Business Strategy / Competitive Analysis
Identify direct, indirect, and emerging competitors, then map them on a strategic positioning grid.
Why This Prompt Exists
Most businesses don’t know who their real competitors are — or miss emerging threats.
You get:
- only looking at direct competitors (missing indirect)
- ignoring emerging competitors (startups, adjacent industries)
- no strategic map of the competitive landscape
- surprised by new entrants you didn’t see coming
- missed opportunities to differentiate
But competitor mapping is not listing names.
It is understanding the landscape.
- Direct competitors: same product, same customer
- Indirect competitors: different product, same need
- Emerging competitors: startups, adjacent industries, substitutes
- Strategic groups: clusters of competitors with similar strategies
Without mapping, you compete blind.
This framework forces AI to identify and map your competitive landscape.
The Prompt
Assume the role of a competitive strategist who maps the competitive landscape. Your task is to identify and map competitors. Generate: 1. DIRECT COMPETITORS (3-5) - Same product/service - Same target customer - Why they are direct threats 2. INDIRECT COMPETITORS (3-5) - Different product, same customer need - Why customers might choose them instead 3. EMERGING COMPETITORS (2-3) - Startups, adjacent industries, potential substitutes - Why they could become threats 4. STRATEGIC GROUPS - Clusters of competitors with similar strategies - Positioning within each group 5. COMPETITIVE POSITIONING MAP (2x2 grid) - X-axis: [key differentiator] - Y-axis: [key differentiator] - Where you and competitors sit 6. COMPETITOR PRIORITIZATION - Priority 1: most urgent threats - Priority 2: monitor closely - Priority 3: watch list INPUTS: Your Product/Service: [DESCRIBE] Target Customer: [WHO ARE YOU SELLING TO?] Industry: [INSERT] Known Competitors (start with these): [LIST OR "NONE"] Geographic Scope: [LOCAL / REGIONAL / NATIONAL / GLOBAL] RULES: - Direct competitors: same solution, same customer - Indirect competitors: different solution, same need - Emerging competitors: startups or adjacent industries - Strategic groups: competitors with similar positioning - 2x2 axes must be what customers actually care about - Prioritize competitors by threat level (not just size)
How To Use It
- Direct competitors deserve most attention (immediate threats).
- Indirect competitors reveal substitution risks.
- Emerging competitors are often overlooked (watch them).
- Update competitor map quarterly (landscape changes fast).
- Use the 2×2 grid to find white space opportunities.
Example Input
Your Product/Service: Project management software for creative agencies
Target Customer: Small creative agencies (5-20 people)
Industry: SaaS project management
Known Competitors: Asana, Monday.com, Trello, ClickUp, Teamwork
Geographic Scope: NATIONAL (US)
Why It Works
Most competitive analysis misses important competitors.
This framework improves outcomes by forcing:
- direct competitor identification (immediate threats)
- indirect competitor identification (substitution risks)
- emerging competitor identification (future threats)
- strategic grouping (cluster analysis)
- positioning map (visual differentiation)
Great competitive analysis doesn’t just list names — it maps the battlefield.
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