competitor-analysislisted

Analyze competitors to find positioning gaps, not to copy features. The goal is to understand where alternatives fail your ICP so you can win on what matters to them. ## Identify All Alternatives List every alternative your ICP considers. Three categories: 1. **Direct competitors:** Products that solve the same problem for the same audience. 2. **Indirect competitors:** Products that solve the problem differently or serve an adjacent audience. 3. **Non-consumption:** "Do nothing" and "manual workaround" (spreadsheets, email, hiring someone). ALWAYS include these — they're often the biggest competitor. ## Feature Matrix Build a comparison table focused on what YOUR ICP cares about, not every feature that exists. | Capability | Your Product | Competitor A | Competitor B | Manual Workaround | |---|---|---|---|---| | [ICP-relevant capability] | How you do it | How they do it | How they do it | How people hack it | Rate each: Strong / Adequate / Weak / Missing. Don't use checkmarks — they hide nuance. Include pricing model in the matrix — it constrains product decisions. Example row: | Real-time collaboration | Strong (live cursors) | Weak (polling-based) | Missing | Google Docs + Slack — Adequate | **So what:** Their users are duct-taping two tools; our strength is their pain point. ## Positioning Map Plot competitors on two axes that matter to your ICP. Choose axes where you can credibly win at least one. Common axis pairs: - Ease of use vs Power/flexibility - Speed t