Research Prospects and Competitors with Perplexity

1. Go to perplexity.ai and click Sign up
2. Use your work email, or sign in with Google
3. You'll land on the main search screen once verified

What you should see: A single search box, similar to a search engine homepage but with a chat-style input. Troubleshooting: If sign-up stalls, try a different browser; some ad blockers interfere with the sign-in flow.

1. Look near the search box for a toggle or mode selector, often labeled with search depth options
2. A quicker mode gives a fast synthesized answer with citations
3. A deeper research mode (sometimes labeled Pro Search or Research) takes longer but pulls from more sources and produces a more thorough report

What you should see: A response with numbered citations inline, each linking out to the original source. Troubleshooting: If you're not sure which mode you're using, deeper modes generally show a visible "thinking" or "searching" step before the answer appears; a quick mode returns almost instantly.

1. Type a direct question about the prospect into the search box
2. Include the company name and website if you have it, so Perplexity has something concrete to anchor to
3. Read the answer, then click through at least one or two citations to confirm the source actually says what the summary claims

What you should see: A written answer several paragraphs long, broken into sections, with citation numbers you can click to jump to the source page. Troubleshooting: If the answer feels thin or generic, add more specifics to your question. "Tell me about Acme Co" produces a weaker answer than "What does Acme Co sell, who is their target customer, and what marketing channels do they appear to use based on their website and social presence."

1. Look for Spaces in the sidebar
2. Create a new Space named for the prospect or the pitch
3. Run your research questions inside that Space so they stay together instead of scattered across your general search history

What you should see: A dedicated page for that prospect with all related searches grouped underneath it. Troubleshooting: If Spaces isn't visible, it may be under a different label depending on your account tier; check the sidebar's full menu rather than just the default view.