#Strategy #Fundamentals

Every business has competition — whether you see it clearly or not. The key isn’t to fear your competitors, but to understand them. That’s where competitive analysis comes in. At Jogi Business Solutions (JBS), we treat competitive analysis as a core discipline — not just a one-time research project. It helps businesses understand their position, spot opportunities, and avoid blind spots.

What Is Competitive Analysis?

Competitive analysis is the process of identifying your competitors and evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, strategies, and performance.

It helps you answer key questions like:

• Who else is serving your customers?
• What are they doing better (or worse) than you?
• How can you differentiate and compete more effectively?

"Competitive analysis isn’t about copying others — it’s about gaining insight so you can make smarter strategic decisions"

What Does a Competitive Analysis Include?

A strong competitive analysis typically covers:

• Direct Competitors
  Businesses offering similar products/services to the same customers

• Indirect Competitors
  Alternatives that solve the same problem in different ways

• Positioning
  How each competitor presents their value (e.g., premium, affordable, fast, personalized)

• Strengths & Weaknesses
  What they do well (product quality, branding, pricing, service) and where they fall short

• Customer Perception
  What customers say about them — reviews, ratings, social media

• Market Share & Presence
  How much of the market they command and how visible they are

• Pricing Models
  How they charge and what they offer at each tier

"Always view competitors from your customer’s point of view"

Why Competitive Analysis Matters

Here’s what a solid competitive understanding can help you do:

• Sharpen your value proposition
  Stand out in ways that matter to customers

• Avoid crowded positioning
    Don’t compete head-to-head where you can’t win

• Uncover underserved niches
  Spot gaps in the market that others are missing

• Prepare for future threats
  Know who’s rising fast or shifting strategy

• Benchmark performance
  See how your offering stacks up in pricing, quality, or delivery
  

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Only looking at big players

            Small competitors can be more relevant to your space

• Focusing only on features

            Customers buy value, not checklists

• Using outdated information

            Competitor strategies evolve — revisit often

• Trying to copy competitors

            The goal is to differentiate, not imitate

Tools and Tips to Get Started

You don’t need fancy software — just structured thinking. Start by:

• Searching competitor websites and reviews
• Following them on social media
• Analyzing customer feedback (yours and theirs)
• Comparing pricing pages
• Using free tools like Google Trends, SimilarWeb, or ChatGPT for summaries

Key Takeaway

A competitive analysis is more than a spreadsheet exercise — it’s a strategic habit. When you understand your competition clearly, you can position your business confidently.

At JBS, we believe:

“The best way to win is to know the game — and play it differently”