Cashclaw Competitor Analyzer

SKILL.md

---
name: cashclaw-competitor-analyzer
description: Performs competitor research and generates detailed analysis reports with market positioning insights. Covers feature comparison, pricing analysis, SWOT, and strategic recommendations.
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---

# CashClaw Competitor Analyzer

You perform professional competitor analysis that clients pay for. Every report
must contain specific, actionable findings backed by observable data. Never
produce generic strategy advice that could apply to any company. Every insight
must reference concrete evidence from the competitor's public presence.

## Pricing Tiers

| Tier | Scope | Price | Delivery |
|------|-------|-------|----------|
| Basic | 1 competitor, core analysis | $19 | 6 hours |
| Standard | 3 competitors, full comparison | $35 | 24 hours |
| Pro | 5 competitors + market positioning map + strategic recs | $49 | 48 hours |

## Competitor Analysis Workflow

### Step 1: Target Identification

When you receive an analysis request, extract or ask for:

1. **Client's Product/Service** - What does the client offer?
2. **Client's Website** - URL for baseline comparison.
3. **Known Competitors** - Any competitors the client already knows about.
4. **Industry/Niche** - Specific market segment.
5. **Priority Areas** - Features, pricing, marketing, positioning, or all.
6. **Target Audience** - Who are they competing for?
7. **Geographic Focus** - Global, US, EU, specific country.

If the client provides only a competitor name with no context, ask for their
own product details first. You cannot assess competitive positioning without
understanding both sides.

### Step 2: Web Research and Data Collection

For each competitor, systematically gather data from these sources:

**Primary Sources (always check):**
- Company website (homepage, about, pricing, features, blog)
- Product documentation and changelog
- Social media profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Instagram)
- App store listings (if applicable)
- Review sites (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Product Hunt)

**Secondary Sources (Standard and Pro tiers):**
- Crunchbase / PitchBook (funding, revenue estimates)
- Job postings (signals priorities and growth areas)
- Press releases and media coverage
- Conference talks and webinars
- Patent filings (if relevant)
- GitHub repositories (if open source component)

**Data Points to Collect Per Competitor:**

```yaml
Company Profile:
  Name: "{name}"
  Website: "{url}"
  Founded: "{year}"
  Headquarters: "{location}"
  Employee Count: "{range or exact}"
  Funding: "{total raised, last round, investors}"
  Revenue Estimate: "{if available}"

Product:
  Core Product: "{one-line description}"
  Key Features: ["{feature1}", "{feature2}", "{feature3}"]
  Unique Selling Proposition: "{what makes them different}"
  Tech Stack: "{observable technologies}"
  Integrations: ["{integration1}", "{integration2}"]
  Platform: "{web, mobile, desktop, API}"

Pricing:
  Model: "{freemium, subscription, usage-based, one-time}"
  Plans: ["{plan1: price}", "{plan2: price}", "{plan3: price}"]
  Free Trial: "{yes/no, duration}"
  Enterprise: "{custom pricing, contact sales}"

Marketing:
  Positioning Statement: "{how they describe themselves}"
  Target Audience: "{who they market to}"
  Content Strategy: "{blog frequency, topics, quality}"
  SEO Keywords: "{top visible keywords}"
  Social Following: "{platform: count}"
  Ad Activity: "{observable ad campaigns}"

Reputation:
  G2 Rating: "{x/5, review count}"
  Capterra Rating: "{x/5, review count}"
  Common Praise: ["{theme1}", "{theme2}"]
  Common Complaints: ["{theme1}", "{theme2}"]
```

### Step 3: Feature Comparison Matrix

Build a detailed feature-by-feature comparison:

```markdown
## Feature Comparison

| Feature | Client | Competitor A | Competitor B | Competitor C |
|---------|--------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| {feature1} | Yes | Yes | No | Partial |
| {feature2} | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| {feature3} | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| {feature4} | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| {feature5} | Planned | Yes | No | Yes |

Legend: Yes = fully available, Partial = limited, No = not available, Planned = on roadmap
```

Categorize features into groups:
- **Core Features** - Must-have functionality for the category.
- **Differentiators** - Features only some competitors offer.
- **Table Stakes** - Features everyone has (note but do not dwell on).
- **Gaps** - Features no one offers yet (opportunity areas).

### Step 4: Pricing Analysis

Compare pricing models side by side:

```markdown
## Pricing Comparison

| Aspect | Client | Competitor A | Competitor B |
|--------|--------|-------------|-------------|
| Lowest Plan | $X/mo | $Y/mo | $Z/mo |
| Mid Plan | $X/mo | $Y/mo | $Z/mo |
| Top Plan | $X/mo | $Y/mo | $Z/mo |
| Free Tier | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No |
| Per-Seat Pricing | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No |
| Annual Discount | X% | Y% | Z% |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Fixed |

### Pricing Insights
1. {Client is X% cheaper/more expensive than average}
2. {Competitor A uses Y model which allows Z}
3. {Gap in market for pricing tier between X and Y}
```

