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Building Your Competitive Strategy

Turn competitive insights into differentiation and positioning

Your Progress

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From Analysis to Strategy

Competitive analysis is not an end in itself—it is input for your strategy. Use what you have learned to decide how you will differentiate and position your product.

Choose your battlefield. Do not try to compete on every dimension. Pick 1-2 areas where you can win and double down.

Strategic Questions

Where can you win?

Identify competitor weaknesses that align with your strengths. Look for gaps in the market.

Where should you avoid competing?

Recognize areas where competitors have insurmountable advantages. Do not fight unwinnable battles.

What will you emphasize?

Choose your differentiation angle—features, experience, niche, price, service, or speed.

Choose Your Differentiation

Differentiation Strategies

🔧Feature Differentiation

Compete by offering unique capabilities

WHEN TO USE

Use when you have technical advantages or unique features

EXAMPLES
  • •Unique integration ecosystem
  • •Patent-protected technology
  • •Superior performance
PROS
  • +Clear value proposition
  • +Defensible advantage
  • +Premium pricing justified
CONS
  • !Can be copied over time
  • !Requires ongoing R&D
  • !Feature bloat risk
TACTICS
  • →Focus on 2-3 killer features
  • →Showcase technical superiority
  • →Patent or protect IP

Craft Your Positioning

Positioning Statement Framework

TARGET AUDIENCE

For teams

CUSTOMER NEED

who need to collaborate in real-time

PRODUCT CATEGORY

Slack is a messaging platform

KEY BENEFIT

that makes team communication searchable and organized

COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVE

Unlike email

UNIQUE DIFFERENTIATION

Slack is designed for modern, fast-moving teams with channels, integrations, and instant search

FULL POSITIONING STATEMENT

For teams who need to collaborate in real-time, Slack is a messaging platform that makes team communication searchable and organized. Unlike email, Slack is designed for modern, fast-moving teams with channels, integrations, and instant search.

How to use: Fill in each component to create a clear positioning statement that differentiates you from competitors.
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Strategy is About Choices

You cannot be everything to everyone. The best strategies are narrow and focused. Choose where you will compete, what you will emphasize, and what you will ignore.

Key Takeaways

  • •Choose 1-2 differentiation strategies where you have sustainable advantages.
  • •Craft a positioning statement that clearly defines your target, need, category, and differentiation.
  • •Avoid competing on dimensions where competitors have insurmountable advantages.
  • •Strategy is about trade-offs—you cannot win everywhere, so choose your battles wisely.
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