Research a new lead before your first call
- Who it's for
- Anyone booking discovery calls with new prospects
- Outcome
- A one-page brief: what the business does, recent news, and three good questions to ask.
- Why Handoff 1
- Read-only research from public sources.
Steps
- Give the lead's name, business and website.
- Ask for a brief: what they do, size, recent public news, likely needs.
- Ask for three questions to open the call.
- Skim the sources before the call.
Copy-paste prompt
Works with any agent. Replace the [square brackets] with your details.
Prepare a one-page brief on [business name] ([website]) before my call with [person's name, role].
Include: what they do, approximate size if public, recent public news, and three open questions I could ask about [my service]. Give a source URL for each fact. Use only public business information. Do not look up or include personal details beyond their public professional role. Do not contact them.Notes for each agent
Only features we found in each provider's official documentation on 14 Oct 2026 are stated as product facts, with the source linked. Product features change; check before relying on them.
Claude Suggested
Claude (Cowork) can run this as a multi-step task. It can only read files in folders you have connected, so connect just the folders this job needs and ask for links to every source.
From official docs Official source
ChatGPT Suggested
In ChatGPT Work, the cloud browser asks before visiting a new website by default. Keep that setting on 'Always ask' while you learn how it researches.
From official docs Official source
Gemini Suggested
Gemini Deep Research shows a research plan you can edit before it starts and uses Google Search by default. Reports usually take 5-10 minutes.
From official docs Official source
Microsoft Copilot Suggested
With a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan, the Researcher agent writes a source-cited report and may ask clarifying questions first. At work it can also draw on your files and email, so say 'web only' if that is what you want.
From official docs Official source
Open agents & automations Suggested
A self-hosted agent (for example OpenClaw or Hermes Agent) or an n8n workflow can do this, but you choose its tools. For a read-only job, give it web search only: no email-sending, file-writing or payment tools.
General guidance, not a verified product claim
Common failure, and how to catch it
- What goes wrong
- It mixes in a different company with the same name, or digs into personal information.
- How to catch it
- Check the website matches, and keep the brief to professional, public information.
Time and cost
- Time to set up
- 5 minutes
- Cost
- Works in a standard chat on most plans; no extra tools needed.
Sources
- https://support.claude.com/en/articles/13345190-get-started-with-claude-cowork
- https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001280-using-cloud-browser-in-chatgpt
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/15719111
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/get-started-with-researcher-in-microsoft-365-copilot
Reviewed 14 Oct 2026 against the sources above. This playbook has not been tested on every agent listed; it is written to be agent-agnostic.