matches the existing alternative landing architecture for its category
uses benchmark data only from src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js (screenshot pages only)
researches the competitor honestly from real sources
avoids SEO cannibalization with existing alternative pages
improves the page when a competitor-specific angle is stronger than a boilerplate comparison

Category Selection — Ask First

Before any research or editing, ask the user which Microlink product the competitor competes with:

Screenshot API — competitor offers headless-browser screenshots / PDFs as their primary product. Examples already in the repo: ScreenshotOne, ApiFlash, Urlbox, Url2Png, Thum.io, ScreenshotAPI, ScreenshotLayer, ScreenshotMachine.
Embed API — competitor offers URL → card / oEmbed / link preview as their primary product. Example already in the repo: Iframely.

If you can identify the category confidently from the competitor's homepage, confirm with the user before proceeding instead of asking blindly. Phrasing example: "I see [Competitor] leads with [rich-media embeds / headless screenshots]. I'll use the [embed / screenshot] template — confirm?"

If a competitor straddles both, pick the dominant product. Lead with embeds → embed template. Lead with screenshots → screenshot template. Never mix templates.

The category choice changes:

which reference doc you follow (template-structure.md vs embed-template.md)
which existing page you use as a primary example (screenshotone.js vs iframely.js)
whether you include SpeedSection (screenshot only — no embed benchmark exists)
which hero visual you use (RaceContainer vs <InteractiveExample flat hideFooter />)
which TryIt visual you use (MultiCodeEditorInteractive vs <PreviewVariantsShowcase />)
which CTA URLs you target (/screenshot vs /embed)

Read First

Before planning or editing, read these in order:

If present, .claude/product-marketing-context.md
.cursor/skills/alternative-landing/references/microlink-features.md
AGENTS.md

Then, depending on the category:

Screenshot category

src/pages/alternative/screenshotone.js — primary structural reference
src/pages/alternative/screenshotapi.js — secondary reference for a different angle
All other src/pages/alternative/*.js files — required for anti-cannibalization
src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js — only source of truth for benchmark numbers
.cursor/skills/alternative-landing/references/template-structure.md

Embed category

src/pages/alternative/iframely.js — canonical structural reference (the only embed alternative page so far)
src/pages/embed.js — source of the InteractiveExample and PreviewVariantsShowcase exports you'll import
All other src/pages/alternative/*.js files — required for anti-cannibalization (even though they're screenshot pages, FAQ wording and SEO titles can still clash)
src/pages/features/proxy.js — source of truth for proxy / antibot / CAPTCHA claims
.cursor/skills/alternative-landing/references/embed-template.md

Core Rules

These are non-negotiable:

Never guess the competitor URL. Ask if it is missing.
Never invent competitor features, pricing, SLA, rate limits, integrations, or infrastructure claims.
Never invent benchmark numbers or extrapolate them to unbenchmarked competitors.
Never round speed claims up. Use conservative wording and round down.
Never claim a competitor feature unless it is verified on the competitor website or docs.
Never claim a Microlink feature unless it exists in references/microlink-features.md.
Never ship a placeholder comparison page full of assumptions.
Never repeat the same hero angle, title angle, or FAQ phrasing used by another alternative page if it risks cannibalization.
Never run Prettier or any formatter as part of this skill. This includes prettier, prettier-standard, repo-wide format commands, or any command that may rewrite unrelated files.

Source Hierarchy

Use sources in this order:

Competitor website and official docs
src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js
.cursor/skills/alternative-landing/references/microlink-features.md
Third-party sources and review sites

Use third-party sources only for:

understanding market positioning
identifying likely objections or limitations to verify
finding missing official pages

Do not use third-party sources as proof for hard claims if the competitor site does not confirm them.

Workflow

1. Gather Inputs

Before editing:

Confirm the category — screenshot vs embed (see "Category Selection — Ask First" above). Every subsequent step depends on this choice.
Confirm the competitor name.
Confirm the competitor URL.
Confirm the target slug if the user gave one.

Screenshot-only step: map the competitor to a benchmark key in BENCHMARK_DATA.results.

If the competitor is screenshot-category but not benchmarked in src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js, stop and ask how to proceed. Do not fabricate a speed section.

Recommended options:

wait until benchmark data exists
create only an improvement report
create a non-speed draft only if the user explicitly accepts a deviation from the existing structure

If the competitor is embed-category, skip the benchmark mapping — there is no embed benchmark. Follow embed-template.md which deliberately omits SpeedSection.

2. Research the Competitor

This phase is mandatory.

Use WebFetch to fetch and inspect, at minimum:

homepage
features or product page
pricing page
API docs or docs home
any page covering integrations, storage, or automation if relevant

Use WebSearch to discover missing official pages and to understand positioning:

"[Competitor] pricing [year]"
"[Competitor] [category] api features" — swap [category] for screenshot or embed
"[Competitor] docs"
"[Competitor] alternatives"
"[Competitor] review limitations"

For embed-category competitors, also confirm:

their pricing unit (per-request, per-hit, per-domain, etc.) and any documented rate limits
whether they ship a proxy / antibot / CAPTCHA layer (most embed APIs do not — that is the Microlink Pro differentiator)
their publisher catalog size if they publish one
their CMS / framework integrations (WordPress plugin, AMP, React component, etc.)

