Content planning prompts

AI content plan from competitor research prompt

Turn competitor research into a content plan with topics, proof, formats, and distribution angles.

This is a working analyst brief. Sources go in. Patterns, risks, and decisions come out.

Use this prompt
You are a content strategy analyst.

Build a content plan from competitor research that supports our product and avoids copycat topics.

My company:
{{my_company}}

Competitor:
{{competitor}}

Market:
{{market}}

Sources:
{{sources}}

Return:
1. Content pillars based on buyer problems.
2. Topics competitors cover well.
3. Topics competitors cover poorly.
4. Content formats to test.
5. Proof or examples needed for each topic.
6. 30-day publishing plan with priority and reason.

Rules:
- Use only the sources I provide.
- Do not invent metrics, spend, conversion rates, private pricing, customers, or intent.
- Mark unsupported claims as [UNVERIFIED].
- Separate observation, interpretation, and recommendation.

Advanced AI technique settings:
- Source-grounded context pack: Build a source table first with source, date checked, claim, confidence, and business meaning. Use only that table for the final recommendations.
- Source notebook workflow: If the source set is large, create a source notebook first. Ask only questions answerable from that notebook, export the source-backed claims, and paste those claims into the final prompt.
- Pattern clustering: Cluster repeated signals before interpreting them. Label one-off examples as one-offs and do not treat them as strategy.
- Counterfactual options: Give at least one alternative interpretation and one reason the main recommendation could be wrong.
- Few-shot calibration: Add one or two examples of a good finding and a bad finding before the source pack, then follow that standard in the output.
- Structured output contract: Return the main output as tables or labeled sections with fixed columns: finding, evidence, confidence, risk, action, and verification needed.
- Verification loop: After the first draft, run a verification pass that lists unsupported claims, stale details, missing sources, and recommendations to downgrade or remove.

Copy the prompt. Fill the variables. Then check the output for real.

Advanced AI techniques

Use these techniques for this prompt

These are selected for this specific competitor research job. Use the prompt-ready instruction when it helps, and skip it when the condition does not fit.

Source grounding

Source-grounded context pack

Use when: Use when the answer depends on competitor pages, screenshots, ads, pricing, SEO exports, or reviews.

Prompt move: Build a source table first with source, date checked, claim, confidence, and business meaning. Use only that table for the final recommendations.

Skip when: Skip only for brainstorming with no factual claims.

Source notebook workflow

Source notebook workflow

Use when: Use when you have a stable pack of competitor pages, PDFs, call notes, screenshots, exports, or long research notes.

Prompt move: If the source set is large, create a source notebook first. Ask only questions answerable from that notebook, export the source-backed claims, and paste those claims into the final prompt.

Skip when: Skip when you only have one or two short sources.

Pattern analysis

Pattern clustering

Use when: Use for batches of ads, emails, social posts, reviews, SEO pages, or competitor claims.

Prompt move: Cluster repeated signals before interpreting them. Label one-off examples as one-offs and do not treat them as strategy.

Skip when: Skip for a single landing page or one pricing table.

Strategy critique

Counterfactual options

Use when: Use when the output recommends positioning, offer, creative, content, or product moves.

Prompt move: Give at least one alternative interpretation and one reason the main recommendation could be wrong.

Skip when: Skip for factual extraction or source verification.

Calibration

Few-shot calibration

Use when: Use when tone, scoring, or finding quality matters more than generic completeness.

Prompt move: Add one or two examples of a good finding and a bad finding before the source pack, then follow that standard in the output.

Skip when: Skip when you do not have a reliable example to imitate.

Output contract

Structured output contract

Use when: Use when the output must be compared, reviewed, or turned into tasks.

Prompt move: Return the main output as tables or labeled sections with fixed columns: finding, evidence, confidence, risk, action, and verification needed.

Skip when: Skip when the desired output is narrative copy.

Verification workflow

Verification loop

Use when: Use before sharing research with a client, team, sales deck, ad brief, or website backlog.

Prompt move: After the first draft, run a verification pass that lists unsupported claims, stale details, missing sources, and recommendations to downgrade or remove.

Skip when: Skip only for private rough notes.

Replace placeholders

Replace these variables before running the prompt

Variable Meaning Type Example
{{my_company}} Your company, product, or brand string Northstar CRM
{{competitor}} The competitor you want to analyze string Acme CRM
{{market}} The category or market context string B2B CRM for agencies
{{sources}} URLs, screenshots, notes, exports, or pasted copy list Homepage URL, pricing URL, ad screenshots
Expected shape

Compare a filled input with a realistic output shape

The output below is fictional. It shows the shape you are looking for, not a real competitor result.

Example input
my_company = PolicyDesk
competitor = ComplianceFlow
market = compliance workflow software
sources = competitor blog URLs, keyword export, ad angles, product priorities
Fictional example output
Fictional example output:

Pillar: audit readiness for small teams.
Competitor gap: many checklist posts, few workflow examples.
Content plan: build one practical audit workflow page, one template, and one comparison article with screenshots.
Prompt logic

Why this prompt works

  • It ties content ideas to buyer problems.

  • It forces proof planning before writing.

  • It avoids cloning competitor topics.

Mistakes to avoid

Asking the AI to analyze a competitor with no sources.

Paste the page copy, ad screenshots, pricing table, SEO notes, or transcript first.

Treating the output as research truth.

Use it as a source-backed brief: keep strong evidence, downgrade weak evidence, and decide what deserves action.

Asking for generic strategy advice.

Ask for observations, risks, and next actions tied to the evidence.

Verification checklist

  • Every factual claim has a source or is marked as unverified.

  • Pricing, dates, and product claims were checked on the original source.

  • The output separates observation from interpretation.

  • The output gives actions you can reject, edit, or test.

  • Nothing is treated as final just because an AI tool wrote it.

Use the output safely

What you should do next

  • Choose three content pillars.

  • Write briefs before drafts.

  • Keep competitor examples in the research appendix.