flags: verify license and insurance, search name plus \"scam\", pay by card or check, pay in full only when done, always get a contract." }, { "url": "https://www.anthemeap.com/northside-hospital/find-legal-support/resources/consumer-rights/legal-assist/hiring-a-contractor-for-home-improvements", "author": "Anthem EAP (quoting FTC and Nolo)", "note": "Full red-flag list (door-to-door, leftover materials, cash-only, permit dodging); three written bids; verify insurance with the insurer." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write a Eulogy or Toast With AI Without Losing Your Voice", "slug": "write-a-eulogy-or-toast-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-a-eulogy-or-toast-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Structure a eulogy or wedding toast around your own stories, then get feedback on flow and length.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT and Claude free tiers are enough.", "steps": [ "Write down 2 to 3 specific stories first, before any drafting. Specific moments beat general praise: the story proves \"she was kind\" better than the sentence does.", "Pick the structure: opening and your relationship, who they were, the stories, what they taught you, gratitude and farewell.", "Draft it in your own words, aiming for 3 to 7 minutes (about 400 to 900 spoken words). Skip the resume-style biography: dates and job titles summarize, stories show.", "Ask AI for feedback only: where it drags, where the emotion lands, whether the closing earns its weight. No AI-written sentences in the final version.", "Read every draft aloud. Rewrite anything that stumbles. Your ear is the editor.", "Print in large font, number the pages, bring water and tissues, and name a backup reader in case you cannot finish." ], "prompt": "Help me structure a eulogy. Feedback and structure only: do not write it for me.\n\nWho: [relationship, e.g. my grandmother]\nTone they would want: [e.g. warm with some humor, not somber]\nMy stories: [2-3 specific memories, in my own words]\nLength target: [e.g. 5 minutes]\n\nGive me:\n1. A structure outline: opening, story placement, closing. Fit my stories into it.\n2. Feedback on my draft below: where it drags, where a transition fails, whether the closing lands. Point at problems; do not rewrite sentences.\n3. A delivery checklist: printing, pacing, what to do if I break down.\n\nRules:\n- NEVER write sentences for me to read aloud. This must be 100% my words and my memories.\n- Flag anything that sounds generic enough that anyone could have written it.\n- Show me the feedback. I will do all writing myself.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Roughly 1-2 hours of staring at a blank page, replaced with structured drafting.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: a structure plus feedback loop replaces unstructured drafting and rewriting.", "commonSnags": [ "Letting AI write sentences. A eulogy in anyone else's words, human or AI, cannot carry your memories.", "The full biography. Nobody needs the resume: two or three true stories say more.", "Private or painful details. Honor the person; do not settle scores or overshare.", "Memorizing it. Print it large, number pages, and read. Nerves erase memorized text." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.westbrockfuneralhome.com/how-to-write-a-beautiful-eulogy-with-a-simple-template-example", "author": "Westbrock Funeral Home", "note": "Eulogy length (3-7 minutes, 400-900 words), six-part template, delivery checklist: large font, water, backup reader." }, { "url": "https://www.keohane.com/featured-faq-how-do-i-write-a-fitting-eulogy", "author": "Keohane Funeral Homes", "note": "Three-part structure (theme, memories, closing); revise and rehearse aloud; keep it under ten minutes." }, { "url": "https://memorialmerits.com/how-to-write-a-meaningful-eulogy-tips-and-examples-to-honor-your-loved-one/", "author": "Memorial Merits", "note": "Specific stories over general praise; skip the biography; write out loud and read every draft aloud." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Outline a novel with AI and keep continuity", "slug": "outline-a-novel-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/outline-a-novel-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a full novel outline with AI: premise, act structure, chapter beats, and a story bible of characters and world rules that keeps facts consistent as the outline grows.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Write your premise down first: who wants what, what stands in the way, what changes. Two or three sentences is enough.", "Ask the AI to expand the premise into a three-act outline using a beat sheet. Reedsy describes the Save the Cat beat sheet as 15 beats built on the three-act structure, designed to carry writers through the middle of Act 2.", "Build the story bible next: for each character, one paragraph on who they are, what they want, and one detail that makes them specific. Add the world rules that cannot bend.", "Feed the story bible back into every outline session. Sudowrite documents its Story Bible as the \"source of truth\" the writer and the AI refer back to, and notes that generation only uses characters and worldbuilding elements you explicitly mention.", "Go beat by beat, not chapter by chapter. Ask for three options per beat, pick one, and lock it into the bible before moving on.", "When the outline is done, ask the AI to audit it: which beats contradict the story bible, which characters disappear for too long, where the stakes go flat.", "Review the full outline yourself and rewrite anything that sounds like a template. Reedsy advises that outline models are scaffolding, not paint-by-numbers, and originality comes from character-specific choices." ], "prompt": "Help me outline a novel and keep the facts consistent.\n\nPremise: [e.g. \"A retired lighthouse keeper discovers the light never went out on its own: someone has been tending it for 40 years\"]\nGenre and tone: [e.g. \"literary mystery, quiet and melancholic\"]\nTarget length: [e.g. \"80,000 words\"]\n\nFirst, expand this into a three-act outline using a 15-beat structure. Give me each beat as: beat name, one-sentence description, and the chapter range it covers.\n\nThen create my story bible:\n- Main characters: name, one paragraph each (who they are, what they want, one specific detail)\n- World rules: the 3-5 facts about this world that can never be contradicted\n- Open threads: questions the outline must answer by the end\n\nRules:\n- Flag any beat that contradicts the story bible or the premise.\n- Do not invent new main characters without asking me first.\n- Keep everything in plain prose, no purple adjectives.\n\nReview the outline before using it. The story bible is yours to keep and feed back into every future session.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 3 to 5 hours of outlining and continuity checking.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing blank-page outlining and manual consistency review with a structured AI draft.", "commonSnags": [ "AI invents details you never approved: new siblings, changed backstories, a town that moves counties. The audit step exists to catch these.", "The outline reads like every other book in the genre. That is the template showing through; rewrite beats with character-specific choices.", "Continuity only works if the story bible is complete. Anything you keep in your head and never write down will get contradicted." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://reedsy.com/blog/guide/story-structure/save-the-cat-beat-sheet/", "author": "Reedsy", "note": "Save the Cat as a 15-beat outlining framework on three-act structure; outlines are scaffolding, not paint-by-numbers." }, { "url": "https://write.helpkit.so/using-sudowrite/1ow1qkGqof9rtcyGnrWUBS/what-is-story-bible/jmWepHcQdJetNrE991fjJC", "author": "Sudowrite", "note": "Story Bible as the source of truth for characters and worldbuilding; generation only uses explicitly mentioned elements." }, { "url": "https://www.novelcrafter.com/help/docs", "author": "Novelcrafter", "note": "Codex for tracking characters, locations, and worldbuilding details; Matrix View tracks them across scenes." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Use ChatGPT as a tutor, not an answer key", "slug": "use-chatgpt-as-a-tutor-not-an-answer-key", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/use-chatgpt-as-a-tutor-not-an-answer-key/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Use ChatGPT Study Mode so your kid gets guided practice, step-by-step explanations, and quizzes instead of copied answers.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Works across ChatGPT plans including free, per OpenAI’s help docs.", "steps": [ "Open a new chat and turn on Study Mode: type @study in the web composer, or find Study in the + menu on iOS or Android.", "Write the first message with the details OpenAI recommends: the learner’s level, the exact topic, the goal, what they already understand, and any deadline.", "Tell it the rule up front: guide me step by step, ask me questions, do not give the final answer until I try.", "Let your kid work through the problem answering its questions. Study Mode uses a Socratic approach: it asks what they know, where they got stuck, and what step they would try next.", "After the concept lands, ask it to quiz: one question at a time, with feedback on each answer.", "Upload the class notes, slides, or a photo of the worksheet so the practice matches what the teacher assigned.", "Double-check anything that counts. OpenAI says Study Mode can make mistakes, so verify important facts, especially before homework or exams go in." ], "prompt": "Act as a tutor for my child. Do not give final answers until they try first.\n\nStudent level: [e.g. \"7th grade\"]\nSubject and topic: [e.g. \"fractions: adding fractions with different denominators\"]\nGoal: [e.g. \"finish tonight’s worksheet and actually understand it\"]\nWhat they already know: [e.g. \"can add fractions with the same denominator\"]\n\nRules:\n- Ask one guiding question at a time. Wait for an answer before moving on.\n- If they get stuck, give a hint, not the answer.\n- When they solve one, quiz them with a similar problem before moving to the next.\n- At the end, summarize what they learned in two sentences.\n\nReview the session with your child afterward. Check anything that will be graded against the class materials.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 60 minutes per homework session.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing hovering over homework or re-teaching the topic yourself with guided AI practice.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI sometimes gives a direct answer anyway. Say \"give me a hint instead\" and it will step back into tutor mode.", "It can make mistakes, especially in math. OpenAI says to double-check important information, so verify before anything graded.", "It is not available in Temporary Chats, GPTs, or Projects. Start a regular chat or the mode will not engage." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11780217-using-study-mode-in-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI", "note": "Study Mode behavior, how to turn it on, plan and device availability, and stated limitations." }, { "url": "https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-teachers-should-know-about-chatgpts-new-study-mode-feature/2025/07", "author": "Lauraine Langreo, Education Week", "note": "July 2025 launch, the tutor framing, and the caveat that students can switch the mode off." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build your first project with AI as a non-coder", "slug": "build-your-first-project-with-ai-as-a-non-coder", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/build-your-first-project-with-ai-as-a-non-coder/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a first small working project with AI: describe the outcome in plain words, test the result, and refine it one fix at a time without writing code yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Replit" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Pick one tiny outcome, not an app idea. \"A page that shows my weekly dinner plan\" beats \"a meal planning app.\"", "Write the first prompt with three parts, following Replit’s documented loop: one useful outcome, observable success criteria (what \"working\" looks like), and boundaries for what NOT to build yet.", "Let it build, then test the result in the preview. Click everything. Note exactly what is wrong in plain words.", "Ask for one focused improvement at a time. \"The button does nothing when I click it\" beats \"make it better.\"", "Repeat the loop: prompt, build, test, refine. Replit’s docs name this the core loop and deliberately postpone anything production-grade to later.", "When it works, stop adding features. Publishing and sharing is a separate later step, per Replit’s guide.", "Write down what confused you. freeCodeCamp’s community advice for first projects: start from the requirements, build slowly, and treat confusion as the actual lesson, not a failure." ], "prompt": "I am a non-coder building my first small project with AI help. Be my patient build partner.\n\nThe one thing I want: [e.g. \"a single web page where I type a book title and it shows my rating and one-line review, saved in a list\"]\nWhat \"working\" looks like: [e.g. \"I can add three books, see them in a list, and the list is still there when I reload\"]\nDo NOT build yet: [e.g. \"no login, no sharing, no design polish\"]\n\nRules:\n- Explain each step in plain words before you do it. No jargon without a one-line definition.\n- Build the smallest version that works first. Ask me before adding anything I did not request.\n- When something breaks, tell me what you think went wrong in one sentence, then fix it.\n\nReview everything it builds before you rely on it. I approve each step.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 4 hours versus learning to code first.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on skipping weeks of tutorial-first learning and building directly with guided AI help.", "commonSnags": [ "Asking for too much in the first prompt. The AI builds a sprawling half-working thing instead of one working thing. Boundaries fix this.", "Accepting broken output because you cannot tell it is broken. Test every button and reload the page; that is the whole QA process.", "Tutorial-following instead of building. One commenter’s caution from the freeCodeCamp thread: copying tutorials step by step teaches less than discovering your own mistakes." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://docs.replit.com/build/your-first-app", "author": "Replit", "note": "Prompt-based first-app workflow: the prompt, build, test, refine loop and keeping publishing as a separate step." }, { "url": "https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/starting-my-first-html-css-project-feeling-lost/433102", "author": "freeCodeCamp forum", "note": "Beginner first-project advice: start from requirements, build slowly top to bottom, treat mistakes as the lesson." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Plan a vegetable garden with AI", "slug": "plan-a-vegetable-garden-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/plan-a-vegetable-garden-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Plan a vegetable garden with AI: a planting calendar built on your local frost dates, matched to your space and sun.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Get your two anchor dates: the last spring frost and the first fall frost for your zip code. Every planting date is calculated from these.", "Tell the AI your space: beds, containers, or square feet, plus sun hours. A 4x8 bed in full sun gets a different plan than a shady balcony.", "Ask for the calendar split by timing. The standard rules: warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, and zucchini go outdoors after the last frost; cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, peas, and broccoli can go out 4 to 6 weeks before it.", "Add the indoor starts. Slow warm-season crops get started indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last frost, per planting-calendar guidance.", "Plan the fall too. Count backward from the first fall frost: leafy greens go in 6 to 8 weeks before it, garlic 4 to 6 weeks before.", "Sanity-check the calendar against a local source. The two most common timing mistakes are planting too early (cold soil and late frosts set plants back) and planting too late (crops run out of time before frost).", "Print the calendar or save it where you will see it in March. A plan in a chat thread is a plan you will forget." ], "prompt": "Build me a vegetable planting calendar for my garden.\n\nLocation: [zip code or town, e.g. \"05773\"]\nSpace: [e.g. \"two 4x8 raised beds, full sun, about 6 hours\"]\nExperience: [e.g. \"beginner. Second year; last year everything went in too late\"]\nWhat I want to grow: [e.g. \"tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, herbs\"]\n\nRules:\n- Base every date on my local last spring frost and first fall frost. State both dates up front so I can verify them.\n- Split into: start indoors / direct sow after last frost / fall planting.\n- For each crop: variety suggestion for a beginner, spacing, and one common mistake to avoid.\n- Keep it to what fits my space. Do not plan 20 crops for two beds.\n\nReview the dates against a local planting calendar before you buy seeds. Frost dates vary by microclimate.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours of calendar research.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual frost-date lookup and per-crop timing research with one generated calendar.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI does not know your microclimate. A frost date is a regional average; low spots and windy corners run colder. Verify against a local calendar.", "Planting by the calendar while ignoring the soil. Cold wet soil rots seeds even after the \"safe\" date. If it is soggy, wait.", "Too many crops for the space. Crowded plants grow poorly and invite disease. Thin the plan before you thin the seedlings." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.almanac.com/what-are-plant-hardiness-zones", "author": "The Old Farmer’s Almanac", "note": "USDA zones measure winter survival; annuals and vegetables are scheduled by frost dates, not zones." }, { "url": "https://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com/vegetable-planting-calendar.html", "author": "Vegetable Gardening Online", "note": "Frost-date-anchored planting rules: warm vs cool season timing, indoor starts, fall countdowns, common timing mistakes." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Prep a D&D session with AI", "slug": "prep-a-dnd-session-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/prep-a-dnd-session-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Prep a D&D session with AI: turn last session’s notes and the party’s plans into organized prep covering locations, NPCs, scenes, secrets, and encounters.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Ask your players what they plan to do next session. Prep guides agree this matters most: it narrows everything you prepare to the area they will actually visit.", "Write a two-sentence recap of last session: where the party is, what just happened, which threads are open.", "Feed the recap plus the party’s plans into the prompt. Ask for the six prep categories DMs use: Locations, Characters, Scenes, Secrets, Monsters, and Loot, each with brief 1 to 3 sentence descriptions.", "Get your secrets list. The Lazy DM checklist calls for about ten secrets and clues per session: single-sentence facts, kept separate from how the party might discover them.", "Ask for one strong start: a single descriptive sentence framing where the session begins. Then outline potential scenes in a few words per line, without getting attached to them.", "Plan one or two fantastic locations per hour of play, each with an evocative name and three descriptive aspects. For NPCs, keep it to a name, their connection to the story, and an archetype.", "Read the whole thing once and cut half. Anything the party will never reach is clutter. Keep the prep to one page you can glance at mid-session." ], "prompt": "Help me prep my next D&D session. I am the DM.\n\nLast session recap: [e.g. \"The party cleared the goblin warren under Thornford and learned the stolen grain shipments were bound for Castle Dusk\"]\nWhere the party is headed: [e.g. \"They plan to travel to Castle Dusk to investigate\"]\nParty: [e.g. \"4 players, level 5: fighter, cleric, rogue, wizard\"]\nSession length: [e.g. \"3 hours\"]\n\nGive me session prep organized as:\n1. Strong start: one descriptive sentence framing where the session begins.\n2. Locations: 1-2 fantastic locations per hour of play. Each: evocative name plus three descriptive aspects.\n3. Characters: NPCs they will likely meet. Each: name, connection to the story, one-line archetype.\n4. Scenes: potential scenes, a few words per line. Do not over-plan; the players will surprise me.\n5. Secrets and clues: about 10 single-sentence facts the party could discover.\n6. Monsters and encounters: encounters that fit the scenes and location. Treat challenge ratings as a loose gauge.\n7. Loot: what they might find, nothing campaign-breaking.\n\nRules:\n- Keep every entry to 1-3 sentences. This must fit on one page.\n- Do not decide what the players do. Prep situations, not plots.\n- Flag anything that contradicts my recap.\n\nReview the prep before the session. I run the game; this is raw material, not a script.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours of session prep.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual note-organizing and encounter brainstorming with a structured AI draft.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI writes a novel instead of prep. Enforce the one-page rule: if you cannot glance at it mid-session, it is too long.", "It invents lore that contradicts your campaign. Feed it your recap and story bible, and ask it to flag contradictions.", "Over-prepped encounters that never happen. That is normal; file the unused material for a later session instead of forcing it in." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.flutesloot.com/three-step-session-prep-for-running-dnd-5e-adventure-modules/", "author": "DragnaCarta (Flutes Loot)", "note": "Three-step prep pipeline and the six prep categories: Locations, Characters, Scenes, Secrets, Monsters, Loot." }, { "url": "https://www.worldanvil.com/w/faerun-campaigns2C-lore-and-settings-moondare/a/the-dm-session-prep-checklist-article", "author": "World Anvil (summarizing the Lazy DM checklist)", "note": "Session building blocks: strong start, scene outlines, ten secrets per session, fantastic locations, brief NPCs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Use Gemini inside Google Sheets", "slug": "use-gemini-in-google-sheets", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/use-gemini-in-google-sheets/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "Use Gemini inside Google Sheets: AI formulas that categorize and summarize row by row, plus a side panel that builds sheets and dashboards from prompts.", "tools": [ "Gemini", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Requires an eligible Google Workspace or Google AI plan, per Google’s help docs.", "steps": [ "Confirm you have access. Google requires an eligible Google Workspace or Google AI plan for the AI features; if a cell shows \"AI function not available,\" check your plan, admin settings, or language setting.", "Try the cell formula first: type =AI(\"prompt\", range) or =Gemini() in a cell. Google documents uses like generating text, summarizing, categorizing, and analyzing sentiment, plus real-time info from Google Search.", "Add an AI column to a table: the first non-header row shows the AI function automatically, and you can autofill it down the column.", "For bigger jobs, open the Gemini side panel and use Build. Type a prompt to generate a new sheet, like a monthly expense tracker, or run an end-to-end task on an existing sheet, like a full data analysis or a visual dashboard.", "Keep the data the AI needs on the current sheet. Google states the AI function does not see the whole spreadsheet or other Drive files, so pass needed data through the range argument.", "Regenerate instead of undoing. There is no undo or redo for AI output, only regenerate. Also note Google’s limits: only the first 350 selected AI-function cells generate at once, and heavy use can pause generation for about 24 hours.", "Save Excel files as Google Sheets first (File, then Save as Google Sheets) if you want the side panel to work at its best." ], "prompt": "You are helping me use Gemini inside Google Sheets. My task:\n\nSheet contents: [paste a few sample rows or describe the columns, e.g. \"Column A: customer name, Column B: support ticket text, 200 rows\"]\nWhat I want: [e.g. \"categorize each ticket as billing, technical, or shipping, and flag the angry ones\"]\n\nGive me:\n1. The exact =AI() formula to put in the first cell, with the prompt text and range filled in.