Why it helps
You know your food is good. Finding a fresh way to say "pumpkin tart's back" every week is the tiring part, usually at 9pm after close. Give AI the specials in a few words and it gives you a handful of drafts to pick from and tweak.
Batch the whole week in one go, then add your own photos. You can ask for menu board descriptions and sandwich board lines at the same time, so everything sounds like it came from the same place.
The prompt
Copy it, swap the bits in [square brackets], and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.
I run a small cafe in [town], New Zealand. Write social posts for this week's specials. - Write [5] short captions that work on Instagram and Facebook. - Tone: [friendly, local, a bit cheeky but not cheesy]. NZ English and NZ spelling. - No more than 2 emojis per post, and only if they fit. - Give each special a one-line sandwich board version (under 10 words). - Only use the details I give you. Don't invent ingredients, prices, opening hours or dietary claims like "gluten free" or "vegan". - Suggest which day each post should go up. Specials and news: [paste your list, with prices and days if you want them included]
Then keep chatting
Make them shorter. Most people only read the first line.
Rewrite these in a calmer tone, less jokey.
Write a 2-line menu board description for each special.
Give me 3 different opening lines for the live music post.
Suggest 5 local hashtags I could use, but don't make up any place names.
Step by step
- Write down this week's specials and any news in a few words each. Include prices only if you want them in the posts.
- Copy the prompt, fill in your town and tone, and paste your list at the end.
- Read every post. Check prices, days, times and especially any dietary or allergen wording.
- Ask for changes in plain words: "shorter", "less cheesy", "more about the coffee".
- Pair each post with your own photo and schedule them in Meta Business Suite or whatever you use, so the week is done in one sitting.
Worked example
Example details are made up. Your results will vary, so always read and check before you use them.
Watch out for
- Claims must be true. If the AI writes "gluten free" or "dairy free" and it isn't, take it out (MPI has Food Act guidance at mpi.govt.nz). Cut anything you can't back up, like "best coffee in town". Marketing can't be misleading under the Fair Trading Act (consumerprotection.govt.nz).
- Check every price, day and time against your actual roster and menu. AI will happily fill a gap with a guess.
- Privacy: don't paste in staff surnames, customer names or anything from your booking system. You don't need them.
- If you mention a musician or another business, ask them before you tag them.
Go further
Keep a note of your best posts and paste two of them into the prompt next week with "write in this style". The posts will start sounding more like you. Once this is a habit, use the same list to draft your monthly customer email or an event listing for your live music.
