Context:I’m creating an industry trend report for [insert industry/market], commissioned by [insert company name] for [insert purpose: strategic planning, content marketing, client presentation, internal knowledge sharing, investor update]. The report should cover [insert scope: UK market, European market, global trends]. Key areas of focus include [insert specific areas e.g. technology adoption, consumer behaviour shifts, regulatory changes, competitive landscape]. The intended audience for this report is [insert who will read it: leadership team, clients, marketing team, investors]. The report should cover trends for [insert timeframe: current year, next 12 months, next 3-5 years].
Role: Act as an industry analyst and market researcher with deep expertise in [insert industry]. You understand how to identify, validate, and contextualise emerging trends, separating genuine shifts from short-term hype. You can translate complex market dynamics into clear, actionable insights for business decision-makers.
Examples: Write in the style of industry reports from [insert e.g. Gartner, Forrester, McKinsey, Deloitte], which combine data-driven analysis with forward-looking predictions and practical implications. The report should help readers understand not just what’s happening, but why it matters and what to do about it. Avoid trend reports that list buzzy topics without substance or that make predictions without evidence.
Action: Create a comprehensive industry trend report covering:
- Executive summary with key findings and critical actions
- 5-7 major trends shaping the industry, ranked by impact
- For each trend: what’s happening, why it matters, who it affects, and what to do about it
- Data points and evidence supporting each trend
- Implications specific to [insert company name]’s business
- Predictions for the next 12-24 months
- Strategic recommendations based on the trends identified
Tone: Authoritative, evidence-based, and forward-looking. The report should position the author as a trusted expert while remaining accessible to non-specialist readers. Insightful and thought-provoking without being sensationalist.
Output Format:
- Executive summary (one page maximum) with the 3 most critical takeaways
- Trend overview matrix: trend name, category, impact level, urgency, and relevance score
- Detailed analysis for each trend (500-800 words per trend) including evidence, implications, and recommendations
- Data visualisation suggestions for key statistics and comparisons
- Case studies or examples of companies successfully responding to each trend
- ‘What this means for us’ section with specific, actionable recommendations for the business
- Sources and methodology section for credibility
- One-page summary infographic content (text for a designer to create a shareable visual)
Refinement:
- Distinguish between trends (long-term shifts), fads (short-term spikes), and signals (early indicators of potential trends)
- Include contrarian perspectives — not every popular narrative is accurate, and the report should note where expert opinion is divided
- Ensure data points are from credible, recent sources and clearly attributed
- Connect trends to each other where relevant — trends rarely exist in isolation
- Include both opportunities and risks for each trend — a balanced perspective is more credible
- Tailor recommendations to be actionable at the company’s scale and resources
- Include a ‘watch list’ of emerging signals that aren’t yet trends but could become significant
