Top 5 Parse.ly Sage Prompts for Editors

Ever wish you could just have a conversation with your content data? With Parse.ly Sage, now you can.

It’s the fastest way to get performance-driven suggestions from your analytics — no digging, no filters, and no spreadsheets. Just enter a prompt, and get clear, actionable insight in seconds.

Early adopters of Parse.ly Sage are already moving faster, making smarter decisions, and focusing on what matters most: the story. Here are the five most popular prompts they’re using:

1. “Why is my site traffic spiking today?”

When traffic surges, the smart move is to figure out what’s working and how to do more of it.

This prompt returns an instant, plain-language snapshot of what’s driving the spike, including:

• Which referral sources are overperforming their average (Google Discover, Reddit, search, etc.).
• What content or topics are contributing to the uptick.
• Whether the spike is a flash in the pan or part of a growing trend.

Editorial teams are using this to double down on what’s working by adjusting promotion, updating content, or pitching follow-ups while the momentum’s still hot.

2. “Based on my top-performing articles today, identify 3 story ideas to help grow engagement.”

This prompt doesn’t just tell you what’s happening. It tells you what to do next. 

Instead of guessing what to cover, teams use it to get data-backed story ideas tailored to what’s already working.

Parse.ly Sage looks at:

• Engagement trends across your recent content.
• What topics are currently resonating with your audience.
• Which formats (Q&As, explainers, listicles) are driving the most interaction.

And in the output, it gives you:

• Specific article ideas, tailored to your audience.
• Clear reasoning behind each suggestion, like trending topics or similar past wins.
• Next steps to help you start building the briefs.

It’s a fast way to plan your next piece with confidence. 

3. “Which topics drove the most subscriptions last week?”

This prompt helps media teams zero in on the content that converts casual readers into paying subscribers.

Parse.ly Sage quickly surfaces:

• A ranked list of the topics and articles driving the most subscriptions.
• Opportunities to double down with follow-up pieces or deeper coverage.
• Promotion tactics or placements that can further boost performance.
• A/B testing ideas to optimize future subscription campaigns.

With third-party referrals in decline, building direct relationships is no longer optional. Teams are using this workflow to bridge that gap and grow their most valuable audience.

4. “Rank last week’s stories using our golden metric.”

The days of growing a media business on clicks and pageviews alone are over. Now, newsroom success is driven by a combination of reach, engagement, loyalty, and conversion. 

Viral reach doesn’t guarantee long-term value, and high engagement means little without significant traffic. It’s the full picture that counts.

Parse.ly Sage lets you build a custom “golden metric,” like pageviews × average engaged time × return visitors × subscriber conversions, and then ranks content accordingly. 

• You define your golden metric.
• Parse.ly applies it across recent stories.
• Parse.ly Sage returns a clean list of top performers.

With this prompt, editors are easily identifying the stories that actually moved the needle, not just the ones that went viral — without any number-crunching.

5. “Which authors have grown/dropped the most month over month?”

Every editorial team has standout contributors, but momentum can shift fast. This prompt gives strategists a quick view into which authors are gaining traction or losing steam, with breakdowns available by:

• Traffic trends and engaged time by author.
• Changes in publishing volume or topic mix.
• Audience loyalty indicators like returning visitors or subscriptions.

David Webb, Partner at Savage Ventures, uses these prompts to spot rising stars, course-correct early, and support writers with the insights they need to grow their impact.

See Parse.ly Sage in action

Want to watch these prompts in real time? Check out our 2-minute demo to see how Parse.ly Sage works seamlessly inside the Parse.ly dashboard — no setup required.