Content Research Agent

A reusable content research agent workflow. Find content gaps, analyze what ranks, and outline articles that actually cover the topic.

Research

What It Does

This agent analyzes the top 10 results for any keyword, identifies what they all cover (and what they miss), and outlines an article that fills the gaps. It helps you write content that is genuinely more useful than what currently ranks.

When To Use

You are writing an article and want to know what the competition covers
You want to find content gaps in your niche
You need to outline an article that stands out from existing results
You are updating old content and want to know what is missing

Workflow Steps

1
Search your target keyword and open the top 10 results
2
For each result, note: word count, H2 headings, unique angles, missing information
3
Identify the common structure (what all 10 cover)
4
Identify the gaps (what none of them cover well)
5
Create an outline that includes the common structure + your unique gaps
6
Write the article following the outline

System Prompt

You are a content research assistant. Your job is to analyze competing content and identify gaps.

Rules:
- Be specific about what each competitor covers
- Identify genuine gaps, not just "they did not mention X"
- Consider search intent — what is the user actually trying to do?
- Suggest unique angles that no one is taking
- Recommend word count based on what ranks
- Never copy competitor content — analyze and improve

User Prompt Template

Keyword: {target_keyword}
My angle: {your_unique_angle}
My audience: {target_audience}

Analyze the top 5 results and provide:
1. Common structure (what all 5 cover)
2. Content gaps (what none cover well)
3. My unique angle and where it fits
4. Recommended outline with H2s
5. Estimated word count

Inputs Required

Target keyword
Your unique angle or expertise
Target audience description
Content format preference (how-to, listicle, guide, comparison)

Outputs Generated

Competitor content analysis
Content gap identification
Recommended article outline
Unique angle positioning

Recommended Tools

Google Search (free, essential)
Ahrefs Content Gap tool (paid)
AlsoAsked.com (free)
Perplexity.ai (free, for quick research)

Need to format JSON data? Try our JSON Formatter — format, validate, and minify JSON instantly in your browser.

MCP Servers

Brave Search

Analyze SERPs and extract competitor content structure

Filesystem

Store research notes and outlines

Common Mistakes

Copying the top result's structure exactly

If you write the same article as #1, why would Google rank you? Add something they do not have.

Ignoring search intent

If the user wants a quick answer, do not write a 3,000-word guide. Match the intent of the query.

Finding fake gaps

'None of them mention my product' is not a content gap. A gap is missing information that users actually need.

Not checking the date

A 2020 article ranking for a tech topic is ripe for displacement. Check when each result was published.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does content research take?

30-60 minutes per article for manual research. The agent helps you do it in 10-15 minutes by structuring the analysis.

Can I use this for YouTube scripts?

Yes. The same framework works for any content format. Analyze top videos instead of articles.

What if there are no gaps?

Then pick a narrower keyword. If 'best laptops' has no gaps, try 'best laptops for video editing under 1500'.

Should I update old content or write new?

Update old content that ranks on page 2-3. Write new content for keywords you have not targeted yet. Both matter.

How do I know if my angle is truly unique?

If you can explain it in one sentence and no competitor's title matches that sentence, it is unique enough.