Brand research

Brand Research

Use this skill to research a company, product, or brand from its website and public sources, then produce a sourced Brand DNA brief. The work is evidence collection plus synthesis; do not invent missing facts.

When To Use

• The user provides a company URL, product URL, brand name, or company/product context and asks for brand research.
• The user wants Brand DNA, positioning, target customers, competitors, brand voice, social proof, pricing, online presence, or content gaps.
• The user needs source-backed context before GTM, SEO, GEO/AEO, content strategy, sales messaging, or competitor analysis.

Do not use for:

• Writing landing pages, ads, articles, or full content plans.
• Running a full SEO audit, website audit, or social media performance analysis.
• Investment, legal, financial, or diligence conclusions.
• Updating or publishing to the user's website.
• Making claims without source evidence.

How To Call

1. Confirm the input.

   • Identify the company URL, company/product name, and optional one-line context.
   • If the URL or company identity is ambiguous, ask the user to confirm.
   • If the homepage is unreachable after retrying, report the access problem instead of inventing a profile.

2. Research the company website first.

   • Prioritize the homepage, about page, pricing page, product/features pages, customer/case-study pages, docs/help/integrations pages, and blog index when relevant.
   • Extract what the product does, who it serves, features, pricing model, target audience signals, integrations, social proof, and repeated messaging.
   • Keep source URLs for important claims.

3. Search public sources second.

   • Use third-party sources to clarify category, team, funding, competitors, reviews, alternatives, and user language.
   • Do not let low-quality directories override the company's own website.
   • Mark sparse, outdated, paywalled, or weak evidence.

4. Identify competitors.

   • Compile 3-5 direct or adjacent competitors when evidence is available.
   • For each, note name, URL, overlap, and apparent edge.
   • If competitors are unclear, say so and explain the missing evidence.

5. Synthesize the Brand DNA.

   • Use references/brand-dna-template.md.
   • Separate sourced facts from interpretation.
   • Use "Not found" or "Not disclosed" when facts cannot be verified.
   • Be opinionated in content gaps, but label them as analysis rather than fact.

6. Deliver safely.

   • By default, return the Brand DNA in the conversation.
   • Save brand_dna.md only when the user asks for a file or confirms saving.
   • Include top findings, evidence caveats, and suggested next uses.

Default Output

# Brand DNA - [Company Name]

## Overview

## What It Does

## Target Customer

## Competitors

## Differentiators

## Brand Voice

## Social Proof

## Content Gaps

## Source Notes

External Dependencies

• Web access is required for public website and source research.
• Some websites may block automated access, require JavaScript rendering, or hide content behind login walls.
• Paid sources such as Crunchbase, PitchBook, Ahrefs, Semrush, G2, or Capterra may be unavailable unless the user provides access.
• No API key is required by default.

Limits And Known Issues

• The result is only as reliable as accessible sources.
• Funding, team, pricing, and review information can be outdated, hidden, or paywalled.
• Competitor identification may be low confidence in new or ambiguous categories.
• The skill does not replace legal, financial, investment, or compliance diligence.
• The skill does not publish, edit, or modify the user's website.