### Step 5: SWOT Analysis Per Competitor

For each competitor, produce a focused SWOT:

```markdown
## SWOT: {Competitor Name}

### Strengths
- {Specific strength with evidence}
- {e.g., "Strong brand recognition -- 4.8/5 on G2 with 1,200+ reviews"}

### Weaknesses
- {Specific weakness with evidence}
- {e.g., "No mobile app -- 15% of G2 reviews mention this as a gap"}

### Opportunities (for Client)
- {Where the client can win against this competitor}
- {e.g., "Competitor's pricing starts at $99/mo -- undercut with $49 entry plan"}

### Threats
- {Where this competitor threatens the client}
- {e.g., "Recently raised $20M Series B -- expect aggressive marketing spend"}
```

### Step 6: Market Positioning Map (Pro Tier)

Create a 2x2 positioning matrix:

```markdown
## Market Positioning Map

Axes: {e.g., Price (Low-High) vs. Feature Depth (Simple-Complex)}

                    High Price
                        |
         Enterprise     |    Premium
         Competitor C   |    Competitor A
                        |
  Simple ---------------+--------------- Complex
                        |
         Budget         |    Power User
         Competitor D   |    Competitor B
                        |
                    Low Price

### Positioning Insights
1. {Crowded quadrant identification}
2. {White space opportunity}
3. {Recommended positioning for client}
```

### Step 7: Report Assembly

Generate the final report in Markdown:

```markdown
# Competitive Analysis Report

**Client:** {client name}
**Industry:** {industry}
**Date:** {date}
**Tier:** {Basic|Standard|Pro}
**Competitors Analyzed:** {count}

---

## Executive Summary
{3-5 sentences: key findings, biggest threats, top opportunities}

## Competitor Profiles
{Detailed profile for each competitor}

## Feature Comparison Matrix
{Side-by-side table}

## Pricing Analysis
{Pricing comparison with insights}

## SWOT Analysis
{Per-competitor SWOT}

## Market Positioning Map (Pro)
{2x2 matrix with analysis}

## Strategic Recommendations
1. {Highest-impact recommendation with rationale}
2. {Second recommendation}
3. {Third recommendation}

## Methodology
{Data sources used, date of research, limitations}

---
*Generated by CashClaw Competitor Analyzer | cashclaw.ai*
```

## Quality Checklist

Before delivering, verify:

```
[ ] Every claim is backed by an observable data point (URL, screenshot, review)
[ ] Feature comparison covers at least 10 meaningful features
[ ] Pricing data is current (verified within the last 30 days)
[ ] SWOT entries are specific, not generic ("strong brand" is too vague)
[ ] Recommendations are actionable and prioritized by impact
[ ] No speculation presented as fact -- label assumptions clearly
[ ] Executive summary can stand alone as a decision-making document
[ ] All competitor websites were actually visited (not hallucinated data)
[ ] Review scores and counts are accurate to the source
[ ] Market positioning map uses meaningful, relevant axes
[ ] Report uses consistent formatting throughout
[ ] No confidential or proprietary information included
[ ] Client's own product is included in all comparison tables
[ ] Methodology section discloses data sources and limitations
```

## Deliverable Format

Every analysis delivery includes:

```
deliverables/
  competitor-analysis-{client}-{date}.md   - Full analysis report
  comparison-matrix.json                    - Structured comparison data
  brief-summary.md                          - Executive summary for quick review
```

### comparison-matrix.json Format

```json
{
  "metadata": {
    "client": "{client_name}",
    "created_at": "{ISO8601}",
    "tier": "basic|standard|pro",
    "competitors_analyzed": 3
  },
  "competitors": [
    {
      "name": "{competitor}",
      "website": "{url}",
      "features": { "feature1": true, "feature2": false },
      "pricing": { "lowest": 29, "highest": 199, "model": "subscription" },
      "ratings": { "g2": 4.5, "capterra": 4.3 },
      "swot": {
        "strengths": ["{s1}"],
        "weaknesses": ["{w1}"],
        "opportunities": ["{o1}"],
        "threats": ["{t1}"]
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quality Standards

- Every finding must reference a specific, verifiable source.
- Do not fabricate review scores, employee counts, or funding amounts.
- If data is unavailable, mark as "N/A -- not publicly available" and explain.
- Recommendations must be tied directly to findings, not generic advice.
- Pro tier must include at least 5 competitors with full SWOT for each.
- Feature matrix must cover minimum 10 features for meaningful comparison.
- Always disclose the date of research -- competitor data becomes stale quickly.
- If the client and a competitor are nearly identical, say so honestly.

## Example Commands

```bash
# Basic single-competitor analysis
cashclaw analyze --competitor "https://competitor.com" --client "https://client.com" --tier basic

# Standard 3-competitor analysis
cashclaw analyze --competitors "comp1.com,comp2.com,comp3.com" --client "https://client.com" --tier standard

# Pro analysis with market map
cashclaw analyze --competitors "comp1.com,comp2.com,comp3.com,comp4.com,comp5.com" --client "https://client.com" --tier pro --market-map

# Export comparison matrix as JSON
cashclaw analyze --competitors "comp1.com,comp2.com" --output comparison-matrix.json --format json
```