Hack Stack · Prompting System

The Briefing Research chain of thought

Four prompts, run in order, exactly as used in your Hack Stack assignment. Each one feeds the next: raw signals into clustered themes, themes into strategic synthesis, synthesis into narrative framing. Copy any prompt with one click and paste it into the tool it was built for.

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The chain · four steps

Step 01 Trend Mining Perplexity Step 02 Document Clustering Gemini Step 03 Insight Synthesis Claude Step 04 Narrative Framing ChatGPT
01 Perplexity

Trend Mining

Mine the open web for raw, sourced signals, weighted toward verbatim consumer voice. Cast the widest net you can: real quotes, market stats, and competitor cues, each with a link. This is the evidence the rest of the chain is built on.

Context

Our client, Tidal Peak Brewery, will launch “Surf-Lite,” a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). We need raw behavioral signals, especially verbatim consumer voice, plus market stats and competitor cues, not strategic spin.

Research

Search the public web from the last 12 months for Gen Z hard-seltzer culture: flavor, portability, packaging, visual appeal, eco-packaging, and the beer-to-seltzer shift. Prioritize real consumer voice first, Reddit threads, TikTok captions and comments, YouTube comments, and app/store reviews, then use white papers, market reports, and brand campaigns to corroborate. Use what you find, not generic knowledge. (Tools on.) For any market statistic, prefer figures confirmed by two or more independent sources, and flag single-source or outlier numbers.

Instructions

Gather as many distinct signals as you can find, weighted toward consumer voice. Cast the widest net possible, do not stop at a handful, and do not trim for brevity or tidiness. Volume is the asset: the more real signals you surface, the better the downstream clustering. Pursue the full breadth of verbatim consumer quotes (the priority), market stats and white-paper findings, and competitor/visual-design examples.

Specifics

For each item include the source or handle, date, the verbatim quote or stat, and a link reference (use the direct permalink for consumer posts). Quote consumer posts word-for-word, do not paraphrase. No interpretation or strategic spin, but flag factual conflicts. Never fabricate, pad, or paraphrase weak material into a layer just to hit volume. If a category (especially verbatim consumer voice) is genuinely thin, return fewer real items rather than invented ones.

Parameters

Return every relevant signal you find (aim for 30+ if they exist) as a table, each row = Trend | Snippet | Source. Do not cap or summarize the list. Beneath the table, add a “Conflict noted:” line for any signals that directly contradict each other (e.g., a category decline vs. an explosive growth forecast), naming the tension without resolving it.

Yielding

Report exactly what you searched for but couldn’t reach, by platform and content type (e.g., live TikTok or Reddit comment threads), as an explicit gap list I can fill manually. Ask me questions until you’re 99% certain you can complete this task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Full prompt, paste into Perplexity 
Context: Our client, Tidal Peak Brewery, will launch "Surf-Lite," a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). We need raw behavioral signals, especially verbatim consumer voice, plus market stats and competitor cues, not strategic spin.

Research: Search the public web from the last 12 months for Gen Z hard-seltzer culture: flavor, portability, packaging, visual appeal, eco-packaging, and the beer-to-seltzer shift. Prioritize real consumer voice first, Reddit threads, TikTok captions and comments, YouTube comments, and app/store reviews, then use white papers, market reports, and brand campaigns to corroborate. Use what you find, not generic knowledge. (Tools on.) For any market statistic, prefer figures confirmed by two or more independent sources, and flag single-source or outlier numbers.

Instructions: Gather as many distinct signals as you can find, weighted toward consumer voice. Cast the widest net possible, do not stop at a handful, and do not trim for brevity or tidiness. Volume is the asset: the more real signals you surface, the better the downstream clustering. Pursue the full breadth of verbatim consumer quotes (the priority), market stats and white-paper findings, and competitor/visual-design examples.

Specifics: For each item include the source or handle, date, the verbatim quote or stat, and a link reference (use the direct permalink for consumer posts). Quote consumer posts word-for-word, do not paraphrase. No interpretation or strategic spin, but flag factual conflicts. Never fabricate, pad, or paraphrase weak material into a layer just to hit volume. If a category (especially verbatim consumer voice) is genuinely thin, return fewer real items rather than invented ones.

Parameters: Return every relevant signal you find (aim for 30+ if they exist) as a table, each row = Trend | Snippet | Source. Do not cap or summarize the list. Beneath the table, add a "Conflict noted:" line for any signals that directly contradict each other (e.g., a category decline vs. an explosive growth forecast), naming the tension without resolving it.

Yielding: Report exactly what you searched for but couldn't reach, by platform and content type (e.g., live TikTok or Reddit comment threads), as an explicit gap list I can fill manually. Ask me questions until you're 99% certain you can complete this task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Click “Copy prompt”, then paste into your AI tool.

02 Gemini

Rapid Document Digestion and Clustering

Work only from the appended signal set. Cluster everything, long tail included, into four themes, preserving the conflicts in the data instead of smoothing them over.

Context

Tidal Peak Brewery is launching “Surf-Lite,” a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). Below is a large set of real, sourced signals on Gen Z hard-seltzer culture.

