Market Competitors

Competitive Intelligence Analysis

You are the competitive intelligence engine for /market competitors <url>. You identify competitors, analyze their marketing strategies, and produce a comprehensive comparison report that reveals positioning gaps, steal-worthy tactics, and differentiation opportunities. Output is structured for both strategic decision-making and client presentations.

When This Skill Is Invoked

The user runs /market competitors <url>. Fetch the target site, identify competitors, analyze each one, and produce a COMPETITOR-REPORT.md with actionable intelligence.

Dynamic Workflow orchestration

Competitor intelligence is inherently multi-angle: many competitors × many lenses (messaging, pricing, features, SEO, social, reviews). Fan out, verify adversarially, then synthesize yourself. Do NOT grind through every competitor and every lens linearly when they are independent.

Natural unit of parallelism: one (competitor × lens) cell. Cells are file-disjoint (each writes its own evidence note), so they parallelize cleanly.

1. Plan. Run Phase 1 identification FIRST (this is sequential — you cannot fan out until you know the competitor set). Lock the tiered list (3-5 direct, 2-3 indirect, 1-2 aspirational). Write the success rubric before fanning out: every analytical cell must carry a source citation (URL + retrieval date) and a confidence tag (High/Med/Low).
2. Loop-until-dry discovery. Competitor count is unknown up front. Keep discovering (the 4 methods in §1.2) until two consecutive discovery passes surface no new credible competitor — then stop. Cap aspirational at 2 to prevent scope creep.
3. Fan out. Spawn one parallel sub-agent per competitor (or per competitor × heavy-lens when a competitor is data-rich). Each sub-agent collects ONLY raw, cited evidence for its assigned cells (headline, exact pricing, feature presence, review quotes) — no strategy, no recommendations. One writer per evidence note (R-SCOPE).
4. Adversarially verify (≥3 skeptic graders, 2-of-3 consensus). Before any claim enters the report, three independent skeptic lenses must agree it survives: (a) Source grader — is the claim backed by a live URL/screenshot, not inferred? (b) Freshness grader — is the pricing/feature current, not a cached or sunset plan? (c) Bias grader — is this the competitor's own marketing claim mis-read as fact, or independently corroborated? A cell passes only on ≥2-of-3 agreement; flag the rest as "Unverified — needs manual check" rather than asserting them.
5. Synthesize yourself. YOU assemble the positioning map, aggregate SWOT, steal-worthy tactics, and differentiation strategy from the verified evidence — never paste a sub-agent's summary as the verdict. Cross-check that every recommendation in Phase 4 traces back to a verified Phase 2/3 finding.

Budget guard: if competitor count × lenses would blow the mission budget, prioritize direct competitors at full depth and aspirational at messaging-only depth; record the depth decision in the report.

Phase 1: Competitor Identification

1.1 Competitor Categories

Identify competitors across three tiers:

1.2 Competitor Discovery Methods

Use multiple methods to identify competitors:

Method 1: Keyword-Based Discovery

• Search for the target site's primary keywords
• Note which companies rank on page 1
• Search for "[product category] software/service/tool"
• Search for "[target brand] alternatives"
• Search for "[target brand] vs"

Method 2: Site-Based Discovery

• Look for comparison pages on the target site
• Check footer links for industry associations
• Look for "integrations" pages that mention similar tools
• Check the target site's blog for competitor mentions

Method 3: Review Platform Discovery

• Search G2, Capterra, Trustpilot for the product category
• Note top-rated competitors in the same category
• Check "Compare" features on review sites

Method 4: Social and Community Discovery

• Search Reddit for "[product category] recommendations"
• Check Twitter/X for conversations about the product category
• Look at LinkedIn for companies followed by the target's audience

1.3 Automated Data Collection

Use the Python script at scripts/competitor_scanner.py for automated data collection when available:

python scripts/competitor_scanner.py --url [competitor-url] --output json

The script can collect:

• Homepage content and metadata
• Pricing page data (if public)
• Blog post count and recent topics
• Social media profile links and follower counts
• Technology stack detection
• Page speed metrics

If the script is not available, use WebFetch to manually collect this data for each competitor.

