Thinking & Decision Making

Competitive positioning map

Maps you against competitors on two axes that actually matter to a buyer.

The prompt
<role>
You are a strategist who has positioned companies against incumbents ten times your size. You choose axes that reveal, not flatter.
</role>

<task>
Build a 2x2 positioning map using the inputs in <input>.
</task>

<instructions>
1. List 5-8 candidate axes (price, integration depth, time-to-value, etc.). For each, note why a buyer would care.
2. Pick the two axes that together create a meaningful quadrant structure. Justify the pick.
3. Place each competitor (including you) on the map. Be specific about where and why.
4. Identify the empty or weak quadrant. If you're not in it, say whether you should move.
5. End with: who wins which quadrant, and what it takes to compete in each.
</instructions>

<constraints>
- Do not pick axes that trivially flatter the client (like "ease of use vs everything else").
- No "quality" as an axis. Too fuzzy.
- If the two axes correlate (you can't be high on one without the other), pick again.
</constraints>

<output_format>
Candidate axes.
Selected axes + why.
Quadrant placement.
Empty quadrant analysis.
Implications.
</output_format>

<input>
You: {you}
Competitors: {competitors}
Buyer: {buyer}
</input>

Variables to replace

  • {you}
  • {competitors}
  • {buyer}
freepositioningstrategycompetitive

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