\n2. What to expect: what the output looks like and how to autofill it down.\n3. Two things that could go wrong with this specific task, based on Gemini’s documented limits.\n\nKeep it practical. No general AI advice.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 3 hours per repetitive sheet task.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual categorization and summary writing across hundreds of rows with AI-filled columns.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI function cannot see the whole spreadsheet. If your prompt references data on another tab, it will fail or hallucinate. Move the data over or pass it in the range.", "Hitting the generation cap mid-task. Only the first 350 selected AI-function cells generate at once, and heavy use can lock you out for about a day. Batch large jobs.", "Assuming the output is always right. Categorization and sentiment are judgment calls; spot-check a sample before trusting the column." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.google.com/docs/answer/15877199", "author": "Google Docs Editors Help", "note": "The =AI() function: syntax, plan requirement, stated uses, and documented limitations." }, { "url": "https://support.google.com/docs/answer/16959434?hl=en", "author": "Google Docs Editors Help", "note": "Gemini side panel Build: generating sheets and running end-to-end tasks from prompts." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Make a family cookbook with AI", "slug": "make-a-family-cookbook-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/make-a-family-cookbook-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn scattered family recipes into a real cookbook: AI transcribes and standardizes them, you add headnotes and photos, then print.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Gather everything first. Photograph the cards, scan the notebook pages, and for the recipes that only exist in someone’s head, record them explaining it or dictate it flat as plain words and numbers.", "Have the AI transcribe and standardize. One documented real-world workflow: typed recipes through OCR, handwritten ones dictated plainly, then GPT-4 reformatted everything into clean Markdown, fixing typos and OCR errors along the way.", "Enforce one format for every recipe. Cookbook guidance says to keep it identical throughout: title, ingredients, instructions, equipment, time, and servings, with metric or imperial used consistently, never both.", "Test the important ones. Have someone cook the recipe exactly as written. If an ingredient is listed but never used in the steps, or a step references something not listed, fix it now.", "Write the headnotes: a few lines per recipe on who made it, when it showed up, what it means. This is what makes it a family cookbook instead of a recipe file.", "Plan the chapters before you assemble: by course, by occasion, or by who the recipes came from. Then lay it out with photos. Blurb recommends a layflat binding for cookbooks so pages stay open on the counter.", "Print one copy first, or share the digital version with the family for corrections, before ordering the full batch." ], "prompt": "Help me turn family recipes into a cookbook.\n\nHere are my raw recipes: [paste transcribed or dictated recipes, e.g. \"Grandma’s pot roast: a handful of this, cook till done, serves the whole crew\"]\n\nFor each recipe, produce:\n- Title\n- Headnote: 2-3 sentences I will fill with the family story [leave a placeholder: FAMILY STORY]\n- Ingredients: exact quantities, one per line\n- Instructions: numbered steps, in order\n- Time and servings: your best estimate, marked as ESTIMATE\n\nRules:\n- Use [brackets] for anything you are guessing: quantities, temperatures, times.\n- Flag any step that is vague (\"cook till done\") so I can ask the cook what they actually do.\n- Keep one consistent format across all recipes.\n\nReview every recipe with the person who makes it before this goes to print. Guessed quantities need a real cook’s sign-off.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 4 to 6 hours of transcribing and formatting.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual retyping and reformatting of dozens of recipes with AI transcription and standardization.", "commonSnags": [ "Guessed quantities presented as fact. Bracket every estimate and get the cook to verify, or the book will not actually work in a kitchen.", "OCR errors in scanned cards: \"1 tsp\" becomes \"7 tsp\" more often than you would like. Read every transcribed recipe against the original.", "Scope creep into a 200-page epic. Start with the 20 recipes that matter most. A finished small book beats an abandoned big one." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://es.blurb.com/blog/10-tips-creating-cookbook/", "author": "Blurb", "note": "Cookbook workflow: plan chapters first, test recipes, keep format consistent, layflat binding for cookbooks." }, { "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39269103", "author": "Hacker News commenter", "note": "Real-world AI workflow: OCR plus dictation, GPT-4 reformatting into clean Markdown, per-recipe images." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Answer repeat customer questions automatically", "slug": "answer-repeat-customer-questions-automatically", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/answer-repeat-customer-questions-automatically/", "category": "Inbox", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Stop answering the same customer questions by hand: build a small self-service setup from your real FAQs, with a human handoff for everything else.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "HubSpot" ], "toolCost": "Chatbot builders like HubSpot’s are free with no credit card required, per HubSpot.", "steps": [ "Find your real top ten. Search your sent mail and messages for the questions you have answered more than five times: hours, pricing, shipping, returns, booking.", "Write one approved answer per question. Short, plain, with the exact facts: no \"it depends\" without saying what it depends on.", "Publish the answers as an FAQ page on your site first. This alone deflects a share of repeat questions before anyone messages you.", "Add a simple chatbot for the rest. HubSpot’s chatbot builder is free with no credit card required and no coding, and it can live on your site or Facebook Messenger.", "Point the bot at your approved answers only. HubSpot’s documented pattern: a searchable knowledge base plus an AI agent that answers from synced articles and transfers the conversation when it cannot answer confidently.", "Set the handoff rule in plain words: billing disputes, cancellations, angry customers, and anything security-related go to a human immediately.", "Start narrow. HubSpot advises starting with a small set of high-volume questions, syncing only current approved sources, and testing answers and handoff behavior before expanding." ], "prompt": "Help me build a self-service FAQ that answers repeat customer questions.\n\nMy business: [e.g. \"mobile dog grooming in Rutland VT\"]\nThe 10 questions I answer constantly: [paste them, e.g. \"Do you come to my town? How much for a large dog? Do I need to be home?\"]\n\nFor each question, draft:\n- A short approved answer (2-4 sentences, plain words, exact facts only)\n- A follow-up question to ask if the answer does not resolve it\n- A handoff line for when a human is needed\n\nRules:\n- Use only the facts I give you. Mark anything you are unsure about with [VERIFY].\n- Keep answers under 60 words each.\n- Write the handoff so the customer feels helped, not bounced.\n\nReview every answer before publishing. These go out under my business name, so each fact must be one I would defend on the phone.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 3 to 5 hours per week of repetitive replies.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on deflecting the highest-volume repeat questions to self-service instead of manual replies.", "commonSnags": [ "Letting the bot guess at facts you never gave it. Sync only approved sources; anything else gets a handoff, not an invention.", "No handoff path. A bot that cannot reach a human on billing disputes or angry customers will cost you the customer.", "Automating edge cases first. Start with the boring high-volume questions; the weird ones stay human." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.hubspot.com/service/customer-support-automation", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "FAQ deflection pattern: knowledge base plus AI agent, start narrow, human handoff for disputes and edge cases." }, { "url": "https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm/chatbot-builder", "author": "HubSpot", "note": "Free no-code chatbot builder for answering simple questions on a site or Messenger." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build a freelance portfolio with no clients", "slug": "freelance-portfolio-with-no-clients", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/freelance-portfolio-with-no-clients/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Build a starter freelance portfolio with no client work: labeled sample projects, one case-study line each, and a simple page to show them.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Pick your offer in one sentence. \"I write email sequences for Shopify stores\" gives you something to make samples for; \"I do marketing\" does not.", "Invent two or three dream clients: a real type of business, a real-sounding name, a real problem. Example: a fake Instagram carousel for a neighborhood café, a blog post for a fictional wellness brand.", "Make the samples as if they were paid work. Same effort, same finish. These are the only proof you have, so they have to be good.", "Label every piece honestly. Write \"This is a sample project created to show my skills.\" Do not imply it was client work; getting caught lying ends the career before it starts.", "Add one case-study line per piece: the problem, what you made, what it would change for the business. Three sentences, no more.", "Keep it tight: two or three strong pieces beat eight uneven ones. Cut anything you would not defend in a sales call.", "Put it where clients look and start pitching. After the first real client, ask for a short testimonial and a referral, and swap the weakest sample out." ], "prompt": "Help me build a freelance portfolio from zero. I have no clients yet.\n\nMy offer: [e.g. \"I write product descriptions for Etsy sellers\"]\nMy skills: [e.g. \"short punchy copy, basic SEO, fast turnaround\"]\n\nGive me:\n1. Three sample project briefs \"as if\" for realistic clients: business type, business name (fictional), the problem, and exactly what I should produce.\n2. For each brief: what \"done well\" looks like, so I can judge my own work.\n3. A one-line case-study template I can fill in per piece: problem, what I made, what it would change.\n4. Five honest label wordings for marking these as sample work.\n\nRules:\n- Keep every brief makeable in one afternoon by a beginner.\n- No advice that involves lying about client work. Everything gets labeled as a sample.\n\nReview the briefs before you start making. Pick the two you are most excited about and cut the third.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 3 to 5 hours of staring at a blank portfolio page.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing weeks of waiting for a first client with a structured sample-project sprint.", "commonSnags": [ "Presenting samples as client work. Label everything. The freelance world is small and getting caught is career-ending.", "Endless polishing instead of pitching. Two good samples plus ten pitches beats five perfect samples plus zero pitches.", "Samples for five different services. Pick one offer. A scattered portfolio tells clients you do nothing well." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://invoiceninja.com/how-to-find-freelancing-work-when-you-have-no-portfolio/", "author": "Invoice Ninja", "note": "Five ways to build a portfolio from zero; self-made samples are legitimate when labeled honestly." }, { "url": "https://jackylearn.com/from-zero-to-first-client/", "author": "Jacky (jackylearn.com)", "note": "Build 2-3 labeled sample projects as mock-ups; keep the portfolio tight with a case-study line each." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write Home Assistant automations with AI", "slug": "write-home-assistant-automations-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/write-home-assistant-automations-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Write Home Assistant automations with AI: describe the behavior in plain words, get correct YAML in the current format, and verify it safely.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Home Assistant" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Know the three parts first. Home Assistant’s docs define every automation as: When (triggers, e.g. motion detected), And if (conditions, optional, e.g. someone is home), Then do (actions, e.g. turn on a light).", "Look up your real entity IDs in Developer Tools, then States. The AI cannot know your devices; invented entity names are the number one reason AI-written automations fail silently.", "Describe the automation in plain words with the three parts: the trigger, the condition, the action. Include the exact entity IDs.", "Ask for YAML in the current format. Key names changed over releases: service became action, platform became trigger, and singular trigger/condition/action became plural. Old keys still work but cannot be mixed with new ones in the same automation.", "Paste it where it belongs. Automations created in the UI live in automations.yaml, which is UI-managed; manual YAML goes in configuration.yaml, and you must reload automations after changes.", "Test before trusting. Trigger it manually, watch what happens, and check the automation’s trace to see each step execute. A unique id on the automation enables renaming and stores debug traces.", "Start with harmless automations: lights and notifications. Save locks, alarms, and anything with water or heat for after you trust the pattern." ], "prompt": "Write a Home Assistant automation in YAML. I will test it before relying on it.\n\nWhat I want in plain words: [e.g. \"When motion is detected in the hallway after sunset and someone is home, turn on the hallway light to 50%, then turn it off after 5 minutes of no motion\"]\nTrigger entity: [exact entity ID, e.g. \"binary_sensor.hallway_motion\"]\nCondition: [e.g. \"sun below horizon AND someone home (person.you)\"]\nAction entities: [exact entity IDs, e.g. \"light.hallway\"]\n\nRules:\n- Use the current YAML format: triggers, conditions, actions (plural keys), action instead of service.\n- Use ONLY the entity IDs I gave you. Never invent device or entity names.\n- Include a unique id so I can rename it and view traces.\n- After the YAML, give me: where to paste it, how to reload, and how to test it step by step.\n\nI will review the YAML and test the automation manually before trusting it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 60 minutes per automation versus writing YAML from docs.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual YAML composition and doc-reading with a generated draft plus testing.", "commonSnags": [ "Invented entity IDs. The AI will happily write light.living_room when yours is light.livingroom_lamp. It fails silently. Always paste real IDs.", "Mixed old and new key names. Old keys still work, but mixing service with actions in one automation breaks it. Pick the current format and stay in it.", "Trusting it on the first try for anything physical. Test with lights and notifications first; locks, garage doors, and water valves earn trust over time." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.home-assistant.io/docs/automation/yaml", "author": "Home Assistant", "note": "Automation YAML structure, triggers/conditions/actions lists, and the old-to-new key renames." }, { "url": "https://www.home-assistant.io/getting-started/concepts-terminology/", "author": "Home Assistant", "note": "What triggers, conditions, and actions are, and how the When/And if/Then do editor maps to them." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Cut home energy use with AI", "slug": "cut-home-energy-use-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/cut-home-energy-use-with-ai/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Find where your home wastes energy with AI: feed it your bills and house facts, get a prioritized fix list starting with the cheapest wins.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Gather the bills. Three to six months of totals and usage history is enough; the AI needs the pattern, not your account numbers.", "List the house facts: approximate age, square footage, heating system type and age, water heater type and temperature setting, thermostat type.", "Ask for the energy ranking first: where is the energy most likely going, in order. The Department of Energy notes heating can be almost half of a winter bill and water heating 14 to 25 percent of a home’s energy.", "Get the fix list ordered by cost, cheapest first. The DOE’s monthly checklist starts with: collect the bills and target the biggest consumer, insulate hot-water pipes and ducts in unheated areas, seal the largest air leaks, and set back a programmable thermostat at night.", "Hunt the real leaks, not the obvious ones. Per the DOE, the worst air leaks are usually plumbing penetrations, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards, not windows and doors. Small cracks can add up to the equivalent of an open window.", "Do the free wins this weekend: set the water heater to 120 degrees, set back the thermostat at night, seal the biggest gaps you can find with caulk.", "For the bigger question, get a real audit. Professional audits use blower-door tests and infrared cameras, deliver a prioritized report, and are often free through local utility companies." ], "prompt": "Help me find where my home wastes energy and what to fix first.\n\nUtility bills (last 6 months, totals and kWh/therms): [paste the numbers, NOT account numbers]\nHouse: [e.g. \"1970s colonial, 1800 sq ft, oil baseboard heat from the 90s, electric water heater, no programmable thermostat\"]\nWhat I have noticed: [e.g. \"upstairs bedrooms are cold, basement is freezing, bills spike December to February\"]\n\nGive me:\n1. A ranked list of where my energy is most likely going, with the DOE-type percentages where they apply.\n2. Fixes ordered cheapest first: what to do, roughly what it involves, which ones are DIY.\n3. What NOT to bother with for my house.\n\nRules:\n- Do not paste or ask for account numbers, names, or addresses. Bills totals only.\n- Flag anything you are estimating rather than calculating.\n\nReview the list before spending money. Big-ticket items deserve a second opinion or a professional audit.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 3 hours of research on where energy goes.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual energy-audit reading with a prioritized list built from the household’s own bills.", "commonSnags": [ "Replacing windows first. The DOE notes a typical home loses over a quarter of its heat through windows, but air sealing and insulation usually pay back faster for less money.", "Trusting AI savings figures. If the AI quotes dollar savings, ask what it is based on; generic percentages rarely match a specific house.", "Pasting full bills with account numbers into a chatbot. Totals and usage only. Account numbers never belong in a prompt." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.energy.gov/cmei/femp/home-energy-checklist", "author": "U.S. Department of Energy", "note": "Where household energy goes, the monthly DIY checklist, and the real worst air-leak locations." }, { "url": "https://www.thisoldhouse.com/inspections/how-to-perform-a-whole-house-energy-audit", "author": "This Old House", "note": "Audit types, professional diagnostic tools, common loss areas, and typical recommended fixes." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Build an exam study schedule with AI quizzes", "slug": "exam-study-schedule-and-quizzes-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/exam-study-schedule-and-quizzes-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build a certification exam study plan with AI: a schedule weighted by exam topic, active-recall quizzes, and timed practice tests before exam day.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Get the official exam blueprint first. Everything hangs on it: topic weights decide where your hours go, not your comfort level.", "Estimate total hours honestly. Study guidance suggests beginner certs run 60 to 120 hours, intermediate 120 to 240, advanced 300 plus, with a 20 percent buffer on top.", "Feed the blueprint, the date, and your weekly hours into the prompt. Ask for weekly goals with fixed sessions and mixed formats: reading, video, labs, practice questions.", "Weight study time by topic weight. Do not spread hours evenly; heavy exam domains get heavy study time.", "Build in a full practice test every two weeks as a checkpoint. Practice tests expose weak areas and build stamina; review every wrong answer and track accuracy by domain.", "Near the exam, take at least two full-length timed practice tests to build pacing. Aim for scores roughly 10 percent above the passing threshold before scheduling the exam.", "Stop cramming the night before. Rest instead; cramming hurts recall and sleep consolidates memory." ], "prompt": "Build me a certification exam study schedule with practice quizzes.\n\nExam: [e.g. \"AWS Solutions Architect Associate\"]\nExam date: [e.g. \"8 weeks from now\"]\nWeekly hours I actually have: [e.g. \"8\"]\nTopic weights from the official blueprint: [paste them, e.g. \"Design resilient architectures 30%, high-performing 28%, secure 24%, cost-optimized 18%\"]\nMy starting level: [e.g. \"beginner. I use AWS at work but have never studied for a cert\"]\n\nGive me:\n1. A week-by-week schedule: fixed sessions, what to study each session, format mix (reading, labs, practice questions).\n2. Study time weighted by topic weights, not spread evenly.\n3. A practice-test plan: baseline early, one every 2 weeks, two full timed tests near the end.\n4. For each week: one practice quiz I can take to prove I learned it.\n\nRules:\n- Base everything on the blueprint weights I gave you.\n- Tell me what to cut if I fall behind, not just what to add.\n\nReview the schedule against the official blueprint before you start. I own the exam date; adjust the plan if the hours do not fit.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 4 hours of schedule planning and quiz writing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing manual blueprint-to-calendar planning and self-made quizzes with a generated plan.", "commonSnags": [ "Planning fantasy hours. Eight real hours beat fifteen aspirational ones. The schedule has to survive your actual week.", "Skipping the practice tests because they are unpleasant. They are the highest-value hours in the whole plan; the discomfort is the point.", "Letting the AI invent exam content. It should schedule and quiz from YOUR blueprint and materials, not hallucinate what the exam covers." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://flashgenius.net/blog-article/ace-your-certification-proven-exam-prep-strategies-1749095023695", "author": "FlashGenius", "note": "Building the plan from the exam blueprint, hour estimates by cert level, active recall, and practice-test strategy." }, { "url": "https://open-exam-prep.com/study-guides/wa-cna/knowledge-exam-format-oral-option-outline-and-study-strategy/study-plan-and-review-method", "author": "OpenExamPrep", "note": "Allocating study time by topic weights, timed practice tests, and resting instead of cramming." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Debug a Python script with AI", "slug": "debug-a-python-script-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/debug-a-python-script-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Debug a Python script with AI: paste the traceback and the code, get a plain-words explanation of the cause and one fix to test.