From research, build a working ledger of:

verified features
verified missing features
pricing tiers, quotas, rate limits, and overages
integrations and workflow tooling
notable strengths where the competitor is genuinely better
limitations or tradeoffs worth mentioning
open questions that remain unverified

If the site is too JS-heavy to verify a claim via fetchable content, treat that claim as unverified and ask the user before using it.

3. Anti-Cannibalization Pass

Every alternative page needs a distinct search and messaging angle.

Read every existing file in src/pages/alternative/*.js and compare:

<Meta title>
<Meta description>
hero heading
speed-section subhead
CTA heading
FAQ questions

Current angle map:

Screenshot category:

screenshotone.js: speed-first angle ("The fastest ScreenshotOne alternative")
screenshotapi.js: breadth / "does more" angle ("broader browser workflows")
urlbox.js: cost per render angle ("better cost per render")
screenshotmachine.js: upgrade path angle ("richer browser workflows")
apiflash.js: production workloads angle ("for production workloads")
url2png.js: modernization angle ("a more modern screenshot API")
screenshotlayer.js: throughput / overage angle
thumio.js: final-screenshot vs streamed-thumbnail angle

Embed category:

iframely.js: developer-first angle ("The developer-first Iframely alternative") — emphasizes per-request pricing vs hit-based pricing, no rate-limit ceiling, and the Pro proxy bundle

Pick a primary angle and a secondary angle for the new page. Examples:

fastest
more complete platform
cheaper at scale
open-source / auditable
better for AI agents
better for metadata + screenshot in one API
better migration path

Avoid collisions such as:

two pages both leading with "fastest [Competitor] alternative"
reusing near-identical FAQ wording
repeating the same title pattern across pages

If the best angle clearly collides with an existing page, change the angle or ask the user which angle to prioritize.

4. Build the Page Data

`BENCHMARK_DATA` (screenshot category only)

Skip this whole subsection on embed pages. Embed alternatives have no benchmark and no SpeedSection.

For screenshot pages, copy only:

microlink
the target competitor

Keep the same testUrls array from src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js. Inline the values exactly. Do not reference helper constants from the benchmark page.

`SERVICE_COLORS` (screenshot category only)

Embed pages do not render a benchmark race and do not need a SERVICE_COLORS map. Skip.

For screenshot pages, use:

microlink: colors.red6
competitor: a color not already used by another alternative page

Currently used:

screenshotone: colors.pink6
screenshotapi: colors.grape7
urlbox: colors.teal6
screenshotmachine: colors.blue6
apiflash: colors.orange6

Speed claim math (screenshot category only)

Embed pages do not have speed claims. Skip this subsection.

For screenshot pages, compute conservatively:

average speed advantage: ((competitorAvg - microlinkAvg) / microlinkAvg) * 100
per-URL multiplier: competitorUrl / microlinkUrl

For marketing copy:

floor percentages instead of rounding up
floor multipliers instead of rounding up
prefer "up to 2× faster" over "up to 2.4× faster" unless the decimal precision is important and still conservative

If the benchmark result is directionally mixed or too small to support a strong claim, soften the copy.

`COMPARISON_DATA`

Build the comparison table from:

Microlink capabilities in references/microlink-features.md
verified competitor capabilities from official sources

Allowed values:

true
false
'partial'
'on demand'
short literal strings only when a boolean would be misleading

Ordering:

shared capabilities
Microlink-only capabilities
competitor-only capabilities

Highlighting:

set highlight: true only when Microlink clearly has the advantage
do not highlight every differentiator just because it exists

Notes:

add a short note only when nuance materially helps interpretation
do not use the table to smuggle in unverified claims

Embed pages: always include three Pro-bundle rows with highlight: true — Rotating residential proxy (Pro), Antibot detection & bypass (Pro), CAPTCHA handling (Pro). The provider lists go in the note field. See references/embed-template.md → "Comparison table — Pro proxy rows" for the canonical wording and provider names. Flip the competitor column to true only if their docs explicitly document the same capabilities — verify on their site before doing so.

Pricing comparison

Use the competitor pricing page as the source of truth.

For Microlink, choose the most relevant tier from references/microlink-features.md.

Prefer apples-to-apples based on:

comparable request volume
comparable buyer intent
comparable recommended plan

Include pricing source URLs in code comments near the pricing copy or pricing constants.

If there is no honest apples-to-apples tier, say so in the copy or ask the user before forcing a comparison.

5. Write the Page

Follow the right reference for the category:

Screenshot category → references/template-structure.md. Primary live example: src/pages/alternative/screenshotone.js. Secondary: src/pages/alternative/screenshotapi.js.
Embed category → references/embed-template.md. Canonical live example: src/pages/alternative/iframely.js.