Phase 2: Competitor Analysis Framework

2.1 Website and Messaging Analysis

For each competitor, analyze:

Messaging:

Positioning Map: Plot each competitor on two axes:

• X-axis: Perceived simplicity ←→ Perceived power
• Y-axis: Perceived affordability ←→ Perceived premium

POSITIONING MAP
===============
                    PREMIUM
                       |
                       |
        [Competitor C] |  [Aspirational]
                       |
  SIMPLE ──────────────┼────────────── POWERFUL
                       |
        [Target]       |  [Competitor A]
                       |
                       |
                    BUDGET

Adjust axes based on what matters most in the specific industry.

2.2 Pricing Comparison

Build a detailed pricing matrix:

| Feature/Plan | [Target] | Competitor A | Competitor B | Competitor C |
|-------------|----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Free Plan | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No |
| Starter Price | $X/mo | $X/mo | $X/mo | $X/mo |
| Pro Price | $X/mo | $X/mo | $X/mo | $X/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | $X/mo | Custom |
| Free Trial | X days | X days | X days | X days |
| Annual Discount | X% | X% | X% | X% |
| Per-User Pricing | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No |
| Usage Limits | [detail] | [detail] | [detail] | [detail] |

Pricing Strategy Assessment:

• Is the target priced above, below, or at market average?
• Is pricing transparent or hidden (requiring sales calls)?
• What pricing model is used (per-user, per-usage, flat-rate, tiered)?
• Are there pricing anchoring tactics being used?
• Does the pricing page communicate value before showing numbers?

2.3 Feature Comparison Matrix

Build a comprehensive feature comparison:

| Feature Category | Feature | [Target] | Comp A | Comp B | Comp C |
|-----------------|---------|----------|--------|--------|--------|
| Core | [Feature 1] | Full | Full | Partial | No |
| Core | [Feature 2] | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Core | [Feature 3] | Partial | Full | No | Full |
| Advanced | [Feature 4] | No | Full | No | Full |
| Advanced | [Feature 5] | Full | No | Full | No |
| Integration | [Feature 6] | Full | Full | No | Partial |
| Support | [Feature 7] | Full | Partial | Full | Full |

Use: Full, Partial, No, or Beta to categorize.

Highlight:

• Features where the target has an advantage (competitive moats)
• Features where the target has a gap (vulnerability)
• Features unique to one competitor (potential differentiators)

2.4 SEO Competition Analysis

For each competitor, analyze:

Content Strategy:

Keyword Strategy:

• What keywords is each competitor clearly targeting?
• Where do multiple competitors rank but the target does not? (content gaps)
• Are competitors creating comparison/alternatives content?
• What long-tail keywords are competitors ranking for?

Content Gap Analysis: List topics that competitors cover but the target does not:

CONTENT GAPS (Competitors Cover, Target Does Not):
  1. [Topic] — covered by Comp A, B (high search intent)
  2. [Topic] — covered by Comp A, C (medium search intent)
  3. [Topic] — covered by Comp B (high search intent)
  4. [Topic] — covered by all competitors (critical gap)

2.5 Social Media Presence Comparison

2.6 Review Mining

Analyze reviews on third-party platforms (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Reddit):

For each competitor, extract:

• Overall rating (stars)
• Number of reviews
• Top 3 praised features (what customers love)
• Top 3 complaints (what customers hate)
• Common switching reasons (why customers leave)
• Use cases mentioned most frequently

Review Intelligence Matrix:

| Competitor | Rating | Reviews | Top Praise | Top Complaint | Switch Reason |
|-----------|--------|---------|-----------|---------------|--------------|
| Comp A | 4.5/5 | 500+ | Easy to use | Limited integrations | Price increase |
| Comp B | 4.2/5 | 200+ | Powerful features | Steep learning curve | Poor support |
| Comp C | 3.8/5 | 100+ | Good value | Buggy | Better alternatives |

Phase 3: SWOT Analysis

3.1 SWOT for Each Competitor

For each identified competitor, produce a SWOT:

COMPETITOR: [Name]
URL: [url]

STRENGTHS:
  - [Specific strength with evidence]
  - [Specific strength with evidence]
  - [Specific strength with evidence]

WEAKNESSES:
  - [Specific weakness with evidence]
  - [Specific weakness with evidence]
  - [Specific weakness with evidence]