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Copy the entire traceback, not just the last line. The last line names the error, but the lines above show where it happened.", "Learn the one skill that makes everything else work: read a traceback from bottom to top. The final line is the error message with the exception name; moving up shows the calls from most recent to least recent, each with filename, line number, and the code that ran.", "Paste the traceback plus the surrounding code into the prompt. Ask for the cause in plain words first, then one fix.", "Check the cause against the common list before accepting it. Typical culprits: NameError (undefined name), TypeError (wrong type for the operation, like 1 + \"1\"), ValueError (bad value, like int(\"a\")), IndexError, KeyError, ZeroDivisionError, ImportError, AttributeError.", "Apply exactly one fix and run the script again. If the error changes, you made progress; paste the new traceback and repeat.", "If the AI’s fix does not work after two tries, ask it to explain what the code is trying to do line by line instead. Understanding beats guessing.", "When it works, ask the AI to summarize what was wrong in one sentence and save it. Error patterns repeat, and your future self will thank you." ], "prompt": "Help me debug my Python script. I am not a programmer, so explain in plain words.\n\nThe full traceback:\n[paste the ENTIRE error output here]\n\nThe code around the failing line:\n[paste about 20 lines, marking which line the traceback points to]\n\nWhat the script is supposed to do: [e.g. \"read a CSV of expenses and print monthly totals\"]\n\nGive me:\n1. What the error means in one plain sentence.\n2. The most likely cause, pointing at the specific line.\n3. ONE fix to try. Just one.\n4. How to check whether the fix worked.\n\nRules:\n- Do not rewrite my whole script. One fix at a time.\n- If you are not sure, say so and give me the two most likely causes.\n\nI will test each fix before asking for the next step.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 90 minutes of stuck-on-an-error time per bug.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing unguided trial-and-error with a read-the-traceback-first workflow.", "commonSnags": [ "Pasting only the last line of the error. The AI needs the full traceback; the location lines above the message are where the diagnosis lives.", "Accepting a full rewrite. Rewrites introduce new bugs you cannot evaluate. One targeted fix, tested, then the next.", "The AI confidently naming the wrong cause. If two fixes fail, stop and ask for a line-by-line explanation instead of a third guess." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://cdn.realpython.com/lessons/read-python-traceback/", "author": "Real Python", "note": "How to read a traceback: bottom to top, error line last, call entries with filename and line number." }, { "url": "https://dataquest.io/blog/python-exceptions/", "author": "Elena Kosourova (Dataquest)", "note": "Common built-in exceptions and try/except basics for handling them." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Break an Overwhelming Task Into Small Steps With AI", "slug": "task-breakdown-with-ai-for-adhd", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/task-breakdown-with-ai-for-adhd/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn one big, stuck task into a short list of tiny steps you can start right now, with the AI doing the breaking down.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write the task in one sentence, exactly as it sits in your head. Vague is fine.", "Paste it into the chat with the prompt below and ask for steps no longer than 10 minutes each.", "Read the list and delete or merge anything that does not fit your situation.", "Pick the single first step and ignore the rest for now. One step at a time is the whole method.", "Set a timer for 10 minutes and do only that step.", "When the timer ends, check the step off and pick the next one. Stopping is also fine.", "If you keep stalling on the same step, ask the AI to split that one step into even smaller pieces." ], "prompt": "Break this task into the smallest possible steps. Each step must take 10 minutes or less for one person.\n\nTask: [describe the task in one sentence]\n\nRules:\n- List steps in the order I would do them.\n- Number each step. One action per step.\n- Mark the very first step clearly so I know where to start.\n- Do not add tools, apps, or purchases I did not mention.\n- If a step still looks big, split it further.\n\nReview the list before you use it: delete or merge anything that does not fit, then do only step one.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 15 to 30 minutes of stuck time per task.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing 15 to 30 minutes of staring at a big task with a few minutes of list-making and a 10-minute first step.", "commonSnags": [ "AI is a list-making helper, not treatment for ADHD. If task paralysis keeps happening, talk to a clinician or coach.", "The AI may assume tools, energy, or time you do not have. Edit the list to match your real situation.", "Steps that depend on other people need their own follow-up. AI cannot chase them for you.", "Do not paste sensitive work details into a chat. Describe the task, not the confidential parts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://chadd.org/for-adults/succeeding-in-the-workplace/", "author": "CHADD", "note": "Break larger projects into smaller pieces with individual due dates; set a timer to stay on task." }, { "url": "https://www.additudemag.com/end-procrastination-one-step/", "author": "ADDitude", "note": "Take it one step at a time: identify the first step and focus only on that." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Start a Business: LLC or Sole Proprietor Setup Checklist", "slug": "new-business-setup-checklist", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/new-business-setup-checklist/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Decide between a sole proprietorship and an LLC, then work the startup checklist: tax ID, licenses, and a separate bank account, with a professional reviewing the call.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. State filing fees vary and are not stated here.", "steps": [ "Learn the core tradeoff: a sole proprietorship may be the easiest structure to form, but you are personally responsible for all business losses and liabilities, while an LLC separates business and personal liabilities.", "Read the IRS definitions of each structure so you understand how each is taxed.", "Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You will use it to open a bank account, apply for licenses, and pay federal taxes.", "Check federal, state, county, and local governments for the permits or licenses your business needs.", "Open a separate business bank account. Do not mix personal and business funds.", "Use the AI to turn your notes into a checklist with your state’s steps in order, then review every line yourself.", "Talk to a tax or legal professional, or a free SCORE or SBDC counselor, before you file." ], "prompt": "Help me build a startup checklist for my business. I have NOT filed anything yet and I will have a professional review this.\n\nBusiness idea: [one sentence]\nState: [state]\nPlanned structure: [sole proprietorship or LLC, or \"undecided\"]\n\nRules:\n- List the steps in order: structure decision, name check, EIN, state filing, licenses and permits, bank account, tax setup.\n- For the structure decision, summarize the tradeoff in plain language: sole proprietorship is simplest but I am personally liable; an LLC separates liabilities but costs more and has more paperwork.\n- Tell me which steps vary by state and that I must verify them on my state’s official site.\n- Do NOT give legal advice or tell me which structure to choose. End with: \"Have a tax or legal professional review this before filing.\"\n\nReview the checklist before you act on it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 2 to 4 hours of scattered research in one sitting.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting the ordered checklist in one pass instead of piecing it together from separate searches.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot give legal or tax advice and may state rules that do not apply in your state. Verify on official sites.", "Do not paste your Social Security number or EIN into a chatbot. You do not need them to build the checklist.", "A sole proprietorship means personal liability for business debts. Understand that before choosing simple over protected.", "Some sites charge fees for free filings like EINs. Get the EIN from the IRS directly." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://legacy.sba.gov/blog/choosing-right-business-structure-three-factors-consider", "author": "U.S. Small Business Administration", "note": "Sole proprietorship vs LLC liability tradeoff; tax ID and licenses next step; free SCORE and SBDC counseling." }, { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/businesses", "author": "Internal Revenue Service", "note": "IRS definitions: sole proprietorship and LLC member liability for tax purposes." }, { "url": "https://it5.usbank.com/business-banking/business-resource-center/business-life-stages/start-a-business.html", "author": "U.S. Bank", "note": "EIN uses, separate bank account, checking all levels of government for licenses, consult a tax or legal professional." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Draft a Privacy Policy and Terms Page for Your Site", "slug": "draft-a-privacy-policy-and-terms-page", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/draft-a-privacy-policy-and-terms-page/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Draft a privacy policy and terms of service that match what your site actually does, structured so a lawyer can review them fast.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Lawyer review is a separate cost and worth it.", "steps": [ "Inventory your data first: list everything you collect, why you collect it, and who else sees it. The FTC’s first principle is to take stock of what personal information you have.", "Cut anything you do not need. Keeping only what you need is both safer and easier to disclose.", "Draft the privacy policy sections: who you are, what you collect, how and why you use each category, who you share it with, user rights, cookies, security, retention, and children’s privacy.", "Draft the terms sections: acceptable use, intellectual property, user content, limitation of liability, termination, and governing law.", "Add a visible last-updated date to the privacy policy.", "Use clickwrap for terms: a checkbox or button where users affirmatively agree, which courts favor over a passive link.", "Have a lawyer review both pages against your actual practices, then publish and update them whenever your billing, features, or data practices change." ], "prompt": "Help me draft a privacy policy and terms of service for my website. These are DRAFTS for a lawyer to review, not final legal documents.\n\nWhat my site does: [one paragraph]\nData I collect: [forms, analytics, cookies, payments, accounts: be specific]\nThird parties who see data: [analytics provider, payment processor, email tool, etc.]\nDo I serve children under 13: [yes/no]\nState or country: [location]\n\nRules:\n- Privacy policy sections: business identity and scope, categories of data collected, how and why each is used, sharing and third parties, user rights, cookies and tracking, security, retention, children’s privacy, last-updated date.\n- Terms sections: acceptable use, intellectual property, user-generated content, limitation of liability, termination, governing law.\n- Describe only what I listed. Do not invent data practices.\n- Flag every section a lawyer must customize with \"[LAWYER REVIEW]\".\n- End with: \"Have an attorney review and tailor these to your actual business practices before publishing.\"\n\nReview the drafts before sending them to a lawyer.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 3 to 5 hours of drafting in one sitting.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on generating structured first drafts in one pass instead of researching each required section separately.", "commonSnags": [ "AI-drafted legal pages are not reviewed and not tailored to your business. They must go through a lawyer before publishing.", "Do not paste customer data or real user records into a chatbot while drafting examples.", "Terms need a governing law and liability section that fits your state. Generic language may not hold up.", "If your site collects any personal data, privacy rules like state privacy laws may apply. The draft is a starting point, not compliance." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/protecting-personal-information-guide-business", "author": "Federal Trade Commission", "note": "Five data-security principles: take stock, scale down, lock it, pitch it, plan ahead; keep sensitive data only as long as needed." }, { "url": "https://legalclarity.org/privacy-notice-example-what-to-include-in-your-policy/", "author": "LegalClarity", "note": "Section-by-section list of what a privacy policy must cover; misleading policies as deceptive practice under FTC Act Section 5." }, { "url": "https://gouchevlaw.com/attorney-drafted-terms-of-use/", "author": "Gouchev Law", "note": "Only an attorney can tailor terms to actual business practices; update terms when billing, features, or territories change." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Journal With AI and Know Where to Stop", "slug": "journal-with-ai-with-limits", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/journal-with-ai-with-limits/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Use AI as a journaling partner for reflection prompts and organizing your thoughts, with clear limits on what it is not.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Decide what journaling is for: reflection and organizing thoughts, not diagnosis or treatment.", "Set your boundary up front: no crisis topics, no medical decisions, no asking the AI what is wrong with you.", "Use the prompt below to get reflection questions on a topic, not answers about your mental health.", "Write your actual reflections in your own words. Let the AI prompt, not opine.", "Read AI responses critically. AI tends to agree with you and can sound confident while being wrong.", "Keep your most sensitive entries in a private offline journal. Chat content can be stored or used for training.", "If your entries keep circling distress, or you feel worse, talk to a licensed mental health professional." ], "prompt": "Act as a journaling partner for reflection only. You are NOT a therapist and you do not diagnose.\n\nTopic I want to reflect on: [a few sentences]\n\nRules:\n- Ask me 3 to 5 open-ended reflection questions about this topic.\n- Do not diagnose, label, or suggest I have any condition.\n- Do not give medical or therapeutic advice.\n- If I describe thoughts of harming myself or others, stop and tell me to call 911 or to call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) right away.\n- Remind me once that you are an AI, not a professional.\n\nReview the questions before you use them, and skip any that do not feel right.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 10 to 15 minutes per journaling session.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting structured reflection prompts in under a minute instead of staring at a blank page.", "commonSnags": [ "AI is not a safe or effective replacement for a licensed mental health professional. Do not use it as one.", "AI tends to agree with you. Constant validation can reinforce distorted or unhelpful thoughts instead of challenging them.", "Chat content can be stored, kept, and shared, including sensitive personal information. Keep the most private entries offline.", "Never rely on AI in a crisis. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, call 911 or call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency department." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/guide-navigating-ai", "author": "American Psychological Association", "note": "AI is not a safe or effective replacement for licensed care; safe uses include organizing thoughts and prompting reflection; crisis guidance: call 911 or 988." }, { "url": "https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/health-advisory-chatbots-wellness-apps", "author": "American Psychological Association", "note": "Generative AI chatbots should not be used as a replacement for a qualified mental health care provider." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Organize Elder Care: Appointments, Meds, and Paperwork", "slug": "organize-elder-care-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/organize-elder-care-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Build one organized system for an aging parent’s care: current medications, upcoming appointments, questions for each visit, and the legal paperwork, all in one place.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Build the master medication list: every drug, dose, what it is for, and whether it is short or long term. Ask the pharmacist or doctor about anything unclear.", "Build the provider list: every doctor, specialist, and pharmacy with contact info.", "Set up one shared calendar for appointments, and put medication reminders where the caregiver will actually see them.", "Get the paperwork in order: a durable power of attorney for health care and finances, a living will, and a signed release-of-information form so providers can talk to you. These must be created while your loved one can still make decisions.", "Before each appointment, prepare a short agenda and a question list, and bring the updated medication list.", "After each visit, confirm next steps, who handles follow-up, and whether any medication changed. Do not assume no news is good news on labs or referrals.", "Review the lists monthly and after every hospitalization or specialist visit, since medication changes are where confusion starts." ], "prompt": "Help me organize caregiving information for my aging parent. This is for ORGANIZATION only, not medical or legal advice.\n\nUse initials, not full names. Do not include Social Security numbers or full medical records.\n\nCurrent medications: [name, dose, purpose, prescriber: or \"list to be completed\"]\nProviders: [doctor, specialty, phone]\nUpcoming appointments: [date, provider, purpose]\nLegal documents on hand: [advance directive, power of attorney, release forms: or \"none yet\"]\n\nRules:\n- Turn this into three clean lists: medications, providers and appointments, documents still needed.\n- Generate 5 questions to ask at the next appointment based on what is listed.\n- Flag anything missing that a caregiver typically needs, marked \"[to confirm with the care team or a lawyer]\".\n- Do NOT give medical advice, interpret test results, or draft legal documents.\n\nReview everything before you rely on it, and confirm medical details with the provider.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours a month of hunting for information.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on replacing repeated searches for medication details, appointment times, and documents with one maintained system.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot give medical advice or interpret test results. Track and organize; let the care team decide.", "Do not paste full medical records, Social Security numbers, or account numbers into a chatbot. Initials and lists are enough.", "Legal documents like powers of attorney must be created while your loved one can still make decisions. Waiting too long is the classic mistake.", "Medication lists go stale fast. Review after every hospitalization, specialist visit, or new diagnosis." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/reduce-gaps-in-care/", "author": "AARP", "note": "Bring updated medication and provider lists to appointments; clarify next steps before leaving; track labs and referrals; pharmacist medication reviews." }, { "url": "https://community.aarp.org/caregiving-connect-10/a-legal-checklist-for-family-caregivers-1355", "author": "AARP", "note": "Durable power of attorney for health care and finances, living will, and creating documents while the person can still decide." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Ask Better Retirement Questions With AI", "slug": "retirement-planning-questions-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/retirement-planning-questions-with-ai/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn vague retirement worry into a concrete question list about savings, Social Security timing, and withdrawal rules, organized for a real conversation with a professional.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down the three classic questions: how much should I save, when should I claim Social Security, and how much can I withdraw each year.", "Pull your Social Security statement to see estimated benefits at different claiming ages.", "Run the prompt below with your rough numbers. Use totals only, never account numbers.", "Check every AI claim against primary sources like the Social Security Administration before believing it.", "Take the organized question list to a registered investment professional for the actual plan." ], "prompt": "Help me organize my retirement questions. You are organizing, NOT giving financial advice.\n\nAge: [age]\nRough household income: [amount]\nRough retirement savings total: [amount]\nDebts: [mortgage, loans: amounts only]\nPlanned retirement age: [age or \"unsure\"]\n\nRules:\n- List the key questions I should be asking: savings rate, Social Security claiming age, withdrawal rate, health care costs, tax treatment.\n- For Social Security timing, note only what the Social Security Administration states: benefits can be claimed between 62 and 70 and are higher the longer you wait, up to 70.\n- Do NOT recommend investments, predict returns, or tell me what to do with my money.\n- Flag anything that needs a professional with \"[ask a registered investment professional]\".\n- End with: \"Verify everything here against primary sources and talk to a professional before acting.\"\n\nReview the output before you rely on any of it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 1 to 2 hours of scattered research in one sitting.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting an organized question list in one pass instead of piecing together retirement basics from separate searches.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot give financial advice and may invent figures, returns, or rules. Every number needs a primary-source check.", "Do not paste account numbers, logins, or full statements into a chatbot. Totals are enough for planning questions.", "Beware of anyone, human or AI, promising guaranteed investment returns. That is a classic fraud flag.", "Tax and Social Security rules change. Confirm current rules on ssa.gov rather than trusting a chat answer." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/retirement/plan-for-retirement", "author": "U.S. Social Security Administration", "note": "Benefits claimable between 62 and 70, higher the longer you wait up to 70; earnings limits before full retirement age." }, { "url": "https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/retirement-guidelines", "author": "Fidelity Investments", "note": "15 percent savings guideline, savings milestones by age, 4 to 5 percent withdrawal guideline, delaying Social Security raises benefits." }, { "url": "https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/artificial-intelligence-and-investment-fraud", "author": "FINRA / SEC / NASAA", "note": "Do not rely solely on AI-generated information for investment decisions; AI output can be faulty or made up; check with a registered professional." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Understand Your Lease in Plain English", "slug": "summarize-a-lease-in-plain-english", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/summarize-a-lease-in-plain-english/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Turn a dense lease into a plain-English summary of rent, fees, rules, and red flags, so you know what you are signing.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Photograph or scan every page of the lease so the AI can read the full text.", "Ask the AI to extract the key terms using the prompt below: rent, fees, term, deposit, rules, and exit terms.", "Read the plain-English summary and compare it against the warning-sign list: automatic rent increases, shared utility meters, blank spaces, and one-sided terms.", "Write down your questions: pet policy, subletting, maintenance split, renewal terms, and what happens if you need to break the lease.", "Ask the landlord about anything unclear, and get answers in writing.", "If anything looks off or you do not understand a clause, talk to a local attorney before signing." ], "prompt": "Summarize this lease in plain English. You are summarizing, NOT giving legal advice.\n\n[Paste the lease text here]\n\nRules:\n- Extract: parties, property address, lease term and dates, rent amount and due date, late fees and grace period, security deposit amount, pet policy, occupancy limits, subletting rules, maintenance responsibilities, renewal terms, early termination terms, and landlord entry notice rules.\n- Use plain language a non-lawyer understands. Define any legal term you quote.