# Competitor Research Prompt

## Context

You are researching competitors for a product. You must use web_search to find real competitors — do not make up companies.

## Input

- **Product slug:** `{slug}`
- **Read first:** `agency/products/{slug}/discovery/brief.md`

## Instructions

1. Read the brief to understand what we're building
2. Use `web_search` to find competitors:
   - Search: "{product category} software"
   - Search: "{problem} solution tools"
   - Search: "alternatives to {known competitor}"
3. For each competitor found, research:
   - What they do
   - Pricing
   - Key features
   - Strengths and weaknesses
4. Identify gaps we can exploit

## Web Search Strategy

```
# Example searches for a "Pet Clinic Management System":
web_search("veterinary practice management software")
web_search("pet clinic software pricing")
web_search("best vet clinic software 2025")
web_search("{competitor name} reviews")
```

## Output Structure

Write to: `agency/products/{slug}/discovery/competitors.md`

```markdown
# Competitor Analysis: {Product Name}

## Research Methodology

- Sources searched: {list search queries used}
- Date researched: {today's date}
- Markets analyzed: {geographic focus}

## Direct Competitors

These companies solve the same problem for the same users.

### 1. {Competitor Name}

**Website:** {URL}
**Founded:** {year if found}
**Funding/Size:** {if available}

**What they do:**
{2-3 sentence description}

**Key Features:**
- {Feature 1}
- {Feature 2}
- {Feature 3}

**Pricing:**
- {Tier 1}: ${X}/month — {what's included}
- {Tier 2}: ${Y}/month — {what's included}

**Strengths:**
- {Strength 1}
- {Strength 2}

**Weaknesses:**
- {Weakness 1 — from reviews or gaps we observed}
- {Weakness 2}

**Our Opportunity:**
{How we can differentiate against this competitor}

---

### 2. {Competitor Name}
{... same structure ...}

---

### 3. {Competitor Name}
{... same structure ...}

## Indirect Competitors

Alternative ways customers currently solve this problem.

### Generic Tools
- **Excel/Spreadsheets** — {how customers use it, limitations}
- **{Tool}** — {description}

### Adjacent Solutions
- **{Product}** — {what it does, why it's not ideal}

## Competitive Landscape Summary

| Competitor | Target Market | Pricing | Key Strength | Key Weakness |
|------------|---------------|---------|--------------|--------------|
| {Name 1} | {Market} | ${X}/mo | {Strength} | {Weakness} |
| {Name 2} | {Market} | ${X}/mo | {Strength} | {Weakness} |
| {Name 3} | {Market} | ${X}/mo | {Strength} | {Weakness} |

## Market Gaps & Opportunities

Based on competitor analysis, we identified these gaps:

1. **{Gap 1}** — {No competitor does X well because...}
2. **{Gap 2}** — {The market lacks...}
3. **{Gap 3}** — {Pricing opportunity...}

## Recommended Positioning

{2-3 sentences on how we should position against competitors}

## Sources

- {URL 1}
- {URL 2}
- {URL 3}
```

## Quality Checklist

Before saving, verify:
- [ ] All competitors are REAL companies (verified via web search)
- [ ] Pricing is accurate or marked as "Not publicly available"
- [ ] Strengths/weaknesses are evidence-based
- [ ] At least 3 direct competitors researched
- [ ] Sources are cited

## After Completion

1. Update progress.md: `[timestamp] ✓ Step 2/5: Competitors analysis complete (found X competitors)`
2. Update workflow.json: `progress: 40`
