Skip to content
Vouch
Join the waitlist
Menu

Buyer conversation prompts: six stages, ready to copy

Sample prompts for all six stages of an AI buying conversation, from Discovery to Decision, in three categories. Copy them to test where AI drops your brand.

Last updated by Vouch

The six stages of a ThreadA buyer conversation moves through Discovery, Shortlist, Objection, Trust, Value and Decision. In this example the brand is named for the first three questions and dropped at Trust, when the buyer asks whether the brand can be trusted.One buyer conversation, six questionsStage 1DiscoveryBest options?Stage 2ShortlistCompare threeStage 3ObjectionDownsides?Stage 4TrustReliable?Stage 5ValueWorth it?Stage 6DecisionWhich to buy?Dropped hereExample: your brand is named for three questions,then a rival takes its place when the buyer asks about trust.
A Thread follows one buyer through six questions. Being named in the first answer is not being chosen: a brand can drop out later, at Objection or Trust.

AI buying conversations rarely stop at the first answer. Buyers compare, look for downsides, check reliability and price, then ask for one recommendation. These prompts follow that path through the six stages of a Thread, so you can test where an assistant stops naming your brand.

How to use these prompts

  1. Pick the category closest to yours and rewrite the Discovery prompt in your buyers' words.
  2. Ask it in a new chat, with no history, in the assistant you want to test.
  3. Ask the Shortlist, Objection, Trust, Value and Decision prompts in the same chat, one at a time. Where a prompt says "the first one", point it at the option the assistant put first, or at your own brand.
  4. After each answer, note whether your brand is still named, which rivals are named, and which sources are cited.
  5. The stage where your brand disappears is where to look first. The question that did it is your killer question.

Answers change from run to run, so repeat the conversation a few times before you draw a conclusion. The methodology explains how Vouch runs these conversations three times a week and scores them, and what happens after the first answer walks through the stages with an example.

Discovery

The opening question, the one buyers type first. It is the prompt you track: change the category, budget and use to match your own buyers.

Running shoes
What are the best running shoes for flat feet under 120 pounds?
Which running shoes are good for a beginner training for a first half marathon?
Best cushioned running shoes for road running in 2026?
Project management software
What is the best project management software for a 20-person marketing agency?
Which project management tools work well for remote software teams?
Best simple project management app for a small business that is not tech-savvy?
Home insurance
Who are the best home insurance providers for a first-time buyer?
Which home insurance companies are best for an older house?
Best value home and contents insurance for a family home?

Shortlist

The buyer narrows the field: they ask the assistant to compare the leading options from its last answer for their own use.

Running shoes
Compare the top three of those for someone who runs 20 miles a week on pavement.
Of the ones you mentioned, which are best for wide feet?
Project management software
Compare the top three for an agency that manages client projects and timesheets.
Which of those has the best client portal and approvals?
Home insurance
Compare the top three on cover, excess and claims handling.
Which of those are best if I work from home and have expensive equipment?

Objection

The buyer looks for reasons not to buy. They ask about the common doubts and downsides of the leading options.

Running shoes
What are the downsides of the first one? Do they wear out quickly?
What do runners complain about with that brand?
Project management software
What are the main complaints about the first one?
Is it hard to set up, and does it get slow with lots of projects?
Home insurance
What are the downsides of that insurer? Any common reasons claims get refused?
What do customers complain about with them?

Trust

The buyer checks whether the brand can be relied on: after-sales service, warranty, support and what real owners or customers say.

Running shoes
Is their returns process easy if the shoes do not fit?
What do real owners say about how long they last?
Project management software
How good is their customer support, and how fast do they reply?
Is it secure enough for client data, and have they had any outages?
Home insurance
How quickly do they pay out claims, according to real customers?
Are they reliable when something goes wrong, or hard to reach?

Value

The buyer weighs the price: is the leading option worth what it costs compared with the alternatives?

Running shoes
Is the first one worth the extra money over the cheaper options?
Would a cheaper model from the same brand do the job just as well?
Project management software
Is it worth the price per user compared with the others?
Which one gives the most for a team of 20 on a tight budget?
Home insurance
Is the more expensive policy worth it, or is the cheaper one enough?
Which gives the best cover for the price?

Decision

The last question: the buyer asks for one clear recommendation and where to buy it.

Running shoes
If you had to pick one pair for me, which would it be and where should I buy it?
Which one should I buy, and is there a good place to get them for less?
Project management software
Which one should we choose, and how do we start a trial?
Give me one recommendation for our agency and the plan to pick.
Home insurance
Which insurer should I go with, and how do I get a quote?
Pick one for me and tell me where to buy the policy.

Read next