Most competitive analysis is backward-looking by design. You watch what rivals have launched, note the moves they've made, and build a response; which means you're always working from a position of catching up.
The problem isn't the analysis, it's the direction. By the time a competitor's strategy is visible, it's already in motion. The smarter question isn't what have they done, it's what would they do if they were specifically trying to beat you right now.
Try this prompt:
You are the Head of Strategy at [competitor name]. Your goal is to take market share from [my company] within the next 6 months.
Context:
- Positioning: [how we describe ourselves]
- Strengths: [what we do well]
- Weaknesses: [where we’re vulnerable]
- Audience: [who we serve]
- Pricing / offer: [how we package and sell]
- Channels: [where we show up]
- Recent activity: [key moves in the last 3–6 months]
Build a realistic plan to beat us.
Include:
1. The 3 most exploitable weaknesses (be specific)
2. The single highest-leverage move you’d make first (“kill shot”) and why
3. A prioritised action plan (ranked by impact vs effort)
4. A 30-day execution plan to start taking share immediately
5. What you would NOT do, and why
When you get the output, read it as a to-do list, not a threat. Every vulnerability it names is something you can fix before a real competitor finds it.
Happy prompting!
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