Through a series of real-world scenarios, we'll explore how professionals are leveraging Perplexity to streamline their workflows, enhance creativity, and produce high-quality content across various industries.

Note - this test on AI content tools was conducted by the team at Winsome Marketing.

Scenario 1: The Tech Blogger's Dilemma

Kaitlin, a seasoned tech blogger, faced a challenging task: crafting a 1000-word article on SPRS (Supplier Performance Risk System) scores in cybersecurity. She turned to Perplexity, prompting it to generate a comprehensive piece on "What Makes a Good SPRS Score? Benchmarks for Cybersecurity Success."

Prompt Strategy: Kaitlin provided specific requirements, including the desired word count, target audience, and key points to cover. She also requested the incorporation of a metaphor throughout the article to make the technical content more engaging.

Output: Perplexity delivered an 800-word draft that skillfully wove a metaphor throughout the piece, offering a solid foundation for the article.

Editing Recommendations: While the draft was impressive, Kaitlin needed to expand it to meet the 1000-word requirement. She focused on elaborating on key points, adding industry-specific examples, and refining the metaphor to ensure it resonated with her tech-savvy audience.

Key Takeaway: When dealing with technical subjects, providing Perplexity with specific requirements and creative elements (like metaphors) can result in more engaging and accessible content.

Scenario 2: The Multi-Faceted Marketing Campaign

Lauren, a marketing specialist in the photography industry, needed to create a comprehensive blog post on professional headshot styles. She used Perplexity to kickstart her creative process.

Prompt Strategy: Lauren asked Perplexity to generate an outline and initial content for "Which Style of Professional Headshot is Right for You?" She specified the need for various headshot styles, their appropriate uses, and tips for choosing the right style.

Output: Perplexity provided a well-structured outline and initial content, albeit shorter than required and with some overly wordy phrasing.

Editing Recommendations: Lauren used the AI-generated outline as a springboard, expanding on each point with her industry expertise. She simplified the language, injected her brand's voice, and added practical tips from her experience as a photographer.

Key Takeaway: Perplexity excels at providing structured outlines and initial content. For best results, use it as a starting point and then refine the content with your unique insights and brand voice.

Scenario 3: The Sales Training Curriculum Developer

Kaitlin, wearing her sales training hat, needed to create in-depth content briefs for freelance writers on various sales training topics. She leveraged Perplexity's capabilities to streamline this process.

Prompt Strategy: Kaitlin fed Perplexity information about her client (ASLAN), including voice, tone, and style guidelines. She also provided three relevant articles as supporting text. Her prompt requested "robust article briefs" for six different sales training topics.

Output: Perplexity generated comprehensive briefs for each topic, capturing the essence of ASLAN's brand voice and incorporating relevant industry insights.

Editing Recommendations: While the briefs were largely on point, Kaitlin made minor tweaks to ensure perfect alignment with ASLAN's specific methodologies and to include any recent industry developments not captured by Perplexity.

Key Takeaway: For creating multiple related pieces of content, providing Perplexity with brand guidelines and relevant examples can result in consistently on-brand outputs that require minimal editing.

Scenario 4: The Health and Wellness Writer

Angela, a health and wellness content creator, needed to write about the cutting-edge topic of GLP-1 agonists and weight loss injections. She turned to Perplexity for its ability to process current information.

Prompt Strategy: Angela asked Perplexity to provide an in-depth explanation of how semaglutide works and to discuss the pros and cons of weight loss injections. She specifically requested current research and medical insights.

Output: Perplexity delivered a scientifically accurate and up-to-date article on GLP-1 agonists, complete with recent research findings.

Editing Recommendations: While the scientific content was solid, Angela needed to adjust the tone for her audience, making it more conversational while maintaining accuracy. She also added real-world patient experiences to complement the scientific information.

Key Takeaway: For research-heavy topics, especially in rapidly evolving fields, Perplexity can provide a strong factual foundation. The writer's job then becomes making this information accessible and relevant to the target audience.

Scenario 5: The Real Estate Marketing Innovator

Lindsey, a content strategist in the real estate sector, needed to create content on innovative topics like AI in real estate and influencer marketing for Gen Z buyers.

Prompt Strategy: Lindsey used Perplexity to brainstorm ideas, asking for cutting-edge applications of AI in real estate and strategies for reaching Gen Z buyers through influencer marketing.

Output: Perplexity generated a range of innovative ideas and strategies, some of which surprised Lindsey with their originality.

Editing Recommendations: Lindsey took Perplexity's ideas and expanded on them, adding real-world examples from the real estate industry and adjusting the language to appeal to both tech-savvy real estate professionals and young home buyers.

Key Takeaway: For emerging topics, use Perplexity as a brainstorming partner. Its ability to connect disparate ideas can lead to innovative content angles you might not have considered.

Expert Tips for Maximizing Perplexity's Potential

1. Iterative Prompting: Don't hesitate to refine your prompts based on initial outputs. If the content isn't quite right, try rephrasing your request or adding more specific guidelines.
2. Fact-Checking: While Perplexity is impressive with current topics, always verify facts, especially for scientific or rapidly changing subjects.
3. Tone Adjustment: Perplexity can sometimes produce overly formal or academic language. Be prepared to adjust the tone to match your brand voice and audience expectations.
4. Use Collections: As Shannon discovered, setting up collections in Perplexity for different clients or verticals can help maintain consistency in voice and style across multiple pieces of content.
5. Combine with Human Expertise: The most effective use of Perplexity comes from combining its outputs with your industry knowledge, creativity, and understanding of your audience.

Using Perplexity for Content Creation

Perplexity has proven to be a versatile and powerful tool for content creators across various industries. By understanding its strengths and limitations, and by crafting thoughtful prompts, content professionals can significantly enhance their productivity and creativity. However, the human touch remains irreplaceable – the most successful content strategies use Perplexity as a sophisticated assistant, not a replacement for human expertise and creativity.