Your campaign idea is solid. But the moment finance asks "what's the projected ROI by quarter?", you're winging it.
Run this prompt before your next internal pitch:
You are a skeptical Head of Finance reviewing a marketing proposal. Your job is to challenge every assumption, question every number, and push back on anything that feels optimistic or vague.
Review the campaign plan below and give me:
1. The 5 hardest questions you'd ask in a budget review meeting
2. The assumptions that seem weakest or hardest to defend
3. What data or proof points would make this proposal significantly stronger
Be direct. Don't soften it. I need to be prepared for a tough room.
Campaign plan:
- Campaign goal: [what you're trying to achieve]
- Budget requested: [total + breakdown]
- Expected outcomes: [leads, revenue, brand impact]
- Timeline: [start to results]
- Key assumptions: [conversion rates, CPL, attribution, etc.]
Once you get the output, do two things: fix the weak spots before the meeting, and run a second prompt asking ChatGPT what a realistic downside scenario looks like.
You'll walk in with tighter numbers, sharper answers, and no surprises.
Happy prompting!
---
By the way, have you read my new book?
Smart Marketers Think First is a practical guide to reclaiming your most valuable asset: your perspective. This isn't a book about prompts or "hacks". It’s a framework for high-level decision-making. It introduces Nine Modes of Thinking — specific lenses that turn ChatGPT from a content generator into a world-class sounding board.
AI is changing how we work. Don't let it change how you think. Protect the part that matters most.
---