FerroxLabs Competitor Deep Research
Estimated time: 45-60 minutes
This workflow runs deep competitor research, moving from a full competitive set through per-competitor profiles, a positioning map, gap analysis, and a counter-positioning recommendation. It is interactive across three review checkpoints.
Steps
Step 1: Kickoff and Gather the Brief (uses: market-competitors)
Ask the user for their offer, the obvious 3-5 direct competitors, and any adjacent or status-quo competitors they suspect. Do not proceed without a clear offer and at least the obvious direct competitors. Never fabricate competitors.
- Input: user-supplied offer, direct competitors, suspected adjacent or status-quo competitors
- Output: research brief
- Key focus: a clear offer and a real starting comp set
Step 2: Infer the Full Competitive Set (uses: market-competitors)
From the brief, infer the full competitive set: direct, adjacent, status-quo alternatives, and nascent threats. This is broader than just direct comps. State it plus your reasoning and ask the user to confirm or refine.
- Input: research brief
- Output: confirmed full competitive set
- Key focus: include status-quo and nascent threats, not only direct comps
Step 3: Research Each Competitor (uses: market-competitors)
For each competitor in the full set, research and document: positioning, target segment, claim hierarchy, pricing strategy, and channels. Show the per-competitor profiles to the user. Use real, verifiable signals; do not invent details.
- Input: research brief, confirmed competitive set
- Output: per-competitor profiles
- Key focus: comparable, structured profiles across every competitor
Step 4: Review Research (uses: market-competitors)
Present the per-competitor research and ask whether to refine specific entries or proceed to the positioning map. If refining, re-run the research step on the flagged entries with the user's feedback (at most two passes) before continuing.
- Input: per-competitor profiles; optional refinement feedback
- Output: confirmed or refined profiles, decision to proceed
- Key focus: correct any thin or inaccurate profiles before mapping
Step 5: Build the 2x2 Positioning Map (uses: market-competitors)
From the per-competitor profiles, build a 2x2 positioning map on the two axes that best separate the field. Place each competitor and explain the axis choice. Show the map to the user.
- Input: per-competitor profiles
- Output: 2x2 positioning map
- Key focus: axes that reveal where the field clusters and where it is empty
Step 6: Identify Gaps (uses: market-audit)
Using the map and the brief, identify the positioning gaps and opportunity spaces: where the field is crowded, where it is empty, and which empty spaces the user's offer could credibly own. Show the gap analysis to the user.
- Input: positioning map, research brief
- Output: gap analysis with opportunity spaces
- Key focus: empty spaces the user can credibly and profitably own
Step 7: Review Gaps (uses: market-audit)
Present the gaps and opportunity spaces and ask whether to refine the analysis or proceed to the counter-positioning recommendation. If refining, re-run the gap analysis with the user's feedback (at most two passes) before continuing.
- Input: gap analysis; optional refinement feedback
- Output: confirmed or refined gaps, decision to proceed
- Key focus: validate the chosen opportunity space before recommending a move
Step 8: Recommend Counter-Positioning (uses: market-audit)
From the gaps, map, and brief, recommend the counter-position: what the user should stand for, against whom, and how to frame it so incumbents cannot easily copy it. Show the recommendation to the user.
- Input: gap analysis, positioning map, research brief
- Output: counter-positioning recommendation
- Key focus: a defensible position the incumbents cannot trivially match
Step 9: Final Review and Ship (uses: market-audit)
Present the counter-positioning recommendation. Ask the user to ship the research or refine the recommendation. If refining, re-run with their feedback (at most two passes), then assemble the final Competitor Deep Research document with sections for the full competitive set, per-competitor profiles, positioning map, identified gaps, and counter-positioning recommendation.
- Input: counter-positioning recommendation; optional refinement feedback
- Output: final Competitor Deep Research document
- Key focus: ship research that ends in a clear, actionable move