For Research Analysts ·
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll use Perplexity to build the background/context section of your research reports — market size statistics, consumer trend data, category dynamics — in 20–30 minutes instead of the 3–4 hours of manual database searching it currently takes. You'll have cited, synthesized secondary data ready to drop into your report.
What you'll need
Before opening Perplexity, write a quick list of the specific information you need for your report background section. Common needs:
Having this list prevents you from going down research rabbit holes.
Open Perplexity and ask for your most important stat first. Be specific about what you need and ask for sources.
Example: "What is the current size of the U.S. organic food market in dollars? I need the most recent year available, growth rate, and a projected CAGR. Please cite your sources."
What you should see: A response with specific dollar figures, source citations (IBISWorld, Statista, industry reports), and the year the data is from.
Click the numbered citation links. For client reports, prioritize data from:
Avoid Wikipedia or blog posts as primary sources in client deliverables.
Stay in the same Perplexity conversation and ask follow-up questions. The AI maintains context and can connect your data points:
"Now tell me about the main consumer segments driving growth in this category — demographics, size, and purchase behavior."
"What are the 3-4 biggest trends currently shaping this market?"
"Which competitors have gained or lost market share recently, and why?"
Once you have all your data points, ask Perplexity to synthesize:
"Based on everything we've discussed about the [category] market, write a 3-paragraph background section for a consumer research report. Include the market size, growth trends, and key dynamics. Cite sources inline."
Copy the synthesized narrative into your report template. Verify all numbers against the original citations. Add any additional context your client has shared in briefings.
Market sizing:
What is the current size of the U.S. [category] market? I need the most recent data available: total market value, 3-year CAGR, and 5-year forecast. List your sources and note the year each figure is from.
Consumer segment data:
Who are the primary consumer segments for [category/product type] in the U.S.? I need size estimates, demographics, and what drives their purchase behavior. Cite sources.
Category trends synthesis:
What are the 3-5 most significant trends currently shaping the U.S. [category] market? Focus on consumer behavior, technology, regulatory, or competitive dynamics. Cite sources.
Report background section:
Write a 2-3 paragraph market background section for a consumer research report about [topic]. Cover market size, growth dynamics, and key consumer trends. Professional tone, cite sources inline.