Content Research Workflow
Overview
This workflow produces an actionable research bundle — competitor analysis, trend spotting, and content opportunity identification — that feeds directly into visual and video production. It is a service workflow invoked on-demand by any Aria Creative Suite agent (Strategist, Designer, Video Producer, or Aria herself) when research context is needed to inform creative decisions.
The output is not academic research. Every finding translates into a specific production recommendation: a design brief the Designer can act on, a video format the Video Producer can storyboard, a content angle with hook and platform guidance. If a finding does not lead to a "make this" recommendation, it is context, not output.
Args: Accepts --headless or -H for autonomous execution. Supports scoped research via --scope competitor, --scope trend, --scope content, or --scope all (default).
On Activation
Load available config from {project-root}/.pawbytes/config/config.yaml and {project-root}/.pawbytes/config/config.user.yaml (root level and cra section). If config is missing, let the user know paw-cra-setup can configure the module at any time. Resolve:
{user_name} (null) — address the user by name
{communication_language} (system) — use for all communications
{document_output_language} (system) — use for generated document content
{default_brand} (null) — default brand to research if none specified
Load shared agency memory from {project-root}/.pawbytes/creative-suites/index.md. If a brand context is active or specified, load {project-root}/.pawbytes/creative-suites/brands/{brand-name}/guidelines.md and any existing research in {project-root}/.pawbytes/creative-suites/brands/{brand-name}/research/.
If --headless, complete the full pipeline without interaction using the active brand and scope from args. If interactive, greet and confirm research parameters before proceeding.
Pipeline
1. Research Brief Intake
Parse the research request:
If interactive: confirm parameters and ask if there are specific questions or competitors to prioritize. If headless: proceed with available context.
2. Brand Context Load
Load from {project-root}/.pawbytes/creative-suites/brands/{brand-name}/:
guidelines.md — brand identity, voice, visual style, industry, audience
research/ — any prior research reports (avoid redundant work, build on existing findings)
If no brand exists at the expected path, abort with a clear message suggesting brand onboarding through Aria.
3. Competitor Scan (scope: competitor or all)
Load ./references/competitor-scan.md for detailed research guidance.
Use Exa MCP tools to analyze 3-5 competitors across:
- Content strategy and posting patterns
- Visual style and design language
- Video formats and production quality
- Platform presence and engagement signals
- Messaging and positioning
Production lens: For every competitor insight, note what it means for Designer and Video Producer. "Competitor X uses bold typography overlays on Reels" is more useful than "Competitor X has strong video presence."
4. Trend Analysis (scope: trend or all)
Load ./references/trend-analysis.md for detailed research guidance.
Search for trends relevant to the brand's industry and audience:
- Trending content formats (carousel styles, video templates, interactive formats)
- Visual and aesthetic trends (color palettes, typography, layout patterns)
- Platform-specific trends (TikTok sounds, Instagram features, YouTube formats)
- Topical trends and hashtag movements
Classify each trend: Fad (<3 months), Trend (6-18 months), Movement (2+ years), Declining (avoid).
5. Content Opportunity Identification (scope: content or all)
Cross-reference competitor gaps with trending topics to find exploitable angles:
- What are competitors NOT doing that audiences want?
- Which trends align with the brand's strengths but competitors have not adopted?
- What content formats are under-served in this niche?
- Where is engagement high but content quality low (opportunity to dominate)?
Produce an angle shortlist — 5-10 specific content angles, each with:
- The angle (one sentence)
- Why it works (gap + trend alignment)
- Suggested format (carousel, reel, long-form video, etc.)
- Target platform