\n- Flag anything that looks one-sided or unusual with \"[review carefully]\": automatic rent increases, shared utility meters, blank spaces, \"hold harmless\" clauses, unrestricted landlord entry, waivers of legal rights.\n- List 8 questions I should ask the landlord before signing.\n- End with: \"This is a summary, not legal advice. Have a local attorney review anything you are unsure about.\"\n\nReview the summary against the actual lease before you rely on it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 60 minutes of puzzling over legal language.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting a structured plain-English summary in minutes instead of decoding the lease line by line alone.", "commonSnags": [ "AI summarizes; it does not give legal advice and may miss state-specific rules. A local attorney handles the close calls.", "AI can misread scanned text. Verify every extracted number against the actual lease.", "Warning signs AI should flag but you must judge: automatic rent increases, shared meters, and clauses waiving your rights.", "Lease terms cannot override state or federal law, including fair housing protections. An illegal clause is not enforceable just because you signed it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.findlaw.com/realestate/landlord-tenant-law/tenant-lease-agreement-faqs.html", "author": "FindLaw", "note": "Standard lease terms checklist, warning-sign clauses, security deposit limits, and what tenants should check before signing." }, { "url": "https://www.allstate.com/resources/renters-insurance/questions-to-ask-landlord-before-renting", "author": "Allstate", "note": "Questions to ask before signing: lease-break penalties, emergency maintenance, and landlord entry notice." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Write an IEP Evaluation Request Letter", "slug": "draft-an-iep-request-letter-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/draft-an-iep-request-letter-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Draft a clear, dated IEP evaluation request letter to the school, and track what happens after you send it.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Write down specific concerns: what your child struggles with, when you noticed, and how it affects schoolwork.", "Draft the letter with the prompt below. Keep it factual and dated.", "Send it to the principal and the special education director. Keep a copy and proof you sent it.", "Watch for the school’s response: they must tell you whether they will evaluate or are refusing, with reasons.", "If they agree, you will get a consent form. Sign and return it promptly; the evaluation clock generally starts at written consent.", "Track the timeline. Federal law generally requires the evaluation within 60 days of your consent, unless your state sets a different period.", "Ask for the evaluation reports a few days before the eligibility meeting so you can read them first." ], "prompt": "Help me draft a letter requesting a special education evaluation for my child. This is a DRAFT for me to review, not legal advice.\n\nChild’s grade: [grade]\nSchool: [school name]\nMy concerns: [specific examples of struggles and how they affect schoolwork]\nAreas I want evaluated: [reading, math, speech, attention, behavior: as applicable]\n\nRules:\n- Formal, polite tone. Date the letter.\n- Address it to the principal and special education director.\n- State clearly that I am requesting an evaluation for special education eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).\n- Describe my concerns factually, without diagnosing my child.\n- Request written consent forms and a written response.\n- Include placeholders for my name, contact info, and my child’s name.\n- End with: \"Verify your state’s timelines and consider consulting a special education advocate or attorney if the school refuses.\"\n\nReview the letter before you send it, and keep a copy.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 30 to 60 minutes of drafting and second-guessing.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on generating a structured, dated letter in one pass instead of researching format and wording separately.", "commonSnags": [ "Timelines vary by state. Federal law generally sets 60 days from consent, but your state may differ. Verify locally.", "The school is not obligated to test just because you asked. They must respond, but they can refuse with written reasons.", "A doctor’s note or diagnosis does not guarantee an IEP. The school determines educational eligibility, not doctors.", "Do not paste your child’s full educational or medical records into a chatbot. Describe concerns; keep records private." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/evaluation-ld-testing/questions/how-long-does-school-have-respond-parental-request", "author": "LD OnLine", "note": "School must respond to a testing request; written informed consent required; IDEA generally requires evaluation within 60 days of consent." }, { "url": "https://patient.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/8122", "author": "UW Health", "note": "Sample IEP request letter format; 60 days to assess after consent; IEP team has 30 days to create the plan; yearly reviews and 3-year re-evaluations." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Check a Client Request Against Your Contract", "slug": "check-a-client-request-against-your-contract", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/check-a-client-request-against-your-contract/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Compare a new client request against your contract or statement of work to see if it is in scope, then draft a calm reply either way.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Get the request in writing. If it came by phone, send a quick email confirming what was asked.", "Paste the scope section of your contract and the new request into the chat with the prompt below.", "Read the AI’s sorting: covered by the contract, gray area, or new work. Check it against your own reading.", "If it is your mistake, treat it as a correction, not a paid extra.", "If it is new work, estimate the extra effort, then agree on price and schedule with the client before starting.", "Confirm the decision in a short email: what was decided, who does what, and by when. That email becomes the record." ], "prompt": "Help me check whether a client request is in scope. You are comparing text, NOT giving legal advice.\n\nMy contract scope section:\n[Paste the scope, deliverables, revision limits, and timeline]\n\nClient’s new request:\n[Paste the request exactly as written]\n\nRules:\n- Sort the request into one of three buckets: clearly covered, gray area, or new work. Quote the contract lines that support your sorting.\n- If gray area, list what is ambiguous and what I should ask the client to clarify.\n- If new work, draft a short reply: acknowledge the request, quote the added fee and timeline shift, and ask for written approval before I start.\n- If it looks like fixing my own mistake, say so plainly and suggest treating it as a correction.\n- End with: \"You make the final call. This is a reading aid, not legal advice.\"\n\nReview the sorting before you act on it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 20 to 40 minutes of anxious re-reading per request.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting a structured scope comparison in minutes instead of re-reading the contract repeatedly.", "commonSnags": [ "AI reads text; it does not know your verbal agreements or relationship history. Your judgment rules.", "Gray areas need a clarifying question to the client, not a guess. Ask them to point to the requirement.", "Do not paste an entire client contract with sensitive commercial terms into a chatbot if you can avoid it. The scope section is usually enough.", "Agree on price and schedule before starting added work, not after." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://blog.usafreelancecalculator.com/2026/10/how-to-handle-scope-creep-as-freelancer.html", "author": "USA Freelance Calculator", "note": "Compare the request with agreed work, estimate extra effort, agree price and schedule first; own mistakes are corrections." }, { "url": "https://www.thefreelancerstack.com/blog/avoid-scope-creep-clients.html", "author": "The Freelancer Stack", "note": "Write scope in outcomes and counts; change orders as clarity; three-bullet recap emails as scope anchors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Self-Publish a Book With AI Help", "slug": "self-publish-a-book-with-ai-help", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/self-publish-a-book-with-ai-help/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Personal", "job": "Walk the self-publishing steps in order, using AI for brainstorming, editing help, and checklists, with professionals handling editing and cover design.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers. Editing, cover design, and ISBNs are separate costs.", "steps": [ "Finish the manuscript first. AI can help brainstorm and organize, but the draft is yours to write.", "Get a professional edit. At minimum, hire an outside editor; a copyedit for an 80,000-word manuscript takes about two weeks, and good editors book a month or more ahead.", "Design the cover with a professional designer. The cover is often the number-one marketing tool for the book.", "Proof the formatted files, then convert to your formats. EPUB gives the best ebook quality.", "Get ISBNs for each format you publish.", "Upload to your distribution platforms and check their file specs. On Amazon, books are often live within 24 hours, and preorders can run up to 90 days.", "Disclose AI-generated content where required. Amazon KDP requires disclosure when AI created the actual content; AI-assisted brainstorming and editing needs no disclosure.", "Plan marketing separately: the publishing checklist ends at upload." ], "prompt": "Help me plan my self-publishing project. I will hire an editor and designer; you are the checklist and brainstorming helper.\n\nBook: [title, genre, rough word count]\nFormats planned: [ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook]\nWhere I am now: [finished draft, editing, formatting, ready to upload]\nAI use so far: [brainstorming only, editing help, none: be honest]\n\nRules:\n- Lay out the remaining steps in order: editing, design, proofing, ISBN, file conversion, upload, marketing.\n- For each step, say whether AI can help, a professional is needed, or both.\n- Remind me of the KDP rule: disclose AI-generated content (AI created the actual text, images, or translations); no disclosure needed for AI-assisted brainstorming or editing.\n- Flag anything I should verify on the platform’s current guidelines page before publishing.\n- Do NOT write my book for me or invent publishing facts.\n\nReview the plan before you act on it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 3 to 5 hours of planning and checklist work.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting the ordered step list and AI-use boundaries in one pass instead of researching each stage separately.", "commonSnags": [ "AI cannot replace editing or cover design. Skipping professionals shows in reviews and sales.", "Amazon requires disclosure of AI-generated content, and the definition covers text, images, and translations even if you edited them afterward. Check the current KDP guidelines before publishing.", "Inaccurate metadata like keyword stuffing or false award claims is a policy violation that platforms enforce.", "Marketing is a separate project. The publishing checklist ends at upload; readers do not find the book by themselves." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://janefriedman.com/self-publishing-checklist/?platform=hootsuite", "author": "Jane Friedman", "note": "Three production stages (editing, design, proofing); professional copyedit recommended; cover as number-one marketing tool; Amazon upload timing." }, { "url": "https://writersguild.ca/resources/self-publishing/", "author": "Writers’ Guild of Alberta", "note": "Fifteen ordered steps from manuscript to marketing; hire at minimum an outside editor; ISBN and distribution platform notes." }, { "url": "https://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/kdp-content-guidelines/", "author": "Vappingo", "note": "KDP requires disclosure of AI-generated content; AI-assisted brainstorming and editing needs no disclosure; metadata violations enforced." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Practice a New Language With AI Conversation", "slug": "practice-a-language-with-ai-conversation", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/practice-a-language-with-ai-conversation/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Hold practice conversations in your target language with an AI voice partner, on your schedule.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "ChatGPT voice mode has plan-based limits; check your plan. Language-learning effectiveness is not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Open ChatGPT voice mode and set your preferred voice and target language in Settings.", "Tell the AI your level and what to do: slow conversational practice, with corrections after you finish each reply.", "Start with a simple scenario: ordering food, introducing yourself, or small talk.", "Speak your answers out loud. Do not type them; the speaking is the practice.", "After each round, ask what to fix and try the corrected version once.", "Keep sessions short, around 10 to 15 minutes, and repeat the same scenario until it feels easy.", "Pair this with real instruction. AI practice supplements a course or tutor; it does not replace one." ], "prompt": "I want to practice speaking [language]. My level is [beginner/intermediate].\n\nRules:\n- Speak to me in [language] at a [slow/natural] pace.\n- Give me a simple scenario: [ordering food, introductions, small talk, travel].\n- After each of my replies, briefly correct my mistakes, then continue the conversation.\n- If I switch to English, nudge me back to [language] gently.\n- Keep it encouraging and low pressure.\n\nReview: I will treat your corrections as practice feedback, not a teacher’s verdict.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: the scheduling overhead of finding a practice partner.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on starting a practice session in under a minute versus arranging time with a tutor or exchange partner. Learning effectiveness is not stated in sources.", "commonSnags": [ "AI corrections may be wrong or incomplete. Treat them as practice feedback, not a teacher’s verdict.", "Voice mode has usage limits that vary by plan. Check your plan before a long session.", "No source here establishes how effective AI practice is for learning. Pair it with real instruction.", "The AI may drift into English or go too fast. Tell it to slow down or switch back." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001274-chatgpt-voice", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "ChatGPT voice mode holds natural free-form voice conversations; language-specific voices listed for major languages." }, { "url": "https://felloai.com/chatgpt-advanced-voice-mode-everything-you-need-to-know/", "author": "Fello AI", "note": "Three voice modes (Live, Advanced, Standard); set preferred voice and language in Settings." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Turn Handwritten Notes Into Searchable Text", "slug": "digitize-handwritten-notes-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/digitize-handwritten-notes-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Convert handwritten pages into editable, searchable text using free built-in OCR tools, then clean up the result.", "tools": [ "Google Drive", "Apple Live Text", "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free: Google Drive OCR and Apple Live Text are built in at no cost.", "steps": [ "Photograph each page flat, in good light, with the page filling the frame.", "On a computer: upload the photo to Google Drive, right-click, and choose Open with Google Docs. Google creates a new doc with the recognized text.", "On iPhone: open the photo, tap the Live Text icon, select the text, and copy it into Notes or another app.", "Proofread the extracted text against the photo. Handwriting recognition is less reliable than print, so expect errors.", "Optional: paste the rough text into a chatbot and ask it to fix obvious OCR errors and organize it with headings. Review every change.", "Save the clean text with a clear filename and date so you can search it later." ], "prompt": "Clean up this OCR text from my handwritten notes. Fix obvious character errors only.\n\n[Paste the OCR text]\n\nRules:\n- Fix clear OCR mistakes (wrong letters, merged words, line breaks in odd places).\n- Do NOT rewrite my sentences or change the meaning.\n- Organize with simple headings only where the structure is obvious.\n- Mark anything unreadable as [unclear] instead of guessing.\n- Keep my wording everywhere else.\n\nReview the cleaned text against the original photo before you rely on it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 10 to 20 minutes per page of retyping.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on OCR plus a few minutes of proofreading versus retyping a full handwritten page by hand.", "commonSnags": [ "Handwriting OCR is less reliable than printed text. Proofreading is mandatory, not optional.", "Tables, columns, and lists often come out scrambled. Check those sections closely.", "Do not let the AI guess at unreadable words during cleanup. Mark them [unclear] and check the photo.", "Very cursive or cramped handwriting may not convert well at all. Print-style writing scans far better." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.updf.com/ocr/google-drive-ocr/", "author": "UPDF", "note": "Google Drive extracts text free via Open with Google Docs; supports PDFs and images; handwriting less reliable." }, { "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-mide/guide/iphone/iph37fdd714b/ios", "author": "Apple Support", "note": "Live Text recognizes text in photos and videos on iPhone; copy recognized text into other apps." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "Understand Lab Results Before Your Doctor Visit", "slug": "understand-lab-results-before-a-doctor-visit", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/understand-lab-results-before-a-doctor-visit/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Prepare for a doctor visit by learning what your ordered labs generally measure and writing down questions, without asking AI to interpret your results.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT and Claude free tiers.", "steps": [ "Note the test names from your portal or paperwork. You do not need the numbers for this setup.", "Ask the AI what each test generally measures and why doctors order it. Keep it general, not personal.", "Ask what kinds of questions patients typically ask about these tests.", "Write your own question list: what you want to understand, what worries you, and what happens next.", "Bring the list to the appointment. Your provider interprets your results in the context of your overall health.", "After the visit, use the AI to help you organize the doctor’s answers into notes. The doctor’s interpretation is the record, not the chatbot’s." ], "prompt": "Help me prepare questions for my doctor visit. You are a preparation helper, NOT a doctor, and you do NOT interpret lab results.\n\nTests ordered: [test names only, no results, no personal health details]\n\nRules:\n- Explain in plain language what each test generally measures and why doctors commonly order it.\n- List 6 to 8 questions patients commonly ask about these tests.\n- Do NOT interpret results, diagnose, or suggest what my results might mean. I have not given you results and you must not ask for them.\n- Remind me that reference ranges vary by lab, age, and sex, and that only my provider can interpret my results.\n- End with: \"Take your questions to your provider. This is not medical advice.\"\n\nReview the question list before your visit.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Estimate: 20 to 30 minutes of confused portal-staring per test panel.", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Estimate only: based on getting plain-language background and a question list in minutes instead of piecing it together from scattered searches.", "commonSnags": [ "AI is not a doctor and cannot interpret your lab results. A result outside the range may or may not indicate a problem; only your provider knows.", "Do not paste full lab reports or personal health details into a chatbot. Test names are enough for preparation.", "A result inside the reference range is not always a guarantee of good health, and \"normal\" can be misleading. Context matters.", "At-home test kits should never replace testing your provider orders. Bring questions about those to the visit too." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/how-to-understand-your-lab-results/", "author": "MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)", "note": "Talk with your provider about what results mean; reference ranges vary; results affected by food, medicines, and exercise." }, { "url": "https://my.clevelandclinic.org/resources/test-results-procedures", "author": "Cleveland Clinic", "note": "Ranges vary by age, sex, and location; outside the range does not always mean something is wrong; provider interprets in context." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-18", "addedDate": "2026-10-18" }, { "title": "How to grade your kid's math homework from a photo with AI", "slug": "grade-kids-math-homework-from-a-photo-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/grade-kids-math-homework-from-a-photo-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Snap a photo of the finished math sheet. The bot reads each answer, marks it right or wrong, and writes a short note on what to fix while the work is still fresh.", "tools": [ "AI bot" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Grader bot: you snap a photo of the finished sheet. It reads each answer, marks it right or wrong, and writes a short note on what to fix.", "Messenger (optional): sends each kid their score and fix list by text or chat. Use an account you control, and use first initials or a nickname.", "Practice bot (optional): once a day it turns the mistakes into a short practice sheet as a PDF you can print.", "Paste the starter prompt into your AI bot with a photo attached." ], "prompt": "You are grading a kid's math worksheet from the photo I attach.\n1. Read every problem and the kid's written answer. If you can't read one, say \"can't read #N\" instead of guessing.\n2. Work each problem yourself and mark it right or wrong.\n3. Give a score like 18/20.\n4. For each wrong answer, explain the fix in one short, kind sentence a [AGE]-year-old can follow.\n5. Make a 5-problem practice set that targets the mistakes, plus an answer key on a separate page.\nCall the kid \"[NICKNAME]\". Don't ask for or store their real name, school, or photo of their face.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. That's his claim; he didn't share screenshots or a timed result.", "commonSnags": [ "AI still misreads messy handwriting and can get a step wrong, so spot-check a few answers each week before trusting the scores." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/i/status/2112358622114259239", "author": "@HelloBenL", "note": "Says a small group of bots grades his kids' math worksheets from photos, texts each kid a score plus what to fix, and builds each of them a daily learning PDF. That's his claim; he didn't share screenshots." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-20" }, { "title": "How to use OpenRouter free models to stretch your AI bot's usage", "slug": "openrouter-free-models-stretch-ai-bot-usage", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/openrouter-free-models-stretch-ai-bot-usage/", "category": "Research", "level": "Advanced", "path": "Work", "job": "Keep the planning and the final call on your main bot, and hand grunt work (summaries, file sorting, boilerplate, first drafts) to Pi on an OpenRouter free model and to OpenCode.", "tools": [ "OpenRouter", "Pi", "OpenCode" ], "toolCost": "OpenRouter's docs cap :free models at 20 requests a minute and 50 a day, or 1,000 a day once you've bought at least 10 credits. OpenCode marks its free models as limited-time, so the lineup changes. Other tool costs are not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Main bot: keeps the planning and the final call. It decides what to hand off.", "Helper 1, Pi on OpenRouter: Pi is an open-source coding agent you run in a terminal. Log in with an OpenRouter key and pick a model whose ID ends in :free.", "Helper 2, OpenCode: another terminal coding agent. Its Zen catalog lists some models as free for a limited time.", "Radar (optional): once a week it checks which free models are new and ranks them for the jobs you hand off most.", "Give the starter prompt to your main bot." ], "prompt": "You have two helpers for cheap work: Pi (using an OpenRouter :free model) and OpenCode (using one of its free models).