Ask the 8-ball
A fortune-telling 8-ball answering the reader's question: the question in a speech bubble, a glossy black ball whose window shows the post's answer on a brand-coloured die, and the reason under it. A toy everyone has shaken turns a yes-or-no tip into a reply.
When the AI picks it
MarketiQ’s Creative Director favours the Ask the 8-ball for posts that entertain, start a conversation or teach, when the message is a question or one sharp insight. It is built first to entertain.
It reads each post’s goal and shape first, then its own words, the platform and the facts you have, and offers this template only where it fits.
Who it’s for
Any business. Nothing in it assumes what you sell, so the Director can offer it to a software company, a café or a coaching centre alike — whenever the post fits.
Platforms and sizes
| Size | Where |
|---|---|
| 4:51080 × 1350 px | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, Reddit |
| 1:11080 × 1080 px | Ads |
| 9:161080 × 1920 px | TikTok |
| 16:91600 × 900 px | X, YouTube, Blog |
Single image. Each size is laid out for its canvas, not cropped; the sample above is the 4:5 version.
What it needs
Only your post. It is made from your copy and your brand kit — there is nothing else to prepare.
Rules the AI follows
Word for word from the template library. The Director follows the copy rules when it writes into the template, and the visual review checks every creative against the visual rules.
Copy rules
- The answer is the post's own answer to a question its readers have (never a random oracle line such as 'reply hazy'); the reason restates the post's why. No outcome, prize or number the post does not state.
Visual rules
- A glossy black ball (soft highlight, cast shadow, a faint brand glow behind it) whose dark window holds a brand-coloured triangular die with the answer in heavy capitals; the question in a white speech bubble with an ink keyline above it (beside it on landscape) and the reason below.
- Kicker and website on top, the logo bottom-left and a dark reply pill bottom-right.
More Tabletop & arcade templates
Jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw nearly finished, with the 'missing piece' lifted out: five interlocking pieces labelled with what the reader already has (from the post), a dashed hole where…
Scavenger hunt
A photo scavenger hunt card, a 'treasure hunt' in snapshots: three to six empty camera frames, numbered and tilted, each naming something to find
Which character are you?
A video-game 'choose your character' screen: two to four characters
Arcade retry
A retro arcade 'game over' display: the glowing headline, the mistake that ended the run in terminal type, then a continue countdown with two options
Spin the wheel
A carnival prize wheel: four to eight segments carrying the post's own items
Dice board
A 'roll the dice' prompt card: two dice tumbling beside the title and six cards, one per face (one pip to six), each with a question or dare from the post's world.
Snakes and ladders
A snakes-and-ladders board of the reader's journey: ladders are the moves the post recommends, snakes the pitfalls it warns about, and the finish square is the outcome…
Trivia board
A TV 'quiz show' board, the 'game show' classic: three to five category columns from the post over rows of point tiles, one tile taken and its clue blown up on a framed…
Make a Ask the 8-ball with your brand.
MarketiQ writes the post, picks the template that carries it best — this one, when it fits — and fills it with your logo, colours, facts and copy.