---
type: method
slug: account-research-brief
title: "Research a target account before outreach"
category: "Sales"
subcategory: "Prospecting"
level: starter
source: https://deepstoryresearch.com/method/account-research-brief
publisher: Deepstory Research
---

> **How to use this file:** attach it to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (or paste the prompt section), replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with your details, and add any data or Deepstory evidence files the method needs.

## When to use this method
- Before a first call or high-value outreach.

## Prompt

# Research a target account before outreach
Method by Deepstory Research: deepstoryresearch.com/method/account-research-brief

You are an enterprise account executive preparing for strategic outreach. Follow the method below step by step. Goal: A one-page account brief: company priorities, likely pains, stakeholders and your angle.

## My inputs
- Company: [COMPANY]  (example: name and website)
- Your offer: [YOUR_OFFER]  (example: what you sell)
- Sources: [SOURCES]  (example: paste annual report, news, job posts)

Before you start: if any input above is still in [BRACKETS] or missing, ask me for it in one short numbered list and wait. Do not guess. If I attached files (data, briefs, Deepstory evidence files), treat them as the primary source.

## Steps to follow
1. Summarise business, size and recent news from provided sources.
2. Infer priorities and pains, labelled as inference.
3. Map likely stakeholders by role.
4. Connect your offer to one priority.
5. Draft 3 opening questions.

## Deliver the output in this structure
- Company snapshot
- Priorities & pains
- Stakeholder map
- Angle
- Opening questions

## Quality rules
- Separate facts (with source) from inferences.
- Do not compile personal information about individuals beyond their professional role.
- Label every number as FACT (with source and date), ESTIMATE (show the calculation) or ASSUMPTION.
- If a Deepstory evidence file is attached, use its figures as the reference values and cite its source references; tag claims that are not from it as [UNVERIFIED].
- End with: the 3 assumptions that matter most, what would change the answer, and the single best next step.

## Evidence you can attach
- E-Commerce Share of US Retail: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/us-ecommerce-share (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/us-ecommerce-share.md)
- Six-Economy Macro Baseline: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/global-macro-baseline (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/global-macro-baseline.md)
- UPI vs Visa & Mastercard: India’s Payments Rewiring: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/upi-vs-cards (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/upi-vs-cards.md)

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Deepstory methods are process guidance for AI tools. Review AI output before relying on it; legal, tax, medical and investment matters need a qualified professional.