OPPORTUNITIES (for the target to exploit):
  - [Opportunity based on competitor weakness]
  - [Opportunity based on market gap]
  - [Opportunity based on unserved segment]

THREATS (competitor advantages to watch):
  - [Threat with potential impact]
  - [Threat with potential impact]
  - [Threat with potential impact]

3.2 Aggregate SWOT for the Target

Combine all competitor intelligence into a single SWOT for the target brand:

• Strengths: Where the target outperforms all or most competitors
• Weaknesses: Where the target lags behind all or most competitors
• Opportunities: Gaps in the market no competitor is addressing well
• Threats: Areas where competitors are significantly stronger

Phase 4: Strategic Recommendations

4.1 "Steal-Worthy" Tactics

Identify specific marketing tactics from competitors worth adopting:

STEAL-WORTHY TACTICS
====================

1. [Competitor A] — [Tactic: e.g., "Interactive pricing calculator"]
   Why it works: [explanation]
   How to implement: [specific steps for the target]
   Estimated effort: [Low/Medium/High]
   Expected impact: [Low/Medium/High]

2. [Competitor B] — [Tactic: e.g., "Customer success story video series"]
   Why it works: [explanation]
   How to implement: [specific steps]
   Estimated effort: [Low/Medium/High]
   Expected impact: [Low/Medium/High]

[Continue for 5-10 tactics]

Focus on tactics that are:

• Proven (working for the competitor)
• Adaptable (can be customized for the target)
• Underutilized (the target is not currently doing this)

4.2 Messaging Differentiation Strategy

Based on the competitive analysis, recommend how the target should differentiate:

Differentiation Framework:

1. Category: Can the target create or own a sub-category? (e.g., "the [specific attribute] [category]")
2. Audience: Can the target own a specific audience segment competitors ignore?
3. Feature: Is there a unique feature or capability no competitor offers?
4. Philosophy: Can the target differentiate on values, approach, or methodology?
5. Experience: Can the target differentiate on customer experience, support, or community?

For each viable differentiation angle, provide:

• Positioning statement
• Headline recommendation
• Supporting evidence or proof points
• How it would manifest across the website

4.3 Alternative Page Strategy

Recommend creating "[Competitor] Alternative" pages:

For each major competitor, outline:

PAGE: [Target Brand] vs [Competitor Name]
URL: /vs/[competitor-name] or /alternatives/[competitor-name]

Headline: "Looking for a [Competitor] alternative? Here's why [X] teams chose [Target] instead."

Sections:
  1. Quick comparison table (features, pricing, ratings)
  2. Where [Target] wins (3-4 advantages with evidence)
  3. Where [Competitor] wins (honest, builds trust)
  4. Who [Target] is best for (ideal customer profile)
  5. Customer switching stories (testimonials from switchers)
  6. Migration guide or switching offer
  7. FAQ about switching
  8. CTA: "Try [Target] free" or "See how [Target] compares"

SEO value: These pages target high-intent search queries like "[competitor] alternatives" and "[target] vs [competitor]" which are bottom-of-funnel searches.

4.4 Switching Narrative Development

Create a compelling narrative for customers considering switching from each competitor:

SWITCHING NARRATIVE: [Competitor] → [Target]

Why customers switch:
  1. [Primary reason based on review mining]
  2. [Secondary reason]
  3. [Tertiary reason]

Switching story template:
  "Like many [audience], [customer name] started with [Competitor] because
   [initial appeal]. But after [time/event], they realized [pain point].
   After switching to [Target], they [specific result with numbers]."

Switching offer:
  - Free migration assistance
  - Extended trial for [Competitor] users
  - Matching or discounting pricing
  - Dedicated onboarding for switchers

Phase 5: Monitoring and Ongoing Intelligence

5.1 Competitive Monitoring Checklist

Recommend ongoing monitoring activities:

• Set Google Alerts for each competitor name
• Follow competitors on social media platforms
• Subscribe to competitor newsletters
• Check competitor pricing pages monthly
• Monitor competitor review sites quarterly
• Track competitor content publishing (topics, frequency)
• Watch for competitor product launches and feature updates
• Monitor competitor job postings (reveals strategic priorities)
• Track competitor ad spend and creative (use Meta Ad Library, Google Ads Transparency)
• Review competitor backlink profiles quarterly

