Resource

Competitor Positioning Tear-Down Template

Review competing brands and find where your message can stand apart. Collect contrast, not inspiration.

THE GOAL

Do not just collect competitor screenshots. Use competitor analysis to identify sameness, white space, weak claims, emotional gaps, and clearer positioning opportunities.

PER-COMPETITOR REVIEW

Brand Name

Audience They Target

Main Message

Emotional Tone

Visual Style

Offer Clarity

CTA Style

Strengths

Weaknesses

What Feels Overused

POSITIONING QUESTIONS

Message
  • What do they claim most often?
  • What words or promises repeat across the market?
  • Is the value proposition clear or vague?
Emotion

What do they make the audience feel: confidence / urgency / aspiration / safety / belonging / none?

Visual Style
  • Polished and premium
  • Raw and founder-led
  • Trend-driven
  • Template-heavy
  • Educational
Offer Clarity
  • Can you understand what they sell quickly?
  • Do they explain outcomes or just services?
  • Do they show proof?
CTA Style
  • Soft follow
  • DM
  • Book now
  • Download
  • Apply
  • Unclear

WHITE SPACE FINDER — AFTER 3–5 COMPETITORS

What is everyone saying?

What is nobody saying clearly?

What emotional angle feels underused?

What promise feels overused?

Where can our brand sound more human or more precise?

SHARP POSITIONING PROMPTS

Unlike most [category] brands, we focus on ___.

The market keeps saying ___, but buyers really need ___.

Most competitors feel ___; we want to feel ___.

The offer is not just ___; it is really about ___.

TEAR-DOWN WORKSHEET

Competitor 1

Main Promise

Emotional Tone

Strongest Asset

Weakest Asset

What Feels Generic

Competitor 2

Main Promise

Emotional Tone

Strongest Asset

Weakest Asset

What Feels Generic

Competitor 3

Main Promise

Emotional Tone

Strongest Asset

Weakest Asset

What Feels Generic

DECISION SECTION

What we should stop saying

What we should say more clearly

What proof we need more of

What emotional angle we should own harder

WHAT TO AVOID

  • Copying the best-looking competitor
  • Assuming more polish means stronger positioning
  • Focusing only on visuals and ignoring message
  • Treating competitor analysis as inspiration instead of contrast