wayland-competitor-deep-research

name	wayland-competitor-deep-research
description	Deep competitor research that goes beyond a comp set into positioning gaps and opportunity spaces. Infers the full competitive set (direct, adjacent, status-quo, and nascent threats), profiles each, builds a 2x2 positioning map, identifies gaps, and recommends a counter-position. Use when the user wants a structured, multi-step process for thorough competitor research that ends in a positioning map and counter-positioning recommendation. Do NOT use for a quick lookup of one competitor or a single fact that one atomic competitor skill can answer without the full research arc.
license	Apache-2.0
type	workflow
skills	market-competitors market-audit
metadata	{"author":"wayland","version":"1.0.0","tags":"marketing competitors research positioning step-by-step","category":"marketing","depends":"market-competitors market-audit"}

Competitor Deep Research

Estimated time: 45-60 minutes

This workflow runs deep competitor research, moving from a full competitive set through per-competitor profiles, a positioning map, gap analysis, and a counter-positioning recommendation. It is interactive across three review checkpoints.

Steps

Step 1: Kickoff and Gather the Brief (uses: market-competitors)

Ask the user for their offer, the obvious 3-5 direct competitors, and any adjacent or status-quo competitors they suspect. Do not proceed without a clear offer and at least the obvious direct competitors. Never fabricate competitors.

• Input: user-supplied offer, direct competitors, suspected adjacent or status-quo competitors
• Output: research brief
• Key focus: a clear offer and a real starting comp set

Step 2: Infer the Full Competitive Set (uses: market-competitors)

From the brief, infer the full competitive set: direct, adjacent, status-quo alternatives, and nascent threats. This is broader than just direct comps. State it plus your reasoning and ask the user to confirm or refine.

• Input: research brief
• Output: confirmed full competitive set
• Key focus: include status-quo and nascent threats, not only direct comps

Step 3: Research Each Competitor (uses: market-competitors)

For each competitor in the full set, research and document: positioning, target segment, claim hierarchy, pricing strategy, and channels. Show the per-competitor profiles to the user. Use real, verifiable signals; do not invent details.

• Input: research brief, confirmed competitive set
• Output: per-competitor profiles
• Key focus: comparable, structured profiles across every competitor

Step 4: Review Research (uses: market-competitors)

Present the per-competitor research and ask whether to refine specific entries or proceed to the positioning map. If refining, re-run the research step on the flagged entries with the user's feedback (at most two passes) before continuing.

• Input: per-competitor profiles; optional refinement feedback
• Output: confirmed or refined profiles, decision to proceed
• Key focus: correct any thin or inaccurate profiles before mapping

Step 5: Build the 2x2 Positioning Map (uses: market-competitors)

From the per-competitor profiles, build a 2x2 positioning map on the two axes that best separate the field. Place each competitor and explain the axis choice. Show the map to the user.

• Input: per-competitor profiles
• Output: 2x2 positioning map
• Key focus: axes that reveal where the field clusters and where it is empty

Step 6: Identify Gaps (uses: market-audit)

Using the map and the brief, identify the positioning gaps and opportunity spaces: where the field is crowded, where it is empty, and which empty spaces the user's offer could credibly own. Show the gap analysis to the user.

• Input: positioning map, research brief
• Output: gap analysis with opportunity spaces
• Key focus: empty spaces the user can credibly and profitably own

Step 7: Review Gaps (uses: market-audit)

Present the gaps and opportunity spaces and ask whether to refine the analysis or proceed to the counter-positioning recommendation. If refining, re-run the gap analysis with the user's feedback (at most two passes) before continuing.

• Input: gap analysis; optional refinement feedback
• Output: confirmed or refined gaps, decision to proceed
• Key focus: validate the chosen opportunity space before recommending a move

Step 8: Recommend Counter-Positioning (uses: market-audit)

From the gaps, map, and brief, recommend the counter-position: what the user should stand for, against whom, and how to frame it so incumbents cannot easily copy it. Show the recommendation to the user.

• Input: gap analysis, positioning map, research brief
• Output: counter-positioning recommendation
• Key focus: a defensible position the incumbents cannot trivially match

Step 9: Final Review and Ship (uses: market-audit)

Present the counter-positioning recommendation. Ask the user to ship the research or refine the recommendation. If refining, re-run with their feedback (at most two passes), then assemble the final Competitor Deep Research document with sections for the full competitive set, per-competitor profiles, positioning map, identified gaps, and counter-positioning recommendation.

• Input: counter-positioning recommendation; optional refinement feedback
• Output: final Competitor Deep Research document
• Key focus: ship research that ends in a clear, actionable move