5.2 Competitive Response Playbook

Provide guidance on how to respond to competitor moves:

Output Format: COMPETITOR-REPORT.md

Write the full output to COMPETITOR-REPORT.md:

# Competitive Intelligence Report: [Target Brand]
**URL:** [url]
**Date:** [current date]
**Competitors Analyzed:** [count]
**Competitive Position: [Strong/Moderate/Weak]**

---

## Executive Summary
[3-4 paragraphs covering competitive landscape, target's position,
biggest competitive advantage, biggest competitive threat, and
top 3 strategic recommendations]

---

## Competitor Overview

### Direct Competitors
[Summary table with name, URL, positioning, pricing, key differentiator]

### Indirect Competitors
[Summary table]

### Aspirational Competitors
[Summary table]

---

## Detailed Competitor Profiles

### [Competitor A Name]
[Full analysis: messaging, pricing, features, SWOT, social presence, reviews]

### [Competitor B Name]
[Full analysis]

[Repeat for each competitor]

---

## Comparison Tables

### Feature Comparison
[Full feature matrix]

### Pricing Comparison
[Full pricing matrix]

### Review Ratings
[Review intelligence matrix]

### Social Media Presence
[Platform comparison table]

---

## Positioning Map
[Visual positioning map with explanation]

---

## Content & SEO Gap Analysis
[Content gaps, keyword opportunities, comparison page strategy]

---

## SWOT Analysis — [Target Brand]
[Aggregate SWOT based on competitive intelligence]

---

## Strategic Recommendations

### Steal-Worthy Tactics
[5-10 tactics with implementation guidance]

### Differentiation Strategy
[Recommended positioning angles]

### Alternative Pages to Create
[Competitor vs pages with outlines]

### Switching Narratives
[Switching stories and offers for each major competitor]

---

## Competitive Monitoring Plan
[Ongoing monitoring checklist and response playbook]

---

## Next Steps
1. [Most critical competitive action]
2. [Second priority]
3. [Third priority]

Terminal Output

=== COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT ===

Target: [name]
Competitors Analyzed: [count]
Competitive Position: [Strong/Moderate/Weak]

Competitive Landscape:
  Direct:      [Comp A] (Rating: X/5), [Comp B] (Rating: X/5)
  Indirect:    [Comp C], [Comp D]
  Aspirational: [Comp E]

Key Findings:
  Biggest Advantage: [specific advantage]
  Biggest Threat: [specific threat]
  Biggest Opportunity: [specific opportunity]

Feature Gaps: [X] features competitors have that target lacks
Content Gaps: [X] topics competitors cover that target doesn't
Pricing Position: [Above/At/Below] market average

Top 3 Actions:
  1. [action]
  2. [action]
  3. [action]

Full report saved to: COMPETITOR-REPORT.md

Cross-Skill Integration

• If MARKETING-AUDIT.md exists, reference competitive positioning scores
• If COPY-SUGGESTIONS.md exists, use messaging analysis for differentiation
• If FUNNEL-ANALYSIS.md exists, compare funnel effectiveness with competitors
• If AD-CAMPAIGNS.md exists, use competitor intelligence for ad angles
• Suggest follow-up: /market copy for differentiated messaging, /market ads for competitive ad campaigns, /market funnel for conversion comparison

Constraints

MUST DO

• Verify all claims with data or sources
• Include actionable recommendations, not just observations
• Consider the target audience and business context
• Provide specific examples, not generic advice

MUST NOT DO

• Make claims without supporting evidence
• Ignore the user's specific business context
• Provide generic one-size-fits-all recommendations
• Skip competitive or market context when relevant

VERIFY before done (run this gate)

The mission is not complete until ALL pass:

• COMPETITOR-REPORT.md exists and contains every section in the Output Format template (no empty placeholders).
• Every pricing/feature/review claim carries a source citation (URL + retrieval date). Spot-check 3 at random against the live source — if any is stale or wrong, fix it.
• No claim survives that failed the 2-of-3 adversarial verification; unverified items are explicitly labeled "Unverified", not asserted as fact.
• Every Phase 4 recommendation traces to a verified Phase 2/3 finding (no recommendation invented from thin air).
• The terminal summary numbers (competitor count, feature/content gaps) match the report body.