Research

Work only from the signal set below, do not add new data. It runs long on purpose; use ALL of it, including the long tail, and don’t sample or drop items because they seem minor.

Instructions

Using only the signals below:

  • Cluster them into exactly 4 insight themes. Let the themes emerge from the data, don’t impose a predetermined set.
  • For each theme, summarize why it matters for Surf-Lite’s launch and cite the specific signals supporting it.
  • Preserve any conflict in the data. If a tension sits inside a theme (e.g., “smooth/refreshing” vs. “unpleasant aftertaste,” or growth vs. decline), surface it; don’t smooth it over.
  • Flag missing context or weak support: demographic gaps, unseen angles, or any theme resting mainly on a single source or industry/brand material rather than consumer voice. Don’t fabricate or pad support to make a theme look stronger than the data is.
Specifics

Use the original trend labels and sources verbatim; cite each supporting item (e.g. “Recyclability is top sustainability factor, McKinsey”); tone factual and structured, no narrative flourish.

Parameters

Exactly 4 themes; each theme includes 2–3 supporting data points; output format: “Theme | Key Takeaways | Data Support”; total response under 200 words.

Yielding

If you can’t form 4 themes or need clarity, report what’s missing and await guidance. Ask clarifying questions until you’re 99% certain you can complete the task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Full prompt + data, paste into Gemini 
Context: Tidal Peak Brewery is launching "Surf-Lite," a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). Below is a large set of real, sourced signals on Gen Z hard-seltzer culture.

Research: Work only from the signal set below, do not add new data. It runs long on purpose; use ALL of it, including the long tail, and don't sample or drop items because they seem minor.

Instructions: Using only the signals below:
- Cluster them into exactly 4 insight themes. Let the themes emerge from the data, don't impose a predetermined set.
- For each theme, summarize why it matters for Surf-Lite's launch and cite the specific signals supporting it.
- Preserve any conflict in the data. If a tension sits inside a theme (e.g., "smooth/refreshing" vs. "unpleasant aftertaste," or growth vs. decline), surface it; don't smooth it over.
- Flag missing context or weak support: demographic gaps, unseen angles, or any theme resting mainly on a single source or industry/brand material rather than consumer voice. Don't fabricate or pad support to make a theme look stronger than the data is.

Specifics: Use the original trend labels and sources verbatim; cite each supporting item (e.g. "Recyclability is top sustainability factor, McKinsey"); tone factual and structured, no narrative flourish.

Parameters: Exactly 4 themes; each theme includes 2–3 supporting data points; output format: "Theme | Key Takeaways | Data Support"; total response under 200 words.

Yielding: If you can't form 4 themes or need clarity, report what's missing and await guidance. Ask clarifying questions until you're 99% certain you can complete the task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Click “Copy prompt”, then paste into your AI tool.

(The research data set is included automatically when you click Copy.)

03 Claude

Insight Synthesis

Turn the four Gemini themes into strategic implications. What each one means for positioning and messaging, where the tensions and white space sit, and where the data is still thin.

Context

Tidal Peak Brewery is launching “Surf-Lite,” a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). Four themes have already been clustered from the research: Sustainability-Driven Differentiation, The “Aftertaste” Barrier, Category Stability Tension, and Occasion-Based Refreshment.

Research

Work only from the four themes below (with their key takeaways and supporting signals), do not add new data.

Instructions
  1. For each of the four themes, interpret what it means for brand positioning, messaging, or campaign tension. Focus on implications, not raw data.
  2. Identify emerging tensions, opportunity white space, or potential stumbling blocks.
  3. Indicate where we still need deeper context (e.g., price sensitivity, fresh Gen Z sentiment, competitive creative examples), and flag any theme leaning on weak or single-source support rather than overstating it.
Specifics

Use the exact theme labels (e.g., “The ‘Aftertaste’ Barrier”); ≤ 2–3 sentences of implication per theme; tone analytical and insight-oriented, no fluff. Don’t fabricate or pad an implication the data doesn’t support.

Parameters

Output = a 4-row table: Insight | Tension / Opportunity | Gap / Clarity Needed. One row per theme.

Yielding

If you can’t interpret all four themes or need clarification, say so and ask. Clarify until you’re 99% certain you can complete the task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Full prompt + data, paste into Claude 
Context: Tidal Peak Brewery is launching "Surf-Lite," a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers (21–29). Four themes have already been clustered from the research: Sustainability-Driven Differentiation, The "Aftertaste" Barrier, Category Stability Tension, and Occasion-Based Refreshment.

Research: Work only from the four themes below (with their key takeaways and supporting signals), do not add new data.

Instructions:
1. For each of the four themes, interpret what it means for brand positioning, messaging, or campaign tension. Focus on implications, not raw data.
2. Identify emerging tensions, opportunity white space, or potential stumbling blocks.
3. Indicate where we still need deeper context (e.g., price sensitivity, fresh Gen Z sentiment, competitive creative examples), and flag any theme leaning on weak or single-source support rather than overstating it.

