Date: May 11, 2022

Almost every company strategy should take what the competition is doing into account. In fact, it’s critical to understand the other companies in your market in order to find your product-market fit. By keeping an eye on the competition, you’ll be able to detect opportunities and become wary of certain threats. It also enables you to develop strategies to better meet the needs of your customers.

Your Product Comparison Template should help you target how users are currently solving their pain points. One way to do so is by exploring and understanding all of the alternative solutions available in the market. This would include tapping into your direct as well as indirect competitors. Within the same market, your direct competitor will typically offer a similar product. While an indirect competitor will provide a different product that however fulfills the same need. And that is why you must make sure to consider all of your prospective customers’ options in order to differentiate your service and build a long-term competitive advantage.

What is it?

A Product Comparison template is an effective method for gaining a better understanding of the market. Doing so assesses the strengths and flaws of your competition, and b provides you with valuable information on how other businesses are attempting to bring value to your target customers.

Here are some core questions your analysis should ultimately answer:

Who are the other companies competing for customers in your market?
What services and goods do they provide?
What is each competitor’s market share?
What are their advantages and disadvantages?
How can you set your products and services apart?
How do your own products and services compare?

These insights are used by product and marketing teams to guide strategies and identify what will not only differentiate their product but also make it successful. You’re able to do that by developing a strategy that takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of their own offering versus the competition.

When to use it?

Use this template regularly to evaluate and track how your product compares to your competitors in the market. Stay on top of your game and explore these three template options depending on what you want to analyze.

Competitor profile: Maps out key details about each competitor.
Competitor scorecard: Evaluates your competition and considers the relative value of each attribute, by using a set of scoring metrics
Competitive differentiation analysis: Assesses the basic, anticipated, improved, and potential benefits of your product, to define what sets you apart from the competition

Source: Product Templates: Product Comparison