\nBefore you start a task, sort it:\n- Hand off: summaries, file sorting, boilerplate code, first drafts, reformatting.\n- Keep: anything with passwords, keys, personal data, client data, or a final decision.\nWhen you hand off, send only the text the helper needs. Check its result before you use it.\nIf a helper returns a rate-limit error (429), wait and retry once, then do the task yourself.\nOnce a week, list any new free models and rank the top 3 for my hand-off jobs. Ask me before switching.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. Their claim, no numbers shared.", "commonSnags": [ "Last checked: Oct 20, 2026. The free tiers have limits. OpenRouter's docs cap :free models at 20 requests a minute and 50 a day, or 1,000 a day once you've bought at least 10 credits. OpenCode marks its free models as limited-time, so the lineup changes." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/i/status/2112356958108102662", "author": "@DegenYan9", "note": "Says they connected Pi (on OpenRouter) and OpenCode (with its free models) to their bot so it hands tasks to both. They say a radar ranks new free models for Pi, and that this gets them a lot more total tokens. Their claim, no numbers shared." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-20" }, { "title": "How to make a study guide with AI: a custom course ebook on any topic", "slug": "make-a-study-guide-with-ai-custom-course-ebook", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/make-a-study-guide-with-ai-custom-course-ebook/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Gather the sources you care about and turn them into a personal course: chapters from basics to the hard parts, a short quiz after each one, then an EPUB or PDF.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "Pandoc" ], "toolCost": "Pandoc is a free tool that can write EPUB and PDF from a Markdown file. AI chat cost is not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Research bot: gathers the source material. Give it the docs, articles, or projects you want covered.", "Writer bot: turns that into chapters, from basics to the hard parts, with a short quiz after each one.", "Formatter: exports it as an EPUB for your e-reader or a PDF. Pandoc is a free tool that can write both from a Markdown file.", "If your bot can run commands, ask it to finish with pandoc course.md -o course.epub. PDF output needs a PDF engine such as LaTeX installed." ], "prompt": "Build me a personal course on [TOPIC] as a book of about [NUMBER] pages.\nAbout me: I already know [WHAT YOU KNOW]. I'm learning this because [YOUR GOAL].\nAlso cover how [TOOL OR PROJECT 1] and [TOOL OR PROJECT 2] relate to it.\nStructure:\n- A one-page roadmap first.\n- Chapters that go from basics to the hard parts, each with examples and a 5-question quiz.\n- A \"sources\" list at the end of every chapter. Mark anything you're not sure is true.\nWrite it in Markdown with clear headings so I can turn it into an EPUB or PDF.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. Their claim; no file shared.", "commonSnags": [ "A course written by AI can state wrong things with confidence. Check each chapter's sources against the official docs, especially on technical topics." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/i/status/2112285690708795503", "author": "@SkrOYC", "note": "Says their bot made them an EPUB for studying how git works under the hood, shaped by their own goals and a few related tools they named. They say it came out to roughly 50 pages as a PDF. Their claim; no file shared." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-20" }, { "title": "How to extract data from a PDF to Google Sheets with an AI bot", "slug": "extract-data-from-pdf-to-google-sheets-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/extract-data-from-pdf-to-google-sheets-with-ai/", "category": "Research", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Small business", "job": "Read PDF or Word files, pull the fields you name into a Google Sheet (one row per record, with the source file and page), and optionally fill a web form that stops for your approval before submit.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "For small jobs, paste the text into a free AI chat and ask for a table you can paste into Sheets. Other tool costs are not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Extractor bot: reads the PDF or Word files on your computer and pulls the fields you name into rows.", "Sheets step: puts those rows in a Google Sheet, one row per record, with a column for the source file and page.", "Form helper (optional): fills a web form from a row, then stops and shows you a screenshot. You check it and click submit yourself." ], "prompt": "Read the files in [FOLDER] (PDF and Word).\nPull these fields from each record: [FIELD 1], [FIELD 2], [FIELD 3].\nPut one record per row in a Google Sheet called [SHEET NAME], with two extra columns: source file and page number.\nIf a value is unclear or missing, leave the cell blank and add a note. Don't guess.\nWhen done, give me a count of rows and a list of anything you skipped.\n\nWeb forms: fill [FORM URL] from row [N] only after I say go. Stop before submitting, show me a screenshot of the filled form, and wait for me to approve. Never submit on your own.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. Their claim; no file sizes or times shared.", "commonSnags": [ "Scanned PDFs and tables that cross pages are where extraction slips. Check a sample of rows against the source page numbers before you use the sheet for anything that matters." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/i/status/2112360419977249066", "author": "@realYitangWang", "note": "Says their bot filled web forms, worked through Word, PDF, and Google Sheets files, and pulled data out of large PDFs stored on their own computer faster than they expected. Their claim; no file sizes or times shared." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-20" }, { "title": "How to use AI for business plan research: locations, costs and funding", "slug": "ai-business-plan-research-locations-costs-funding", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-business-plan-research-locations-costs-funding/", "category": "Research", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Compare a few places for a business idea, estimate startup and monthly costs as ranges, list funding to check, and draft a simple launch plan, then point out gaps against your background.", "tools": [ "AI bot" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources.", "steps": [ "Location bot: compares 3 to 5 places you're considering, with risks, pros, and cons for each.", "Money bot: rough startup and monthly cost estimates, plus grants, loans, and other funding to look into.", "Marketing bot: who the first customers are, where they hang out, and a simple launch plan.", "Review step: checks your own CV or background against the plan and points out gaps." ], "prompt": "I'm researching a business plan for [BUSINESS IDEA] in [REGION].\n1. Compare these locations: [PLACE 1], [PLACE 2], [PLACE 3]. For each: risks, pros, cons, rough rent or space cost, and who nearby would buy.\n2. Estimate startup costs and monthly running costs as ranges. Show where each number came from.\n3. List funding options to check (grants, loans, small-business programs) with links to the official pages.\n4. Draft a simple marketing plan for the first 90 days.\n5. Read my background below and list the gaps I'd need to fill.\nMark every number as an estimate and every claim you couldn't source.\nMy background: [PASTE CV OR SUMMARY]", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. Their claim; no plan shared.", "commonSnags": [ "Cost and funding numbers from AI are starting points. Rents, grant rules, and deadlines change, so confirm each one with the landlord, lender, or program before it goes into a real plan." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/i/status/2112487021990072644", "author": "@MusesPagoda", "note": "Says they're working toward opening a school for traditional and medieval arts, and that in a few days their bots analyzed possible locations with risks, pros, and cons. They say a marketing bot is helping too, along with work on finances, funding, cost estimates, the course list, and a review of their CV. Their claim; no plan shared." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-20", "addedDate": "2026-10-20" }, { "title": "Thanksgiving Cooking Timeline with AI: Free Prompt for a One-Oven Kitchen", "slug": "thanksgiving-cooking-timeline-with-ai", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/thanksgiving-cooking-timeline-with-ai/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "Copy-paste AI prompt that works backward from your Thanksgiving dinner time for a one-oven kitchen: timeline, thaw day, and food-safe checks.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Google Gemini" ], "toolCost": "Works with the AI chat app you already use.", "steps": [ "Planner bot: you give it your menu, your oven and burners, how many people, and when you want to eat. It works backward from dinner and hands you one timeline with clock times, plus a list of what to make the day before.", "Thaw-and-shop bot (optional): the same chat, second message. It tells you the day to move the turkey to the fridge, based on its weight, and turns the menu into a shopping list grouped by store section.", "Reminder (optional): put the thaw day and the \"turkey in\" time on your phone. If you'd rather have AI ping you, see the scheduled reminders setup.", "Paste the starter prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and fill in the bracketed fields.", "Want the shopping list too? Send this next: \"Now turn the menu into a shopping list for [NUMBER] people, grouped by store section, and mark anything you probably already have.\"" ], "prompt": "I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I want every dish hot at the same time.\n\nMenu: [YOUR DISHES, e.g. turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie]\nTurkey: [WEIGHT IN POUNDS], [FROZEN OR FRESH], [STUFFED OR UNSTUFFED]\nKitchen: [e.g. one oven, four burners, a slow cooker]\nPeople: [NUMBER]\nWe eat at: [TIME]\n\n1. Work backward from the time we eat. Give me one timeline, from the first prep job to sitting down: clock time, dish, what to do, and whether it uses the oven, a burner or the counter.\n2. Plan around my oven. Never schedule two oven dishes at different temperatures at the same time. Use the turkey's rest time for side dishes that need the oven.\n3. Build in at least 20 minutes of rest for the turkey before carving and a 15-minute buffer before we sit down.\n4. List everything I can make the day before.\n5. If the turkey is frozen, tell me the day to move it to the fridge to thaw, using about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds.\n6. Remind me to check the turkey and any stuffing with a food thermometer for 165°F. Don't call it done by clock time alone.\nIf anything is missing, ask me up to 3 short questions before you start.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet.", "commonSnags": [ "The AI guesses roast and bake times. It doesn't know your oven runs hot or that your bird is bigger than the label says. Treat the timeline as a plan to adjust, check the turkey with a thermometer, and if the bird runs late, push the casseroles back rather than serving it early." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/turkey-basics-safe-thawing", "note": "USDA: Turkey Basics: Safe Thawing. Fridge thaw about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds at 40°F or below." }, { "url": "https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting", "note": "USDA: Let's Talk Turkey. Roasting timetable, 165°F doneness, and 20-minute rest before carving." }, { "url": "https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures", "note": "FoodSafety.gov: Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures. Whole turkey and stuffing at 165°F." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "X content research bot", "slug": "x-content-research-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/x-content-research-bot/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Every morning at 7, a bot searches the last day of public X posts in your niche and sends you post ideas in chat. You still write and publish.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Public X reads do not need an X connection. The routine runs on the bot you already use.", "steps": [ "Make a bot and tell it your niche, who you write for, and the topics you skip.", "Ask it to remember that. It keeps those facts for later chats.", "Ask for a routine: every morning at 7, scan public posts and message you the report in chat.", "The scan reads public posts, users, search results, trends, and news without logging in as you.", "Tell it the caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If it hits a cap, it says so and stops.", "You read the ideas and write the posts yourself." ], "prompt": "You are my X content research bot. Remember these facts:\n- Niche: [niche]\n- Who I write for: [audience]\n- Topics I skip: [skip list]\n\nEvery morning at 7, run this and message me the report in this chat.\n\nScan public X posts from the last day in my niche. Use public search and public posts only. Do not connect as me. Do not post, reply, like, repost, or send a DM.\n\nLook for posts with more replies or reposts than that account's other recent posts. Use public counts only: likes, reposts, replies, quotes. Do not use impressions. If you cannot see a number, leave it out.\n\nCaps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If you hit a cap, stop and say so. Do not invent posts to fill the list.\n\nReport:\n1. Up to 8 posts. For each: link, author, the public counts you actually saw, and one line on why people replied.\n2. 5 content ideas for me. For each: the angle, which post it came from, and why it fits my niche.\n3. If nothing stood out, say that in one line.\n\nI write and publish. You only report.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Public search is a sample, not the whole niche. It can miss posts, private accounts stay closed, and a call returns at most 25 results. A short report does not mean nothing happened." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot that scans a niche overnight and brings content ideas back in the morning. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI chief of staff bot", "slug": "ai-chief-of-staff-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-chief-of-staff-bot/", "category": "Content", "level": "Intermediate", "path": "Work", "job": "One bot works as your front desk: it knows what each of your other bots does, passes jobs to them, and sends you a Monday status on your routines.", "tools": [ "AI bot" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. It runs on a bot you already have, plus the connectors you approve.", "steps": [ "Pick one bot as the main one and tell it the names of the others and what each is for.", "Ask it to remember your connectors and your routines.", "When a job belongs to another bot, tell the main bot to message that teammate and report back in this chat.", "If a connector is missing, ask it to add the plugin, and you log in when it asks.", "If a job repeats, ask it to save a skill the other bots can follow.", "Ask for a Monday status: which routines ran, what failed, and which login you still need to approve." ], "prompt": "You are my main bot. Remember my connectors, my routines, and the names of my other bots.\n\nWhen I give you a job:\n- If you can do it here, do it.\n- If another bot of mine is a better fit, message that teammate and bring the result back to this chat.\n- If a connector is missing, tell me in plain words and wait. Do not pretend you logged in.\n\nConnectors I already use: [list them].\nOther bots: [bot name and what it is for].\n\nRules:\n- Do not post, reply, or send DMs on X.\n- Do not text me. Reply in this chat. Slack is fine only if I already connected it.\n- Do not send email or spend money unless I say yes in this chat.\n- If a job repeats, save it as a skill my other bots can follow.\n\nEvery Monday at 8, send me a short status in this chat:\n- routines that ran\n- anything that failed\n- connectors you still need me to approve", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "It can message your other bots, but it cannot log in to a new service for you. If a connector needs a password or a prompt, you still have to approve it." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a main bot that keeps the other bots, connectors, and routines in order. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI article idea tracker", "slug": "ai-article-idea-tracker", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-article-idea-tracker/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "You message your bot an article idea in chat. It adds a row to a Google Sheet and leaves a weekly roundup in that same chat.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. The bot needs the Sheets connector, which you approve.", "steps": [ "Make a Google Sheet with columns for date, idea, source, status, and notes.", "Ask the bot to connect Google Sheets. You approve the login.", "Tell it the sheet name and ask it to remember that.", "When you have an idea, you message the bot in chat. It appends one row and confirms what it wrote.", "Ask for a routine: every Monday at 8, read the new rows and message you a short roundup in chat." ], "prompt": "You are my article idea tracker. Remember the sheet name.\n\nSheet: [Google Sheet name]\nColumns: date, idea, source, status, notes.\n\nWhen I message you an idea in this chat:\n- Append one row.\n- Status starts as \"new\".\n- If a detail is missing, leave it blank. Do not invent it.\n- Reply with the row you wrote.\n\nEvery Monday at 8, read the sheet and message me a roundup in this chat:\n- ideas added since last Monday\n- anything still marked new\n- 3 I should pick from, with one line on why\n\nRules:\n- Only write to that sheet.\n- Do not email, text, or post.\n- If the Sheets connector is not connected, say so and do not claim the row was saved.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "If the Sheets connector isn't connected, the bot can't append the row. The prompt tells it to say so instead of pretending it saved." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes keeping article ideas with a bot instead of a separate notes app. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Daily X post stats bot", "slug": "daily-x-post-stats-bot", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/daily-x-post-stats-bot/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Each morning you get a chat report on your public posts and replies. The counts are likes, reposts, replies, and quotes. It cannot see your private impressions.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Public post reads do not need an X connection. The plugin is only for the optional likers list.", "steps": [ "Tell the bot your public handle and ask it to remember it.", "Ask for a routine: every morning at 7, report yesterday’s public posts in chat.", "The report uses public counts only: likes, reposts, replies, and quotes.", "Ask it to summarize the public replies in plain words.", "Tell it to leave impressions out." ], "prompt": "You are my daily X post report. My public handle is [@handle].\n\nEvery morning at 7, message me in this chat about my public posts from yesterday.\n\nFor each post you can actually read:\n- link\n- public counts only: likes, reposts, replies, quotes\n- a short summary of the public replies\n\nRules:\n- Do not report impressions. You cannot see my private impression numbers. If a view count is not in the public data you retrieved, leave it out.\n- Do not invent numbers. If a count is missing, write \"not in the public post\".\n- Do not post, reply, like, or send a DM.\n- Caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If you hit a cap, stop and say so.\n- If I have connected the X plugin, you may add who liked my posts. That is optional. It still does not include private impressions, and you still cannot publish.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "It can't see your private impressions. Public reads give likes, reposts, replies, and quotes. You do not have a verified way to pull the private analytics screen into this bot." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a daily report on posts and replies. Inspiration only. We did not run it, and this page does not claim impression numbers." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI bot that tracks competitors on X", "slug": "ai-bot-that-tracks-competitors-on-x", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-bot-that-tracks-competitors-on-x/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "A routine reads your X Lists and flags posts that stand out on public likes, reposts, replies, and quotes. You still write anything you post.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. List reads are part of the X tools on the bot. It doesn't need a separate product.", "steps": [ "Put the accounts you watch on an X List, if they are not on one already.", "Tell the bot the list names or links and ask it to remember them.", "Ask for a routine: every weekday at 8, read those lists and message you the standouts in chat.", "Standout means more replies or reposts than that account’s other recent posts, using public counts.", "If a list or a post will not open, the bot says so. It does not fill the hole with a guess." ], "prompt": "You are my competitor watch. Read these X Lists: [list names or links].\n\nEvery weekday at 8, message me in this chat.\n\nFor each list you can actually open:\n- up to 5 posts that stand out on public counts (likes, reposts, replies, quotes) compared with that account's other recent posts\n- link, author, the counts you saw, and one line on what the post is about\n\nRules:\n- Read lists and public posts only. Do not post, reply, like, or send a DM.\n- Do not use impressions. If you cannot read a list or a post, say so. Do not fill the gap with guesses.\n- Caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. Stop and tell me if you hit one.\n- I decide what to write. You only flag posts.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated in sources.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "It only flags posts it can actually read on the lists you name. A locked account or a list that will not open stays blank, and it does not use private impressions to pick standouts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot that reads X Lists and flags posts that stand out. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI bot that summarizes X bookmarks", "slug": "ai-bot-that-summarizes-x-bookmarks", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-bot-that-summarizes-x-bookmarks/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Every morning at 7, a bot files your new X bookmarks into a Google Sheet with a one-line summary each, then sends you up to 5 older saves worth opening. You still choose what to read.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X", "Google Sheets" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Reading bookmarks needs the X plugin, which you connect. The sheet needs the Sheets connector, which you approve.", "steps": [ "You make a Google Sheet with columns for date saved, author, link, one-line summary, and long-form summary.", "You ask the bot to connect X and Google Sheets. You approve both logins.", "You tell it the topics you care about, the topics you skip, and the sheet name, and you ask it to remember those.", "You ask for a routine: every morning at 7, read new bookmarks, append a row for each one it can open, and message you in chat.", "It summarizes the post text the bookmark read returns. If that text looks cut off, the row says \"partial\". If the bookmark links to a public page, it fetches that page and summarizes it. X Articles and pages behind a login may not open, and the row says so.", "If a bookmark or a page will not open, the row says so. It does not invent the summary.", "You read the chat note. Nothing is posted, replied to, or sent as a DM." ], "prompt": "You are my X bookmark summary bot. Remember:\n- Topics I care about: [topics]\n- Topics I skip: [skip list]\n- Sheet: [Google Sheet name]\n- Columns: date saved, author, link, one-line summary, long-form summary\n\nEvery morning at 7, read my X bookmarks and message me in this chat.\n\nFor bookmarks saved since the last run:\n- Append one row for each bookmark you can actually read.\n- Summarize the post text you can read. If it looks cut off, write \"partial\". If it is an X Article or a page you cannot open, write \"could not open\".