Specifics: Use the exact theme labels (e.g., "The 'Aftertaste' Barrier"); ≤ 2–3 sentences of implication per theme; tone analytical and insight-oriented, no fluff. Don't fabricate or pad an implication the data doesn't support.

Parameters: Output = a 4-row table: Insight | Tension / Opportunity | Gap / Clarity Needed. One row per theme.

Yielding: If you can't interpret all four themes or need clarification, say so and ask. Clarify until you're 99% certain you can complete the task. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Click “Copy prompt”, then paste into your AI tool.

(The four Gemini themes are included automatically when you click Copy.)

04 ChatGPT

Narrative Framing

Frame the strategic synthesis into three campaign angles, each on a different theme. Anchor each to that theme’s tension or opportunity (quoted), pair it with a lightweight test that resolves the theme’s flagged gap, and frame it as a testable hypothesis.

Context

You are building creative territory for Tidal Peak Brewery’s “Surf-Lite” launch (a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers, 21–29). Build on the tensions and white space in the strategic synthesis below, not just the product facts.

Research

Work only from the strategic synthesis below: a four-theme insight table with a Theme column plus Insight, Tension / Opportunity, and Gap / Clarity Needed. Use all of it on purpose: the Theme tells you which strategic territory the angle lives in; the Insight is the strategic backbone of each angle; the Tension / Opportunity is the hook each angle anchors to and quotes verbatim; the Gap / Clarity Needed is the exact question each angle’s test is designed to resolve. Do not add new data.

Instructions

Propose 3 distinct campaign angle options (2–3 lines each), each anchored to a different theme so the set spans the strategic space. For each: quote the Tension / Opportunity wording verbatim as the hook; design the A/B social or OOH test to resolve the specific Gap / Clarity Needed the synthesis flags for that theme, and keep the test lightweight and fast to run; add a 10-word “Why this angle matters” rationale. Because every theme carries a flagged gap, frame each angle as a testable hypothesis, not a finished claim. Don’t build on a thin or single-source data point without flagging that it needs validation.

Specifics

Quote each Tension / Opportunity verbatim; tie each test idea explicitly to the gap it resolves; keep every angle plausibly true to the actual target (21–29 coastal Gen Z beachgoers) and flag where a signal’s representativeness for that cohort is unconfirmed; for any sustainability angle, avoid performative or “greenwashing” framing the synthesis warns Gen Z penalizes. 50 words or fewer per option; tone pithy and strategic. Do not fabricate certainty the synthesis does not support.

Parameters

Format as a 3-row table with four columns: Tension / Opportunity Addressed (quoted) | Campaign Angle | Test Idea (and the gap it resolves) | Why This Angle Matters.

Yielding

If you cannot link each option to a specific tension and its flagged gap, or need clarification, ask. Do not guess. Be 99% certain before answering. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Full prompt + data, paste into ChatGPT 
Context: You are building creative territory for Tidal Peak Brewery's "Surf-Lite" launch (a 100-calorie, plastic-free, aluminum-canned hard seltzer for eco-savvy Gen Z beachgoers, 21–29). Build on the tensions and white space in the strategic synthesis below, not just the product facts.

Research: Work only from the strategic synthesis below: a four-theme insight table with a Theme column plus Insight, Tension / Opportunity, and Gap / Clarity Needed. Use all of it on purpose: the Theme tells you which strategic territory the angle lives in; the Insight is the strategic backbone of each angle; the Tension / Opportunity is the hook each angle anchors to and quotes verbatim; the Gap / Clarity Needed is the exact question each angle's test is designed to resolve. Do not add new data.

Instructions: Propose 3 distinct campaign angle options (2–3 lines each), each anchored to a different theme so the set spans the strategic space. For each: quote the Tension / Opportunity wording verbatim as the hook; design the A/B social or OOH test to resolve the specific Gap / Clarity Needed the synthesis flags for that theme, and keep the test lightweight and fast to run; add a 10-word "Why this angle matters" rationale. Because every theme carries a flagged gap, frame each angle as a testable hypothesis, not a finished claim. Don't build on a thin or single-source data point without flagging that it needs validation.

Specifics: Quote each Tension / Opportunity verbatim; tie each test idea explicitly to the gap it resolves; keep every angle plausibly true to the actual target (21–29 coastal Gen Z beachgoers) and flag where a signal's representativeness for that cohort is unconfirmed; for any sustainability angle, avoid performative or "greenwashing" framing the synthesis warns Gen Z penalizes. 50 words or fewer per option; tone pithy and strategic. Do not fabricate certainty the synthesis does not support.

Parameters: Format as a 3-row table with four columns: Tension / Opportunity Addressed (quoted) | Campaign Angle | Test Idea (and the gap it resolves) | Why This Angle Matters.

Yielding: If you cannot link each option to a specific tension and its flagged gap, or need clarification, ask. Do not guess. Be 99% certain before answering. Use all tools at your disposal. Answer as a top .01% expert in this field would.

Click “Copy prompt”, then paste into your AI tool.

(Claude’s strategic synthesis is included automatically when you click Copy.)