Default rule:

keep the same overall architecture and section order as the existing alternative pages in the same category

Screenshot section order

Hero (with <RaceContainer> from the benchmark)
SpeedSection
WhySwitchSection
PricingSection
CTASection
ComparisonSection
HonestySection
TryItSection (with MultiCodeEditorInteractive)
FAQSection

Embed section order

Hero (with <InteractiveExample flat hideFooter /> imported from pages/embed)
WhySwitchSection
PricingSection
CTASection
ComparisonSection
HonestySection
TryItSection (with <PreviewVariantsShowcase /> imported from pages/embed — link first, preview after)
FAQSection

No SpeedSection. No RaceContainer. No MultiCodeEditorInteractive.

Do not run automatic formatting after editing. If verification is needed, prefer targeted linting or manual fixes inside the landing file only.

Page-writing rules

Match the repo's import style and styled primitive layout.
Use theme({...}) for styled-system-supported properties per AGENTS.md.
Keep prose unique to the competitor and the chosen angle.
Keep the page honest even when Microlink wins.
The HonestySection must contain real competitor strengths (3–6 items; Iframely currently ships 3).
The FAQ must contain 7–9 questions and avoid near-duplicates from existing alternative pages.
The FAQ schema must mirror the visible FAQ content as plain text.
The Head export must use a unique title, unique description, correct canonical URL, and FAQ schema.
Use the FAQ_ITEMS array pattern (with { question, answer, text }) for every new page — this is now the standard, shared by urlbox.js, screenshotmachine.js, apiflash.js, and iframely.js. The text field holds the plain-text version for schema; answer holds the JSX for rendering.
Never use <code css={theme({...})}> — this repo's css prop transform fails on <code> and throws "Element type is invalid". Use <b> or a styled component instead.
For embed pages, the WhySwitch list must include one item dedicated to the Pro proxy / antibot / CAPTCHA bundle with a <Link href='/features/proxy'> reference. See embed-template.md for canonical wording.
For embed pages, the Microlink pricing card bullets must include the proxy/antibot/CAPTCHA line.
For embed pages, the FAQ list must include one proxy-focused question linking to /features/proxy and mentioning is-antibot (the open-source detection library).
Add the new page to src/components/patterns/Footer/Footer.js Comparisons list in alphabetical order ({ label: 'vs [Competitor]', href: '/alternative/[slug]' }).

Custom sections or custom angles

The skill should think about whether a competitor-specific section would improve the page.

Examples:

migration complexity
SDK or API ergonomics
storage and webhook workflow
AI-agent fit
no-code automation
anti-bot / proxy depth

Only add a custom section if all are true:

it is strongly supported by research
it makes the page materially more useful
it does not create cannibalization with other alternative pages
it does not break the core structure without good reason

If unsure, propose the new section to the user instead of silently changing the architecture.

6. Improve Existing Landings

When updating an existing page:

Read the current file. Identify its category from the section list (screenshot pages render SpeedSection; embed pages do not).
Re-research the competitor's homepage, docs, features, pricing, and relevant workflow pages.
Re-read the category source-of-truth:
- Screenshot pages → src/pages/benchmarks/screenshot-api.js.
- Embed pages → src/pages/features/proxy.js (for current Pro proxy claims) and src/pages/embed.js (for the imported components).
Check for stale benchmark numbers (screenshot only), stale pricing, stale feature claims, stale FAQ answers, and stale honest-strength cards.
Re-run the anti-cannibalization pass against all other alternative pages.
Compare the file against the category's primary reference:
- Screenshot pages → screenshotone.js for structural drift.
- Embed pages → iframely.js for structural drift.
Fix inaccuracies first, then improve positioning, then improve SEO uniqueness.

7. Output Back to the User

After drafting or improving a page, always report:

chosen primary angle
sources used
anything still unverified
SEO or cannibalization risks
suggested next improvements

Suggestions should focus on:

missing differentiators worth adding
sections worth adding or removing
weak copy or repeated messaging
SEO opportunities
research gaps that need the user's help

SEO Pass

If the user asks for an SEO pass, or if title/meta/FAQ/cannibalization choices are unclear, read and follow:

~/.claude/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md

Use it mainly to validate:

keyword targeting
title and meta uniqueness
internal cannibalization risk
heading structure
schema completeness

Final Guardrails

Do not pretend to know a competitor feature because it is common in the category.
Do not write "fastest" or "best" unless the benchmark or source actually supports it.
Do not add TODO claims into production copy. If a claim is important but unverified, stop and ask.
Do not copy FAQ wording from one alternative page to another.
Do not let benchmark copy dominate the page if the real differentiation is elsewhere.
Do not let a stronger competitor-specific angle go unused just because the first template you read was speed-first.
Do not mix templates. Embed competitors get the embed template; screenshot competitors get the screenshot template. Picking the wrong one and patching it produces a Frankenstein page.
Do not fabricate a SpeedSection for embed competitors. There is no embed benchmark in this repo.
Do not duplicate HERO_DEMOS, PREVIEW_VARIANTS, or InteractiveExample internals on embed pages — import from pages/embed.
Do not run prettier, prettier-standard, or any repo-level formatter while using this skill, even on a single file, because this repository's formatter can touch unrelated files.

name	alternative-landing
description	Create or improve competitor alternative pages under src/pages/alternative/.