\n- If it links to a public page, fetch that page and summarize it in a few sentences.\n- If you cannot open the bookmark or the page, write \"could not open\". Do not invent the summary.\n\nThen send a short note:\n1. How many rows you logged.\n2. Up to 5 saved earlier that are still worth opening, with the link and one line on why.\n3. If nothing new opened, say that in one line.\n\nRules:\n- Read bookmarks only. Do not post, reply, like, repost, unbookmark, or send a DM.\n- Do not text me. This chat only.\n- If X is not connected, say so and do not invent bookmarks.\n- If the sheet is not connected, say so and do not claim a row was saved.\n- Only write to that sheet.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "The plugin reads bookmarks on the account you connect, and the bot can fetch a public page linked from a bookmark. Long posts may come back cut off, and X Articles or pages behind a login may not open. Those rows say \"partial\" or \"could not open\" instead of a guessed summary." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot that logs saved posts and sends a daily summary. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Find X posts worth quoting", "slug": "find-x-posts-worth-quoting", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/find-x-posts-worth-quoting/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Every weekday at 8, a bot searches public X posts in your niche, flags up to 5 that are drawing more replies or reposts than usual, and suggests an angle for a quote post. You write and publish it.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Public X reads do not need an X connection. The routine runs on the bot you already use.", "steps": [ "You tell the bot your niche and the kinds of takes you will not make, and you ask it to remember that.", "You ask for a routine: every weekday at 8, search public posts from the last day and message you in chat.", "A post is worth a look when public replies, reposts, or quotes are higher than that account’s other recent posts.", "The report uses public counts only: likes, reposts, replies, and quotes. Impressions stay out.", "You tell it the caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If it hits a cap, it says so and stops.", "You write the quote post yourself. The bot does not post, reply, or send a DM." ], "prompt": "You are my quote-post finder. Remember:\n- Niche: [niche]\n- Takes I will not make: [skip list]\n\nEvery weekday at 8, search public X posts from the last day in my niche and message me in this chat.\n\nA post is worth a look when public replies, reposts, or quotes are higher than that account's other recent posts. Use public counts only: likes, reposts, replies, quotes. Do not use impressions. If you cannot see a number, leave it out.\n\nReport up to 5 posts:\n- link, author, and the public counts you actually saw\n- one line on the claim the post makes\n- one line on an angle I could add that is not a copy of their wording\n\nRules:\n- Public search and public posts only. Do not connect as me.\n- Do not post, reply, like, repost, quote-post, or send a DM.\n- Caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If you hit a cap, stop and say so.\n- Do not invent posts.\n- I write and publish. You only flag.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Public search is a sample. It can miss posts, and a call returns at most 25 results." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot that surfaces strong posts in a niche for quote posts. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Fact-check X posts before you share", "slug": "fact-check-x-posts-before-you-share", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/fact-check-x-posts-before-you-share/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Paste an X post you're about to share or reply to, and a bot traces each number back to a public source and marks it supported, contradicted, or not found. You decide what to do next.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Public web pages and public posts do not need an X connection. The check runs in the bot you already use.", "steps": [ "You make a bot and tell it to check claims only. You ask it to remember that it must not invent a source.", "When you are about to share or reply, you paste the post text or the public link into chat.", "It lists only the numbers and claims that appear in the post.", "It searches the public web, fetches the page, and quotes the line it found, with the link.", "Each claim comes back as supported, contradicted, or not found. A missing page stays \"not found\".", "You open at least one link yourself, then you decide whether to share or reply." ], "prompt": "You are my fact check for other people's X posts. When I paste a post or a public link, check it before I share or reply.\n\n1. List the specific claims and stats in the post. If a number is not in the post, do not add one.\n2. Search the public web for the original source of each claim. Fetch the public page. Quote the line you found and give the link.\n3. Mark each claim: supported, contradicted, or not found.\n4. If you cannot open a source, write \"not found\". Do not guess.\n\nRules:\n- Do not post, reply, like, repost, or send a DM.\n- Do not use impressions.\n- A repost is not the original source. Look for the page the number came from.\n- Do not invent a study, a quote, or a link.\n- I decide whether to share or reply. You only check.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "The bot can miss a source, open the wrong page, or quote a line out of context. If it cannot fetch the page, the claim stays \"not found\". You still have to open the link before you share or reply." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes looking up the numbers and statements in someone else’s post before you pass it on. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI bot that pressure-tests your posts", "slug": "ai-bot-that-pressure-tests-your-posts", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-bot-that-pressure-tests-your-posts/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "You paste an idea or a draft, and a bot pushes back on the weak parts and offers a tighter version before you post. You still publish.", "tools": [ "AI bot" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. The critique runs in chat on the bot you already use. Public web search is only for a claim you ask it to check.", "steps": [ "You make a bot whose only job is to pressure-test drafts. You ask it to remember that it must not add stats you did not write.", "You paste one idea or one draft into chat.", "It restates the claim, gives the strongest objection, and points at any number or story you did not source.", "If you want a source checked, you ask it to search the public web and link the page. If it cannot find one, it says so.", "It offers one tighter version and marks it as a draft.", "You edit that draft and you publish it. The bot does not post." ], "prompt": "You are my critic for posts I have not published.\n\nWhen I paste an idea or a draft:\n- State the claim in one sentence.\n- Give the strongest objection a skeptical reader would have.\n- Point out any stat, name, or story I did not source.\n- If the draft is vague, say what is missing.\n- Offer one tighter version and mark it as a draft.\n\nIf I ask you to check a claim, search the public web, fetch the page, and link it. If you cannot find it, say \"not found\".\n\nRules:\n- Do not post, reply, like, repost, or send a DM.\n- Do not invent a stat to make the draft sound stronger. If a number is not in my draft, do not add one.\n- Do not use impressions.\n- Do not text me. Reply in this chat.\n- I decide what gets published. You only push back.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "A critique can sound sure and still be wrong, and a tighter draft can smuggle in a stat you never wrote. The prompt tells it not to add numbers. Read the draft before you post." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot whose job is to argue with your post ideas before they go out. Inspiration only. We did not run it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI image prompts for post graphics", "slug": "ai-image-prompts-for-post-graphics", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-image-prompts-for-post-graphics/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Paste an article title or a post, and a bot writes three picture prompts (a wide header, a square, and a text-free background), then renders one draft image. You choose what to use.", "tools": [ "AI bot" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. Prompt writing and one draft image run on the bot you already use.", "steps": [ "You tell the bot the colors, subjects, and styles you do not want, and you ask it to remember that.", "You paste an article title or a short post.", "It writes three prompts: a wide banner, a square graphic, and a simple background with no text.", "Each prompt names the subject, the setting, and what to leave out, including logos and fake screenshots.", "You pick one prompt and ask it to render a draft image.", "If the render does not run, it still sends the prompt and says the image did not render.", "You decide whether to use the image. Nothing is posted." ], "prompt": "You are my image-prompt writer for article banners and post graphics.\n\nRemember what I do not want: [colors, subjects, or styles to avoid].\n\nWhen I send an article title or a post draft, write 3 prompts:\n1. A wide banner.\n2. A square post graphic.\n3. A simple background with no words in the image.\n\nFor each prompt, name the subject, the setting, the colors, and what to leave out. Leave out logos, fake screenshots, and tiny text.\n\nThen wait. When I reply with a number, render one draft image from that prompt.\n\nRules:\n- Do not post the image, the article, or the post.\n- Do not invent a brand logo or a screenshot of a product I did not describe.\n- If the image does not render, send the prompts anyway and say the render did not run.\n- I choose what gets published.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "A rendered draft can ignore part of the prompt, invent a logo, or fail to render at all. The prompt comes back either way. The bot does not upload the image to X or to your site." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Describes a bot that drafts picture directions for a header image and for pictures that sit next to a post. Inspiration only. We did not run it. Rendering a draft image is a separate product capability used on this page." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "AI bot that finds sponsor posts on X", "slug": "ai-bot-that-finds-sponsor-posts-on-x", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/ai-bot-that-finds-sponsor-posts-on-x/", "category": "Content", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Work", "job": "Every Monday at 8, a bot searches public X posts and pages where brands in your niche say they want creators or sponsored posts, quotes the wording, and sends the links to chat. It doesn't contact anyone.", "tools": [ "AI bot", "X" ], "toolCost": "Not stated in sources. The public scan does not need an X connection. The optional DM pass needs the X plugin, which you connect.", "steps": [ "You tell the bot your niche and you ask it to remember it.", "You ask for a routine: every Monday at 8, search public posts and public pages and message you in chat.", "It only keeps a hit when the public wording says the poster wants creators, sponsored posts, or a paid partnership. A passing mention doesn't count.", "Each line has the link, who posted it, and the public words it actually saw. Rates stay \"not stated\" unless the post states them.", "You tell it the caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. If it hits a cap, it says so and stops.", "If you have connected X, you can also ask it to list DM threads that look like a paid-promo inquiry. It does not reply.", "You decide whether to answer. The bot does not post or send a DM." ], "prompt": "You are my sponsor-post finder. My niche: [niche].\n\nEvery Monday at 8, search public X posts and public web pages where brands or accounts in my niche say they are looking for creators, sponsored posts, or paid partnerships. Message me in this chat.\n\nFor each one you can actually open:\n- link\n- who posted it\n- the exact public wording that makes it look like a creator call or a paid promo\n- one line on why it might fit the niche\n\nRules:\n- Public search and public pages only for this scan. Do not connect as me unless I already connected the X plugin for the optional DM pass.\n- Do not post, reply, like, repost, or send a DM. Do not pitch anyone.\n- Do not invent a rate, a budget, or a deal. If the post does not state it, write \"not stated\".\n- Do not use impressions.\n- Caps: 25 results per call, 30 calls a minute, 1000 calls a day. Stop and say so if you hit one.\n- If nothing public turns up, say that in one line. Deals made in private will not show up in search.\n\nOptional, only if I have connected the X plugin:\n- Read my DMs and list messages that look like a paid-promo inquiry.\n- Do not reply.\n- If you cannot read DMs, say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Deals made in private never show up in public search, so a Monday list can be empty in a busy week. A call returns at most 25 results, and the bot can't see private offers or rates. It must not DM anyone." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://x.com/ryangrowthh/status/2112816157682204822", "author": "@ryangrowthh", "note": "Wonders aloud about a bot that would go looking for brand deals. Inspiration only. We did not run it. This page only describes a public search plus an optional read of your own DMs." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Find Unclaimed Money in Your Name with ChatGPT", "slug": "find-unclaimed-money-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/find-unclaimed-money-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You list your old addresses and name variants, ChatGPT or Claude turns them into a search plan for official unclaimed property sites, and you run each search yourself and file any claim on the state site for free.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both include web search. Searching and claiming through official state programs and MissingMoney.com costs nothing.", "steps": [ "Write down each state you've lived, worked, or banked in, plus every version of your name. Add any business names you've owned.", "Paste that list into ChatGPT or Claude with the prompt below. It uses web search to find each state's official unclaimed property site and flags any state it can't confirm on MissingMoney.com.", "Run the MissingMoney.com search yourself for each name variant. Then search each flagged state on its own site.", "Check the federal lists USA.gov points to if they fit you: unpaid wages, old pensions, matured savings bonds, and deposits from failed banks.", "Paste the matches you find (holder, amount shown, state) back into the chat. Leave out your Social Security number. Ask for a claim checklist for each state.", "File each claim yourself on the official state site. Searching and claiming there is free.", "If a finder company offers to recover the money for a percentage, remember the same claim is free on the state site. Check with your state's office before you sign anything." ], "prompt": "Help me search for unclaimed money in my name. Don't file anything or contact anyone for me.\n\nMy names (include maiden names, nicknames, misspellings): [names]\nStates I've lived, worked, or banked in, with rough years: [states and years]\nBusinesses I've owned, if any: [business names]\n\n1. Use web search to find the official government unclaimed property website for each state on my list. Only list official state sites and MissingMoney.com.\n2. Tell me which of my states you can't confirm are searchable on MissingMoney.com, so I search those directly.\n3. Give me a short search checklist: each name variant to try, and on which site.\n4. When I paste matches back, make a table: state, holder, amount shown, what proof that state's claim page asks for, and the official link to file.\n\nRules: If you can't confirm a site is official, say so. Don't guess amounts or invent matches. Never ask for my Social Security number.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "ChatGPT or Claude may not be able to open or search the state databases, so plan to run each search yourself and paste the results back.", "MissingMoney.com covers most states, not all. Search any state the plan can't confirm on that state's own site.", "Each state sets its own proof of identity and ownership, so a claim can stall until you send the right document." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://unclaimed.org/can-i-really-search-for-free/", "author": "NAUPA", "note": "The state administrators' association says searching and claiming through official state programs is free, and explains paid finder firms." }, { "url": "https://unclaimed.org/search/", "author": "NAUPA", "note": "Links to every state's official program and describes MissingMoney.com as a free multi-state search that most states take part in." }, { "url": "https://unclaimed.org/claim-your-found-property/", "author": "NAUPA", "note": "Claim steps and the kinds of identity and ownership proof states ask for." }, { "url": "https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money", "author": "USAGov", "note": "No single place lists all unclaimed money. Lists the federal databases for wages, pensions, savings bonds, and failed banks." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Negotiate a Medical Bill with ChatGPT", "slug": "negotiate-a-medical-bill-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/negotiate-a-medical-bill-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload an itemized hospital bill, ChatGPT or Claude flags charges worth questioning and finds the hospital's posted prices and financial assistance policy, and it drafts a call script and a written request. You make the call.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle uploads and web search. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads.", "steps": [ "Call the billing office and ask for an itemized bill with billing codes and dates of service.", "Black out your Social Security number, member ID, and account numbers. Upload the bill and your Explanation of Benefits with the prompt below.", "Read the flags: lines that look duplicated, services you don't remember, and charges that don't match your Explanation of Benefits. Mark the ones you can confirm.", "Have the chat use web search to find the hospital's posted prices and its financial assistance policy. US hospitals must post prices online, and tax-exempt hospitals must publish a written financial assistance policy.", "Ask for a short call script and a written request built only from the flags you confirmed.", "Make the call yourself. Write down the date, the person's name, and what they agreed to, and ask for any reduction in writing." ], "prompt": "Help me review a medical bill before I call the billing office. Don't contact anyone for me.\n\nAttached: my itemized bill and, if I have one, my insurer's Explanation of Benefits. I've blacked out my ID and account numbers.\n\n1. List every line with date, code, description, and charge.\n2. Flag lines that look duplicated, that don't match the Explanation of Benefits, or that I should ask about. Say why for each one. Mark anything you can't read as \"can't read\".\n3. Use web search to find this hospital's posted price list and its financial assistance policy. Link them. If you can't find them, say so.\n4. Write a call script under 150 words: who I am, the account, the specific lines I'm disputing, and what I'm asking for.\n5. Write a short written request I can send that covers the disputed lines and asks whether I qualify for financial assistance.\n\nRules: Don't invent prices, codes, or laws. If a posted price can't be matched to a line, say so. Only use lines I confirm.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Posted prices may not match the rate your insurer negotiated, so a gap alone doesn't prove an error.", "Billing codes are easy to misread. Check each flagged line against the bill yourself before you dispute it.", "A summary bill has no codes. Get the itemized version first." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency", "author": "CMS", "note": "Since January 1, 2021, every US hospital must post prices online as a full machine-readable file and a consumer-friendly list of shoppable services." }, { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/financial-assistance-policies-faps", "author": "IRS", "note": "Tax-exempt hospitals need a written financial assistance policy, posted on their website and noted on billing statements." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and images in a chat, with per-file and per-chat limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Appeal a Denied Health Insurance Claim with ChatGPT", "slug": "appeal-a-denied-health-insurance-claim-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/appeal-a-denied-health-insurance-claim-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload the denial letter and your plan's coverage pages, ChatGPT or Claude explains the denial reason and pulls out your deadline, and it drafts an internal appeal letter and a checklist of what to attach. You send the appeal.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle uploads. An external review through the HHS-run federal process costs nothing, and other review processes can charge up to $25.", "steps": [ "Find the date on the denial notice. HealthCare.gov says you have 180 days from that notice to file an internal appeal. Put the deadline on your calendar.", "Black out your member ID and Social Security number. Upload the denial letter and the plan pages it mentions with the prompt below.", "Read the plain-English summary of why the claim was denied, and check it against the letter yourself.", "Ask your doctor for a short letter that answers the denial reason, and add it to the chat.", "Have the chat draft the appeal letter and a checklist of what to attach. Use your insurer's form if it has one.", "Send the appeal yourself and keep copies. Log every phone call with the date, time, and name of the person you spoke to.", "If the plan says no again, its final letter has to explain how to ask for an external review. You have 4 months from that notice to file." ], "prompt": "Help me appeal a denied health insurance claim. Don't send anything or contact anyone for me.\n\nAttached: the denial letter, the plan pages it cites, and my doctor's note if I have one. I've blacked out my ID numbers.\n\n1. In plain English, tell me the exact reason for the denial and quote the line from the letter.\n2. Pull out any deadline, claim number, and appeal address or form the letter mentions.\n3. Draft an internal appeal letter under one page: my name, claim number, the service and date, why it should be covered, and which attached documents back that up. Use only facts from my documents.\n4. List what to attach and what I still need to get.\n\nRules: Don't invent medical facts, policy language, or laws. If the denial reason is unclear, tell me what to ask the insurer.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "The chat can misread plan language. Check every quote against the document before you send.", "Use the deadlines printed in your own denial letter. Your plan papers are the final word for your case.", "An appeal without your doctor's reasoning may leave a medical-necessity denial unanswered." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.healthcare.gov/appeal-insurance-company-decision/internal-appeals/", "author": "HealthCare.gov", "note": "Internal appeals: file within 180 days of the denial notice, what to include, and decision timelines of 30 or 60 days." }, { "url": "https://www.healthcare.gov/appeal-insurance-company-decision/external-review/", "author": "HealthCare.gov", "note": "External review: request within 4 months of the final denial, standard decisions within 45 days, and a cost of $0 to $25." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and images in a chat, with per-file and per-chat limits." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Negotiate a Lower Internet Bill with ChatGPT", "slug": "negotiate-a-lower-internet-bill-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/negotiate-a-lower-internet-bill-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You gather your current plan details and a few competitor prices for your address, ChatGPT or Claude drafts a short script for the provider's retention team, and you practice the call in chat before you make it yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle the script and the practice run.", "steps": [ "Log in to your provider account. Note your monthly price, fees, speed, and whether you're under contract. The broadband label lists the plan's price and fees.", "Check two or three other providers' sites with your address. Write down the plan, speed, and monthly price for each.", "Paste your facts into the chat with the prompt below. It drafts a short script and ranks what to ask for.", "Practice once. Ask the chat to play the retention agent and push back, then adjust your script.", "Call or message the provider yourself. Ask for the retention or loyalty team, give your competitor price, and ask what they can do.", "Before you accept, ask for the new price, how long it lasts, and any fees in writing." ], "prompt": "Help me get a lower internet bill. Don't contact my provider for me.\n\nMy provider and plan: [provider, plan name, speed]\nWhat I pay each month, with fees: [amount]\nContract or promo end date: [date or none]\nCompetitor plans at my address (checked on their sites): [provider, speed, price]\nWhat I want: [lower price / same price with faster speed / remove a fee]\nHow long I've been a customer: [years]\n\n1. Write a call script under 120 words that's polite and specific.\n2. List 3 things to ask for, in order.\n3. Then play the provider's retention agent. Push back the way a real agent might, one reply at a time, so I can practice.\n\nRules: Use only the prices I gave you. If I haven't given a competitor price, tell me to get one first. Don't invent offers.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "If no other provider serves your address, you have less to bargain with. Ask about a lower tier or dropping a fee instead.", "A new deal can come with a new contract. Ask before you agree.", "The chat only knows the prices you give it. A stale competitor price weakens the call." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandlabels", "author": "FCC", "note": "Internet providers must show a broadband label for each plan at sale and make each customer's label available in their online account. Labels list prices, fees, data limits, and speeds." }, { "url": "https://openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/", "author": "OpenAI", "note": "Plan comparison. Free includes file uploads with limits; Go and up get more." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Cancel Subscriptions and Ask for Refunds with ChatGPT", "slug": "cancel-subscriptions-and-get-refunds-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/cancel-subscriptions-and-get-refunds-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You paste recurring charges from your statement, ChatGPT or Claude sorts them into keep or cancel, and it drafts cancel steps, refund requests, and a tracker of who still owes you a reply. You cancel and send everything yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle the sorting and the drafts. Nothing here needs access to your email or bank.", "steps": [ "Copy every recurring charge from your statements: merchant, amount, and date. Remove card and account numbers first.", "Paste the list into the chat with the prompt below, and mark each one keep or cancel.", "For each cancel, check where it's billed: the company directly, Apple, or Google Play. The cancel and refund path is different for each.", "Cancel each one yourself in the service's account settings or your app store's subscription page.", "Send the refund requests the chat drafts, only for charges you didn't use or didn't mean to renew. For Apple, request it at reportaproblem.apple.com. For Google Play, Google says contacting the app's developer is often fastest.", "Paste replies back into the same chat to update the tracker, and follow up on any request that's still open." ], "prompt": "Help me cancel subscriptions and ask for refunds. Don't contact any company for me.\n\nHere are my recurring charges (merchant, amount, date): [paste list]\nKeep: [names]\nCancel: [names]\n\n1. For each cancel, tell me whether it looks billed directly, through Apple, or through Google Play, based on how it shows on the statement. If you can't tell, say so.\n2. Give me the cancel path for each in one line. Use web search to find the company's own help page and link it.\n3. For charges I say I didn't use, draft a refund request under 80 words with the date and amount.\n4. Make a tracker table: service, cancelled (yes/no), refund asked (yes/no), reply, next step.\n\nRules: Don't promise a refund will be granted. Don't invent policies. Use only the charges I pasted.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Refunds are up to each company and its terms. Apple and Google both say eligibility varies.", "Some services only cancel inside their own account settings or app, so you need each login.", "A charge can show under a payment service's name. Match the amount and date against the company's receipts." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/118223", "author": "Apple Support", "note": "Refund requests for App Store purchases and subscriptions go through reportaproblem.apple.com, with an update in 24 to 48 hours. Eligibility varies by region." }, { "url": "https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2479637?hl=en", "author": "Google Play Help", "note": "Google Play refund policies. Most Play apps come from third-party developers, and contacting the developer is often the quickest route." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Claim Flight Delay Compensation with ChatGPT", "slug": "claim-flight-delay-compensation-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/claim-flight-delay-compensation-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You paste your booking and what went wrong, ChatGPT or Claude checks whether EU passenger rules or the US refund rule may apply, and it drafts the claim text for the airline's own form. You file it and handle the follow-up.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both work, and web search is on both free plans. You file with the airline yourself.", "steps": [ "Collect the booking email, the delay or cancellation notice, and your receipts.", "Paste the facts into the chat with the prompt below. Leave out passport and payment numbers.", "Read which rules it thinks apply and why. EU rules cover flights within the EU, flights leaving the EU, and flights into the EU on an EU airline.", "Under EU rules, arriving 3 or more hours late earns a fixed amount by distance unless the airline can show extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather. Under the US rule, you get a full refund if the flight was cancelled or significantly changed and you turn down the alternative. A significant change means 3 or more hours for a domestic trip or 6 or more for an international one.", "Have the chat draft the claim text for the airline's own claim form, plus a list of receipts to attach.", "File it yourself with the airline that operated the flight. In the EU, if the airline doesn't reply within 2 months, you can complain to the national authority." ], "prompt": "Help me claim compensation or a refund for a disrupted flight. Don't file anything or contact the airline for me.\n\nBooking: [airline that sold the ticket, airline that operated each flight, flight numbers, route, scheduled departure and arrival]\nWhat happened: [delay, cancellation, or schedule change; actual arrival time; when I was told]\nWhat I spent because of it: [meals, hotel, transport, with amounts]\nDid I accept a rebooking, voucher, or refund? [yes/no, which]\n\n1. Tell me which rules may apply: EU air passenger rights (Regulation 261/2004), the US DOT refund rule, both, or neither. Explain why in two lines each.\n2. If EU rules may apply, estimate the flight distance, show your estimate, and say which compensation band it falls in.\n3. If the US refund rule may apply, say whether my facts fit a cancellation or a significant change.\n4. Draft the claim text for the airline's own claim form, under 150 words, with dates, flight numbers, and what I'm asking for.\n5. List the receipts and documents to attach.\n\nRules: Use web search to check the official EU or DOT page before you state any amount or threshold, and link it. Don't invent facts about my flight. If extraordinary circumstances might apply, say so.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Extraordinary circumstances such as weather or air traffic control decisions can rule out EU compensation, and the airline has to prove them.", "The US rule covers refunds, and only if you turn down the rebooking or voucher the airline offers.", "The chat's distance estimate can be off. Check the band against the official EU table before you file." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm", "author": "Your Europe (European Union)", "note": "When EU air passenger rights apply, compensation bands by distance and arrival delay, extraordinary circumstances, and how to complain." }, { "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-260/section-260.6", "author": "eCFR, 14 CFR 260.6", "note": "US rule: airlines owe a full refund, including taxes and fees, for a cancelled or significantly changed flight when you turn down the alternative." }, { "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/26/2024-07177/refunds-and-other-consumer-protections", "author": "Federal Register (DOT final rule)", "note": "Defines a significant change as 3 or more hours domestic or 6 or more hours international, and sets refund timing." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-21", "addedDate": "2026-10-21" }, { "title": "Audit Your Credit Card Statement with ChatGPT", "slug": "audit-your-credit-card-statement-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/audit-your-credit-card-statement-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload a few months of credit card statements, ChatGPT or Claude lists every charge and flags possible duplicates, unknown merchants, and missing refunds, and it drafts a billing error letter for the ones you confirm. You send the dispute yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both read uploaded PDFs. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads.", "steps": [ "Download the last 2 or 3 monthly statements as PDFs from your card issuer.", "Black out the full card number and your address. Upload the statements with the prompt below.", "Read the flags: the same amount from the same merchant close together, merchants you don't recognize, and returns that never showed up as a credit.", "Check each flag against your receipts or order emails. An unfamiliar name can be a company's billing name, so look it up before you dispute.", "Call the issuer about any charge that is still wrong. Then send a written billing error notice. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, it has to reach the issuer within 60 days after the first statement with the error was sent to you.", "Ask the chat to draft that notice from the confirmed errors only, and mail it to the billing inquiries address on your statement, not the payment address." ], "prompt": "Help me audit my credit card statements for errors. Don't contact anyone for me.\n\nAttached: my last few statements. I've blacked out the card number.\n\n1. List every charge with date, merchant, and amount.\n2. Flag possible duplicates (same merchant and amount within a few days), merchants I might not recognize, and any return or refund I mention below that doesn't appear as a credit.\n3. For each flag, say why you flagged it and what I should check (receipt, order email, merchant's billing name).\n4. Once I confirm which flags are real errors, draft a short billing error letter with my name, the charge date, the amount, and why it's wrong. Leave placeholders for my account number and address.\n\nReturns I'm waiting on: [merchant, amount, date returned]\n\nRules: Don't invent charges or merchant details. If a line is hard to read, say \"can't read\". Only put confirmed errors in the letter.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "The chat can't see your receipts or your issuer's records, so a flag is only a lead until you confirm it.", "A merchant name on a statement can be a parent company's billing name, which makes a real charge look unfamiliar.", "Some statements are scanned images, and small print can be misread. Check every flagged amount against the statement yourself." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/using-credit-cards-and-disputing-charges", "author": "FTC Consumer Advice", "note": "The Fair Credit Billing Act dispute process: write to the billing inquiries address so the letter arrives within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent. The issuer must acknowledge within 30 days and resolve within 90." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and images in a chat, with per-file and per-chat limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Fight a Parking Ticket with ChatGPT", "slug": "fight-a-parking-ticket-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/fight-a-parking-ticket-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload photos of the ticket and the signs, ChatGPT or Claude finds your city's official dispute rules with web search, checks the ticket for errors, and drafts a short, factual dispute statement. You file it yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle photo uploads and web search. Filing a dispute is usually free; check your city's page.", "steps": [ "Before you leave the spot, take photos of the signs, the meter or curb markings, and where your car sits. Photograph both sides of the ticket.", "Find the dispute deadline printed on the ticket. Rules and deadlines vary by city. In New York City, for example, you have 30 days from the ticket date to request a hearing and avoid late penalties.", "Upload the photos with the prompt below. It uses web search to find your city's official dispute page and the defenses that city accepts.", "Read what it finds on the ticket itself: a wrong plate, a wrong location, or a missing required detail can matter in some cities.", "Have it draft a short statement that sticks to facts you can prove with your photos and receipts.", "File the dispute yourself on the city's own site, app, or by mail, and keep the confirmation." ], "prompt": "Help me dispute a parking ticket. Don't file anything for me.\n\nCity: [city, state]\nTicket date and number: [date, number]\nWhat happened: [where I parked, what the signs said, why I think the ticket is wrong]\nAttached: photos of the ticket, the signs, and my car's position.\n\n1. Use web search to find my city's official page for disputing a parking ticket. Link it and tell me the deadline and the ways to file (online, app, mail, in person).\n2. Read the ticket photo and list what it says: plate, location, violation, time. Flag anything that doesn't match my photos or my account of what happened.\n3. Tell me whether the official page lists defenses it won't accept, and whether my reason fits any of those.\n4. Draft a dispute statement under 150 words that sticks to facts my photos or receipts can prove.\n\nRules: Only use the city's official site for rules and deadlines. If you can't find it, say so. Don't invent rules, sign wording, or evidence.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Each city sets its own rules, deadlines, and accepted defenses, so the chat can only help once it finds your city's official page.", "The chat can misread a blurry ticket or sign photo. Check every detail it quotes against the photo yourself.", "A well-written statement doesn't change the facts. If the signs were clear and you were in the wrong, the ticket will likely stand." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/vehicles/dispute-a-ticket.page", "author": "NYC Department of Finance", "note": "Example of a city process: request a hearing within 30 days of the ticket to avoid late penalties, online, by mail, or by app. Lists defenses that won't be upheld." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Get Your Security Deposit Back with ChatGPT", "slug": "get-your-security-deposit-back-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/get-your-security-deposit-back-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload your lease, photos, and the landlord's deduction list, ChatGPT or Claude finds your state's official security deposit rules with web search, flags deductions worth questioning, and drafts a demand letter. You send it and decide on next steps.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle uploads and web search. Small claims filing fees, if you go that far, are set by your court.", "steps": [ "Gather your lease, any move-in checklist, your photos, and whatever the landlord sent about the deposit.", "Upload them with the prompt below. Black out account numbers first.", "Have the chat use web search to find your state's official tenant rights page. Deposit return deadlines and allowed deductions are set by state law, so go by the official page.", "Read the deduction review. Common things to question are charges for normal wear and tear and charges without proof, if your state's rules back you up.", "Ask for a short demand letter that cites the state rule from the official page, lists the deductions you dispute, and gives a date to respond.", "Send it yourself in a way you can prove, like certified mail or email. If it doesn't work, check your state's small claims court page or free legal aid." ], "prompt": "Help me get my security deposit back. Don't contact my landlord for me.\n\nState and city: [state, city]\nMove-out date and deposit amount: [date, amount]\nWhat I got back and when: [amount, date, or nothing yet]\nAttached: my lease, the landlord's deduction list (if any), and my move-in and move-out photos.\n\n1. Use web search to find my state's official page on security deposits (attorney general, housing agency, or state tenant handbook). Link it. Tell me the return deadline and what landlords may deduct, quoting the official page.\n2. Go through each deduction and say whether my lease, my photos, or the state rules give me grounds to question it. Mark anything you're unsure about.\n3. Draft a polite demand letter under 200 words: dates, deposit amount, disputed deductions, the state rule with its link, and a response date.\n\nRules: Use only official government sources for the law. If you can't find one, say so. Don't invent laws, deadlines, or penalties. This isn't legal advice.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Deposit rules, deadlines, and penalties are different in every state, and some cities add their own. The chat is only as good as the official page it finds.", "Without move-in photos or a checklist, it's hard to show damage was already there.", "This isn't legal advice. For larger amounts or a landlord who won't respond, talk to legal aid or a tenant lawyer." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.usa.gov/tenant-rights", "author": "USAGov", "note": "Read your lease first, then find your state agency for tenant rights, which may link to your attorney general, housing agency, or state tenant handbook." }, { "url": "https://www.usa.gov/legal-aid", "author": "USAGov", "note": "Free and low-cost legal aid programs, including help with landlord and tenant disputes." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Review a Freelance Contract with ChatGPT or Claude", "slug": "review-a-freelance-contract-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/review-a-freelance-contract-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "You upload a client contract or NDA, ChatGPT or Claude explains each clause in plain English, flags terms worth questioning, and drafts polite questions or suggested edits. You decide what to sign and when to ask a lawyer.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both read uploaded contracts. Claude Pro ($20 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly) adds unlimited Projects if you want your standard terms saved for every review.", "steps": [ "Write down what you agreed to with the client: scope, price, payment schedule, deadlines.", "Black out anything you don't want to share, like bank details. Upload the contract with the prompt below.", "Read the plain-English summary of each section and check it matches what you agreed.", "Look at the flags: when you get paid, who owns the work and when, how the contract can end, how long any non-compete or confidentiality lasts, and who pays if something goes wrong.", "Ask for polite questions or suggested edits for the clauses you want changed, and send them to the client yourself.", "For high-value work or anything you don't understand after this, have a lawyer read it. USA.gov lists free and low-cost legal aid." ], "prompt": "Help me review a contract before I sign it. I'm a freelancer. Don't contact anyone for me.\n\nAttached: the contract.\nWhat I agreed to: [scope, price, payment schedule, deadlines]\n\n1. Summarize each section in one or two plain-English sentences.\n2. Flag anything that doesn't match what I agreed to.\n3. Flag clauses worth questioning: payment timing and late payment, who owns the work and when ownership passes, how either side can end the contract, non-compete or non-solicit terms, confidentiality length, liability and indemnity, and unlimited revisions. Say why for each, quoting the clause.\n4. For each flag, write a polite question or a suggested edit I can send the client.\n\nRules: Quote the contract exactly. Don't invent clauses or laws. If something depends on my state's law, say so and tell me to check. This isn't legal advice.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "It's not a lawyer and can miss terms that are normal or risky in your industry or state.", "It reads only what you upload. If the contract points to another document, like terms on a website, upload that too.", "Long scanned contracts can be misread. Check every quoted clause against the original." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.usa.gov/legal-aid", "author": "USAGov", "note": "Free and low-cost legal aid programs. Breach of contract falls under civil law." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and images in a chat, with per-file and per-chat limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, file creation, memory, and connectors." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Book a Restaurant Reservation with ChatGPT", "slug": "book-a-restaurant-reservation-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/book-a-restaurant-reservation-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You tell ChatGPT the area, date, time, party size, and what you want, it shows restaurants with open reservation times from OpenTable, Resy, or Yelp, and you pick one and confirm the booking yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT Free. OpenAI's help page says reservation search works on eligible consumer plans and isn't in ChatGPT Work or Business, Enterprise, or Edu. Some restaurants ask for a card to hold the table.", "steps": [ "Open a new chat and paste the prompt below with your details filled in.", "Look at the restaurants and open times ChatGPT shows. Reservation times only appear when OpenTable, Resy, or Yelp has that restaurant listed.", "Ask follow-ups to narrow it down, like quieter spots, a different time, or a specific restaurant.", "Select a time or Reserve, check the date, time, and party size, and finish the booking. Some bookings finish inside ChatGPT, and others send you to the provider, for example when a card is needed.", "Wait for the confirmation email from the provider. ChatGPT doesn't save, change, or cancel reservations, so use that email for any changes." ], "prompt": "Help me find and book a restaurant. Don't book anything until I pick a time.\n\nWhere: [neighborhood or city]\nWhen: [date and time window]\nParty size: [number]\nWhat we want: [cuisine, budget, dietary needs, vibe, anything to avoid]\n\n1. Show me 3 to 5 restaurants that fit, with open reservation times if you can find them.\n2. For each, give one line on why it fits and the price range if you know it.\n3. If a place I'd like has no times showing, say so and suggest the closest alternative.\n\nRules: Only show times you actually find. Don't guess availability.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Only restaurants on OpenTable, Resy, or Yelp show times. Resy is US only, Yelp is US and Canada, and OpenTable is global.", "Open times can change between the chat and the booking step, so check the details before you confirm.", "ChatGPT can't change or cancel a booking. You do that through the provider's confirmation email." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Reservation search shows OpenTable, Resy, or Yelp times on eligible consumer plans. Not in ChatGPT Work or Business, Enterprise, or Edu. ChatGPT doesn't save, change, or cancel bookings." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-plus-and-pro-updates", "author": "OpenAI Help Center (release notes)", "note": "August 10, 2026: restaurant reservations with OpenTable, Resy, and Yelp rolling out across ChatGPT plans on mobile, web, and desktop. ChatGPT Work doesn't include it." