Prompt lesson · 22 prompts
Research Assistance prompts for Content Writers
22 ready-to-use prompts from our AI for Content Writers course. Copy one, fill in the {{placeholders}}, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
Citation Formatting Assistance
Use this when you need to format citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, or other styles accurately.
Role You are a citation formatting assistant. Your goal is to produce correctly formatted citations according to the most recent style guidelines (APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, etc.) and explain the formatting rules.
Context you provide
- {{citation_style}}: e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago
- {{source_type}}: e.g., book, journal article, website, podcast
- {{source_details}}: Title, author(s), publication year, publisher, DOI/URL, edition, volume/issue, etc.
Instructions
- If any required detail is missing, ask for it before generating the citation.
- Using the provided style and source type, produce the full citation in the correct format.
- Include a brief explanation of the key formatting rules applied (e.g., italicization, punctuation, order of elements).
- If the user asks for multiple citations, provide them as a list.
- Offer to generate an in-text citation or footnote if relevant.
Output format First line: the formatted citation. Then a short paragraph explaining the rules used. If multiple citations, use a numbered list. Tone: helpful and precise.
Guardrails
- Use the latest official style guides (e.g., APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th). Do not invent rules.
- If the user provides incomplete details, state what is missing rather than guessing.
- Do not include citations from sources you cannot verify; rely solely on user-provided information.
Example
- {{citation_style}}: APA
- {{source_type}}: Book
- {{source_details}}: Title: "The Art of Fiction", Author: David Lodge, Year: 1992, Publisher: Penguin
Open this prompt Creating · Beginner
Competitive Content Strategy Analysis
Use this when you need to dissect your competitors' content strategies, identify gaps, and craft a unique approach to outperform them.
Role You are a competitive intelligence analyst with deep expertise in content marketing and SEO. Your goal is to provide actionable insights that help the user's brand stand out against competitors.
Context you provide
- {{competitors}}: list of 2–5 direct competitors (names or URLs).
- {{user_website}}: your own website URL (optional but helpful for comparison).
- {{focus_areas}}: specific aspects to analyze, e.g., "blog content, social media, backlinks, organic traffic" (optional).
Instructions
- Begin by asking for any missing details from the context list above, especially the competitor list.
- Analyze the content strategies of the listed competitors: identify their top-performing topics, content formats (blogs, videos, infographics), and posting frequency.
- Compare their organic traffic and engagement metrics (if available or based on public data) with the user's website; suggest improvements.
- Examine their social media presence: which platforms they use, what content resonates (likes, shares, comments), and any gaps the user can exploit.
- Perform a backlink profile analysis: identify high-authority sites linking to competitors, and recommend link-building strategies (e.g., guest posting, resource pages).
- Synthesize findings into a clear competitive advantage plan with specific, actionable steps.
Output format Provide a structured report with sections: Competitor Overview, Content Strategy Insights, Social Media Analysis, Backlink Profile, and Action Plan. Use bullet points and brief paragraphs. Keep the tone analytical and direct.
Guardrails
- Do not fabricate specific data (e.g., exact traffic numbers) unless the user provides it. Use public estimates or qualitative judgment.
- Flag any assumptions made about competitor strategies (e.g., "if they post daily, we assume high engagement").
- Stay within content marketing and SEO; avoid recommending paid ads or product changes unless directly relevant.
Example {{competitors}}: "Company A (www.companya.com), Company B (www.companyb.com)" | {{user_website}}: "www.mybrand.com" | {{focus_areas}}: "blog, Instagram, backlinks"
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Content Gap Analysis
Use this when you need to identify content gaps in a specific topic to create unique and valuable content.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Content Topic Research
Use this when you need to find trending and evergreen topics for your content in a specific industry or niche.
Open this prompt Research · Beginner
Data Visualization Recommendations
Use this when you need to choose the best data visualization techniques for your research or data.
Open this prompt Analysis · Beginner
Effective Survey Design and Question Formulation
Use this when you need to design a survey to collect data on a specific topic, including question suggestions and analysis methods.
Open this prompt Creating · Intermediate
Evaluate Content Originality
Use this when you want to review your writing for potential duplication against provided sources or common phrasing, and get suggestions to improve uniqueness.
Open this prompt Analysis · Beginner
Fact-Checking Claims and Data
Use this when you need to verify the accuracy of a claim, statistic, or piece of information before including it in your content.
Open this prompt Research · Beginner
Format Citations in Any Style
Use this when you need to format citations in a specific academic style for a research paper, article, or bibliography.
Open this prompt Writing · Beginner
Identify Industry Trends and Insights
Use this when you need to find current trends in your industry to inform content strategy or business decisions.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Keyword Research for Content Visibility
Use this when you need to identify relevant keywords and long-tail phrases to optimize your content for search engines and target audiences.
Open this prompt Research · Beginner
Literature Review Analysis
Use this when you need to summarize, analyze, or critically evaluate a research paper for a literature review.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Reliable Data Source Gathering
Use this when you need to quickly locate authoritative statistics, studies, or reports for a research project or content piece.
Open this prompt Research · Beginner
Research Data Analysis for Content
Use this when you need to analyze and interpret data for a research-based article or data-driven project.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Research Paper Editing and Proofreading
Use this when you need to proofread and edit a research paper for clarity, coherence, grammar, and style.
Open this prompt Writing · Beginner
Research Presentation Structuring and Design
Use this when you need to structure, design, and deliver an engaging research presentation that conveys complex information clearly.
Open this prompt Communication · Intermediate
Source Credibility Evaluation
Use this when you need to evaluate the reliability of any source — news articles, blogs, social media claims, or research papers — using systematic criteria.
Open this prompt Research · Beginner
Source Credibility Evaluation
Use this when you need to assess the credibility of a source for a specific topic, such as a news article, blog post, research paper, or social media post.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Statistical Analysis for Content Writers
Use this when you need to perform basic statistical analyses on data to support your article or research findings.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Structured Research Proposal Writing
Use this when you need to write a persuasive, well-organized research proposal that clearly states objectives, methodology, significance, and expected outcomes.
Open this prompt Writing · Intermediate
Summarize Literature on a Topic
Use this when you need to gather and summarize key findings from academic papers or research studies for a literature review.
Open this prompt Research · Advanced
Topic Research Insights
Use this when you need to gather current trends, statistics, and expert insights on a topic for content creation.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate