# Competitive Analysis > Structured market research template for identifying competitors, analyzing positioning, comparing features, assessing strengths and weaknesses, and finding market opportunities. - **Type:** Skill - **Install:** `agentstack add skill-the-ai-directory-company-agents-and-skills-competitive-analysis` - **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior - **Seller:** [The-AI-Directory-Company](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/the-ai-directory-company) - **Installs:** 0 - **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml) - **Latest version:** 0.1.0 - **License:** MIT - **Upstream author:** [The-AI-Directory-Company](https://github.com/The-AI-Directory-Company) - **Source:** https://github.com/The-AI-Directory-Company/agents-and-skills/tree/main/skills/competitive-analysis - **Website:** https://ai-directory.company ## Install ```sh agentstack add skill-the-ai-directory-company-agents-and-skills-competitive-analysis ``` Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent. ## About # Competitive Analysis ## Before you start Gather the following from the user: 1. **What is your product/service?** (One-sentence description and primary value proposition) 2. **Who are your known competitors?** (Direct and indirect — list at least 3) 3. **What market segment?** (Enterprise, SMB, consumer, developer tools, etc.) 4. **What decision are you informing?** (Pricing, positioning, feature roadmap, GTM strategy, fundraising) 5. **What data sources are available?** (Public websites, G2/Capterra reviews, pricing pages, job postings, SEC filings) If the user says "we have no competitors," push back: "Every product competes with something — even if it's spreadsheets, manual processes, or doing nothing. Who are customers using today to solve this problem?" ## Competitor identification Start by mapping the competitive landscape into three tiers. ``` | Tier | Definition | Example | |----------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | Direct | Same problem, same customer segment, same approach | Competitor A vs You | | Indirect | Same problem, different approach or different segment | Spreadsheets, agencies| | Adjacent | Different problem today, could expand into your space | Platform with overlap | ``` List 3-5 direct competitors, 2-3 indirect, and 1-2 adjacent. For each, capture: ``` | Competitor | Tier | Founded | Funding/Revenue | HQ | Est. Customers | |---------------|----------|---------|-----------------|----------|----------------| | Competitor A | Direct | 2019 | $50M Series B | SF, USA | ~5,000 SMBs | | Competitor B | Direct | 2017 | $120M ARR | London | ~2,000 Ent. | | Manual process| Indirect | N/A | N/A | N/A | Everyone else | ``` ## Feature comparison matrix Compare features that matter for the purchase decision. Use a clear rating system. ``` Rating: Y = Yes | P = Partial | N = No | ? = Unknown | Feature | Your Product | Comp A | Comp B | Comp C | |---------------------|-------------|--------|--------|--------| | Core feature 1 | Y | Y | P | N | | Core feature 2 | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Integration X | P | Y | N | Y | | Self-serve onboard | Y | N | Y | N | | Enterprise SSO | N | Y | Y | Y | | API access | Y | Y | P | N | ``` Weight features by importance to the target buyer. A feature your buyer does not care about is not a competitive advantage. ## Positioning analysis For each direct competitor, map their positioning using this template. ``` ## [Competitor Name] Tagline: [From their homepage] Target buyer: [Who they sell to — title, company size] Primary value: [Their #1 claimed benefit] Pricing model: [Free tier? Per seat? Usage-based?] Key message: [Core narrative from marketing — "the X for Y" or "unlike Z, we..."] Differentiator: [What they emphasize as unique] Weakness signal: [Complaints from reviews, missing features, churn patterns] ``` ## Strengths and weaknesses assessment Use a structured SWOT-style analysis per competitor. Focus on observable evidence, not speculation. ``` ## [Competitor Name] — Assessment Strengths (what they do well): - [Evidence-backed strength — cite source: G2 review, pricing page, job posting] - [Evidence-backed strength] Weaknesses (where they fall short): - [Evidence-backed weakness — cite source] - [Evidence-backed weakness] Opportunities for you (gaps they leave open): - [Specific gap you can exploit] Threats from them (risks to your position): - [Specific risk — e.g., they're hiring for your feature area] ``` ## Opportunity mapping Synthesize the analysis into actionable opportunities ranked by impact and feasibility. ``` | Opportunity | Evidence | Impact | Effort | |--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------|--------| | Underserved SMB segment | Comp A/B focus on enterprise only | High | Medium | | No competitor offers self-serve | All require demo/sales call | High | Low | | Integration gap with [Tool X] | Top-requested in G2 reviews | Medium | Low | | Price point gap at $X-Y/month | Comp A is $100+, no mid-tier option | High | Medium | ``` ## Quality checklist Before delivering the analysis, verify: - [ ] At least 3 direct competitors are profiled with evidence, not just names - [ ] Feature comparison is weighted by buyer importance, not just feature count - [ ] Positioning analysis uses actual competitor messaging, not your interpretation - [ ] Weaknesses cite observable evidence (reviews, missing features), not assumptions - [ ] Opportunities are ranked by impact and effort - [ ] The analysis answers the specific decision the user needs to make - [ ] Sources are noted (pricing pages, review sites, job boards, press releases) ## Common mistakes - **Listing features without weighting.** Having 50 features vs. a competitor's 30 means nothing if the buyer only cares about 5. Weight the comparison by what drives purchase decisions. - **Relying on competitor marketing copy as truth.** Their homepage says "enterprise-grade security." Their G2 reviews say "no SOC 2." Use third-party evidence, not self-reported claims. - **Ignoring indirect competitors.** The biggest competitor for most products is "do nothing" or "use a spreadsheet." Include the status quo in your analysis. - **Analysis without actionable recommendations.** A competitive matrix that doesn't lead to "so we should do X" is an academic exercise. End with ranked opportunities tied to decisions. - **One-time snapshot instead of ongoing tracking.** Competitors change pricing, ship features, and pivot positioning. Schedule quarterly updates to the analysis. ## Source & license This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code. - **Author:** [The-AI-Directory-Company](https://github.com/The-AI-Directory-Company) - **Source:** [The-AI-Directory-Company/agents-and-skills](https://github.com/The-AI-Directory-Company/agents-and-skills) - **License:** MIT - **Homepage:** https://ai-directory.company Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above. ## Pricing - **Free** — Free ## Security capabilities Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access: - **Network access:** no - **Filesystem access:** no - **Shell / process execution:** no - **Environment & secrets:** no - **Dynamic code execution:** no *"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.* ## Versions - **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source. ## Links - Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-the-ai-directory-company-agents-and-skills-competitive-analysis - Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/the-ai-directory-company - Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse --- Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.