Prompts for Analysis & Research
Turn AI Into Your Analyst
These prompts turn AI into a powerful research and analysis tool. The key insight: don't just ask for analysis — tell the AI what dimensions to analyze, what format to deliver, and what decisions the analysis should inform. A good analysis prompt produces output that directly answers a business question.
Competitive Analysis
Analyze [COMPETITOR] vs. our product [YOUR PRODUCT]. Compare across these dimensions: 1. Pricing and packaging 2. Key features (what they have that we don't, and vice versa) 3. Target customer (who are they going after?) 4. Market positioning (how do they describe themselves?) 5. Biggest weakness we could exploit Present as a table where possible. End with 3 strategic recommendations for how we should position against them. Context about our product: [paste product info]
[Structured competitive analysis with actionable positioning recommendations]
Why this works: The 5 specific dimensions prevent vague analysis. The table format makes it scannable. The strategic recommendations at the end make the analysis actionable — not just informational.
Data Interpretation
Here's our [TYPE] data from [TIME PERIOD]: [paste data] Analyze this and tell me: 1. The single most important trend (one sentence) 2. Three surprises or anomalies (things that aren't obvious at first glance) 3. What this data suggests we should do differently next quarter 4. One metric that's missing from this data that would make the picture clearer Assume I'm presenting this to [AUDIENCE]. Keep it actionable, not academic.
[Insight-focused analysis that highlights what matters and recommends action]
Why this works: Asking for surprises/anomalies forces the AI beyond obvious observations. The "what's missing" question identifies blind spots. The audience specification shapes how technical the language is.
Document Synthesis
I'm going to give you [NUMBER] documents about [TOPIC]. Please: 1. Identify the 3-5 key themes that appear across multiple documents 2. Note any contradictions or disagreements between sources 3. Highlight the 5 most important facts or statistics (cite which document each comes from) 4. Create a one-page executive summary that synthesizes everything Prioritize findings that are relevant to [YOUR SPECIFIC NEED]. [paste documents]
[A synthesis that goes beyond summarizing each document individually — finding patterns, contradictions, and the most impactful facts across all sources]
Why this works: Asking for themes ACROSS documents (not per-document summaries) produces genuine synthesis. The contradiction check surfaces conflicting information. The relevance filter keeps it focused on what you actually need.
SWOT Analysis
Conduct a SWOT analysis for [COMPANY/PRODUCT/IDEA]. Context: [relevant background] For each quadrant, provide exactly 3 points. Each point should be one sentence — specific and actionable, not generic. After the SWOT, give me the single most critical strategic insight that emerges from the analysis. Format as a 2x2 table.
[A focused, specific SWOT that avoids generic platitudes, with a clear strategic takeaway]
Why this works: "Exactly 3 points" and "one sentence each" prevent bloated analysis. "Specific and actionable, not generic" blocks vague observations. The single insight at the end forces prioritization.
The analysis upgrade
Add this to any analysis prompt: "Don't just describe what you see — tell me what I should DO about it." This single instruction transforms analysis from informational to actionable.
Quick Check
What instruction turns a standard AI analysis into an actionable one?
Key Takeaway
Analysis prompts work best when you specify exact dimensions to analyze, demand actionable recommendations (not just observations), and ask the AI to surface surprises and contradictions — not just obvious patterns.