Claude's Research feature is designed for questions that need more than one search. Anthropic says Research can conduct multiple searches, follow different lines of investigation, use connected internal context when available, and return a cited report.
What is Claude Research?
Research is an agentic research mode rather than a single web lookup. Claude breaks a broad question into smaller investigations, searches across the web and connected sources, then combines the findings into a longer answer with citations.
When should you use Research instead of a normal Claude chat?
Use Research when the answer depends on current facts, several sources, competing evidence or a long chain of questions. A normal chat is often faster for rewriting, brainstorming, summarizing text you already have, or solving a well-defined problem from provided context.
How should you write a Research prompt?
Give Claude the decision you are trying to make, the scope, the date window and what counts as evidence. Instead of “research AEO,” ask for a comparison of current AEO tools, feature differences, pricing as of a specific date, first-party documentation, and a clear separation between verified facts and your analysis.
How do you make the research more reliable?
Ask for primary sources first, define the market or geography, and tell Claude to flag disagreements. Anthropic's Research documentation emphasizes that the feature explores different angles and produces citations that can be checked.
Can Claude Research use your Google Workspace?
Yes, when the relevant integrations are connected. Anthropic introduced Research with access to internal work context alongside web search, and later expanded integrations so Claude can search connected applications.
How do you use the citations?
Do not treat a citation as proof by itself. Open the original source, verify the date and wording, and check whether the source really supports the claim being made. This is especially important for pricing, product availability, policy changes and technical specifications.
What common prompts produce weak research?
Very broad prompts without a decision, time range or source rules tend to create a pile of facts rather than useful research. Asking for “everything about AI SEO” is much less useful than asking for a market map, current capabilities, limitations, evidence quality and a recommendation for a defined type of website.
How can SEOs use Claude Research?
Good SEO uses include competitor research, SERP feature analysis, technical documentation review, content gap research and tracking changes in Google guidance. Pair the output with Search Console and your own crawl data so the research does not become a substitute for first-party evidence.
A practical Research prompt template
Start with: “Research [topic] for [audience]. Use primary sources where available. Cover [scope]. Focus on information current as of [date]. Compare conflicting claims, cite every material factual claim, and finish with practical actions, risks and open questions.”
Related ToolBoxKart guides
For a broader Claude overview, read the Claude detailed guide. For daily agent-style work, see Claude Cowork: How to Use It for Daily Work. For research-driven SEO auditing, use How to Audit a Website SEO with Claude. For comparing assistants, read Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini for SEO and Coding.