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Track Flight and Hotel Price Drops with ChatGPT", "slug": "track-flight-and-hotel-price-drops-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/track-flight-and-hotel-price-drops-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You give ChatGPT your booked flight or hotel and the price you paid, it creates a daily scheduled task that checks the current public price and notifies you if it drops, and you decide whether rebooking is worth it.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT Free, with up to 3 active tasks running at most once a day. Plus and other paid plans can run tasks up to hourly, per OpenAI.", "steps": [ "Book the trip, then write down exactly what you booked and the total you paid.", "Check your fare or room rules. A lower price only helps if you can change or cancel without a fee that eats the savings.", "Paste the prompt below. Ask ChatGPT to set it up as a daily scheduled task. On Free, tasks run at most once a day in a flexible window like morning or night.", "Turn on notifications in Settings so you see the result.", "When it reports a lower price, open the airline, hotel, or booking site yourself to confirm the price for the same dates and room or fare type.", "If it's still lower and your rules allow it, rebook or cancel and rebook yourself. Then pause or delete the task in Scheduled." ], "prompt": "Set up a daily scheduled task to watch the price of a trip I already booked. Don't book, change, or cancel anything.\n\nWhat I booked: [airline, flight numbers, dates, fare type] or [hotel, room type, dates]\nPrice I paid (total): [amount]\nStop checking on: [date]\n\nEach day:\n1. Search the web for the current public price for the same flight and fare type, or the same hotel, room type, and dates.\n2. Tell me the lowest price you found, where you found it, and a link.\n3. Only flag it as a drop if it's lower than what I paid for the same thing. If you couldn't find a comparable price, say \"no comparable price found\" rather than guessing.\n\nRules: Don't invent prices. Note when a price excludes taxes or fees.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Live fares and room rates often sit behind booking sites that web search can't fully see, so the task may report no comparable price. When it does, check the price yourself.", "On Free, the task runs at most once a day, so short price dips can come and go between checks.", "Prices the task finds may leave out taxes, fees, or bag costs. Compare the full total before you rebook." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-tasks-in-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Scheduled tasks are on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro. Free gets 3 active tasks that run at most once a day; paid plans can run hourly." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-259/section-259.5", "author": "eCFR, 14 CFR 259.5", "note": "Covered airlines' customer service plans must let you hold a reservation at the quoted fare without payment, or cancel without penalty, for at least 24 hours if you book a week or more before departure." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-22", "addedDate": "2026-10-22" }, { "title": "Get Apartment Listing Alerts with ChatGPT", "slug": "get-apartment-listing-alerts-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/get-apartment-listing-alerts-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You give ChatGPT your rent ceiling, areas, size, and move-in date, it runs a daily scheduled task that searches for new public listings that match, and it sends you a short list with links. You check each listing and contact landlords yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT" ], "toolCost": "Free on ChatGPT Free, with up to 3 active tasks running at most once a day. Eligible paid plans like Plus and Pro can run tasks up to hourly, per OpenAI.", "steps": [ "Write down your must-haves and your deal breakers. Keep the list short so the task doesn't filter out good places.", "Paste the prompt below and ask ChatGPT to set it up as a daily scheduled task. On Free, it runs once a day in a flexible window like morning or night.", "Turn on task notifications in Settings so the daily list reaches you.", "Open every match on the listing site or the property manager's own website before you reach out. Listings found by search can be old or already rented.", "Watch for rental scam signs: rent far below the area, a landlord who can't show the place, or a request to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or crypto.", "When you sign a lease, pause or delete the task in Scheduled." ], "prompt": "Set up a daily scheduled task to find new apartment listings for me. Don't contact anyone or apply for anything.\n\nMax rent per month: [amount]\nAreas: [neighborhoods or ZIP codes]\nBedrooms: [number]\nMust have: [pets allowed, parking, laundry, etc.]\nMove-in date: [date]\nStop checking on: [date]\n\nEach day:\n1. Search the web for rental listings posted or updated recently that match everything above.\n2. List up to 10 matches with rent, address or cross streets, bedrooms, the date posted if shown, and a link.\n3. Skip anything you already sent me in an earlier run.\n4. Flag any listing with rent far below similar places nearby, since that can be a scam sign.\n\nRules: Don't invent listings, prices, or links. If you can't confirm a detail, write \"not shown\". If nothing new matches, say \"no new matches today\".", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Many listing sites limit what web search can see, so the task can miss listings that are only visible inside an app or behind a login. Keep checking your main site too.", "On Free, the task runs at most once a day. In a fast market, a good place can be rented before the next run.", "Search results can show listings that are already rented. Confirm each one is still available on the listing site before you get attached." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-tasks-in-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Scheduled tasks are on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro. Free and Go get 3 active tasks, Plus 5, Pro 15. Free runs at most once a day in a flexible window; eligible paid plans like Plus and Pro can run hourly." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/rental-listing-scams", "author": "FTC Consumer Advice", "note": "How rental listing scams work: copied listings, rent far below the area, no showing, and payment by wire transfer, gift card, or crypto. A landlord doesn't need your SSN or credit score before you agree to rent." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "Sell Your Stuff Online with ChatGPT", "slug": "sell-your-stuff-online-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/sell-your-stuff-online-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload photos of things you want to sell, ChatGPT or Claude drafts a title, an honest description, and a suggested price range based on similar listings it finds with web search, and you post each listing yourself on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or a local site.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both handle photo uploads and web search. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads. Selling sites may charge their own fees.", "steps": [ "Photograph each item in good light from a few angles. Include the brand label or model number and any scratches or wear.", "Upload the photos with the prompt below. Do 3 to 5 items per chat so details don't get mixed up.", "Check what the chat identified. Fix any wrong brand, model, or size before you use the listing.", "Look at the price range and the similar listings it links. Sold prices tell you more than asking prices, so check sold listings on the site yourself when you can.", "Post each listing yourself and paste in the title and description.", "When buyers message you, ask the chat for a short, polite reply if you need one. Meet in a public place, and don't accept a check for more than your price." ], "prompt": "Help me write listings to sell some things I own. Don't post anything for me.\n\nWhere I'm selling: [Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, etc.]\nMy area: [city or region]\nAttached: photos of each item.\n\nFor each item:\n1. Tell me what you think it is (brand, model, size) and how sure you are. Ask me if you can't tell.\n2. Write a listing title under 80 characters with the words a buyer would search.\n3. Write a short, honest description: what it is, condition, any wear or damage visible in the photos, and pickup or shipping.\n4. Search the web for similar items for sale or recently sold and suggest a price range. Link what you based it on.\n\nRules: Don't invent features, model numbers, or condition details. Mention any damage you can see. If you can't find comparable prices, say so instead of guessing.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "The chat can misidentify a brand or model from a photo. Check it against the label before you post.", "Price suggestions come from listings web search can find. Some selling sites limit what search can see, so prices can be off. Check sold listings on the site yourself.", "The chat can't post listings or message buyers for you, so posting and replying are still on you." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and photos in a chat: up to 20 files per chat, with per-file size limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, memory, and file creation. Claude Pro is $20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly, and adds unlimited Projects (Free allows up to 5)." }, { "url": "https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams", "author": "FTC Consumer Advice", "note": "Overpayment scams: a buyer sends a check for more than the price and asks for the balance back. Don't accept a check for more than the selling price." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "File a Pet Insurance Claim with ChatGPT", "slug": "file-a-pet-insurance-claim-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/file-a-pet-insurance-claim-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload the itemized vet invoice and your pet insurance policy, ChatGPT or Claude sorts the charges against what your policy says it covers, lists what your claim needs, and drafts a short note for anything unclear. You submit the claim yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both read uploaded PDFs and photos. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads.", "steps": [ "Ask your vet for an itemized invoice and, if your insurer asks for them, the medical records for the visit.", "Download your policy or coverage summary from your insurer's site or app.", "Black out your policy number and address, then upload the invoice and policy with the prompt below.", "Read the sorted list. Each charge should be marked as likely covered, likely not covered, or unclear, with the policy section it's based on.", "Check the list against your policy yourself, especially waiting periods, pre-existing conditions, and exclusions.", "Submit the claim through your insurer's app or site with the invoice and records. Save the claim number." ], "prompt": "Help me prepare a pet insurance claim. Don't submit anything for me.\n\nAttached: the itemized vet invoice and my policy or coverage summary. I've blacked out my account details.\nPet: [name, species, age]\nReason for the visit: [what happened]\nPolicy start date: [date]\n\n1. List every line on the invoice with date, description, and amount.\n2. For each line, say whether it looks covered, not covered, or unclear under my policy. Quote or name the section of the policy you're relying on.\n3. Flag anything that could be affected by a waiting period, a pre-existing condition rule, or an exclusion.\n4. List what the claim needs based on my policy (invoice, medical records, claim form fields) and any deadline the policy states.\n5. Draft a short note to the insurer for any unclear line, asking how it's covered.\n\nRules: Don't invent policy terms or amounts. If the policy doesn't say, write \"policy doesn't say\". The insurer decides what's covered, not you.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Only your insurer decides what's covered. Use the chat's sorting as a filing guide. It can't promise a payout.", "Policies word waiting periods and pre-existing condition rules differently, and the chat can misread them. Check those sections yourself.", "A payment receipt without line items won't give the chat enough to sort. Ask the vet for the itemized invoice." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and photos in a chat: up to 20 files per chat, with per-file size limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, memory, and file creation. Claude Pro is $20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly, and adds unlimited Projects (Free allows up to 5)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "File an FSA or HSA Claim with ChatGPT", "slug": "file-an-fsa-or-hsa-claim-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/file-an-fsa-or-hsa-claim-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Invoicing & money", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy receipts plus your explanation of benefits statements, ChatGPT or Claude builds a claim list with dates, providers, and amounts, flags items that need a closer look, and you file the claims yourself in your FSA or HSA portal.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both read uploaded PDFs and photos. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads. Claude Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly) adds unlimited Projects if you want one place for the whole year; Claude Free allows up to 5 Projects.", "steps": [ "Collect itemized receipts and EOBs for the plan year. A card receipt with only a total usually isn't enough.", "Black out member IDs, account numbers, and your Social Security number. Upload the files with the prompt below.", "Read the claim list: date, provider, what it was for, what you paid after insurance, and whether it looks claimed already.", "Check anything flagged as borderline against your plan's eligible expense list. Your plan decides what it covers.", "File each claim in your FSA or HSA portal with the itemized receipt or EOB attached.", "Keep the records. For an HSA, the IRS says you must keep records that show each withdrawal paid a qualified medical expense." ], "prompt": "Help me sort my medical receipts for FSA or HSA claims. Don't file anything for me.\n\nAccount type: [health FSA or HSA]\nPlan year: [dates]\nAlready claimed: [list, or \"not sure\"]\nAttached: receipts and explanation of benefits statements. I've blacked out member IDs and account numbers.\n\n1. Build a table: date of service, provider, what it was for, amount I paid after insurance, and the document it came from.\n2. Match receipts to EOBs where you can, so I claim what I paid, not the full billed amount.\n3. Mark rows that look like duplicates or already claimed.\n4. Flag anything that might not be eligible or needs a closer look, and say why.\n5. Total what still looks unclaimed.\n\nRules: Don't invent amounts or dates. If a document is hard to read, write \"can't read\". Don't decide eligibility for me; flag it.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Eligibility depends on your plan's rules, and the chat can't see them unless you upload them. Treat every flag as a question to check against your plan.", "Receipts that show only a card total don't list what was bought. Ask the provider or pharmacy for an itemized receipt.", "The chat can misread a scanned EOB. Check every amount against the original before you file." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969", "author": "IRS Publication 969", "note": "Health FSA claims need a written statement from an independent third party showing the expense and amount, plus a statement it wasn't paid by other coverage. FSAs are generally use it or lose it, with an optional grace period or carryover. HSA holders must keep records showing withdrawals paid qualified medical expenses." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and photos in a chat: up to 20 files per chat, with per-file size limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, memory, and file creation. Claude Pro is $20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly, and adds unlimited Projects (Free allows up to 5)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "Points or Cash for Travel? Decide with ChatGPT", "slug": "points-or-cash-for-travel-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/points-or-cash-for-travel-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You give ChatGPT or Claude the cash price and the points price for the same flight or hotel, plus taxes, fees, and your balances, and it works out the cents per point, what you give up either way, and a plain recommendation. You book it yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free can both do this math in a normal chat.", "steps": [ "Find the exact same flight or room priced in cash and in points. Note taxes and fees on the award too.", "Paste those numbers into the prompt below with your balances and any points you'd earn by paying cash.", "Read the math: the cash price minus award fees, divided by the points, gives cents per point for this booking.", "Ask what you give up either way, like the cancellation rules on each option or points you'd earn by paying cash.", "Check any transfer partner or ratio the chat mentions on your card or loyalty program's own site. They change.", "Book it yourself on the airline, hotel, or card portal." ], "prompt": "Help me decide whether to pay with points or cash for one booking. Don't book anything.\n\nBooking: [flight route and dates, or hotel and nights]\nCash price (total with taxes): [amount]\nPoints price: [number of points] plus award taxes and fees: [amount]\nProgram: [airline, hotel, or card program]\nMy balance: [points]\nPoints I'd earn if I pay cash: [number, or \"not sure\"]\nCancellation rules: cash [rules], points [rules]\n\n1. Work out cents per point for this booking: (cash price minus award fees) divided by points, times 100. Show the math.\n2. Note the points I'd earn by paying cash and how that changes the comparison.\n3. Compare the cancellation and change rules.\n4. Give me a plain recommendation and the one number that would change it.\n\nRules: Use only the numbers I gave you. If you mention a transfer partner or ratio, say it needs checking on the program's site. Don't invent point values.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "There's no official value for a point. The math only shows what a point is worth on this one booking.", "Award availability and prices change fast, so a number you got an hour ago may be gone at checkout.", "The chat can be wrong about transfer partners or ratios. Check them on your program's own site before you move points." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897-searching-the-web-with-chatgpt", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Web search is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, within plan usage limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, memory, and file creation. Claude Pro is $20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly, and adds unlimited Projects (Free allows up to 5)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "File a Warranty Claim with ChatGPT", "slug": "file-a-warranty-claim-with-chatgpt", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/file-a-warranty-claim-with-chatgpt/", "category": "Life admin", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Personal", "job": "You upload the warranty, your receipt, and photos of the defect, ChatGPT or Claude reads the coverage terms, tells you what looks covered and what the warranty requires, and drafts a short claim message. You send it to the seller or manufacturer yourself.", "tools": [ "ChatGPT", "Claude" ], "toolCost": "Free. ChatGPT Free and Claude Free both read uploaded PDFs and photos. ChatGPT Free limits how many messages can include uploads.", "steps": [ "Find the written warranty. If you lost it, search the manufacturer's website for the product's warranty page.", "Upload the warranty, the receipt, and photos of the problem with the prompt below. Black out card numbers on the receipt.", "Read what the chat finds: how long coverage lasts, what's covered, what's excluded, and what you have to do to make a claim.", "Check any exclusion it flags against the warranty text yourself. If a part or repair isn't listed as covered, the FTC says to assume it isn't.", "Start with the seller. If the seller won't fix it, send the claim to the manufacturer at the address on the warranty. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof it arrived.", "Keep copies of everything you send and note the date of every call." ], "prompt": "Help me file a warranty claim. Don't contact anyone for me.\n\nProduct: [brand, model]\nBought on: [date] from [store]\nWhat's wrong: [describe the problem and when it started]\nAttached: the warranty, my receipt (card number blacked out), and photos of the problem.\n\n1. Tell me how long the warranty lasts and whether my purchase date is inside it.\n2. Quote the parts of the warranty that cover this problem, and any exclusions that might apply.\n3. List what the warranty says I have to do: who to contact, proof needed, shipping or labor costs, registration.\n4. Draft a short, factual claim message with the product, purchase date, problem, and what I'm asking for (repair, replacement, or refund, per the warranty).\n\nRules: Only use what the warranty actually says. If it doesn't cover something, say so plainly. Don't invent terms or deadlines.", "timeSavedEstimate": "not measured yet", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not measured yet.", "timeSavedBasis": "Not measured yet. We haven't timed this.", "commonSnags": [ "Warranties exclude a lot, like misuse or wear and tear, and the chat can't force a company to honor a claim.", "The chat can misread fine print or miss a registration requirement. Check the sections it quotes against the warranty yourself.", "An extended warranty or service contract is a separate contract with its own terms. Upload that contract too if you have one." ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/warranties", "author": "FTC Consumer Advice", "note": "If a part or repair isn't listed as covered, assume it isn't. Contact the seller first, then the manufacturer, by certified mail with a return receipt. Implied warranties cover almost everything you buy unless sold \"as is\" where allowed. A defect reported during the warranty period must be fixed even if the warranty then expires." }, { "url": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9275245-using-chatgpt-s-free-plan", "author": "OpenAI Help Center", "note": "Free plan users can search the web and upload images or files; uploads have their own usage limit." }, { "url": "https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8241126-upload-files-to-claude", "author": "Claude Help Center", "note": "How to attach PDFs and photos in a chat: up to 20 files per chat, with per-file size limits." }, { "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/pricing", "author": "Anthropic", "note": "Claude Free is $0 and includes web search, memory, and file creation. Claude Pro is $20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly, and adds unlimited Projects (Free allows up to 5)." } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-23", "addedDate": "2026-10-23" }, { "title": "Is my website ready for AI agents? Free check", "slug": "is-my-website-ready-for-ai-agents-free-check", "url": "https://www.aisetupsthatwork.com/setups/is-my-website-ready-for-ai-agents-free-check/", "category": "Leads", "level": "Beginner", "path": "Small business", "job": "Score your website for AI agent readiness with a free is-agentic.com scan, fix the failed Essential checks, and rescan after you ship.", "tools": [ "is-agentic.com" ], "toolCost": "Free", "steps": [ "Run the free scan at is-agentic.com or with npx is-agentic yourdomain.com", "Fix failed Essential checks first, then Essential partials, then Recommended items", "Rescan after you deploy to confirm your score improved" ], "prompt": "Run `npx is-agentic --json` and read the issues list.\nFix them in this order: essential failed, essential partial, then recommended.\nFor each one, follow its \"recommendation\" field. Keep the current design.\nDon't touch anything the report doesn't flag.\nAfter each fix, show me the curl command that proves it works.\nGive me a short list of what changed, then stop so I can review.", "timeSavedEstimate": "Not stated", "moneySavedEstimate": "Not stated", "timeSavedBasis": "Not stated", "commonSnags": [], "sources": [ "https://is-agentic.com" ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-19", "addedDate": "2026-10-19" } ] }